Hello AT,
There's a wall in my bedroom that I'd like to hide by hanging a ceiling-to-floor curtain. It's a wall with 2 closets so I would still need access to it.
I've seen the various recommendations people had for the hardware on AT, but I'd like to know what *fabric* I should buy, and where I can get it for cheap?
What I'm really trying to achieve is that Delano Hotel / Shore Club look, where it's somewhat sheer but still not completely see-through, and has a nice heft to the fabric so it drapes nicely. And I'm in NYC so any stores in Manhattan or Brooklyn would be perfect.
Thanks! Carmen
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Try Ikea, too. They have white sailcloth panels, and Ikea's stock size are longer than most others. Just remember, don't skimp on the "fullness"... make sure you are buying enough width so the drapes still have some folds and ripples when fully closed. Otherwise, it looks like a bed sheet or shower curtain.
Also, if you can go a little off-white, consider using unprimed artist's canvas.
P(too), you're fast! I immediately thought 'Ikea,' too. Another plus with the Ikea sailcloth panels is that they provide the iron-on tape for hemming, so there's no sewing involved. Just put them in my daughter's room and it was nice not to have to drag out the sewing machine.
Kind of unrelated, but would appreciate any leads. I once in a magazine saw curtains that Kelly Hoppen made out of white parachute material and they were so gorgeous. Any idea how/where this could be done? I think I might've seen it in the U.K. magazine Living Etc, but I'm not sure.
Curtains from real parachute material? Parachutes are now made from nylon, and the fabric can't be exposed to prolonged sunlight or it will just fall apart. (See http://www.pia.com/silver/articlesarchive/takecare.htm )
They used to be silk, which only turns yellowish from too much sun. I'd be thinking in terms of a trip to the garment district for 60" wide bolts of fabric to minimize the number of seams, as you need to do the rolled kind or you'll have amazing fraying.
Maybe it wasn't parachute then or maybe those unfortunate people got curtains that wont last very long, but looked pretty damn cool. I came across this web site that lists parachute though. http://www.hollandandsherry.com/interiors/
Looking at the site, I'd bet their parachute fabric is the old-fashioned silk kind.
If you're looking for something wider, you might want to try Rose Brand in the Chelsea Market. They mostly serve theatrical designers and curtain makers, but they have all that enormous opera-wide fabric... I think pretty much anything there comes only in solid colors. They would definitely have china silk and muslin. They also have remnants, which could be worth a look.
http://www.rosebrand.com/
I did wall to wall ripplefolds in a platinum silk satin with a light pinstripe and it looks amazing! It has to have the weight to ripple, but lightness also - and make sure you line/interline it or it wont last!
IKEA has a new drapery panel that is very futuristic. It's not white, but it might work for that super modern look. The panels are taupe on one side and real pale, almost white, robin's egg blue on the other. They are very cool and the fabric is unlike anyting I have seen - probably a polyester blend, but with a nice weave. IKEA's panels are longer than any other company's, but you have to hem them. I used their brown velvet over Restoration Hardware and was able to get a fuller look for 1/3 of the price. I love them...
The white curtains at the Mondrian are a dead-white polyester and styrene blend with a blind weighted hem to get the groovy drape. Or, so said my decorator friend Gary as we walked through the lobby clocking all the materials.
How about these geometric organdy window panels from West Elm? I bought some in white several weeks ago. They might be what you're looking for and they are on sale.
http://ww2.westelm.com/cat/pip.cfm?template=8grid&pkey=cslerug&gids=p104&cid=slerug&area=shp
West Elm also has a few other options.
Good luck.
Reef
I like the same style and have had it in my bedroom for six years. I bought some king-sized curtains at Century 21 and hung them to cover my closet and windows. Result lovely and total $200.
New part of the story: I sent my curtain/sheets out to the laundry and they lost one. (!!!!) Century 21 no longer has the same sheet.
Now looking in fabric stores for similar color (beige), and thinking of upgrading to silk or silk tafetta (sp?). At $25/yd., this is prohibitive, as I need either 45 or 90 yards depending on the width.
I need the curtains to have a length of 108" (9 ft.). Ikea's are not the right color or fabric. Restoration Hardware and the other chain retailers have curtains of the right length, but they are expensive!
OK, I'll let you know what I come up with.
I am looking for a web site where I can find home decor fabric by TPSA. I read they were a part of Cranston fabrics, but could not find it on the Cranston website.
Also, I just moved from Atlanta to Houston. I am used to great home fabric stores like Forsyth and Louis...does anyone know of anything similiar in Houston?
Thanks lili
Re: Parachute material for curtains:
I am reading a book by Better Homes and Gardens with featuring different architect/designer's decorating and the book is titled "flea market decorating". In it is where I got the idea and discovered this site. they use white parachutes for curtains in the bedroom and it looks beautiful. I have yet to find them for purchase though.
RE: thin backing material to hang photos on a 30 foot wall
For a photo installation I would like to find thin canvas or linen to hang on a long wall on which large black and white unframed photographs will be placed.
Are there large rolls of thin, inexpensive material and if so, do they come in color? I'm looking for middle gray, green gray or muted red. thanks for any info you may be able to provide
Hope
RE: large thin backdrop material for hanging unframed black and white photos on a gallery wall. thanks for any info
Hope
Re: "The white curtains at the Mondrian are a dead-white polyester and styrene blend with a blind weighted hem to get the groovy drape."
What is a blind weighted hem?
Re: white sailcloth panels
can you recommend a specific "style" at Ikea. Unfortunately, due to their TERRIBLE website when you perform a search for sailcloth you get 0 results and it's so hard to tell heaviness of the fabric from looking online.
Re: blind weighted hem
I'm seriously no pro, but for one, tripling the needed width of the window gives the right fulness. Also, do a double, or preferably a triple hem adds the weight to hang better. The "blind" might refer to the necessity of careful sewing to not show a really lumpy hemline.
And third, in each corner of the panel, sew a fairly large washer or other weight, to bring the side edges down straight and clean.
LOVE the website! Never knew it existed! I keep saying there should be a magazine for apartment dwellers...And there is!
Help. I can't suply a picture because I have no idea how to do that on computer -newbie!
Here's the problem: bedroom has ceiling that slopes from 8 feet to 12 feet. Wall under sloping ceiling is 10 ft wide. I am trying to drape a window which is located from the 8ft corner to the middle of the wall.No matter what I do with the rod, it appears to be hung at at slant. Is there a way around this?