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Measuring for drapes...

15 years ago

We have a set of in-swinging garden doors that face west and get direct sunlight all afternoon and evening. We've noticed the hardwood floor starting to change color slightly in that area and would like to do some sort of treatment that can be closed in the afternoons.

The doors are steel so we were thinking of doing panels with grommets?? If we go with that, do the panels have to be 2-3 times the width of the doors?

I'm open to other suggestions for steel, in-swinging doors. What other options do we have?

The adjoining room (open) has roman bamboo shades. Does anyone else have steel doors like this?

Thanks.

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Comments (5)

gk5040
15 years ago
Why not have them tinted by 3M and then you will be able to leave them as they are. Tinting comes in different degrees but all offer the fade protection. There are some you can not even tell its there.
ctlane
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the suggestion. I should also have said I would like to bring some softness to that area as well.
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Do you wish these drapes to be operable or stationary panels? If they are stationary, the panels can always "kiss" the floor. I have custom drapes on order for my LR/DR because the rooms both face the street, are quite wide windows and so would've need multiple panels and I needed them to be operable. When I had my windows measured, we planned to have the rod sit a few inches below the crown (to be installed) and then the drapes fall below the rod. So 84" could work if hung on a decorative rod, but 96" would need to be shortened. I know JC Penny's makes operable pinch pleats in wider sizes as well as made-to-measure drapery which are both quite a bit less expensive than custom. Here is a link that might be useful: Made-to-measure JCP drapes
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I don't follow your arithmetic. You have two windows - I'm assuming they're next to each other. Each window is 70" wide. The curtains are 96" wide. If two panels will be opened to a side, that gives you 26" of drape on one side beyond the window, with the panel across the window. The question is how much stacking space does the 96" curtain require? I'd figure 3/4" to 1" per pleat. My guess is something between 20" and 24", or about the amount of drape beyond the window. If you have a 72" window by itself, and the drapes are to cover the window, then you have 13" of drapes on either side of the window when closed and the stacking space when the drapes are opened is something between 10" and 12".
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I found this online on how to measure for drapes, and yes it came out to almost 9 yards, but I am assuming this is measuring if you want the drapes to close. For Drapes Step 1: Measure the width of your rod in inches. If you don’t have drapery hardware installed yet, measure the width of the area you would like covered by the drape. Step 2: Multiply this amount by 2 if you want your drapes to be 2 times fullness. If you choose a fuller look, then multiply by 2½. Step 3: Divide this amount by 54 inches. Now you know how many drops/widths of 54 inch wide fabric you will need. Step 4: Measure the length you want the finished drape to be in inches. Step 5: Add 16 inches to allow for the hem (8”) and heading (8”). Now you know how much fabric you will need for each drop/width of 54” wide fabric. Step 6: Multiply this answer from step 5 by the number of drops you will need. (answer of step 2) Now you have the amount of fabric you will need in inches. Divide by 36 inches to get the amount of fabric you will need in yards.
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cindyloowoo
15 years ago
Be careful when having your windows tinted. Pella told me that tinting would void the warranty. I think they were referring to professional tinting, not the vinyl coverings for DIY.

As far as the doors, you could do roman shades attached directly to the doors or drapes on a traverse rod across the whole area. I think even with the grommets you would need 2 - 2.5 times the width so they would look right. Triple width might be too full.
brutuses
15 years ago
What exactly do you mean about doing panels with grommets? Is there going to be a rod going all the way across the door that is attached to the wall? You can install a curtain, shade or blind directly on the door even though it is steel. If it is for light control I would install a sheer or lace curtain with a rod at top and bottom. That way you could still get the light, but protection from the sun bleaching the floors.

Another option would be one of those swing arm rods.
ctlane
Original Author
15 years ago
Yeah brutuses, I was thinking of the rod and panels with grommets so it would be easy to slide them out of the way to clear the door so it can be opened. When you say install directly on the door do you mean magnetic? I really don't want to make holes in the doors, thats why I was thinking of a rod and panels.

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