Blinds - help needed for a novice

[BiscuitNibbler]

After everyone was so helpful with flooring / carpet advice (whole house being done next week thanks to the advice on here), could I possibly pick your brains about blinds?

I have just taken down a roman blind which was old and dark - well I actually cut it down as I have no knowledge of how I was meant to take it down! It was attached to a piece of wood which is still up, the blind cords going through metal hooks and then the top "flap" velcro-taped onto it. Does that make sense?

Anyway, I want to replace the blind, but looking at the measurements it would seem to be non-standard width (typical) so I have a couple of questions...

1 - Who do I go to to get a made to measure blind? Are Hillary's good / dreadful?

2 - How does a roman blind arrive? I mean, will it come attached to a wooden bit (and therefore I should take down the current piece) or will it just come with the hooks to attach to the wood? I just couldn't see a way of detaching the blind from the wood without cutting the cords, so I wondered if they all come with a piece of wood?

Thanks in advance.

My advice is to go to a local independent curtain/blind maker. They will be able to make it to the correct size and will also be able to fit it for you.

They will attach it to the same wooden batten, so leave that there. Also leave the hooks there. The curtain maker should come and measure up.

To take down a roman blind, you either untie the cords where they go through the cord pull at the end, or you just cut the cord pull off. The cords then unthread through the hooks on the batten and you peel the blind off the Velcro. One side of the Velcro is left on the batten for the next blind.

HTH

Thank you fresh that's very helpful.

Really glad I left the wood up there now, as I was considering taking it down (was decorating).

Just got to find a local independent blind maker now.

I have just discovered a few blind makers on ebay. I had 2 laura ashley fabric blinds made for £70!!!!

Search roman blinds, there are often new ones ready to go even in unusual sizes, and there are lots of listings where they have MTM blinds for a set price, like £35 for small window £65 for a bigger and £100 for big windows. They have lovely fabrics, a lot of Laura Ashley, John Lewis, Clarke and Clarke. The sizes are limited to the size of the fabric they have, they are off cuts hence the price, but honestly the ones I just got are lovely, really well made, and came with the rods in and rigged up to the wood and metal bits. All ready to screw in.

I don't rate Hillarys blinds, they are not very nice. If ebay isn't any good I second a local independant firm.

That's very interesting, Oreo , I'll have a look!

They are also very easy to make yourself if you felt up to it.
I'm very much a beginner at sewing but managed to do 3 blinds for my old house!
Look for tutorials on line and hang onto the old blind so you can see how it was made. You can buy blind kits from fabric shops, although I used the fittings from the blinds I took down.

Have you tried www.roman-blinds-direct.co.uk?

I need five small blinds for a bay window and they are coming out around £35 each. I've been quoted £500 from other companies.

You just put your measurements in and they do the rest. You can also add free fabric samples too.

Don't go anywhere near Hilary's or Thomas Sanderson's - they are foul

Thanks for all the responses.

I'm a bit worried about getting them on the internet as I am nervous about hanging them myself (I do all the DIY in this house and I don't want wonky blinds!).

I have just got a recommendation from a friend, so have a local independent woman coming around to measure up later this week. She hangs them too.

Thanks for all your help.