Curtains - where to buy these from?

[pasturesnew]

I would like to buy some "proper" curtains, have only had Ikea ones before. I am scared I will measure wrong, are the measuring services from John Lewis and Laura Ashley and the like v v expensive? Where else should I be looking e.g. what should I look for in a local shop? Am fairly housebound at the moment with pregnancy back problems so would ideally like a home visit.

Thank you!

Have a look at Next, it shows you how to measure your windows.

thanks Fimbo, do you like Next curtains too or just the advice?

I bought some curtains from Econermine years ago and was satisfied with the quality of the make up, which was better than Laura Ashley's. No experience of purchasing curtains at John Lewis. No home visit though. Local firms will often be prepared to come in and measure up for you.

Thanks, that link looks useful. I only want quite plain fabric so I hope that most suppliers can provide it.

I have Next curtains currently in 2 bedrooms and the dc's rooms. I did have lounge curtains in the past.

There is a company local to me, called Hangman and they measure up, let you choose fabrics and then come back and hang them. Will see if it is a franchise. Hold on......

Nah, it's only local to me. Pity

bit of a sinister name though isn't it!

Randomly reminds me of a sketch on Mitchell & Webb about a new dry-cleaning company choosing the name "Touching Cloth"

LOL!.

If you do go with JL or LA bear in mind it will be expensive. We had a custom made roman blind from LA for our last house's bathroom, now it wasn't a big window by any means and it cost £175 and that was the sale price.

ouch that is what I am afraid of, I am wondering if it is more expensive to be a scaredy-cat about measuring wrong and therefore paying more for the fitting service, or more expensive to actually measure wrong and end up with the wrong size curtains? If it is actually not that hard to measure up properly then maybe I should bite the bullet and so would be able to get cheaper ready-made ones.

Most curtains are suitable for slightly variable lengths; what I mean is, you might measure it as 83" and the curtains that are 84" drop can be hung so as to have a drop that is 1"-2" either side of that 84", so 84" drop might be okay for 82.5" to 85.5". So you DON't have to get it precisely right, usually.

It is MUCH cheaper if you can buy standard drop-length curtains rather than have them made to measure. And there are many standard drop lengths in most shops.

Depends what type of top your curtains have (or that you want them to have) whether they can be (somewhat) flexible length.

I think I want pencil pleat curtains as the tracks are plastic ones not nice rails that you'd want to display

Why not use an idepenedent curtain maker? S/he will come and measure up, offer advice on headings and style and can order fabric for you and should offer you a discount as they will get it at less than RRP.
Or you could try an indie design shop.

Thanks, would I look in yellow pages for that then? [duh] emoticon

Yes try Yellow Pages/Google or ask local interios shop or friends for recommendations.

Thanks! And thanks again everybody for all the helpful suggestions.