Which curtains goes with this?

AcidRaZor said:
Is having them made cheaper/same price as off the shelf though?
Click to expand...

Works out cheaper. Take a female friend or the missus (if you have one) to one of the fabric stores and select some good quality fabric. If you give them your dimensions they can make them for you in-store as well. Otherwise find a curtain-maker to do it. Far better than any off-the-shelf stuff...
 
DJ... said:
Works out cheaper. Take a female friend or the missus (if you have one) to one of the fabric stores and select some good quality fabric. If you give them your dimensions they can make them for you in-store as well. Otherwise find a curtain-maker to do it. Far better than any off-the-shelf stuff...
Click to expand...

It is generally more expensive to have curtains custom made. I had some made for my living room about 4 years ago and it was more expensive than the average standard sized ones. Then again, it also depends on the fabric you choose and whether your windows are larger than the standard size.
 
Whatever you do, don't buy pleather couches - look out for keywords like 'leather uppers'. It will have a paper-thin gilding of leather and then fabric underneath. Give it 2 years of serious use and all the edges will start to fray through. Add in kids or dogs and it will wear out completely. Of course it's up to you, I just wouldn't ever do it.

With couches, a good leather set will last your entire life. It's an investment that is well worth spending a lot of money on because 1) you can always be proud of it and 2) you could never have to replace it once bought. A full 3-piece suite should cost in the region of R20,000 or up; less at retail will get you lower quality, it's that simple.

On the other hand you could get a perfectly decent fabric set from Coricraft or so. Just look out for the materials and build. Don't be afraid to go under the pillows and look at the seams and the wood; flimsy pine is a big lookout. We went through all this recently and ended up getting a full leather set which I couldn't be prouder of, and which we could have for our whole lives.
 
blunomore said:
It is generally more expensive to have curtains custom made. I had some made for my living room about 4 years ago and it was more expensive than the average standard sized ones. Then again, it also depends on the fabric you choose and whether your windows are larger than the standard size.
Click to expand...

My windows were gigantic - worked out far cheaper.

The beauty of buying your own fabric is that once you're there, and you leave the female to do the "must touch and smell every item" bit, you can head off outside for a good bunny chow and samoosa...:D
 
DJ... said:
My windows were gigantic - worked out far cheaper.

The beauty of buying your own fabric is that once you're there, and you leave the female to do the "must touch and smell every item" bit, you can head off outside for a good bunny chow and samoosa...:D
Click to expand...

Clearly the choice of fabric brought down your cost and I guess the labour was inexpensive too. The fabric I chose was pricey(just cos I liked it), and I had it lined to protect against sun damage.
 
blunomore said:
Clearly the choice of fabric brought down your cost and I guess the labour was inexpensive too. The fabric I chose was pricey(just cos I liked it), and I had it lined to protect against sun damage.
Click to expand...

No I chose, as far as I am concerned, some pretty bloody expensive fabric. Cost more than my bloody bunny chow. But the labour was free to be honest...
 
cerebus said:
Whatever you do, don't buy pleather couches - look out for keywords like 'leather uppers'. It will have a paper-thin gilding of leather and then fabric underneath. Give it 2 years of serious use and all the edges will start to fray through. Add in kids or dogs and it will wear out completely. Of course it's up to you, I just wouldn't ever do it.

With couches, a good leather set will last your entire life. It's an investment that is well worth spending a lot of money on because 1) you can always be proud of it and 2) you could never have to replace it once bought. A full 3-piece suite should cost in the region of R20,000 or up; less at retail will get you lower quality, it's that simple.

On the other hand you could get a perfectly decent fabric set from Coricraft or so. Just look out for the materials and build. Don't be afraid to go under the pillows and look at the seams and the wood; flimsy pine is a big lookout. We went through all this recently and ended up getting a full leather set which I couldn't be prouder of, and which we could have for our whole lives.
Click to expand...

Retail these go for 22k-ish. They do say full/real leather uppers, but compared to the other leather couches on display there you can really feel the difference with these ones I have in my sights. I also went to a store right next to furniture city with a wider range of couches just to check. I have seen the "wear" you talk about, so I'm quite aware of it. Salesman said that it won't wear like that (and showed me a comparison to make sure he knew what I was talking about re: the wear on the leather couches I've seen before)
 
AcidRaZor said:
Retail these go for 22k-ish. They do say full/real leather uppers, but compared to the other leather couches on display there you can really feel the difference with these ones I have in my sights. I also went to a store right next to furniture city with a wider range of couches just to check. I have seen the "wear" you talk about, so I'm quite aware of it. Salesman said that it won't wear like that (and showed me a comparison to make sure he knew what I was talking about re: the wear on the leather couches I've seen before)
Click to expand...

Real is real, bonded is bonded. It may be hardier but is it going to stand up to 10-20 years of solid use? What about 30-40 years? That set is luxury, i.e. it's very thick and has recliner features. In real leather/solid wood you'd be looking in the 30k region.

Our set is worth retail about 20k; it's pure leather and solid wood. It was obtained from a small craftsman type shop and I imagine it'll last forever. It isn't recliner or anything like that, just simple couches.
 
To be honest, I look for a combination of quality, style and comfort and am happy to sacrifice on quality to make up for the other two. The reason for this is that I don't want the same lounge suite in ten years' time. Granted, I don't have kids I'd pass them down to and I've always been fortunate in that I've been able to afford purchases like this, but I don't think I'm alone in seeing it as a medium-term buy...
 
AcidRaZor said:
Is having them made cheaper/same price as off the shelf though?
Click to expand...

If you have standard-sized windows, it will work out a bit more expensive. But depending on your choice, you will have better quality stuff. I had replaced my blinds last year and was really unimpressed by what I was seeing in stores.

If you have non-standard sized windows (I have yet to see any ready-made curtains to cover 3mx3.5m...), you will have to have them made up.

So your first step is figuring out what the possibilities are :)

And location. In Joburg, you can pick out your fabric and have them make it up for free/very little. In Cape Town... I don't know of any place that offers that service, but there might be. I can suggest stores to buy fabric and a good curtain-maker if you want that.

And DJ is spot on with the suggestion of taking a female friend along to do the browsing and to pick out a selection for you.
 
Personally I'd go for something bright and light along with your selected furniture. Maybe lightweight cream curtains pulled to sides over wooden blinds with burnt orange pillows on your couches for some extra colour. If you bold enough you could opt for the orange curtains... The correct shades of green would also work with the brown.... Go for creams, yellows, oranges, greens and light brown/beiges to compliment your furniture.
 
I'm currently in Edenvale, moved up to JHB again a few months ago and finally moving into my own place now (first time, in like EVER, always shared a house/flat with people)
 
Savanah said:
Personally I'd go for something bright and light along with your selected furniture. Maybe lightweight cream curtains pulled to sides over wooden blinds with burnt orange pillows on your couches for some extra colour. If you bold enough you could opt for the orange curtains... The correct shades of green would also work with the brown.... Go for creams, yellows, oranges, greens and light brown/beiges to compliment your furniture.
Click to expand...
I was thinking of it, but I think what I'll do is dark royal blue curtains with the black couches and then accessorize with something like a lighter shade of blue (cushions or lampshade or whatever)
 
AcidRaZor said:
I'm currently in Edenvale, moved up to JHB again a few months ago and finally moving into my own place now (first time, in like EVER, always shared a house/flat with people)
Click to expand...

Go to Dubai Centre, on the East Rand. Huge selection and pretty cheap...;)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X