Custom Window Treatments, Made-to-Measure and
Ready-Made WindowTreatments…
What’s the Difference?
Independent designers, department store chains, big box stores, catalog vendors, retail outlets…they all sell a variety of window treatments and many of them look the same. There is a wide variety of pricing, finish detail, and quality…so how can you know if you’re comparing apples to apples?
Comparison shopping on pricing alone is not accurate unless you know about the differences in detail and quality between goods offered.
Let’s begin by defining the differences between custom window treatments, made-to-measure, and ready-made:
Custom Window Treatments-
are made to the exacting detail and specifications of the client’s wishes. Every measurement, proportion, lining, detail, trim, and placement is spelled out in detail by a skilled designer. Why by a designer and not the homeowner?
Custom drapery workrooms will only sell to the trade. Because of the complicated nature of the specification and the level of specific understanding required to build and install fine draperies, custom workrooms do not have the time or the resources to hand hold a customer through the process. They can only build a product efficiently and economically if they can deal with a drapery design professional.
Custom products may have hand finished details, larger headings, upgraded linings and/or interlinings, weighted hems, overlaps, returns, etc., etc. These may seem like a lot of superfluous details but it’s these details which allow a custom piece of goods to lie gracefully with a finish unlike any other.
Made-to-Measure Treatments-
seem on the surface to be custom goods but buyer beware. The “designer” (I use this term loosely because these made-to-measure salespeople have little or no training), arrives at your home and takes measurements. They offer a variety of fabric and it seems like a custom service. What you don’t know is that while your draperies are made to fit your window, they will lack the finish details which would ordinarily make them custom. It’s like buying a suit off the rack versus one which is tailor made. With made-to-measure services, you will find a variety of fabric choices but not an unlimited amount of choices. These vendors often buy whole bolts of fabric and stock them. They in turn wish to sell only from the limited amount of their stocked fabrics so often the client will be told, “this is the only fabric which will work for you”. You also will find that the reduced price of made-to-measure is because your hems will not be deep, your header will only be 3” instead of 4”-6”. Your fullness will only be 2 to1 instead of at least
2 1/2 to 1. Your side hems will be single turned, your silk draperies will not be interlined…etc., etc. These things in and of themselves may not be bad things but only are a problem if you think you’re getting custom and you’re getting made-to-measure. A tell-tale sign? Made-to-measure are often “on sale”. They are marked up equal to the cost of custom (because most customers don’t know the difference) and then steeply discounted on sale. Things cost what they cost…
the drapery business is a competitive one and you usually find that comparable product and quality is at a level price point.
Ready Made Treatments-
are off the shelf…they are pre-cut to standard sizes which fit most average windows. The quality in a ready-made is at the lower end of the scale. The hems will be minimal, perhaps being a rolled hem, linings may or may not be present. Stitching thread may not match the fabric. Don’t get me wrong here however…ready mades can be a good thing but they also can be costly for value received. Some ready mades at curtain shops can cost over $100 for a valance…hardly a bargain when you consider it will have a short and undistinguished life. They don’t hold up because they have no internal structure and often are made from poorer quality face goods..
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