I'm mostly a lurker, but wanted to share my experience with a vendor in India. About ten years ago, I was admirinig my neighbor's new curtains. She said she got them custom-made from some guy in India. Got his number from her and talked to him. After seeing some samples, selected the fabrics I wanted (silk for the LR and bed covers, faux-silk for the DR and BRs, and drapery fabric for the kitchen cafe curtains and valances). Gave him as accurate measurements of every window as I could, chose the pleats and length, etc. in about thre weeks, they were all shipped to us. Not a thing I didn't want or expect. We had someone come hang everything up and it was simply beautiful. Every single item. It's been 9 years and I still have them up and they look just as beautiful. Ad the prices were relatively low. Have given his name to others who've seen my curtains and asked where I got them. I have been a member for over ten years and I'm not pulling for any vendor. Just wanted to share. I'd post pictures if I knew how, but will try when I have some time.

It's so good to hear that translucent header tapes are sturdy ShadyLady. Thank you. The functional drapes in my living room have a traditional pinch pleat header tape and have held up fine after 3+ years of use. Sounds like we are looking at similar window treatments Laurie... My guest bedroom's window has existing shades (pulled down halfway in the photo below), but since it's quite large (100" W x 108" H), I decided to add black out draperies to help manage the light, add texture to the room, and give myself a sewing project (ha!). So yes, they will be functional. Opening and closing with a baton hung inside the on the center edges of the 2 panels. Also, I added 30% additional width to my rod length to allow room for the stack back as I didn't want the opened curtains to block any light. But I read thinner fabrics and/or curtains without blackout lining need as little as 20% additional rod length for stackback. I linked below to an online tutorial I found loaded with photos that might offer additional help since she goes into great detail. My Fabric: medium weight Robert Allen Bella Porte fabric in midnight aka blue. http://www.robertallendesign.com/trade/fabric_detail.aspx?product=207642 Lining: Hanes OutBlack lining. This lining has been described as having a soft hand and being easy to work with (compared to other blackout linings). http://www.hanesindustries.com/blackouts.htm I wish my shipment would hurry, all this sewing talk has me excited to start! =) Here is a link that might be useful: Blog Tutorial: Sewing Pinch Pleat Lined Curtains

Val - Thanks! So you think I should get a different pillow and throw for the wing chair? I'll admit I don't love that planter I just had a hard time finding anything. A different style? Not an urn type? Big, wide pot? I've thought about a coffee table. Even found one on CL awhile back I considered getting. I think I'm going to hold off though. I could see it easily becoming a place for STUFF to collect. Plus I don't want it to start feeling cramped. I may get one in time though. Wantoretire - I never thought of a dowel rod. Really think that would work? Thanks for the idea and the compliment! Funky - Since the carpet isn't even a year old I don't think I can bring myself to put a rug on there yet. If it were worn pretty bad and we didn't have the money to replace it, then maybe. Plus I think I'd need a pretty large rug, and what about the pattern since my futniture is, eee I cringe at the thought of finding "the one". Ha there would be many posts on here. I agree it would help to tie it together. However, the money we're spending in a couple weeks to have all the carpet FIXED (thank you Shaw) I could buy a nice rug. :) Maybe sometime down the road. I painted the returns today. They look much better! I'll have to post a picture later. Scoobyruby - That is a beautiful pillow! You are bad! I probably could bring myself to spend that on a pillow but DH ...haha. He would think I lost it. Ya know, I think you're the person on here that really got into pheasants all of a sudden. 1 year ago I wouldn't of looked twice at a pheasant or any type of bird print, etc. I find it interesting that this forum had kind of help mold me into my decorating style. Getting back on track, do you think I should still keep the other pillows on the couch except for the matching one in the middle, and try and find a kidney shaped lighter pillow to tie everything together. I will say I was looking at the room again today and IRL the sofa and loveseat have the gold color that matches the bronze/gold pillows exact but looking at the whole room it kind of looks like the tan color of the wing chair. What about the main wall with the web chair? Should any art go there or no?

Hi Kitchenstumpt2! Good to see you too. And I know Exactly what you mean about looking at panels. I was making valances, london shades, or even what my husband mockingly refers to as, "Romantic Balloon Curtains" for years, simply because the panels always looked lame to me. Finally, on someone's post on a long ago (at least 5 years!) thread at another board, somebody did a blow-by-blow account of how they bought the dowel to make an extra long rod, spray painted it black, then, used a .99 bottle of craft paint in antique gold to antique it and make it look more expensive. They bought their antique gold (already finished) brackets & finials from JCPenney, and had a beefy pretty rod hung. Then, they made extra wide drapes out of really nice waverly fabric, and voila! I loved the look. And I realized that my cheapness, (frugality? budget-minded decorating? Scrooginess?) didn't have to hold me back from panels any longer. Red