Oh my god CURTAINS - please help me.

[Mnippy]

We haven't bought curtains in years, so would value your advice:

Is it completely normal for companies to charge £75 for a quotation (which I assume includes fitting)? We will be paying a load of money for the job so how come they have a call out fee while other services (bespoke doors, builder jobs) come to give you a quote for free?

We need to replace some curtains but they are complicated - there are tracks at the top and bottom, and complex-looking fabric-covered track poles. The curtain covers a large slanted window (that slants out at the bottom). Does anyone have any recommendations of large companies that can do it? The trouble with smaller cheaper curtain-makers is that they don't seem to be able to tackle the fabric-covered poles.

All advice SO appreciated.

[7to25]

You can try John Lewis.
BUT I think you will be paying over the odds for the service. I have never heard of a deposit to quote when it comes to curtains but a roofer tried to do this to me a couple of years ago. He went on the blacklist.
Are you really sure you want fabric covered poles? I am old and only just remember them first time round. They come from an era of fluorescent lights over the pelmet. I am not surprised that you are finding it difficult to get a quote. Has anyone had any other ideas to dress the window?

[7to25]

You can try John Lewis.
BUT I think you will be paying over the odds for the service. I have never heard of a deposit to quote when it comes to curtains but a roofer tried to do this to me a couple of years ago. He went on the blacklist.
Are you really sure you want fabric covered poles? I am old and only just remember them first time round. They come from an era of fluorescent lights over the pelmet. I am not surprised that you are finding it difficult to get a quote. Has anyone had any other ideas to dress the window?

[mupperoon]

Perhaps a pic would help! I am having trouble envisaging these fabric-covered track poles and the window that slants out at the bottom...

[evelynj]

Hmm, can't envisage it. Are you able to post a pic so you can maybe great some alternative options-would you be open to a crane I'm style? Sounds like there may be simple options...

[Helpys]

First and strange question.
Do you really need curtains? Is the room overlooked or a bedroom? If you have good windows, are not overlooked and don't need the room to be dark, do without!
Assuming you want them for privacy or darkness- would blinds do?
I agree with 7to the fabric poles sound very old fashioned- try and find recommendations locally for a general curtain/ blind maker and get them to come and advise. I've never paid for a quotation.

[burnishedsilver]

What you are describing is very difficult to picture. Even a search on Google images for 'fabric covered curtain poles' came up with nothing. Perhaps a good way of getting a quote would be to email a photo to prospective curtain makers so that you are both on the same page from the beginning. If they cant do it they can say to without having to arrange a call out.

Tbh, from what little I know of the shape of the window, it sounds like shutters would be a better bet. They can be made to almost any shape.

[burnishedsilver]

Another idea would be to remove the existing curtains and let a curtain maker use them as a template to make the same again in a new fabric.

[Beaverfeaver2]

Fabric covered tracks here? :

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-44992159.html

Photos 16/17/18

[Honeymoonmummy]

A thread about curtains? Pull yourself together!

[ill get my coat]

[burnishedsilver]

They're just pelmets. Surely any curtain maker could make a pelmet.

Given the slant on the window and the pole at both ends I though it might be some sort of rod pocket arrangement like the this, but on both ends of the curtain.

Please enlighten us mnippy

[7to25]

Those are rod-pocket valances, Beaver. Covered poles are different.

[burnishedsilver]

what are covered poles?

[MewlingQuim]

If its a slanted window, would blinds be easier?

[gymboywalton]

www.vanessaarbuthnott.co.uk/system/0000/5360/track.jpg

like this?

[burnishedsilver]

Thats interesting gymboy. I've never seen that style before.

[Madamecastafiore]

Where are you based.

I know a good company that will do it but based I Billericay in Essex (Gavin and Stacey land).

[Mnippy]

Thank you everyone for commenting. I am totally clueless and have no idea where to begin. Bad photo attached, which hopefully shows the slant.

It's a bedroom so unfortunately needs some sort of system in place. It is a truly bizarre window, and the hideous covered poles at top and bottom were put in place by the previous owner.

As for blinds, I would love it - but can't rip the whole thing out and just put a simple roller blind in, because there is another window in the bedroom close by that needs matching furnishings and that window is too close to the ceiling to put a blind. What were the architects thinking back in the 1980s!?

gymboy - yup, the covered poles are like the ones you linked to.

[Mnippy]

madame - I'm based in London.

I have sent the photos to the company (many more in fact - too embarrassed to post them all here because the curtain system is grimy beyond belief), and we were corresponding for some time.

Here's a photo of the heinous poles (they are rails for the curtain tracks rather than genuine curtain poles).

[Mnippy]

The curtains should be fairly simple to do - just sew tracking fabric on bottom as well as top. But I have no idea how anyone would manage to remove those poles from their fittings, remove the glued on fabric, then replace everything.

Is the consensus that it's a horrible outdated job and should just be ripped out and done again?

We want to sell in the next year and these curtains are ripped and awful. We have put off doing them as we know it will be expensive (cost over £1000 back in the 1990s apparently, using a firm that I contacted but that has now gone under), but think it will make the flat far more attractive and are prepared to make a disproportionate outlay.

[burnishedsilver]

I have an odd attic window where the blinds are attached to the ceiling as there is no space above the window. It looks fine.

[Spindelina]

I would (carefully) rip out and replace. You could get a nice (understated!) track with gliders for the top and bottom if that arrangement works practically. There wouldn't be much to make good if you were careful ripping them out, I don't think.

Also, yes to blinds attached to ceiling - that works fine as long as the brackets are designed to work either way (which some aren't).

[Madamecastafiore]

Saxton Interiors in Billericay are fab. Sure they will be able to sort you out.

[Mnippy]

burnished and spindelina - I did think of this, but the windows open inwards so I don't think it is possible unless we'd be happy for them to stay closed. They just about barely open inwards with the special thin curtain tracks attached to the ceiling. It's like our windows were designed to be difficult!!

spin, thank you SO much for that link - this is a much much nicer replacement and would look nice and neutral as is desired nowadays in London properties.

Madame - will definitely look the company up. Thank you.

[Spindelina]

We had something similar in an old flat, which we bought from a local shop. I can in no way vouch for that particular website, but it does have lots of pictures of the sort of thing I was trying to tell you about! Hope it helps, anyway.

Hadn't thought about opening the windows into the blind - we have sashes so it's not an issue here!

[apermanentheadache]

If you would prefer blinds I'm sure it can be done. They can be fitted inside the window recess so proximity to ceiling of the other window should not be an obstacle.

John lewis made to measure curtains are an absolutely ridiculous price and there is no way I would pay £75 for a quote. That's bonkers!