Quality of custom drapery worth the cost

DEAR DESIGNER: What is the difference in draperies that can be purchased at the department stores and draperies that interior designers sell? The prices are a world apart. -- Jeremy.

DEAR JEREMY: The quality of custom-made draperies is the primary reason the prices are a world apart.

Draperies that are sold in packages or on hangers in the department stores are referred to as ready-made. Draperies that are designed and sold by designers are usually custom made.

Consumers who have not experienced custom draperies often notice the price difference first. But once they experience the quality of the real deal, most never look back. It's a little like experiencing a very fine meal or riding in a well-made car. Once you've been introduced, it's hard to settle for less.

Ready-made draperies are made in factories. The fabrics are made into standard-size panels and valances (also called top treatments) and packaged to sell by the multitudes to the department stores. This gives the consumer a product that is cost effective. Unfortunately, these do not always meet the homeowners' needs. A few of the pitfalls include limited fabric selections, limited sizes and fullness deficiencies.

The best time to make use of ready-made draperies is when you want to dress a bedroom window and you are at the end of your budget. Even then I have a hard time recommending ready-made draperies to my clients.

Custom draperies are made in workrooms. There are huge differences in the construction and quality. You will never see stitching on the front side of a custom-drapery panel, unless it was intentionally put there for effect. The hems are always doubled to make the fabric hang properly and in smooth, consistent folds.

Most custom draperies have double 4-inch bottom hems and 4-inch buckram headings. (The buckram is the stiff, white textile sewn in the top of draperies; it's stiffness helps to hold the shape of the pleats). Super custom draperies have double 5-inch hems and headings. Both have weights in the corners and at the seams.

Another huge factor in custom draperies is the fullness. A custom drapery is made three times full while a ready-made is only 11/2 to two times full. A skimpy drapery panel is a quick giveaway that your draperies were department store purchased.

Custom draperies are made exclusively for you and your home and are installed by skilled installers. When custom draperies are installed, they go across the front of the rod and return back to the wall on the ends so you can't see behind the drapery. Many times ready-made draperies are installed incorrectly, another giveaway that they are not custom.

Here is an approximate breakdown for the cost of custom drapes for the two windows featured in the photos.

Fabric cost: (designer fabric) 30 yards at $54 per yard, $1,620; labor: custom sheers and cornice boxes, $800; hardware and installation, $190. The total cost for the custom draperies was $2,610.

When you consider a budget for draperies, please note that the featured draperies are quite simple as far as custom goes. If this client wanted draperies over the sheers, the cost would have increased considerably.

As you can see quite quickly, the fabric cost is the biggest factor in the overall price. This is why it is important to create a budget and share it with your designer. This same quality window covering can be made for just less than $1,740 if the fabric cost is reduced to $24.50 per yard. On the other hand, if you use a designer silk that has two types of lining, the price can quickly soar.

If your budget doesn't allow you to enjoy the quality and prestige of custom draperies at this time, there are some things you can do to get a quality look. If possible, order custom draperies for the first room your guests see when they walk into your home. That's usually the living room. If you wow them when they walk in, they may not notice you skimped in the other rooms. The familiar statement "First impressions are lasting impressions" applies to your home, too.

Another idea I have used while working within a tight budget, is to purchase ready-made draperies and customize them. I have taken a dust ruffle and made it into a cornice box to go over the top of a drapery. I have sewn several panels together to create more fullness and have even added contrasting fabric to the bottoms to give them length and style. If you have imagination, you can create your own custom look on a budget.

If you want custom draperies and don't know where to start, you will find it beneficial to call a designer or window covering designer. As in any purchase for your home, it's always prudent to get a few estimates if you don't already have a trusty designer.

Custom draperies add class and sophistication to a well-designed home. The experience and professionalism of a designer can help you to create a lasting impression on your windows that you will be proud of for many years.

Cindy Payne is a certified interior designer with more than 25 years of experience, a member of the American Society of Interior Designers, as well as a licensed contractor. E-mail questions to her at deardesigner@projectdesign interiors.com or send them to her at Project Design Interiors, 2620 S. Maryland Parkway, Suite 189, Las Vegas, NV 89109. She can be reached online at www.projectdesigninteriors.com.