Curtains - fixing an expensive error :(

[Reenarenovation]

Spent a fortune on floor to ceiling thermal blackout lined curtains for a huge bay window 2 months ago. Didn’t redecorate the room at the time and had no intention to. Never loved them, DH hated them. Just redone the room and now curtains look even more hideous.

The quality of them is brilliant though and I wondered whether it is possible to salvage and reuse all the lining etc with a new top fabric.

Curtain maker said no but I think she doesn’t want to do it. Has anyone done this? Reused all the fabric for exactly the same size curtains? Before I start I ringing around trying time find someone who might do it!!

Thank you!

@LaurieFairyCake

They're so gorgeous

If they're darker than you expected pick out the lightest blue in the fabric and paint the room that ?

This!!

You can't hate them that much OP 😬. I'd make them work too.

FWIW I don't think you ever get what you think is perfection!! Maybe I am just fussy but I spent a lot of money on curtains for two bays recently (not £4k though), they're well made, nice fabric. Suit the room but still, I can't get excited about them.

Have you thought about paying an an interior designer for ½ a day to see what they can come up with to make them work better for you??

Sorry if that has been mentioned already, but that is what I would do.

I don't see why you can't re use the structure ? You can un stitch thr material on top and replace with different material . I wonder if the curtain maker thinks you want it done for free ? Can you ask her again to quote you to change the material . It might be as expensive as doing them again but who knows . By the way next to made to measure curtains and mine are amazing.

Also I went for a plain colour for that reason , they cost so much to make and I don't want to change them when I get bored of them.

No real advice other than what you've had so far I'm afraid but cost-wise, I remember my mum paying £1k for a set of bespoke interlined bay window curtains back in 1993 so that makes yours seem like a bit of a bargain OP, tbh!

I think the fabric is stunning. My DP wouldn't agree because he has weirdly conservative stuck in his ways views on things. We're trying to decide on wallpaper for our hall, stairs and landing and I'd like to have something stunning as it's a big space (Edwardian house, lots of lovely woodwork), but he'd settle for magnolia walls or some shite with a border up the stairs because he thinks you should have something clichéd or neutral.

@gunnersgold

I don't see why you can't re use the structure ? You can un stitch thr material on top and replace with different material . I wonder if the curtain maker thinks you want it done for free ? Can you ask her again to quote you to change the material . It might be as expensive as doing them again but who knows . By the way next to made to measure curtains and mine are amazing.

Well yes, she could, but as that curtain fabric is RRP £95 per metre and good quality lining about £6 a metre, any saving in reusing the lining would be massively eclipsed by the remaking costs.

Exactly rose. I got a quote for making up a two width door curtain recently. If I bought the fabric @ £240 the maker would supply the lining (2 x 3m lengths) and the 6" pleat heading tape.

The quote for labour/lining/tape was £240 = same cost as the fabric.

They are a very specific look, I think they are lovely and could be made to work better by changing the wall colour/rug etc.
We need room pics OP.

www.pinterest.co.uk/pin/125608277094056487/

I expect a dye expert might be able to add a dilute grey (or brown, or blue) dye that would be picked up mainly by the light background and give the overall effect of dulling down the whole pattern. But I would be worried about shrinkage.

The voille overlay ideas suggested might be worth exploring.

Could you get some gauzy type of material sown to the patterned side of the curtains so that the pattern is more hazy? Then the patterned bit will effectively be an interlining.

I also love them, and even if they’re darker I would also have painted the walls the lightest colour on the curtain, so the background with white woodwork and white ceilings.