Blinds or Curtains?

Hi wylie

I also like eyelets for their sturdy nature and lack of extra infrastructure such as cords to open/close them. The more infrastructure, the more things that can break.

May I ask whether you have much trouble with windows that are shorter in height than the eyelet curtains available for sale in stores such as Spotlight? (eg sliding doors)

 

Lucky you !!!

I've had a lot of windows where the height is a little bit less than off-the-shelf curtains, so the options are shorten the curtains, put a rod above the window frame on the plaster (not ideal since there are often no studs to attach to) or let the curtains drag in a bunch on the floor. Grrr.

 

Why never curtains?

 

I put the cheapest curtain I can find, sheer for living rooms and blockout for bedrooms, tenants can change them for person taste if they like. Worst problem is that they are usually too long (need to take them up). If Spotlight does your head in my advice is go to Ikea

 

White timber Venetians. These also improve street appeal from the front.

You need to wait for a sale at Spotlight, measure the inside of the windows (Venetians should be recessed) buy them, and have Spotlight cut them to your measurements.

 

I've always cut them down to size myself (I also wait for a sale & buy them from spotlight). How much does Spotlight charge to cut them to size?

 

I can't remember, but I wasn't confident cutting them all straight. But yeh, DIY if you can.

 

Too much effort to specify colour / type etc on ingoing inspection reports for tenancies. Don't know if you're getting the same back at end of tenancy (unless your PM takes photos of every curtain.

 

You've probably decided by now seeing it's now November, but I'll post for anyone who has this query in future...............
We recently did a reno of our IP in Perth and had to replace the old vertical blinds in whole house - 3 bedrooms, lounge, kitchen and 2 sliding doors in laundry and dining area.
Quotes for custom made ranged from $2500 -$3300
I saw white timber venetians on sale at Spotlight - 50% off with total cost of $1200 - but the sizes were too long for the shorter windows and a bit too wide. I rang one of the Perth stores and they recommended person in the next suburb who could cut the width and also remove some of the slats so they'd be the right length.
On that basis I bought the blinds and the woman came around and cut every one of them to fit and installed them - perfect fit and looked great. I can't remember exactly but think it was $200-$250.

 

I'm really struggling for curtains in my new development that is almost finished.
I paid extra for higher ceilings, so that they'd revalue higher, but didn't realise the builder would elongate the windows as part of that. Most of the spotlight stuff is simply no long enough

I was planning on just using cheap eyelet curtains, but if anyone has any suggestions on stuff with over 2m drop, that'd be great.

 

I prefer curtains personally and have seen more blinds damaged in rental properties over the years than curtains.

Venitians can bend in corners and the pull down blinds can get stuck and tear.
Curtains last a lot longer.

I would go as simple as possible - on a rod that can be pulled across. I manage properties with all sorts of modern curtain tracks that work on rollers and strings and even remote controls to open and close - too many things can go wrong which ads to maintenance.

 

Hi D.T. Most ready-made curtains are 213cm drop.
I've seen the latest Spotlight catalogue with ready made curtains 223cm dropthat might not be long enough for your place but I think Spotlight (or maybe Lincraft) have rolls of fabric made into eyelet curtaining in much longer drop (maybe 250cm) and it's 'continuous' so you buy the fabric by the metre according to the width of your window - the top is already finished with eyelets and the bottom is already hemmed but the sides need to be hemmed - pretty simple for anyone with a machine and basic sewing skills.
I've also seen some longer length blockout eyelet curtains online - various colours. You order and pay online and curtains arrive in a couple of weeks by courier or Australia Post.
I'll have a look now and see if I can find them again - if so, I'll post the link here for you.

 

Here's the link for some curtains that might do the trick - long drop, good range of colours and pretty good price at $79 per panel.
250Cm Drop Curtains | Extra Long Curtains | Curtains Online - Quickfit Blinds & Curtains
If you order them, can you please post and let us know what they're like? might get some myself

 

The like of spotlight should have some?

I personally like roller blind - my apartment has 2.5m height full width window to balcony and one unopenable one looking from bedroom to balcony. The 3x2.5m one was quoted about $350 if I remember right.

Roller blinds is so much neater. Saw some other unit using blinds and I think it's very messy from the outside.

 

Re. my previous comments about 250cm drop curtains - I said some stores sell continuous eyelet curtaining in 250cm drop. That may or may not suit you but today I was in my local Spotlight store checking out patio blinds and saw ready-made eyelet curtains in 250cm length - these were not hanging up as a display curtain but were in plastic packaging on the shelf.
The packaging carried the message that these were 250cm and suitable for cutting and hemming to your desired length.
I have to go back to Spotlight on Monday or Tuesday so will note the brand and other details then post here.

 

Thanks for having a look for me

I need to go there tomorrow to pick some up for someone's renovation I'm overseeing, and will have another squiz there at some that might be suitable for my place. All the ones I saw previously were 223 which weren't big enough and didn't look like the hem could be undone either (though I'd shy away from doing so anyway lol)

 

Where do you guys receive your quotes for custom vertical or roller blinds!? Way too expensive.

3 bedroom 2 bathroom townhouse two levels- $1405 custom vertical blinds throughout the property
2 bedroom house and 1 bathroom- $1200 roller blinds.

 

Anyone got any suggestions what I can use here?? Is a rental property so cheaper the better

 

You just install clips to keep the cord taut. Easy to do.