Thursday, July 14, 2011

5 Under-Appreciated Things About Custom Drapery

Not seeing the difference does not always justify not paying the difference!  This especially applies when it comes to beautifully done custom drapery. 

The following are the top five under-appreciated things about custom drapery:

  1. "A picture is worth a thousand words." Unfortunately, with beautifully done custom drapery, that saying doesn't quite apply. Many of the factors that make a custom window treatment so extra special can't be seen in a picture.  For example, custom drapery are fully lined, making them fuller and heavier versus unlined store bought curtains.  Store bought curtains will generally come in a limited variety of fabrics, textures, and colors.  The store purchasing department usually tend to select budget friendly fabrics and simple designs to appeal to border audiences.                    
  2.  Lining makes the difference. Beautifully done custom draperies are lined with a thicker poly cotton fabric that blocks the sun.  These linings can be singular or layered in application depending upon fabric, design, and budget.  While most drapery are totally adequate utilizing a single lining; other fabric and designs may require an interlining and or black out lining to provide additional protection from an east or west window that receives direct sunlight.
  3. Tailored to your needs.  Custom window treatments are made especially for your room the way you'd like. Store bought curtains are designed to please the majority of consumers. These include curtains that are made with solid, neutral colors and standard sizes. If you need to dress a very wide nursery window in pink and brown toile fabric, you will have a hard time finding the perfect window treatment that you want. Decorator fabrics come in a wide range of colors, prints, and sizes, giving you endless custom options that most store bought curtains don't offer.
  4. Long term investment. Beautifully done custom drapery when well thought out are more like flooring and cabinets in that they are seldom changed and will extend ten years upwards before changes will be considered.  Custom drapery will out perform store bought curtains five to one when it comes to durability and style. 
  5. Installation. Whenever you choose to purchase beautifully done custom drapery you are likely to get a professional drapery installer as well.  The benefits to having a professional hanging your custom drapery are priceless.  Professional installer differ from your son, husband, or yourself in that they are skilled in measuring and are likely to measure twice and drill once.  The average installation time will vary depending upon the design and the number of layers in the treatment, but it is safe to assume that it will be a fraction of the time it takes to install store bought curtains which generally offer more challenges in that materials are budget friendly and inferior to the heavier duty commercial materials and parts of professional installers.  
There are many more reasons why beautifully done custom drapery are better than store bought, but the most obvious is value. Beautifully Done Custom Drapery will add character, elegance, and value to your home pay for themselves through lower energy costs, enjoyment, and not to mention the great selling points that you gain if you ever decide to part with your home.

As always remember to schedule your in home consultation today, contact us at phone 281-820-0139 or email us at beautifullydone@sbcglobal.net