Drapes can be used strictly for decorative purposes or for privacy.  You will need to decide if you want privacy or decorative drapes and we will explain it to you.

If you want to close the drapes for privacy, you need to measure the window from end of casing to end of casing.  We recommend adding 8-10″ on each side if you have a slider or larger window for stacking.  Please enter that final measurement when you place your order.

If you want decorative panels that you are not planning on closing, you should order approximately 48″ wide for a standard size window.  Each panel would measure 24″ wide when pleated.

Pillow banding will make your custom pillow look more custom.  You can add contrast banding to this product to highlight a color in your fabric or to pick-up a color from another element in the room.  Consider your wall or trim paint, drapes, artwork or furniture for contrasting color ideas. This pillow banding is 2″, very simple and looks great.

A Pelmet is a finished decorative fabric accent added to many window treatment styles.  A Pelmet can be used for purely decorative purposes or to cover a transition point on a window treatment.

In this photo, the traditional swag has 3 pelmets added for a more formal look.

When drape measuring, there are a couple of ways to go.  In the drapery industry we refer to “On the flat” measuring as a simple concept.  When you take a gathered rod pocket drape or valance and lie it flat on a table you will be measuring the flat width.  If the flat measurement is 50″, you will typically get 25″ of window coverage when installed on the rod at 2 to 1 fullness.  Fullness is how much you gather the window treatment on the rod.  In our Budget custom department all sizes are “on the flat” sizes.  In our full custom and tradtional custom departments, the draperies are finished sizes so if you get a 25″ panel, that will be the finished width.

Overlapping valances are an ideal solution for any window because of their flexibility.  They are an excellent solution for a small window and for very large window such as slider and French Doors.

When you have multiple overlapping valances, you will need a double curtain rod. You will alternate the valance on the front and back rods to achieve the overlap.  Double rod pockets are necessary on the valance to ensure the valances have the same drop on the front.  Valances on the front rod will use pocket one and valances on the back rod will use pocket two.

We recommend that you allow for a 25% overlap in your calculations.  This will give you a beautiful full look.  So for example lets say your slider is 84″ wide.  Adding the 25% will give you 105″ of valance required (84″ x 1.25 = 105″).  We recommend that you use an odd number when overlapping for symmetry.  Take the 105″/3 = 35″.  So you would order three valances at 35″ to give you a beautiful finished window treatment.

There are a lot of different options for Drapery lining for your Custom window Treatments today.  We offer different linings in each of our departments or workrooms. You can read the descriptions below and select a lining that best suits you.

FULL Custom products can be lined in your choice of:

• Standard white or ivory lining
• Thermal white or ivory lining. It’s a bit thicker and has a slight suede feel to provide greater insulating properties
• Blackout lining will not let any light through.  Blackout should be used for drapes and Roman shades

TRADITIONAL  Custom products can be lined in:

• Standard white or ivory lining
• Blackout lining will not let any light through.  Blackout should be used for drapes

BUDGET Custom products are  lined in

• White/ivory lining
• Black out

You will be able to select your lining choice at check out.

When making a valance that is mounted on a board, you will have to take into consideration the thickness of the actual board under the fabric.  The window treatment is made with wood “legs” on the sides.  The wood legs make the inside measurement approximately 2″ narrower than the face width. When Valance measuring, please refer to picture below.  This is very important if you are tight on room around your casing.

Please add a minimum of 2″ to your ordered width so that your legs easily clear the window casing (molding) when installed.

Interlining on drapes is a fairly thick layer of fabric sewn into a drape between the face fabric and the lining giving the finished drape a total of three fabric layers (face-interlining-lining).  Interlining serves as an additional layer of insulation and better protects the face fabric from damage caused by direct sun light.  We strongly recommend that you use interlining with delicate fabrics such as silk and velvet although we recommended it for all drapes to reduce fading and increase drape life.  Additionally, interlining gives drapes a better hanging appearance and fuller body.

A header is added to many window treatments for decorative purposes.  The Drapery Heading is located above the rod pocket. It is made from the same fabric as the window treatment.  When the window treatment is gathered on the rod, the header will look like “ruffled” fabric.  You have your choice  of No header, 1″ header, 2″ header, 3″ header or 4″.  It is rare to go much bigger than a 4″ drapery heading.   The pictures below will show you a standard 3″ heading and a rod pocket drape without a header.

Seams are a fact of life when using designer fabrics because fabric width is a maximum of 54″. If you are concerned about headboard seams please continue to read.  To make the seam barely noticeable, you need a excellent workmanship and a superior understanding of pattern matching.  We have both.

Full, Queen, King and Cal. King headboards will have two seams in the approximate locations indicated below (unless the fabric is non-directional).  We use two seams to balance their placement.