Does anyone have anything similar to this? Curtain fair is really expensive! And Medicalproductsdirect.com has good pricing but horrible shipping pricing! $50 shipping for a $20 track? uhhh what?

Has anyone used the IKEA version on a ceiling?

On a related note, when exactly is it worth it to make your own curtains? I am trying to find an appropriate treatment for a balcony sliding door which, with windows on the sides, etc. measures approximately 15 feet. Based on CurtainFair, the track/hardware will cost me at least $250 and their (super-helpful) tables indicate I will end up needing at least 70 feet of fabric given my 9.5 foot ceiling height.

If I can even find a decent fabric for $10/yard (which I highly doubt) I'm looking at over $600 for a DIY solution that, given my sewing skills, is not likely to look too spectacular. At those prices I suppose I'd rather suck it up and wait another year while I save up for a professional solution, even if it's $1,000 more.

Does this math sound right to everyone, or am I wildly overestimating the cost of DIY/underestimating the cost of having them professionally done? The place looks fine without a window treatment, I suppose, but between the glare against my flatpanel and the higher heating/AC costs caused by the exposed windows I would love to have something in place by the summer. . .

I just recently used a system called F-Track. It is a bendable resin and steel track that comes shipped rolled up - thus less expensive shipping. The window I hung these tracks on is 16' high by 22' across. My Draperies are silk with a seperate black out liner, very heavy, and the track has no problem supporting them and it glides like butter. I even curved the ends as to pull the drapes back onto the wall as not to cover up the wall of glass during the day. A buddy and me installed it ourselves in a half day. Great product for the price.
http://bendablecurtainrods.com/index.htm

Eeeck, how are you calculating 70 yards?

I'm getting 24 yards (6 widths of 60" fabric wide, to give you room to pleat or gather, times 4 yards high).

Even with 45" fabric, which isn't your best pick for making curtains, I still only get 40 yards of fabric.

eeeck,

Not sure what you're looking for, but I've had good luck with Country Curtains (.com). You have to look past some things that are a little TOO "country", but they have decent stuff for a good price. I've had them line things that come unlined in their catalog and they do custom lengths too.

Thank You Cooper!!!!
My solution at last! Awesome!!!

Julianna, did you recommend Country Curtains for blackout curtains? My husband, son and I just came back from a vacation where all our hotels had blackout curtains, and I hurriedly ordered some for both our rooms from Country Curtains literally as soon as we got back to the city. They were so reasonably priced. I am also in the market for curtain tracking for our shower curtain.

Curtains are pretty easy to make with grommets. Just make hems at both ends and pound the grommets into the top at regular intervals. If you use the kirsh track the hooks hold the grommets. easy as pie. And if you are as lazy as I am sometimes, you can get fabric and just poke holes into it with the hooks and voila - instant curtain.

Or, here's what I do on small windows and I swear, it looks fine - I use pushpins. You have to make sure to drape the material to give it an fuller look, and you can leave a bit of fabric folded over the pins if you like. Takes a bit of practice but can change my "drapes" all the time this way with very little expense. They won't slide, but I make a knot at the bottom. If you need to expose the whole window regularly, this won't work, of course. Then you need to use a rod system of some kind.

matilda,

I may have recommended the blackout roller shades from country curtains. I have them in my bedroom and love them. I'm sure the curtains will be great too.

Eeeek,

You are right- a DIY curtain system can be very pricey. One thing I've found is that felt can be a good option. First, hemming felt curtains isn't required, so it saves you on time, energy and supplies. Second, felt looks great hanging without pleats, which you might have to account for with other fabrics, thus increasing the amount of yardage you would actually need. Last, felt comes in many colors and thicknesses and can give a nice clean, modern look. I fantasize about using them as art pieces in the future, and either stenciling them or sewing on patches of material to make custom patterns.

Finally found my way back to this post, thanks for the thoughts! Wende, I meant 70 FEET not yards, which I think is similar to your math?

The track Cooper discusses is very affordable and actually doesn't look that hard to install. If I can get a reasonable quote from Country Curtains I bet I will save big over handing the project to Janovic or Zarin, so thanks for these leads.

Adriane, unfortunately I think the felt is not going to work for me because the curtains will be open 90% of the time and need to "stack" very compactly so they will not block too much of the window - so it's probably better for me to get something with pleats. I may take a pic and send in my dilemma as a "good question," so stay tuned. . .

"Has anyone used the IKEA version on a ceiling?"

Hi everyone...long time reader - first time poster...anyway, IKEA...KVARTAL is the tracking system in which you refer to.
It is rather confusing and tedious. I'm a total DIYer...however w/the lack of information provided on-line or in-store in regards to the "sytem" or hardware for KVARTAL- it means several trips to IKEA...trust me.
I applied the system to my ceiling. Unfortunately, they do not glide easily, if at all. The point where the rails line up is impossible to install flawlessly as a result of cheap construction. (note: they MUST line up flawlessly to effortlessly glide - do the math :o(
Unless covered by top of curtain (depends on which option you choose to hang curtain) they LOOK as JANKY as they (mis)behave.
Thumbs down on KVARTAL

I just bought this KVARTAL system with the intent to mount them to the wall instead of the ceiling -- but from what you are saying, the glide will still be a problem. Since they are not yet installed, would you recommend I bag the whole project? In the store they seemed to function . . . . now I am concerned.

I've found a great resource for track systems is www.curtaintrax.com. They offer great prices compared to some of the the other options listed above. Their customer service is terrific.

r0ck out! Can't wait to use cooper's for a spiral track around a bathtub

Thank you Cooper. I used the system from bendablecurtainrods.com (for an expanse of 20 feet with super heavy curtains) that you suggested. With this system I was able to use hooks and drapery tape from JoAnn fabirc which also saved lots of money . The entire cost for my drapes including fabric, system and carpenter installation was less than $750. Couldn't have done it without your suggestion!

We did a great oval ceiling mounted track around a clawfoot tub. Got the hardware required at www.curtain-tracks.com.