“Voyage Decoration” Curtains – 30th June 2011

Posted on June 30, 2011 by Carl

Today we have been installing some beautiful curtains in a  fabric by Lorrient Decoration, part of the prestigious Voyage Decoration Group. The fabric was Alondra in Gold/Red and featured a hand finished stiffened Pinch Pleat heading with a poly cotton twill lining and weighted corners.

We hung the curtains on a modern Burnished Brass pole with Ball and Claw finials, using 11cm deep brackets to allow the heading to pleat correctly. The curtains were dressed and steamed to ensure the pleats would remain in place and finished with a sumptuous Gold and Red rope tie back featuring a hand gilded decoration.

Here are a few pictures , to see more of our work click on the Gallery tab at the top of the page or read more on our blog “Featured Work”

Alondra Red/Gold by Lorrient Decoration - Full image

Alondra Red/Gold by Lorrient Decoration - Full image

Alondra Red/Gold by Lorrient Decoration - close up image

Alondra Red/Gold Close up View

Alondra Red/Gold by Lorrient Decoration featuring the hand Gilded Tie Back

Alondra Red/Gold featuring the hand Gilded Tie Back

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Custom Made Curtains in only 7 Days

Posted on June 22, 2011 by Carl

Quality curtains and blinds

We  are committed to providing a first class service to our internet customers. To that end we have teamed up with Curtain Express to offer a fantastic online range of made to measure curtains and blinds. Our online Curtain Express shop can offer you all the following:
  • Huge choice of fabrics with samples available in all designs
  • Kids ranges
  • A choice of curtain headings
  • linings and accessories
  • Roman, roller, vertical and Venetian & wood blinds
  • Easy to use measuring guides
  • Simple step-by-step ordering process
Curtain Express will do the rest delivering made to measure curtains or blinds to your door in only one week!

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The Heath House – 1st March 2011

Posted on March 5, 2011 by Carl

The Heath House, Staffordshire's Premier Wedding Venue

The Heath House, Staffordshire's Premier Wedding Venue

The Heath House in Staffordshire is the ancestral home of the Philips Family, it has been home to the Philips’s for six generations and has featured in a number of films such as the hound of the Baskervilles and A Land of Plenty. More recently the Historic building was feature in the television series “Country House Rescue” and is now  used for weddings and receptions.

We were approached by Mr John Philips in February  to undertake the replacement of the curtains in the grand entrance hall. After a number of visits with fabric and lining samples it was decided that a Monkwell  Fabric would be the ideal replacement for  the hall Curtains.

The Heath House - Entrance Hall Curtains

The Heath House - Entrance Hall Curtains

We returned in early March with the finished curtains and along with my curtain fitter Michael we proceeded to dress the beautiful entrance hall. The Curtains featured a 6″ deep stiffened Pinch Pleat Heading and a luxurious Burgundy Lining as well as a heavy bump interliner. The finished result was very impressive and can now be seen by all who visit the historic Heath House.


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Pencil Pleat Curtains

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Carl

Image of a pair of curtains with a 3" Pencil Pleat Heading

A pair of curtains showing a 3" Pencil Pleat Heading

Pencil Pleat curtain are one of the most commonly found headings, mainly because they are much cheaper and quicker to manufacture than any other form of curtain heading.

Pencil pleat curtains are made by adding a tape to the back of the curtain which can be either 3″ or 6″ deep, the tape is gathered by pulling  thin cords that run through the back of the tape. Once it has been gathered to the correct size which should be just over half of the track/pole size, the cords are then tied off and tucked into the end of the tape.

The resulting effect is a tightly gathered rushing that provides the folds for the curtains. Pencil Pleat curtains are very versatile and can be used in virtually any room or setting.

If you like to drape your curtains then pencil pleats are the ideal choice as they can be used with all types of tie backs or holdbacks.

To see our current range of Pencil Pleat curtains click here or alternatively call in to the shop for our custom made service where you will have the choice of literally thousands of the latest fabrics.

For more information on Pencil Pleat Curtains Call 01538 755248 or visit us at:

Country Interiors – 75 High St – Cheadle – Staffordshire – ST10 1AN

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Eyelet Curtains

Posted on February 3, 2011 by Carl

Eyelet Top Heading on a custom made curtain

Eyelet Heading for Ready Made or Custom Made Curtains

Eyelet Curtains or Ring Top Curtains as they are sometimes known are fast becoming the number one choice of curtain heading, this is largely due to the simplicity with which they can be hung but also because of the huge range of decorative poles that they can be used with.

Traditionally Eyelets have only been available in either Brass or Silver but in recent years  this has all changed, you can now select your eyelets from a variety of sizes colours and even shapes. Some of the most popular colours at the moment are Burnished Brass, Gun Metal, Black, Brushed Steele and Pewter, as for the size and shape of the eyelets, a standard 40mm eyelet is still the favourite although you can also get the larger 66mm if required. It is also possible to get square Eyelets too.
I am often asked if Tie Backs should be used with eyelet curtains, to which I generally say NO, eyelets look great when hanging straight and also the pleats are generally much deeper than  conventional headings, making it difficult to use a tie back or embrace without creasing the fabric.
If you are put off by the noise of the metal eyelets on a metal pole then you may be surprised to hear that you can have silicone inserts added to the rings to give a smooth silent glide action.

Eyelet Curtains can be used in Bedrooms, Dining Rooms or a Lounge, or indeed anywhere that needs an elegant but modern curtain.

For more information on Eyelet Curtains Call 01538 755248 or visit us at:

Country Interiors – 75 High St – Cheadle – Staffordshire – ST10 1AN

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Pinch Pleat

Posted on January 20, 2011 by Carl

Pinch Pleat Heading

An example of the pinch pleat heading for curtains

Pinch Pleat is probably the most elegant of all curtain headings, it comprises of groups of two or three pleats pinched together and sewn in place, you will sometimes find them referred to as double pleat or triple pleat. The grouped pleats are spaced evenly apart over the width of the curtain. This form of heading can be made with either three inch or six inch deep pleats depending on the drop of the curtains.

To make a pinch pleat heading you can use one of two methods, firstly you can use a pinch pleat tape, sometimes called a tridis tape which is sewn on to the back of the curtain and simply drawn up using the strings attached to the tape. The strings  should first of all be sewn at one end and pulled from the other end to form neat columns of three pleats, it is advisable to put a small tacking stitch into the base of the pleats to keep them in place. Regular curtain hooks can be used to attach the curtain to the pole.

The Second and more preferable method is to add a stiffening between the lining and the main fabric at the top of the curtain and to form the pleats by hand, sewing each into place as you work along the curtain. This method gives a very crisp precise finish but is generally more costly due to the labour intensive work involved. To hang this type of heading you must use pinch pleat hooks or stab hooks, these literally stab into the stiffening at the desired height allowing for very precise positioning.

A closer view of the pinch pleat heading

Pinch Pleat Heading shown with three pleats.

Pinch Pleat Curtains are not suitable for use on track systems but are perfect for poles and suspension systems. They must be hung from the underside of the pole or suspension system as the flat area between the pleats must fold backwards towards the wall.

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