Curtains in the Arts & Crafts Style
"It is always a problem to choose curtains, and too much thought cannot be given to this all important subject" Keith's Magazine, 1911
Of all home textiles, curtains and shades seem to require the most thought. This is natural as, while they should be attractive, they also have to work. We don’t like to bury the window beneath swags and layers of extra long drapery, trimmed with layers of braid and bullion. Art & Crafts style curtains are in fact very practical...a simple & lovely use of drape that really does finish a room.
Simple rod pocket curtains with an Iris stencil border. You can sense the light quality of the handky linen.
In a bathroom where the curtains will rarely be opened, a single panel is often enough
For a wide bank of windows, one panel per window is traditional and gives you more flexibility while avoiding bulk at either end.
The wall elevation is often of prime importance in an Arts & Crafts living room. Curtains should reiterate the architecture.
Almost all our curtains are only 1 1/2 fullness but double fullness, seen here with pleats, can be nice with light weight fabrics
A hold back can lift a curtain away from the widow to let in more light.
How to order:
At any point in the process, feel free to call us. We’re there to help and we love hearing about your home. Be sure to check our frequently asked questions for more information. For fabric sample pictures, click here but we strongly recommend ordering the sample pack.
1) Measure the length and width of your window to within an eighth of an inch. If you already have hardware, measure from the top of the rod to wherever you want the bottom edge of the curtain to fall. If you don’t have hardware yet or want more measuring information, please look at our measurement tips.
2) Decide how full you want your curtains to be. Most of the Arts & Crafts curtains you see pictured on this website are one and one half (1 1/2x) fullness. That means that if the window is 30 inches wide , the curtains will be a total of 45” wide. If you want your curtains to be almost flat panels, order single fullness plus.
3) Choose your fabric. We suggest ordering our fabric sample packet, or you can order up to 3 samples at no charge. Most of our fabrics are 55 inches wide, so you can probably figure pretty closely how much you’ll need, but we’ll be glad to figure it out for you (and we may be able to save you some money!). Decide now if you want your curtains lined (see about lining) or if you would like pin stitched hems.
Pin stitching makes a row of tiny holes above the hem. It is often seen on fine linens
4) Choose a top finish. This is how your curtains will attach to the curtains rod as with the rod pocket in the photo at the top of this page), so if you haven't selected hardware, go to our hardware selection and decide what you want. If you know what kind of hardware you want, select a top finish that will work for your choice from our top finish selection.
5) Optional but the most fun: Choose an applique or stencil. Browse the design pages and look at the details of the designs as well as various ways they are used on curtains. We have a large library of Arts & Crafts appliques & stencils, so take your time to look at everything! Look at the applique & stencil colors and put together any scheme that works for your interior.
6) You can use the worksheet to figure out your cost or just contact us and have us figure it out for you. A price list is also available to assist you. In fact, call us any time during your design process and we'll help you out. We'll talk you through it and send you an estimate. Confirm your order with a 50% deposit and you'll have curtains in about four to six weeks.
Curtains on door windows often have a rod pocket top & bottom to keep the curtains from getting caught in a hinge.
Our standard 1 1/2" x 3/4" tabs for 3/8" rod are unobtrusive. Tabs are less bulky on the rod than a rod pocket,
A valance can hide a shade or give a nice finishing touch.
Curtains on the lower half only provide privacy but let in light.
Portiere...a special curtain for a doorway. Portieres are a bit different in construction as both sides should look finished. Look here for more information.
A vintage dining room with roller shades, sheer curtains, over curtains and valances!