And now back to work
The fabric for the formal (grey) salon arrived, I’m thrilled. I’ve been looking at fabric samples for months. I wanted something special and different because the house deserves it; that and the panelling is so fine that most fabrics I tried next to it just didn’t measure up. It’s probably one of the more extravagant things I’ve ever done. We’re going with an embroidered silk and the background colour goes with the original wall colour beautifully.
They’ll be in tête flamande, (just as the original curtains) which means Dutch pleat/pinch pleat, and looks like this:
the wrong choice of pleating can make even a good fabric look terrible
If you like this sort of material there are really stunning options out there. The best way to go about buying them is contacting fabric warehouses and asking if they have or can get end-of-line bolts. We got ours discounted by 80% which was necessary considering we need over 30 metres for the curtains in the grey salon. Otherwise prepare yourself to pay around €500 a metre for something by Colefax & Fowler, and over €800 for a version by Pierre Frey.
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- Colefax & Fowler Celadon
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- Pierre Frey Braquenie
My Mazamet 
If you keep blogging at this rate you’ll never get the house sorted. Or maybe you will become a good blogger, rather than one who drips arrogant condescension?
Anyway, nice looking fabric. I have a total weakness for fabrics.
Who’s making them up? And how are you getting them lined? I do hope you are going to have those dinky little pockets (pic on roughseas somewhere) to avoid the strings hanging down. Soooooo tacky.
I like the triple pleats. Always fancied it but never had anywhere appropriate, usually bay windows, rather than bold large rectangular ones.
One mistake most people make. They always skimp on measurements and ruin the effect. I always went for 3x. The other is not to position the pattern correctly for the drop. Anyway, I’m sure you’ll have all that covered.
The end-of-line tip is a good option. Not that I need new curtains. They move house with me.
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I’ve never heard of pockets for the curtain strings – no wonder mine always look a bit of a muddle. When my very old curtains in the living room need replacing (ie when we have spare cash) I must ask for ‘string pockets’.
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Not sure if this will work. Should be a pic of pocket, but …
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Shazzam! So, you can see, the strings just drop in neatly. The pocket is easy to make, the only thing to do when making yourself, is to remember to position before adding the tape. I’ve forgotten a couple of times 😦
I’ve never seen them offered commercially. I think curtain making is a rip-off for the quality – not – provided. I’ve never bought any.
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These are so clever, I think I’ll try making some for existing curtains.
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HA!!!!!!!!!!!! Mike keeps screaming the same thing from the other side of the house. Of me never getting it sorted, obviously. As for never becoming a good blogger according to certain standards, I can live with that 😉
I have enough trouble trying to be a decent human being and a decent professional. Adding other people’s standards to my own would probably make life somewhat exhausting.
I got the most old fashioned curtain maker in town to do them. Her parents and grandparents were also curtain makers. I don’t want anyone with creative new ideas. I’ve seen those unusual modern affairs where cattle nose rings are sewn into single length curtains- I don’t want them anywhere near me.
I’d love triple pleats and x 3- but there wasn’t enough fabric. It has to be double pleats x 2.5. Trust me, that’s already the equivalent to a WWII victory. When the curtain adventure began I asked Mike what he thought was reasonable for us to pay for the fabric per metre and his answer was €5. When pushed he went up to €7. So just guess how exhausting it’s been to get THESE curtains?!? Anyway, we’re married now so I’m not allowed to pull the ‘this is my money card’- it’s all, annoyingly, our money.
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5 Euros! he is very out of touch. I found some fabric I loved, mentioned price to husband (£45 per metre), plus estimate of total cost to have them made (£800) & he went pale & insisted we don’t need new ones just yet. And I can’t make them, I’ve tried & they were only fit for dust sheets when painting.
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Gorgeous fabric – I hate choosing curtain fabric, which is why I’ve kept mine for so long. I have had pinch pleats though, & they are lovely, much nicer than pencil pleats.
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Exquisite fabrics. wonderful colours. I have a soft spot for brocades myself. You’re obviously committed to making a beautiful job of the house, remember to enjoy it too.
Hugs
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I know that you get adulation enough on here, but I do love the fabric you’ve chosen. I have a special weakness for black, white, and shades of grey.
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