hardware sources for roll-up blinds?
Hi All,
Hubby and I were intending to put roman shades in the new bedroom. Then I thought to hold my E-Bay find – a roll of hand-painted kimono silk up in there, and we both went “That’s it!” It should work out just perfectly – the kimono silk is around 14″ wide, and the windows are 16″ wide – so with a one inch trim around to protect the edges of the silk it should be elegant. The problem being that the irises are painted on to be at the bottom of the kimono, so they would be at the bottom of the roman shades, and all folded up unless the shade were all the way closed. However, if I do roll up blinds, then the irises would show if the blinds were only partway down.
So where can I get roll up blinds that are only 16″ wide? In several different lengths to six foot. Suggestions about how to mount the silk onto the blinds?
Replies
Hi Kilroy! I have seen custom fabric roller blinds made before...now here comes the big BUT...
the problem with doing it yourself.
The roller blind can be custom cut to width to fit your window fairly easily. It is not that expensive either. A good window covering place can do it easily, as they have the proper tools to do it.
The problem is the fabric. Adding that much fabric adds a lot of weight to the roller mechanism, and most cannot handle it. It adds bulk as well. Usually a lot more. The fabric ones I have seen have had to be sent out to be laminated, and then added to the roller blind mechanism. This is usually a job for an expert who orders in a nude roller, who then adds the fabric to the roller. That has been my experience.
The other side of the coin is that if you fabric is very very lightweight silk, and you are willing to use something to paste it to the roller blind, similar to wallpapering, I think it would be worth a try. I would be reluctant to experiment on such nice fabric myself...
Have you considered using the fabric as a flat panel drape? It can be hung across the window, framed in a fabric to really set it off. Closed, it would hang flat, like a large picture, but open, would be gathered to the side, and the colours in it would be an asset to the room. Just a thought. Cathy
The silk is quite fine - just a bit more heft than I would consider to be scarf weight, much lighter than an Hermes scarf would be, for instance. So I don't think it would be a problem for the blind mechanism. However, I am taking your warning to heart, because my first pick for the trim around the edge was a very heavy upholstery velvet, and I now realize that would not work! The irises are all different heights, the hand painting is designed to start at the front overlap of the kimono and gradually the design decreases in height as it goes around the body, like a tomosode, so it would look odd to have them hanging down from the folds of a roman shade. So what are the names of some good reasonably priced window coverings places? Because I did originally price out the roman shades that I originally wanted at Calico Corners, but hubby was not thrilled with the idea of taking out a second mortgage just to put up some shades.
I can't provide names for you, they might be different up here in Canada.....but the type of place would be one that sells blinds and shades as a specialty. There are a couple of chain type stores. You might also try a custom drapery and blind shop. They often have the equipment to custom cut roller blinds as well. You will need to do some price checking. Not sure if the Big Chains, like Sears do it anymore.....Some of the older hardware stores used to do it....Depends on where you are...
One thing to keep in mind. Cheap blinds have cheap hardware! The heavier the fabric in the blind, the heavier hardware in the roller! Make sure you are going to have a heavy enough hardware! Good Luck. Cathy
G'Morning, Kilroy!What a lovely mind-picture - painted irises on your roman shades! How to get *there* from *here* - Hmmmmmmm...How tall are the irises? That is, how wide is your border? You may be able to start the folding *above* the top of the flowers, so that they hang below the folds no matter where the shades are... Mount the top hardware well above the window frame if possible.Or ... Use the border to make a flat valance - hides the hardware, and shows off the *best part* of the fabric all the time... Don't forget a sun-blocking lining, so the silk lasts more than a couple of years. Happy Experimenting! And we want to see photos!! :)Ooh! Ooh! - new toy! Just tried drawing in ImageReady - let's see if this works ...KharminEdited 5/26/2009 10:06 am by KharminJ
Edited 5/26/2009 10:07 am by KharminJ
Okay - those require downloading, sorry - let's try something different... hmmm, can't seem to do the same thing for the other picture - hope this makes it a little clearer, though... Kharmin
cool! very cool!
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