Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok so here is is the mbr in a very modern house currently in AD where many of the windows are shown bare.

Those are lovely, one width panels that are lined and interlined with a triple euro pleat and probably custom iron hardware. Let’s call it $100/yard fabric (I’m sure in that house it’s more but to get the look with a nice natural fabric). We’ll call it 15 yards of fabric and we’ll say the lining/interlining is $10/yrd.

Fabric: $1650
Hardware: $400
Labor (inc installation): $350
Total: $1400 for the two windows.

Could you get that look with IKEA curtains? You could get close! The details would be different but the function would be there and a lot of the look. It just depends on what you’re going for. Certainly it’s easier to do in this kind of clean, modern, monochromatic scheme. L mo

I hate to break it to you but this room is definitely fusty and dowdy. I guess we can call it a new style, “modern dowdy”

Anonymous wrote:Ok so here is is the mbr in a very modern house currently in AD where many of the windows are shown bare.

Those are lovely, one width panels that are lined and interlined with a triple euro pleat and probably custom iron hardware. Let’s call it $100/yard fabric (I’m sure in that house it’s more but to get the look with a nice natural fabric). We’ll call it 15 yards of fabric and we’ll say the lining/interlining is $10/yrd.

Fabric: $1650
Hardware: $400
Labor (inc installation): $350
Total: $1400 for the two windows.

Could you get that look with IKEA curtains? You could get close! The details would be different but the function would be there and a lot of the look. It just depends on what you’re going for. Certainly it’s easier to do in this kind of clean, modern, monochromatic scheme. L mo

Anonymous wrote:Ok so here is is the mbr in a very modern house currently in AD where many of the windows are shown bare.

Those are lovely, one width panels that are lined and interlined with a triple euro pleat and probably custom iron hardware. Let’s call it $100/yard fabric (I’m sure in that house it’s more but to get the look with a nice natural fabric). We’ll call it 15 yards of fabric and we’ll say the lining/interlining is $10/yrd.

Fabric: $1650
Hardware: $400
Labor (inc installation): $350
Total: $1400 for the two windows.

Could you get that look with IKEA curtains? You could get close! The details would be different but the function would be there and a lot of the look. It just depends on what you’re going for. Certainly it’s easier to do in this kind of clean, modern, monochromatic scheme. L mo

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ok so here is is the mbr in a very modern house currently in AD where many of the windows are shown bare.

Those are lovely, one width panels that are lined and interlined with a triple euro pleat and probably custom iron hardware. Let’s call it $100/yard fabric (I’m sure in that house it’s more but to get the look with a nice natural fabric). We’ll call it 15 yards of fabric and we’ll say the lining/interlining is $10/yrd.

Fabric: $1650
Hardware: $400
Labor (inc installation): $350
Total: $1400 for the two windows.

Could you get that look with IKEA curtains? You could get close! The details would be different but the function would be there and a lot of the look. It just depends on what you’re going for. Certainly it’s easier to do in this kind of clean, modern, monochromatic scheme. L mo

Ok. But in 10 years, this will look outdated. So, what do you do then? Spend another $60k on drapes?

Anonymous wrote:Ok so here is is the mbr in a very modern house currently in AD where many of the windows are shown bare.

Those are lovely, one width panels that are lined and interlined with a triple euro pleat and probably custom iron hardware. Let’s call it $100/yard fabric (I’m sure in that house it’s more but to get the look with a nice natural fabric). We’ll call it 15 yards of fabric and we’ll say the lining/interlining is $10/yrd.

Fabric: $1650
Hardware: $400
Labor (inc installation): $350
Total: $1400 for the two windows.

Could you get that look with IKEA curtains? You could get close! The details would be different but the function would be there and a lot of the look. It just depends on what you’re going for. Certainly it’s easier to do in this kind of clean, modern, monochromatic scheme. L mo

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did some rough calculations for amount of fabric and costs for pinch pleat drapes for a 65" wide window. My sewing books say to use at least double the amount of fabric to the window, ideally 2.5, but let's go with double, for 96" drapes. Add 12" to the 96" for finishing the top and the bottom of each drape. You will need extra fabric for matching print repeats, but that's specific to the print so I'll ignore that here. Most decorator fabrics are 60" wide, and that's close enough to 65" that I wouldn't add more width to each panel. Mid-price ~$50/yard. Average price for lining and interlining $10/yard each.
96+12=108=3yards per length
2 curtains/window = 6 yards per window
6 x $50 = $300
6 x $10 = $60
6 x $10 = $60
Total = $450 in material per window

That's not too terribly bad, if you're willing to do the work yourself. You can also cut the price of the fabric by tracking down sale fabrics. Joanne Fabrics carries a lot of the mid-price quality materials, and they have frequent sales.

You clearly missed the part where OP pointed out that she is a DOCTOR (ob-gyn to be exact) and has all the money but no time to DIY.

I am always surprised when people who are paid very well for their time balk at paying other people for their time, personally.

Actually, I didn't miss it, but did forget to add that if you're a physician the opportunity cost makes it not worth your while to DIY, UNLESS you enjoy the process. I'm a SAHM, and I enjoyed the process when I made my own drapes (some of them weren't perfect, others as pretty as a couture gown). It required a lot of precision and careful attention to detail. I come from a family with a few physicians, and they're cheap. Lovable, but cheap.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone!

I was being slightly sarcastic about OP's protestations that she has oh-so-little time because she is a doctor. It didn't come through.

My mother is a doctor (pathologist, to be exact) and not only does she cook her own meals, clean her own house, and grow her own vegetables, she also sews her own clothes when she sees a pattern she likes, and made the drapes for our rental house when she was a resident. She is not a normal person (very very high-energy and highly disciplined, I am the opposite), and she is cheap, but she would definitely recognize that custom window treatments are going to cost $$$$$!

Lol, my sister is an OBGYN in 2019 and she is actually working right now. I'd day she puts in 60-70hrs a week and definitely does no do anything DIY, but then again she's not going for a gold in martyrdom.

I am a busy professional, and a mom, but I don’t consider DIY tasks that I like and choose to do to be martyrdom, even if I consider my time valuable. There is something really joyful about making something or fixing something for yourself that I think a lot of busy people miss out on because they are working “70 hour weeks.” It’s kind of sad that there some sort of either/or dichotomy, like if I DIY my time must not be valuable. It is valuable but working with my hands instead of my brain once in awhile feels lovely.

Anonymous wrote:Ok so here is is the mbr in a very modern house currently in AD where many of the windows are shown bare.

Those are lovely, one width panels that are lined and interlined with a triple euro pleat and probably custom iron hardware. Let’s call it $100/yard fabric (I’m sure in that house it’s more but to get the look with a nice natural fabric). We’ll call it 15 yards of fabric and we’ll say the lining/interlining is $10/yrd.

Fabric: $1650
Hardware: $400
Labor (inc installation): $350
Total: $1400 for the two windows.

Could you get that look with IKEA curtains? You could get close! The details would be different but the function would be there and a lot of the look. It just depends on what you’re going for. Certainly it’s easier to do in this kind of clean, modern, monochromatic scheme. L mo

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aside from plantation shutters, which I think can look nice if you have really good light, I hate custom curtains/drapes. They look so dowdy and old-fashioned, like a dusty grandma’s house. I much prefer a simple Roman shade or white linen curtain with natural woven shades.

I sort of agree that custom window treatments tend to be dowdy, although I’m sure everyone on DCUM has the absolute best non-dowdy curtains.

What makes custom window treatments dowdy?

They tend to be heavy fabrics, often damask, and they block light, which often makes the room darker, and the fabrics tend to look dated because they are usually a custom type of pattern, and no one is going to replace window treatments that cost thousands of dollars when they were installed.

And I am someone who is very much against trends and the blight of same-ness that seems to be everywhere, but even in my mom’s house I don’t like the custom window treatments.

If you’re looking at window treatments from the 90s, of course they will look dated (and dowdy). What you described is nothing like typical modern custom window treatments.

Honestly, I cannot think of attractive custom window treatments that I have seen in real life in recent memory. My most stylish friends have something very simple like Roman shades or very airy, light drapes that you could get at IKEA. A lot of people just seem to avoid them altogether.

LOL at IKEA being equivalent to custom drapes (which can also be done in a “very airy, light fabric.”

Honestly, it sounds like your notions of upscale interior design haven’t progressed past watching the original “Dallas.”

Who is more likely to have dated decor: the person making a reference to “Dallas” or the person who is too young to have any idea what you are talking about?

Let’s ponder on that one a bit...

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aside from plantation shutters, which I think can look nice if you have really good light, I hate custom curtains/drapes. They look so dowdy and old-fashioned, like a dusty grandma’s house. I much prefer a simple Roman shade or white linen curtain with natural woven shades.

I sort of agree that custom window treatments tend to be dowdy, although I’m sure everyone on DCUM has the absolute best non-dowdy curtains.

What makes custom window treatments dowdy?

They tend to be heavy fabrics, often damask, and they block light, which often makes the room darker, and the fabrics tend to look dated because they are usually a custom type of pattern, and no one is going to replace window treatments that cost thousands of dollars when they were installed.

And I am someone who is very much against trends and the blight of same-ness that seems to be everywhere, but even in my mom’s house I don’t like the custom window treatments.

If you’re looking at window treatments from the 90s, of course they will look dated (and dowdy). What you described is nothing like typical modern custom window treatments.

Honestly, I cannot think of attractive custom window treatments that I have seen in real life in recent memory. My most stylish friends have something very simple like Roman shades or very airy, light drapes that you could get at IKEA. A lot of people just seem to avoid them altogether.

LOL at IKEA being equivalent to custom drapes (which can also be done in a “very airy, light fabric.”

Honestly, it sounds like your notions of upscale interior design haven’t progressed past watching the original “Dallas.”

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aside from plantation shutters, which I think can look nice if you have really good light, I hate custom curtains/drapes. They look so dowdy and old-fashioned, like a dusty grandma’s house. I much prefer a simple Roman shade or white linen curtain with natural woven shades.

I sort of agree that custom window treatments tend to be dowdy, although I’m sure everyone on DCUM has the absolute best non-dowdy curtains.

What makes custom window treatments dowdy?

They tend to be heavy fabrics, often damask, and they block light, which often makes the room darker, and the fabrics tend to look dated because they are usually a custom type of pattern, and no one is going to replace window treatments that cost thousands of dollars when they were installed.

And I am someone who is very much against trends and the blight of same-ness that seems to be everywhere, but even in my mom’s house I don’t like the custom window treatments.

If you’re looking at window treatments from the 90s, of course they will look dated (and dowdy). What you described is nothing like typical modern custom window treatments.

Honestly, I cannot think of attractive custom window treatments that I have seen in real life in recent memory. My most stylish friends have something very simple like Roman shades or very airy, light drapes that you could get at IKEA. A lot of people just seem to avoid them altogether.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I did some rough calculations for amount of fabric and costs for pinch pleat drapes for a 65" wide window. My sewing books say to use at least double the amount of fabric to the window, ideally 2.5, but let's go with double, for 96" drapes. Add 12" to the 96" for finishing the top and the bottom of each drape. You will need extra fabric for matching print repeats, but that's specific to the print so I'll ignore that here. Most decorator fabrics are 60" wide, and that's close enough to 65" that I wouldn't add more width to each panel. Mid-price ~$50/yard. Average price for lining and interlining $10/yard each.
96+12=108=3yards per length
2 curtains/window = 6 yards per window
6 x $50 = $300
6 x $10 = $60
6 x $10 = $60
Total = $450 in material per window

That's not too terribly bad, if you're willing to do the work yourself. You can also cut the price of the fabric by tracking down sale fabrics. Joanne Fabrics carries a lot of the mid-price quality materials, and they have frequent sales.

You clearly missed the part where OP pointed out that she is a DOCTOR (ob-gyn to be exact) and has all the money but no time to DIY.

I am always surprised when people who are paid very well for their time balk at paying other people for their time, personally.

Actually, I didn't miss it, but did forget to add that if you're a physician the opportunity cost makes it not worth your while to DIY, UNLESS you enjoy the process. I'm a SAHM, and I enjoyed the process when I made my own drapes (some of them weren't perfect, others as pretty as a couture gown). It required a lot of precision and careful attention to detail. I come from a family with a few physicians, and they're cheap. Lovable, but cheap.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays, everyone!

I was being slightly sarcastic about OP's protestations that she has oh-so-little time because she is a doctor. It didn't come through.

My mother is a doctor (pathologist, to be exact) and not only does she cook her own meals, clean her own house, and grow her own vegetables, she also sews her own clothes when she sees a pattern she likes, and made the drapes for our rental house when she was a resident. She is not a normal person (very very high-energy and highly disciplined, I am the opposite), and she is cheap, but she would definitely recognize that custom window treatments are going to cost $$$$$!

Lol, my sister is an OBGYN in 2019 and she is actually working right now. I'd day she puts in 60-70hrs a week and definitely does no do anything DIY, but then again she's not going for a gold in martyrdom.

I am a busy professional, and a mom, but I don’t consider DIY tasks that I like and choose to do to be martyrdom, even if I consider my time valuable. There is something really joyful about making something or fixing something for yourself that I think a lot of busy people miss out on because they are working “70 hour weeks.” It’s kind of sad that there some sort of either/or dichotomy, like if I DIY my time must not be valuable. It is valuable but working with my hands instead of my brain once in awhile feels lovely.

I hate DIY tasks, but good for you. The beauty is that people are all different and enjoy different things. Maybe one day when you grow up you will realize this.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aside from plantation shutters, which I think can look nice if you have really good light, I hate custom curtains/drapes. They look so dowdy and old-fashioned, like a dusty grandma’s house. I much prefer a simple Roman shade or white linen curtain with natural woven shades.

I sort of agree that custom window treatments tend to be dowdy, although I’m sure everyone on DCUM has the absolute best non-dowdy curtains.

What makes custom window treatments dowdy?

They tend to be heavy fabrics, often damask, and they block light, which often makes the room darker, and the fabrics tend to look dated because they are usually a custom type of pattern, and no one is going to replace window treatments that cost thousands of dollars when they were installed.

And I am someone who is very much against trends and the blight of same-ness that seems to be everywhere, but even in my mom’s house I don’t like the custom window treatments.

If you’re looking at window treatments from the 90s, of course they will look dated (and dowdy). What you described is nothing like typical modern custom window treatments.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Aside from plantation shutters, which I think can look nice if you have really good light, I hate custom curtains/drapes. They look so dowdy and old-fashioned, like a dusty grandma’s house. I much prefer a simple Roman shade or white linen curtain with natural woven shades.

I sort of agree that custom window treatments tend to be dowdy, although I’m sure everyone on DCUM has the absolute best non-dowdy curtains.

What makes custom window treatments dowdy?

They tend to be heavy fabrics, often damask, and they block light, which often makes the room darker, and the fabrics tend to look dated because they are usually a custom type of pattern, and no one is going to replace window treatments that cost thousands of dollars when they were installed.

And I am someone who is very much against trends and the blight of same-ness that seems to be everywhere, but even in my mom’s house I don’t like the custom window treatments.