CUSTOM DRAPES AT READY-MADE PRICES?

You want a custom look for your drapery project but you're not sure you have the budget.  You have combed the internet for inspiration but still aren't sure what do?  

Beautiful custom draperies sewn with gorgeous designer textiles by a seamstress with impeccable tailoring skills are heaven, but you can achieve that custom look on a budget and I am gonna tell you how.

The biggest expenses in a drapery project are 1. the amount and type of yardage 2. the sewing labor and 3. the hardware, depending on what you choose.  I tell my clients on a limited budget to buy quality ready-made curtain panels (2 -2 1/2 times fullness, you might have to buy several panels and combine them), choose a pleat style and the lining type and I will have them sewn for you at a fraction of the cost of a full-on drapery project.  I will also help you pick suitable hardware from my favorite internet sources and I will have it installed too!  

Ready-made curtains are get-what-you-pay-for rod pocket panels. Something has to give. You are either compromising on fabric quality, fullness or tailoring. Buy the nicest panels you can afford. One thing to keep in mind is, it's never gonna be cheap cheap, but just like clothing, it's better to have fewer good quality pieces than a ton of junk.  Great stuff at value prices, my M.O. I'm really loving West Elm's textiles this season.

Good design should be accessible to everyone.  My dad passed away when I was a baby and I grew up with 3 sisters and a single mom on a limited budget. I loved beautiful furnishings as a teen and I remember making the best of the lackluster furniture we could afford.  I spent hours moving it around (myself) to create a fresh look. My sister Maria (now an Interior Architect at Swarthmore College) and I wallpapered our kitchen and powder room saving on the labor fees while still achieving a designer look.  

I have worked on many projects with unlimited budgets but I will never forget my roots and how to be resourceful in challenging circumstances. My son volunteers at Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia in the summer and I donate a portion of my profits to them. Why?  Because everyone deserves a beautiful home! xocc

visit URBAN LOFT WINDOW TREATMENTS' site at www.claudiaclobes.com