Period Curtains?

[Nigel Watts]

I dont currently have any curtains in my living room but have now decided that I need some, but what fabric and what design? This is really not my field and I need some help.

The room in 1840. Windows are tallish with Regency-looking semi-circular tops. Inside they are flanked with casings for the shutters.

The theme of the room is Regency/Early Victorian Restoration Revival. The main feature is a large Lely-ish portrait. All woodwork is fake medium oak and walls are papered in a dark green damask design. I feel the curtains need to have a 17th Century feel (heavy, luscious materials, bold pattern) but also pay a nod to the Regency/Early Victorian style of the house (chunky brass curtain rods almost certainly, but do I also need swaggy bits? tassels?). And can any of this be done by an amateur who barely knows how to sew?

Before I go and blow a large sum on some on gorgeous fabric that takes my fancy I think I need some good advice!

 

[JoceAndChris]

I make lots of curtains.

I would say you need formality, so swags and tails a must. A heavy, high status fabric will look right, either silk/velvet or embroidered silk. I love James Brindley, or some of the Sanderson fabrics. But that will be very expensive, so I suggest you just trawl through the fabric sites to find what you like/ want to pay. (posh interior design shops seem to charge at least 10% more than an online site like Queenshill, so look at the fabrics in the shops and buy them online)

If you want to have a go yourself, I really recommend you start with simple curatins elsewhere in the house. You are unlikely to be very pleased with your first attempt, unless you are very good at mathematics and are prepared to unpick and redo until it's right. You would be better to get it done professionally, but it does cost a fortune and I think is a skill well worth learning.

My first few curtains were all too short, do allow for puddling on the floor if you can.

It sounds like you have recesses, as I do, where shutters need to fold back. So you will need to mount your pole outside the recess and if I were you allow it to fall gracefully to the side of the window for maximum light.

"The Complete Photo Guide to Window Treatments", CreativePublishing International, simplifies highly complex designs to give a pleasing nod to those elaborate Viccy designs. I'm about to make cloud blinds which are really billowing, 19th C things.

Brass poles are lovely but so are wooden ones, check our http://www.jim-lawrence.co.uk for some of the best poles around, plus artichoke finials, tie backs etc.

Good luck!

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Here's a few good books to help:

The Complete Curtain Book Isabella Forbes--- clear instructions and good pics to help!

Period Style Furnishings, Judith Miller.
Period Details Source Book, Judith Miller

For poles, tracks, bits and bobs http://www.merrick-day.com
They also have a good selection of reference books, one entitled The Curtain Design Directory

Gainsborough Silks ( google it) have some stunning fabrics.
Watts of Westminster also.

You could also google 'dupion silk'-- I always use a plain silk, bag lined for warmth.It lasts for ever and fades very gracefully.
Curtain length should be just about 2cms off the floor.
Good Luck!

 

[Nigel Watts]

Great advice, thanks.

I came across this picture the other day and am trying to track down a sample....

the rusty brown is very similar to the colour of the painted fabric in my portrait

or maybe

http://www.robertkime.com/products.php?item=aston

of which I do have a sample (to die for, but perhaps a bit too red to go with my dark green)

 

[JoceAndChris]

It's your room, but if you do not pick up that dark green within the fabric they will float and look disconnected. As I understand it during the 1840s it was common to play with subtle variations of one or two different colours, i.e. green/brown. If you use that first fabric, which is beautiful to my eye, you may find that you want to change your wall subsequently.

 

[JoceAndChris]

oh, and I'm probably not telling you anything new, but gorgeous fabrics rot in the sun, so protect the expensive cloth with thick lining and fluffy interlining, which will make them really warm. And make sure there's one of those fragrant moth things hanging behind it too.

 

[Nigel Watts]

The question of coordination is one which has been exercising me. Flicking though a book I have on John Fowler's work I now see that he tends either to use a curtain in the same colour as the wall or, if using a contrasting colour, to include some details such as fringes which pick up the wall colour.

My room has two principal colour themes: dark green (the wall paper) and gold/brown (yellowy brown oak woodwork and bookcases, old gilt in the picture prames, brown leather upholstery, and the brown silk dress of the woman in my largest portrait). The first fabric seems to carry on this theme of gold/brown, whereas the red of the second doesnt. Could one answer be to introduce some green in the details of the curtain I wonder?

 

[Nigel Watts]

It's your room, but if you do not pick up that dark green within the fabric they will float and look disconnected. As I understand it during the 1840s it was common to play with subtle variations of one or two different colours, i.e. green/brown. If you use that first fabric, which is beautiful to my eye, you may find that you want to change your wall subsequently.

I have been pondering this rather challenging question overnight and I think the scales have now fallen from my eyes.

Trying to hunt down the most beautiful fabric I can find and then struggling with the issue of how to shoehorn it into my existing scheme is putting the cart before the horse. This approach would only work if the fabric were the starting point, but I have already invested significant time and expense in creating what I have, so that is what I should go with. Obvious now I have got there, but sometimes the obvious is the most difficult thing to see. This advice has been so helpful, Thank You!

I am now thinking about a plain silk (the wallpaper already has a bold damask design) which picks up the gold/ochre/brown theme, with some Regency twiddly bits - "swags and tails" will now be the subject of my next line of research, and Jocelyn has given me some good references to get me going - with perhaps some green detailing, eg in the fringe, to link to the wall colour.

In the past my mother has always made my curtains for me but she is now 85 and has decided to retire from this activity. My wife hates sewing, so maybe it is now time for me to take up the baton.

 

[Moo]

Four thoughts -

A plain fabric will simplify things, in that you won't have to buy extra to allow for matching the pattern (some of those dramatic designs have enormous pattern repeats);

You should be able to find a trim that picks up both colours;

Your mother may be reluctant to do any curtain-making, but could she be persuaded to oversee and guide your efforts?

And - bear in mind the fact that you will need to spread your cloth out flat while you work, and that apart from the heading all the stitching will be done by hand.

 

[JoceAndChris]

apart from the heading all the stitching will be done by hand.

That is fine if you are a careful seamstress prepared to spend hours making minute concealed slipstich. I always make curtain seams on the machine, however, which is pretty much imperative if you want to fix your linings neatly. The exception is the bottom hem, which should be hand sewn, and weighted.

I'm also going to disagree with the other lovely Jocelyn and say they really really should puddle on the floor for formality, in the Lizzo brochure which you like they all puddle dramatically on the floor. If you cut them so they dangle 2 inches from the floor the first time you get them dry cleaned you can find that's 4 inches and looking strange. This has happened to my fine silk curtains more than once and it is so frustrating.

But of course, personal taste comes in to the making up of things.

Plain silk velvet will have that wow factor, and yes, there are some superb trimmings around to bring in the green or brown. I think you are absolutely right to prioritise what's there and if you like harmony and flow you won't regret this decision. I know many period rooms combine different patterns and colours and then throw in a gorgeous patterned rug at the end, but it gives me a headache. My bedroom is going to be dusty pink and soft grey-blue with woodwork in mahogany and gilt. The curtains themselves are pink silk, the swags and tails will be pink and blue and the curtain pole mahogany with gilt finials, the shutters behind will be pink with blue panels. With any luck I'll like it when it's done!

Your room sounds stunning, I'd love to see a pic! You must have a go at making curtains, it's so much fun. I repeat that your first attempt should not be on cloth you've spent a grand on though!

 

[Penners]

Nigel - as you're in London, I wonder whether a visit to the Geffrye Museum would be useful.

 

[FamilyWiggs]

I came across this picture the other day and am trying to track down a sample....

I can't believe you passed on that one Penners!

 

[JoceAndChris]

In the past my mother has always made my curtains for me but she is now 85 and has decided to retire from this activity. My wife hates sewing, so maybe it is now time for me to take up the baton.

If you do decide to "take up the baton" you could jump on the 134 up to Muswell Hill and visit the nice sewing ladies next to Sainsbury's (I hope they are still in business). It you bought a home furnishings machine from them they would spend ages teaching you, and even if you didn't want a machine, they're very free with their advice and help if you get stuck.

I miss N6!

 

[Moo]

Other sources of free information are mega-posh fabric shops that have sumptuous curtains on display. Have a good snoop and look closely at these sample curtains, particularly at the insides. I'm willing to bet that they'll all be lined and interlined and that the only machining (apart from the heading) will be where the widths of fabric have been stitched together.

 

[Nigel Watts]

Plain silk velvet will have that wow factor

Excuse my ignorance, but does velvet work in a swag and tail arrangement? I rather imagine shaped pelmets with velvet. My options are still open as I have not yet bought the poles.

My bedroom is going to be dusty pink and soft grey-blue with woodwork in mahogany and gilt. The curtains themselves are pink silk, the swags and tails will be pink and blue and the curtain pole mahogany with gilt finials, the shutters behind will be pink with blue panels. With any luck I'll like it when it's done!

Sounds stunning - you must post some pics. I was intruiged to find a similar pink/grey blue combination used in the original decoration of my bedroom cornice when I was cleaning it some years ago but at that stage I had no idea how to follow such a scheme through, so I went for a simpler blue and white instead:

What you you using on the walls, if you dont mind me asking?

 

[JoceAndChris]

Excuse my ignorance, but does velvet work in a swag and tail arrangement? I rather imagine shaped pelmets with velvet. My options are still open as I have not yet bought the poles.

What you you using on the walls, if you dont mind me asking?

Wow- that cornice! Beautiful! Yes , velvet will work for swags and tails especially if you choose a soft drapey silk velvet. As you say, the stiffer more upholstery style velvets are used to create more architectural shaped pelmets. Also, you could think about combining different fabrics. I think embroidered silk can combine with silk velvet, as cotton can combine with muslin, or organza with lace; it's about assessing the register and status of the cloth- so you wouldn't put a plain polycotton with a sumptuous silk velvet. For example, your curtains could be embroidered self-colour green silk bordered with gold/brown velvet where they meet in the middle. Swags and tails could then combine those two fabrics and colours.

I've thought a lot about curtains and colours but haven't figured out how to use a digital camera yet!

On the walls I'm going to use a soft blue paper by L. Ashley that has pink and cream flowers (it bears the unfortunate name of "Magnolia", but I like it coz it gives the illusion of being hand-blocked) up to the picture rail. I was planning on using Farrow and Ball "Tallow" above the rail, which is warm cream, but if I find out it's original lime plaster as I think it may be I should use Finest Buxton Limewash by Womersley's in "warm stone". I'm a bit scared, you see, of using only cool colours, so will bring in some warmth with that which has a slight reference to the paper anyway. Then there is a large painting with a sumptuous gilt frame of Jupiter visiting Danae, "Golden Rain" which is warm gold and cool grey. What fun we have!

 

[Nigel Watts]

I have just rembered that I have a pic of my wallpaper/fake oak combination to which I am trying to match my curtains:

 

[michael]

I’m following this topic with interest as I’m no expert on fabrics but just a tip on the curtain poles that might save you a few pounds.

I had a problem finding a curtain pole that would fit my three faced bay window.
At the time I was living in London so I went to a greasy rag pipe work suppliers in Kings cross and bought a suitable length of steel pipe (I cant remember the diameter, 25 or 32 mm I think) along with a handful of steel pipe hangers, the type that have a foot with two screw holes, a leg and a split ring with a screw.

I cut and bent the pipe into shape to suit the bay then darkened and polished it with Zeebo grate polish along with the hangers. All I had to buy were the curtain rings and finals to match and they were easy to find. I was really happy with the results, heavy and authentic looking and as cheap as chips.

 

[Penners]

I can't believe you passed on that one Penners!

Actually I was amazed at how much the girl resembles the daughter of some great friends of ours. A brilliant harpist: http://www.juliathornton.net/

 

[Nigel Watts]

greasy rag pipe work suppliers in Kings cross

Was it at the bottom of the Caledonian Road? If so that has now closed, like most other such places, as part of the area's gradual smartening up.

I am currently biding my time on the pole question as I have yet to figure out how one can both suspend a curtain from, and drape lots of swags over the same pole. One thing I have read recently suggests that one should hold the swags in place on the pole using tacks, which would seem to rule out metal. I have a book on order which should answer the question for me.