Draperies

[KayLR]

Admittedly, I have not bought drapery for a long time. But my boss' office needs new drapes and carpeting really badly. I think what he has is from the 70s or 80s (orange no less).

Well, one person we spoke to estimated the drapes costing about $3,500! The windows are floor to ceiling and are about 15 feet long. Does that sound reasonable?

Shoot, as much as he's in his office, I think we could go find ready-made ones with pockets and just put up a rod. But what we have there now are pleated and have the retractable pulley system falter-all.

Anyone know anything about drapes?

[razz]

Would vertical blinds be better? I find drapes dust collectors. The price might be the same though. Keep us posted on what you learn about pricing of drapes.

[iris lilies]

Admittedly, I have not bought drapery for a long time. But my boss' office needs new drapes and carpeting really badly. I think what he has is from the 70s or 80s (orange no less).

Well, one person we spoke to estimated the drapes costing about $3,500! The windows are floor to ceiling and are about 15 feet long. Does that sound reasonable?

Shoot, as much as he's in his office, I think we could go find ready-made ones with pockets and just put up a rod. But what we have there now are pleated and have the retractable pulley system falter-all.

Anyone know anything about drapes?
That is reasonable for professionally made drapes with the coverage you describe. In fact for 15’ of them it seems cheap.

Sure you can always DIY it to varying degrees. Do you need thermal coverage? Meaning, is sun blocking important? That means more expense.

I have south facing windows in my condo which is nice for sunlight, but I imagine I’m going to have to get heavy thermal draperies for both walls because there is no central air conditioning and it’s going to be very hot. But I want to live through one season without them to see what’s what.

I don’t have draperies in my current house because of animal hair. I do have silk saris casually draped over curtain rods, but those are entirely for decoration they’re not closing off anything from the outside. This tightly woven silk doesn’t seem to attract animal hair.

[JaneV2.0]

If there is any window covering I absolutely despise, it's the one you describe.

He can take his time considering options and costs to purchase and for installation. Maybe wait for sales.

[catherine]

I love the sari idea, IL.. I think you're posted pics before and I thought they were beautiful!

I agree that for large windows in a commercial space that price is reasonable.

I hate the cost of residential window treatments, too. I've held off on what I really want--bamboo blinds throughout--because the $5 Home Depot mini-blinds are "perfectly good" For more ambience I have white LED lights lining the ceiling and I keep the blinds open all day with the excuse that curtains would compromise the lake view.

I'm in the process of sewing stuff for the house: I have several curtain panels that I bought on sale when Country Curtains was going out of business. So I'm decorating my house around green buffalo check because that's what I've got.

[iris lilies]

Green Buffalo check sounds very cute!

I keep picturing a light green buffalo check something in my living room in Herman. Maybe two chairs in front of the fireplace? Or something like that.

[BikingLady]

All I can say is I miss elegant draperies. Pinch Pleated, strong and lovely. I absolutly despise the overstock, wayfair, amazon, Walmart and such that have dominated the windows for years now. Along with the cheap rods. I have bought them all, so I am at fault for supporting it. I am a house hunter for hobby at night on Movoto and such, I joke and say Oh those curtains are off Overstock! I actually wonder if many under say 40 remember or appreciate high end draperies hung by professionals. Our little town does not have a drapery store. I had wood blinds hung in all windows of this home we are in, no drapes only kitchen window valances for a pop.
Ok off my gripe box ;)

[iris lilies]

All I can say is I miss elegant draperies. Pinch Pleated, strong and lovely. I absolutly despise the overstock, wayfair, amazon, Walmart and such that have dominated the windows for years now. Along with the cheap rods. I have bought them all, so I am at fault for supporting it. I am a house hunter for hobby at night on Movoto and such, I joke and say Oh those curtains are off Overstock! I actually wonder if many under say 40 remember or appreciate high end draperies hung by professionals. Our little town does not have a drapery store. I had wood blinds hung in all windows of this home we are in, no drapes only kitchen window valances for a pop.
Ok off my gripe box ;)
I can see that if you have lived with custom drapes, other cheap stuff would be awful.

I have never had them, tho.Danderm dust and animal hair are some reasons.

I was all set to spend a ridiculous sum of money on custom silk drapes for my condo’s windows, at least living room windows. I mean, I ordered fabric samples even,

But then my decor guru Laurel Bern said in one of her blog posts “ no silk for south windows—Ever!!!” Because the sun will destroy silk quickly. Sigh. So I had to abandon that idea and like many high end things I plan but cannot get, I then stopped looking for drapery at all.

these disappointments invariably save me a lot of money.

[Tybee]

I would remove carpet and install luxury vinyl plank. I would put vertical blinds like Razz described, or vertical cellulars, like this:

https://www.selectblinds.com/images/Img_Products/PID-743_CID-7617_a1.jpg

[iris lilies]

Also Biking lady, like you I wonder what has happened to the upholstery and drapery industry. Yes, people under age 40 are not likely to know fine quality work like this.

My mother in her early stages of dementia got the JC Penney custom window treatment people out to her condo and boy did they go to town, selling her coverings for every window. She could afford it and it was ok, but really, who needs pull drapery for the little kitchen window over a sink? That was a bit much.

I remember staying in a Portland Bed and Breakfast Inn and the man of the house had an upholstery shop. My room was chock full of professional upholstery pieces on the bed, the windows, the furniture. It was like a Laura Ashley explosion! It was Nice.

[ToomuchStuff]

I haven't been able to find that style of drapes for years. That style in avacado green, were what my old house had in the red carpeted bedroom, when I moved in. I tried finding that style, but everything went to other style rods/hangers. Now they are more just curtains.

[iris lilies]

I haven't been able to find that style of drapes for years. That style in avacado green, were what my old house had in the red carpeted bedroom, when I moved in. I tried finding that style, but everything went to other style rods/hangers. Now they are more just curtains.
Pinch pleats? Is that what you are talking about?

There are Overstock pinch pleated curtains.

I am considering a window treatment decision right now with my Hermann house. The house is wired for wall lights above each window.I guess we are keeping them, I told DH to decide since I am on the fence. Proper window treatment standards call for your curtain rods to be well above the windows to make them appear taller. i can only kinda/sorta understand that since when the curtains are open, it is apparent how tall the windows are.

The drywall is out in our Hermann house and all wiring open for change.

[KayLR]

It was decided to go with the honeycomb horizontals that retract from either the top or bottom. Actually, rather than windows, the entire wall is 4 framed glass doors, so this should work. AND it will only cost half of what drapes would have.

[Tybee]

It was decided to go with the honeycomb horizontals that retract from either the top or bottom. Actually, rather than windows, the entire wall is 4 framed glass doors, so this should work. AND it will only cost half of what drapes would have.

Nice!!

[catherine]

It was decided to go with the honeycomb horizontals that retract from either the top or bottom. Actually, rather than windows, the entire wall is 4 framed glass doors, so this should work. AND it will only cost half of what drapes would have.

Great choice. I'm thinking they're like the picture Tybee posted, right?

[razz]

I had to check what is meant by honeycomb horizontals; https://www.hunterdouglas.com/window-treatments/cellular-honeycomb-shades

I agree with Tybee, very nice!

[JaneV2.0]

Good choice!
I have three window walls in my LR; I could use an upgrade.

[ToomuchStuff]

Pinch pleats? Is that what you are talking about?

There are Overstock pinch pleated curtains.




Now that I am in another house, I learn the correct search term.>8)

Curtains however, are what I normally see. Completely different rod, and normally thinner.

[Teacher Terry]

I have had drapes, metal and plastic blinds and honeycomb ones and all are a pain to keep clean. I love curtains that I can take down and wash twice a year.