Designer Curtaining & Upholstery Fabrics maximum £6.99 per metre, Ready Made Curtains & Fabrics, Net Curtains & Blinds warehouse
Unlined curtains
THURSDAY, DEC 02, 2010
Unlined curtains are the simplest curtains of all. Panels of fabric, suspended from a pole across the top of the window. Unlined curtains often incorporate double hems on sides, base and a sleeve along the top for the pole go through.
Types of window
Unlined curtains work with most types of windows but especially with small windows. You may want to consider translucent fabrics to let light in. That way you can have a bright bedroom or kitchen without having to open the curtain.
Type of fabrics
Translucent light fabrics work very well. fabrics without patterns on the back work better than fabrics with printed pattern or weaved on the back.
The width of the fabric you need depends on the size of the window and also whether the curtain will hang from a support attached from the wall or window frame. As for the height, deduct about 1.5in if curtain is to fall short of floor. If you intend to drape on floor then add between 5 to 7in to the height. If you're using a curtain pole, take into consideration the diameter of the pole, because it will need to go through the sleeve at the top.
Use an Iron to fold over double about an 3/4in along each side of the fabric and once you have your outline, press with an Iron, Pin the sides, and machine stitch. Also fold double about 2in the base of the fabric, press with an Iron, pin in place again and stitch. Do make sure the hems are stitched in a straight line. As mentioned you will need to allow for the pole to go through the slot at the top. Use an Iron to press, pin in position and stitch ensuring your line is straight.
Window Art Curtain
THURSDAY, DEC 10, 2009
For those who believe that curtains are just there to serve the practical purpose of covering windows up when needed, window art curtains tend to look like an arbitrary waste of time, effort, and upholstery fabric. Even the people who understand the aesthetic value of curtains think that window art curtains are a bit strange to look at. They may even ask themselves when seeing such a curtain, "What next, abstract art for closed blinds?" On the other hand, perhaps people have already made one of those.
Moving on, regardless of its seeming oddness, a lot of highly skilled artists have become enamoured with this new avenue of artistic expression. All they really need is a pinch of creativity, a dash of ingenuity, some designer fabric or ready made curtains, and a lot of time in their hands, and they too could enter a world where the window transforms into a picture frame that highlights curtains as works of art in their own right. Also, when it comes to creating window art curtains, the choice of fabric is quite essential.
Then again, there's no need for a regular, non-artsy-type homeowner to be a Rembrandt or Picasso when decorating the "eyes" of their humble abode. In order to make your windows become more than just windows, you have to shop for curtains that transcend their everyday use as pieces of home upholstery. Once you get a hold of an art curtain, don't be surprised when your visiting family members, friends, and neighbours begin to regard that decor as a conversation piece of sorts.
Art curtains aren't typical curtains that you can find at any store; on the contrary, you'll really need to dig around the right places and interact with the right people before you're able to find the very best art curtain available. Underneath the piles of regular curtain fabrics at your local thrift store or flea market lurks the elusive piece of art that really brings home improvement to another level. It takes a bit of effort to look for one, but it is well worth it once you find a curtain that you love (or at least order a custom-made one that fits your preferences).
Curtain Hanging Tips and Tricks
TUESDAY, OCT 06, 2009
Many people believe that curtains should be hung from the ends of the rod or track and then gathered into the middle. Regardless of whether you have ready made curtains or ones created with designer fabric, this is the accepted rule of thumb. However, whenever you start hanging your curtain this way, you tend to trap your extra rings or gliders within your rod or track. In order to remove them, you need to dislodge your hung curtains and redo the process all over again.
There's another, less tedious way to go about curtain hanging without leaving you so frustrated that you'd tear your curtain's fabric apart. Homeowners actually have the option of hanging their curtains from the middle outwards instead of from the ends inwards. One of the benefits of doing so includes avoiding the dreariness of removing your rod rings or track gliders if you have too many of them. By using this approach, curtain hanging will be almost as easy as putting up blinds.
To determine the appropriate width of your window dressing fabrics, you need to first measure and calculate half of the width of your rod or track. For example, if your track is a hundred inches long, then half of it is fifty inches. Add two inches to that number for allowance. Therefore, the overall width you should use when gathering your pair of curtains should be fifty-two inches.
Also, before you hang your curtains, you should lay them down on the floor and check if the gathered upholstery fabric's width is correct. If they prove to be too narrow, just pull out a bit of tape in order to slacken the curtains slightly. If they're instead too wide, you should gather the tape some more. At any rate, don't be confused by all these instructions; the more you practice proper curtain hanging, the more it will become instinctive and second nature to you.
Kitchen Window Curtain
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2009
Even though most people are reminded of their bedrooms and living rooms when they hear about anything pertaining to curtains-from designer fabric ones to ready made variations-the kitchen window curtain usually remains as important as (if not more so than) any other curtain used in your home. This is an easily relatable concept, especially considering how much time people tend to spend in the kitchen.
Also, blinds are definitely a no-no when it comes to kitchen window dressing (save for the ones that are actually next to the pantry of an office, but that's already a bit of a stretch). All the same, people shouldn't take how they choose to decorate their kitchen windows with curtains for granted. As such, the fabrics, the colour, and the pattern utilised for a given curtain tend to be quite influential when you're shopping for the best kitchen curtains available.
The type of upholstery fabric is of particular importance as well because wear and tear is a common issue for most kitchen curtains; the stronger and heavier the fabric, the better chance it stands at surviving the ravages of daily use. Then again, if you want to use lighter and flimsier fabrics for aesthetic purposes, then that is perfectly fine too. Just keep in mind that they'll wear out quite easily considering where they're placed in your house. You'll save a lot more money by being pickier with the type of material used on this piece of upholstery.
Curtain designs and themes are also factors when picking out your kitchen curtains. Whether you want to employ minimalist art deco designs or well-known colours and patterns for a time-honoured classical style, the choice is entirely yours. After all, there are curtains suited for every taste and preference most anyone has for this ornamental item. Just be warned that there are a lot of curtain themes available, so it's best for you to choose one that goes well with the overall theme and colour scheme of your own home and kitchen.
Curtains or Blinds? We have it all at the Curtain Factory Outlet
TUESDAY, JUNE 30, 2009
Curtains have a vital role in homes as well as offices due to their ability to provide controlled obstruction to light and dust. Curtains can be used to control air flow inside a room and to obstruct direct sunlight. More than their practical uses, curtains provide privacy, and providing you have the right one, add to the beauty and elegance of your room.
Curtains are available in a variety of sizes, shapes, colours, patterns and materials. Selecting the right fabric and look depends on your taste and individual needs. The material used to make a curtain determines the majority of its physical properties. Curtain fabric can either be net, uncoated fabric or coated fabric. Many other varieties of fabrics are also available offering different looks. Cotton, silk, polyester and synthetic are the most common materials used in curtains.
Modern curtains made often with colourful, bright fabrics can provide great contrast against neutral surroundings. Today's ready made curtains as well as custom made curtains come in a wide range of colours and patterns.
A huge range of classic curtains, contemporary curtains and designer curtains are available in the market with multiple players competing for market share. At Curtain Factory Outlet, we offer not only custom made and ready made curtains, but also blinds, designer fabrics and other accessories, with the additional benefit of an interior decorator's help in deciding the right size, style and choice of the curtain or fabric for individuals.
As for blinds, vertical and horizontal blinds with rotational mechanisms, often used in offices, banks and retail outlets, as well as private homes are designed to provide maximum efficiency with minimum effort. Our blinds come in a whole host of shapes, colours and materials. As well as standard sizes, blinds can also be made to measure. If you require made to measure blinds, all you need to do is to choose your blind, provide us with an accurate measurement of your window or French door and we'll deliver the blind to your door within a few days.
The Benefits of Cleaning or Changing Curtains Seasonally
THURSDAY, MAY 28, 2009
We're all familiar with the concept of spring cleaning, and most people know enough to take their Curtains and blinds down to clean them thoroughly. The main reason for spring cleaning is to remove dust. The pollen count is higher in springtime, and folds in the fabric of your Curtains can collect lots of irritants. If you start the new season with clean window treatments it will go a long way towards alleviating allergies.
Blinds are easier to clean than Curtains. If your blinds come off easily, you can dip them in a cleaning solution in a large rubber bin and do the whole blind at once. If not, you'll have to clean each slat by hand with a spray cleanser and a paper towel. You may very well be shocked at how much dirt comes off them because blinds are notorious for being dust collectors. Even so, it will take a couple of hours to do this at best.
Curtains, on the other hand, should be removed and dry cleaned in order to get rid of all the dust. Most curtain fabric is delicate and needs to be handled by a professional that understands the care that it needs. Fabrics like silk or velvet require delicate handling. Curtains made of ordinary fabrics like cotton or rayon still need the same because of embellishments like embroidery or eyelash accents. You can't just throw your Curtains in the washing machine and hope they'll still look good, but sending them to a custom drapery cleaner can take a long time.
If you have shades on your windows, you can just take the Curtains down and wait for them to get back, unless you're going to be doing entertaining in the meantime. If privacy or home décor are an issue, though, you'll need a temporary solution. One answer is to have a pair of cheap but attractive ready made curtains on hand. You can put them up while you're waiting for the good Curtains to come back from the cleaners.
Another solution is to have two sets of Curtains made of different fabrics, one with a fabric that's suitable for fall and winter and another with a fabric that's suitable for spring and summer. This can require a significant investment upfront, but it will help you update your décor seasonally, make you more comfortable and save you money over time. During winter, Curtains made from heavy fabrics help insulate the windows and lower heating costs. Similarly, during summer, Curtains made from lighter fabrics help the air circulate and make you more comfortable.
Examples of fabric that are good for summer Curtains include muslin and organza. They give a light, airy feel to a room. There's more to take into consideration than the weight of the fabric, though. Muslin Curtains will work well with casual, modern or beachy décor, while organza Curtains are more appropriate in a formal room.
Textures that are good for winter Curtains are velvet and taffeta. Keep in mind that both velvet or taffeta can be made from silk or synthetics. Curtains made from textured natural fabric will be more luxurious but more expensive and more delicate, while Curtains made from textured synthetics will be less expensive and easier to care for but less luxe. As a compromise, you can also go for Curtains made from one of the new microfibers that mimic natural fabric at lower cost.
Curtains, fabrics and blinds - Colours and Styles
THURSDAY, MAY 06, 2009
Nothing brings a room together like the perfect set of blinds or curtains. The right window treatment considers all the elements of design and can turn any room into a real living space.
Perhaps the most important decision when choosing curtains is the fabric colour. The possibilities are endless. Typically settings like offices call for cool curtain colours like blues and greys. Oranges, slight shades of red and yellows are warm, inviting and great for the curtains in kitchens and family rooms. Violet is a wonderful colour for the curtains in a bedroom. Warm earthy tones like light browns and olive are sophisticated and soft colours like tans and tones of peach can be surprisingly versatile.
If you really want to bring a room to life think about choosing more than one piece of fabric. Why limit yourself? Use a curtain liner, a second piece of fabric under the first, to complement the original colour. Select your first fabric, let’s say a shade of violet and then use its contrasting colour, a soft yellow in this case, to highlight it.
You can buy a colour wheel at any art, paint or fabric store. Artists use them to find colour combinations and you can use it to help you select the right fabric colour for your curtains. Think about using complimentary colours. These colours are next to each other on the colour wheel, like blues and greens or reds and oranges. Monochromatic fabric selections, where you simply use different tones of the same colour fabric, are also popular, for example navy and light blue. There is no reason you have to use coloured fabric for your curtains at all. Ever consider adding a sheer or mesh fabric instead of a solid colour? Why not? An opaque liner will allow soft light to enter the room while maintaining privacy. There are also designer and patterned curtain fabrics, but we will talk about those later. Bottom line; choose a fabric colour that you like. Maybe it would be a good idea to carry a sample of the fabric in your pocket for a week. Most fabric dealers will be happy to give you a sample, sometimes called a swatch. If you still like it after a few days, you probably have the right colour.
Another decision you will have to make is the length of your curtain. A long curtain which falls to the floor appears more formal. Likewise, a shorter curtain that doesn’t hang much lower than the windowsill gives a more casual or functional feel. Some people prefer a curtain where the fabric falls somewhere in between the window and the floor. Those choosing longer curtains might want to consider the carpet colour before making a curtain fabric selection. Blinds are another great solution for a boring window. The important thing to know is that Blinds are made of long strips of a firm material where curtains are fabric. Again the varieties are endless; Blinds come in all colours and an array of materials. They can be real or faux (fake) wood, aluminum or plastic. Some Blinds run horizontally while other drop down vertically to the floor. In general, Blinds are heavier and can be a bit noisy under a strong breeze. However, blinds are usually quite easy to clean and can give you great deal of control over the light coming into the room.
If this is beginning to seem like too much work, perhaps ready made curtains are for you. Don't feel bad, they are quite popular and still come in a variety of colours and styles. Quite simply, the advantage to ready made curtains is that they make the whole process a lot easier. You simply need to select a size and a style, after that you can install the ready made curtains or blinds by yourself or have an expert do it for you while you sit and enjoy your new room.
Fabric at £6.99 per metre
THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 2009
There is a good possibility we will have your specific fabric in stock at £6.99 per metre. We offer on our website titled "Important Customer Announcement" the ways and means of maximising your savings on a particular item which I repeat below for your convenience:
Owing to the trade customers who buy in bulk daily, we do not have the facilities to collate the thousands of rolls into any order.
They come unlabelled from the printers, weavers etc. The options are to:
a) come in
b) post in a sample
c) email over a photo
We have a samples department which can post cuttings from our stocks to match the material, colours and patterns of the items you need free of charge. Finally as a last resort we can give you a price lower than the RRP from a price list. We offer trade price curtain linings, curtain making service, interior design team, open 7 days a week with our own car park and Waitrose next door being free.
A day at the Curtain Factory Outlet
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 2009
The first thing you notice when you visit the Curtain Factory Outlet is the size of the place and the diversity of curtains and fabrics on offer. If it's curtains, fabrics or blinds you're looking for, then you will most likely find exactly what you want at the Curtain Factory Outlet. The Curtain Factory Outlet is located on Ballards Lane in North Finchley. The Outlet is based in 2 separate buildings on either side of the Waitrose supermarket. Next to Waitrose car park,is number 269. The building contains 7 warehouses on 2 floors, packed with some fabulous curtains, designer fabrics, linings, blinds, poles and other accessories at cut down prices. When you walk into the first warehouse, you're given a brochure with a map and directions to the various warehouses. In case you’re not sure what "curtaining solution" would suit your needs, there are a number of friendly designers walking around looking for customers to help. They provide useful tips and advice and can even design your curtains for you. They can even make you cushions to match your curtains. On the other side of Waitrose, is the Curtain Factory Outlet’s store which is more of a retail outlet than a warehouse. There, you will find a couple of friendly assistants who are ready to give you advice and guidance. The shop is quite smart with many examples of curtains and Blinds featured. Upstairs on the first floor there are a huge number of ready made curtains of various sizes and colours on offer. Without exaggeration, I would say that prices of designer fabrics, ready made curtains and Blinds are at times a third of retail prices I've seen at some high street retailers. Having looked through quite a few fabrics and blinds, I finally decided to go for vertical Blinds for my 2 rather large French doors (3m and 4.2m) in my newly built back extension. One of the assistants, Maurice who had a great sense of humor, told me all I needed to know about blinds, the way they’re made and how they are fitted. He gave me some instructions on how to measure the French doors and processed the order for me. I chose the colour “Jute” which has a natural, organic feel to it. The Blinds will be custom made for me and I was told that they be will be delivered to my door within 10 days. Having said that Maurice called me this very moment to let me know they’re arriving on Friday which means they will be a week early. Thank you Maurice!
Top quality curtains and fabrics at the curtain factory outlet
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 12, 2008
There are still people who are unaware that we are one of the largest curtain & fabrics retailers in London. For those who don't know, Curtain Factory Outlet is not only an online curtain store. We have a number large warehouses packed with top quality curtains and fabrics, for you to visit. Since we buy in bulk, our prices are very competitive. Here are a few examples: upholstery fabrics cost no more than £6.99/sqm. Super A Sta Save as Draft inless Hessian - 137 / 140cm width - £1.99/sqm. Neutral shades £1.99/sqm. Colours £2.99/sqm. Special clearance plain and corresponding patterned designer Silk Velvets whilst our stocks last only: reduced from £19.99 to just £6.99 per metre. Visit us now. We are located 10 minutes from M25 Junction 23 and we have free customer car park. Our full postal address is:
Curtain Factory Outlet
269 Ballards Lane
North Finchley
London
N12 8NR
BUSES
Bus routes; 82, 125, 221 & 460.
UNDERGROUND
Come out of West Finchley Tube Station, turn right, take the second turning on the right and walk to the top of the road. Turn left on to Ballards Lane and we are situated next to Waitrose supermarket. WE ARE OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
Mon-Sat: 9am-6pm
Sun: 10am-4pm
Roller Blinds
FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2008
If you are in a hurry to install Blinds in your home but are not able to because your budget just doesn’t reach the cost, then roller blinds are probably the best alternative available to you. Roller Blinds, unlike their contemporaries provide a chic opulence to your home or office, without digging a deep hole in your pocket. Roller Blinds are versatile and high on stylistic value. They are a relatively inexpensive method of safeguarding your home from unwanted sunlight, which could reduce the life of the furniture, giving it a faded and a jaded look. Roller Blinds come in an array of colours and designs which could add an extra oomph to your home or office decor. roller blinds are considered beautiful decor by many, particularly for those windows which do not have enough space to hang curtains. They are ideal for the kitchen because cloth curtains are not considered safe near the stove, due to the possibility of them catching fire. Installation: roller blinds can be easily installed, which on the positive side saves money compared to other options. roller blinds can be easily fixed inside the window recess and if the space is insufficient they can be fixed outside the window recess. You don’t need the help of a carpenter to fix them, ordinary household tools such as a screwdriver, scissors, a driller and a pencil is all that you need. Once installed properly, they can be used in multitude of ways, they can be easily rolled the way you like. You can allow a little light to pass through them, giving a submissive light effect to your room, you can let in no light at all, and everything between that and full light. Cleaning: If you thought, that cleaning the roller blinds is a big task, you would be delighted to know that, a simple swipe over them with a damp cloth can easily clean them and make them look like new. roller blinds usually do not carry huge chunks of dust as they are flattened and raised everyday, but if you have gone out for some days and find after returning that the lots of dust has gathered on them then a damp cloth could quickly do the job. Or just roll over the vacuum cleaner over them and the dust will be sucked leaving the roller blinds spotless. If you have put the roller blinds in your kitchen then they might get a layer of hard grease over them, then a vacuum cleaner won’t be able to help. In such cases, you can use steam to get rid of the grease and then you can wipe the blinds with damp cloth or sponge. Roller blinds have found favour for their suitability to contemporary households and look to stay that way, since they provide a range of quality services without asking for a colossal expenditure.
Net Curtain
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 16, 2008
curtains provide a graceful look to any room, keeping the envious and curious looks of neighbors away, thus providing a sense of privacy, yet allowing fresh oxygen to breath in the room. Although with it, the curtains also obstruct natural light, which causes a big problem. Here, Net curtains prove functional yet stylish and thus have become quite popular. Net curtain are a feasible choice among other alternatives, since it provides a very neat look to your home and prevents the bright sunlight from damaging your valuable furniture by fading it. Available in wide a selection, net curtains could be coordinated with the décor of the room, providing a stylish look. Net curtains can be bought readymade or can be made-to-measure to avoid fitting problems. Net curtain with an open weave pattern are usually made up with fabric. The fabrics commonly used for making Net curtains are Voile, Cotton, Nylon, Polyester and Muslin. Net curtains made up of voile are considered chic these days but nylon is cheaper. Net curtains can either have plain patterns or even motifs, or can be decorated imaginatively, to make more sophisticated patterns, which is quite possible with the current innovations in the field. Net curtains are very delicate, it is advised that they should not be machine washed, instead, hand wash with a gentle detergent. Net curtains are usually hung along with the heavier curtains as the under-covers and are not rolled, removed or draped like the heavier one on the top. Due to continuous hanging, they tend to get dirty very quickly. Since they are most commonly bought in white, cream or light colours, special detergents and whitener are needed and are very much available in market to disallow any discolouring, keeping their original colour safe for a longer period of time. They should be washed at regular intervals to keep them in their original colour. Net curtains are available on the market in all shapes and sizes, people can just drop into a shop and buy them, then hang them on their windows as if custom designed. Although people prefer to buy them in white or off-whites, they are also available in variety of colours .What has truly made the net curtains so very common in modern households is their feasibility and economy. They are available in a wide array and if properly taken care of, can last for a long time.
Upholstery Fabrics
MONDAY, JANUARY 14, 2008
Good interior designers rely on the richness of upholstery fabrics to enhance their furniture and get the best for their clients. Unlike fashion fabrics, upholstery fabrics can be easily replicated, but for a customer or a designer, the choice of the fabric is critical. There are a huge variety of upholstery fabrics to choose from, as on the internet you can order from anywhere in the world. You should chose fabrics that will compliment the wall colour and size of the room, upholstering furniture makes it more appealing. Plain furniture, when covered with a fine, quality fabric and decorated with cushions adds to the overall look of the room in which it is kept. And of course, cushioning provides comfort when sitting for longer periods. You must look at a fabrics appearance and level of durability when considering it for covering furniture. Since different rooms require different types of upholstery, it is better to get professional advice before making any purchases. A child’s room will need to have softer furnishings and materials designed to prevent injury. In other rooms, which provide the first impression of a house (like the living room), high quality upholstery should be used. Making your fabric selections is the hard part, once you are aware of the fabric that you need, buying the actual fabric is easy by comparison. The global market has a vast range of upholstery fabrics available in various different colours, designs and textures, including printed or dyed. The most common fabrics used for covering the furniture are Faux Suede, Velvet, Richloom, Cotton Prints, Carbon Fiber, Tapestry and Oxygen Polka Dots. Silk and cotton are increasingly popular, leather was once the standard, but trends have diversified.
Designer Fabrics
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2007
Expensive ‘glad rags’ continue to storm the fashion capitals of the world, every high end designer looks at creating magic with their clothes season after season. Some designer fabrics will eternally remain part and parcel of the glamour world. The rich silhouettes of Indian and Chinese silk, gossamer tulles, satin, crepe de chine and now even soft cotton are firmly established on this list, natural fabrics have an innate class that lends to any creation. There is something dreamy, sheer, and haute about these designer fabrics that are chosen time and again by designers all over the world to make their style statements. Of late, cashmere has also become very popular in fashion circles, soft and elegant in feel and wear, it has an ever lasting quality. Some designers have even chosen to use cashmere as their signature line. Asian fabric producing giants like India and China have extremely competitive wholesale markets and provide good rates the world over for designer fabrics. Although both these countries produce designer fabrics, the quality differs. With some retailers and designers prefer one fabric type to the other, good designers buy a large variety of unusual fabrics to create exclusive designs, some have tie-ups with regular textile providers as well. Sometimes it becomes very difficult to replicate a design, this happens largely because the designer fabrics stocks are limited and often expensive. This sometimes leads to smaller traders trying to copy the design in cheaper fabric and putting them up in the wholesale market at a lower cost. Most fabrics are available in many places, budding designers bank on some reliable vendors to give them exclusive stocks. With the fashion industry becoming larger, the numbers of suppliers has also increased worldwide, there is now more variety in fabric designs than ever. Even if the general public cannot afford the shelf prices of the top designers, they can bank on good fakes.