I am not understanding what you really want. Are you happy with your current drapes?

I probably would not go to the expense of custom sheers with store bought drapes. My suggestion would be to get your own fill-in sheers, if you like your current drapes. I am sure if you post a picture of your current drapes on this forum there will be many great suggestions for rods.

There is a difference in expense between valances and drapes or they can be the same depending on the fabrics and trims you choose. I had valances in the kitchen of my last house and spent $750 13 years ago. This included 2 small windows and 6 ft sliding door.

I can share with you my experiences.

The designer I use had the same consultation fee of $500 that was 100% applicable towards our purchases.

We spent $1800 including fabric for our pinch pleated drapes that cover our sliding glass door and 2 windows. They were a little higher because of the amount of material we needed for stripes that take are the width of all the drape panels. We justified the cost because we feel we would be able to use them where ever we move next. This is a new house but not our forever house since we are middle aged.

My designer believes in working on one room at a time until it is completed. Our priority rooms were the FR and breakfast nook. BN is completed. The FR needs a couple of more accessories and then we will be off to the DR and LR. I think we all have the tendency to start a decorating project or a room and then jump to something else without completing the project/room. I am trying hard not to do this and he will not help me with another room until I find the art I want for over my sofa.

I have been very happy with the results of our rooms and working with the designer. All our fabris came from the Market Place in Philadelphia. The textures are beautiful.
All our seating is made in the US and very comfortable.
Also, my designer will work with pieces that we already have when possible.

Recently, he helped us pick a TV console which we did not purchase through him. I found several on the web. He could not offer the same price since he did not have the same power cost advantages as the box store I got it through (also over the web). The shipping alone would have been ridiculous. He did not have any issues or ill feelings. He just wanted to make sure the style fit the room and offered his advice. He takes full responsibility for the look of the rooms he designs at all times. Also, all the accessories we are purchasing on our own since I feel I can do it less expensively. I do like my taste too! LOL

He does make his money off the cost of our purchases and it is well deserved. His services have saved me time (which at the time I did not have)and angst (particularly over paint colors). He was also a great buffer between me and my BF and was able to bring us into agreement. Basically, he is a great resource at all times for me.

Here is a picture of my drapes. We kept the color very neutral and the drapes very simple. They are what I choose.

Thank you for your reply and for sharing pictures of your gorgeous kitchen! I love your choice of curtains and your kitchen table looks like the perfect choice for your breakfast area. I should have been more clear - we moved into a new (resale) house and the only window treatments are those paper shades from Home Depot. The buyers of our previous house wanted our window treatments to stay - since most of them would not work with our current windows anyway we sold them with the house (except my one daughters much loved pink velvet curtains and our MB curtains for which I need sheers and rods). Heres a pic of the MB Curtains and Valances I have - I have 2 single windows and one double width (2 windows together). Need sheers and rods. I like the larger scale 2" or so rods, but the rod opening on these about 1 inch (I have to measure). Was thinking of gold sheers (our bedroom furniture is gold (gold leaf paint over wood). Need some privacy and love the light - neighbors are a good distance away and MB is in the back of the house.

Thank you for the input!

I've had a home full of custom drapes that cost more than I could ever believe. In my new home I have been selective on the amount of drapes I have. I have found a wonderful gal with great taste that works for JC Penny's. I have used her for several projects and the prices are reasonable when they have sales. Her guidance is free. Go to your local store(s) and talk to the custom design center. If you click with one of the salespeople, have them out to see your home and see what they suggest. Good luck!

Plain white or a gold sheer with a tone on tone pattern could be interesting for your current treatments.

I interviewed several custom drapery designers last year. I found one person after browsing pictures at Work Room Intelligence. I found that site from someone on this forum, and I am very grateful. I found another person via word-of-mouth and my third person was from JC Penney.

I went with the JC Penney designer for my master bedroom drapes. These are corner windows and I wanted a cornice and the draperies had to meet. While the JC Penney designer gave me a nice idea for my living room their (sale) price was little different than the woman I ultimately used (the work room intelligence person). I just liked what she designed much better than anyone else.

I don't recall if we paid a fee to the designers to come out (this was last year, you'd think I would recall). I do know that JC Penney's was quick with their fabrication! Apparently all their draperies are made in a central location and shipped to the store where the designer picks them up and then she came over with her drapery hanger to install. They actually ran a bit ahead of schedule. Also, because these were a problem window situation and I wanted a specific look, she had the drapery hanger meet her when she did the final measurements for accuracy before ordering. I was glad she did as he corrected her on something that would have effected the way the draperies closed.

The work room intelligence woman did fantastic work! And I mean above and beyond beautiful. Unfortunately, she had a volunteer commitment that ended up taking up all her time and my draperies were delayed for many months. If you have time constraints make certain they are worked into your contract.

As far as cost - I'm not sure what you expect to spend but our living room draperies were well over $5K. This included all the rods (three windows), material (I happened to pick very inexpensive material - imagine the cost with expensive stuff!?) for pinch pleated draperies and pinch pleated sheers, three cornices and labor including fabrication and installation. I thought it was extremely reasonable for what we received. I don't recall the master bedroom cost, but it was much less as we only did cornices, draperies to the bottom of the window as opposed to the floor and cornices. We had had roller shades already on the window, and we left them in place instead of installing sheers.

As far as ideas, I knew the basics of what I wanted in the master bedroom so that was an easier design choice. In the living room I was completely open to ideas. The designers took into account the formal furnishings in the room as well as my taste. Each designer was quickly able to zone in on their books with more formal materials. I had been asked previously what colors the room was, and what color draperies I envisioned. In the end, the bedroom ended up with a color choice that was no where close to what I originally thought. The living room was closer to my original thought although even after I ordered, the designer called me and said one of the colors completely faded into the cornice material and that she was changing it. I went with her judgment, and as I said the result was spectacular.

I wish I had a picture, but I don't. I went to the living room designer's website and she did not have the pictures up either.

I will say that you must "connect" with the designer. If you want formal and she is showing you barn animals or aqua for a red room when you want neutral, you should probably move on. That designer's vision might be wonderful but you will need to live with the end result.

It also depends on what part of the country you live in as to what design services and custom seamstresses cost versus store bought.

In my part of the world, it is cheaper to pick out your own fabrics and have very nice custom draperies made than to order from say...Restoration Hardware, Horchow, or Pottery Barn even or to go thru a design service.

Many interior fabric places have consultants on staff to help at no extra charge. It helps to bring pictures of your space, your other fabrics, and paint colors.

However, the hardware in those stores can be very expensive so it helps to scour the internet for deals on those.

I guess what I am trying to say is, first I would see if there are any interior fabric stores in the area (even within a few hours) and if they have consultants that can help, visit them. Look thru magazines to see if you can find ideas that you like. Make sure to bring the mags. along with all of the other pertinant info. for your room.

NEVER and I mean NEVER forget to venture to the remnant rack while your there. You can find some awesome things on those racks. Usually not enough to make panels or anything but enough to make some nice valances, pillows, and such.

These places usually have workrooms as well if you don't have a quality seamstress in your area. Using these places by being your on, general contractor, so to speak is usually cheaper than designers. Keep in mind though these places will be more than Penny's but definately less than a designer (usually :))

With your bedroom, I would try a store bought sheer first before I had a custom one made though to see if that is even the look you want.