FAQs Curtains & Blinds

Based in Fife, I provide handmade curtains, blinds and soft furnishings as well as interior design services for properties in East Central Scotland: Edinburgh & the Lothians, Fife & St Andrews, Perthshire, Tayside and Angus.

Buying from the high street is great if you’re looking for soft furnishings that follow a current design trend.

However, you will often find only a limited selection of fabrics and styles for you to choose from. And the curtains and blinds will only be available in certain standard sizes.

So the main benefit of working with a curtain maker like myself is that you will have bespoke window treatments for your home you won’t get off the shelf.

Something that is particularly helpful, if you have unusually shaped or sized windows, like arched windows or very large windows with shutters.

You will also benefit from professional advice on the style of curtains or blinds that will work best for your particular windows and interiors.

Additionally, working with a curtain maker gives you access to a huge range of fabrics in all sorts of colours, patterns and textures.

This way you can choose a fabric that you truly love, that works with your décor and that will look good for years to come.

Yes, I will provide an all-around service that includes everything from helping you find the right fabric for your window treatments to fitting your new curtains and blinds.

Additionally, I’ll make sure that the quality of the fabric used is up to the highest standards. For example, when the fabric is delivered to my workshop, my first job is to check for the correct design and colour.

Another important task is to ensure the fabric is free from flaws and that the pattern repeat is continuous.

And in case of any issues with the delivery, I will deal with the supplier and make sure it gets sorted out without delay.

Part of my initial consultation is to come out to your home and measure your windows.

We’ll discuss the best height to install your curtain pole or track, or for blinds, whether they should sit inside or outside your window recess.

I’ll also check whether there are any obstructions (a radiator under the window, or windows opening inwards rather than outwards, for example) and how we could work around that.

This will make sure that the process of making and fitting your curtains and blinds goes as smoothly as possible.

Of course! Houses in Scotland are often known for two things: They can offer a wide range of different window shapes and many period homes suffer from lack of insulation. And I’d love to help you with both.

For example, I offer bespoke solutions for unusually shaped windows, e.g. bay windows, dormers or arched windows, trapezoid and windows with working shutters.

And there are a few ways you can use window treatments to cut down on draughts and heat loss in your home.

Interlined curtains or blinds, for example, help improve insulation and energy efficiency. And they can be created for windows of any shape or size.

Certainly, it’s an exciting part of my job! There are several ways to help you find the right fabric(s) for your window treatments.

For example, I can bring a selection of fabric sample books to our initial meeting. This way you can have a look at what’s available and get a feel for your options.

Alternatively, we can get started with a mood board on Pinterest. We’ll have a look at fabric samples once you’ve narrowed it down to a few fabrics.

Either way, you can always make sure the fabric ties in with your décor scheme before you make your final choice.

The exact amount of fabric needed depends on the size of your windows, if you choose a plain or patterned fabric and on the style you’ve chosen for your curtain or blinds.

For example, curtains for a standard window generally start at 8m, but curtains for a typical period bay window will need at least 20m of fabric.

To give you an idea, here’s a rough guide for the minimum measures required:

• Cushion: from 0.5m
• Blind: from 1.4m
• Curtains: from 8m 
• Pelmet: from 1m
• Small Chair: from 5m
• Dining Chair: from 0.6m
• Sofa: from 10m 

One thing that often comes up is the fitting of your new window treatments. For example, do you have existing poles or tracks you want to re-use or do you need to get new ones to match your new blinds and curtains?

I can help with everything surrounding your new curtains or blinds – from selecting the right pole or track to take the weight of your curtains to finding a design that will compliment the fabric you’ve chosen.

Additionally, you might want to consider a pelmet which looks very smart and helps frame a window.

Or you could consider tiebacks, trimmings and contrast linings to provide a bespoke finish and make sure your curtains are unique to you.

There are lots of different options for blinds – all depending on the style you’re looking for and whether you’d like the blinds to be decorative or purely practical.

For example, roman blinds give a very tailored look to a window. And they use less material than curtains so you could indulge in a more expensive fabric.

London blinds are a softer, pleated version of roman blinds which often give the room a more luxurious feel.

Other variations are vertical, pleated and roller blinds as well as wooden Venetian blinds and shutters.

And if you’re looking for privacy and light control, semi-sheer roller blinds are always a great choice.

I’d be happy to discuss the different options for your windows with you!

From start to finish, your new curtains or blinds will generally be ready within 4 to 6 weeks after confirming your order.

At busy times, especially in the run-up to Christmas, it can take a bit longer. Either way, I’ll always keep you posted on progress and let you know if there are any delays.

I offer a full fitting service for all types of bespoke curtains and blinds to all my clients.

This includes fitting tracks and poles. This is a key part of the whole process to ensure your curtains and blinds look amazing.

The professional fitter I work with has years of experience and he’ll also dress your curtains so that they hang perfectly in their folds.

If you have small children or pets, you may want to keep your full-length curtains for your bedroom to avoid any accidents with sticky fingers or marking.

For the rest of your home, you could consider blinds and shutters. They are a great alternative as they stop at sill height and are less costly to change if accidents do occur.

But more importantly, you can be sure that all the blinds I supply are safe to use around your family. My blinds are always fully compliant with current child safety regulations using chain breakers or retainers to avoid strangulation risks.