Wanted: inexpensive 8' Curtain sources

[iGirl]

I'm looking at doing a "lite" room conversion of an upstairs loft/game room - no heavy construction...but it's a good space to work with 9' high ceilings 15'w x 21'd. A 120" DaLite screen is already installed, and ceiling mount Mitsubishi HD1000U comes this next week.

Planning on doing a small stage, curtains/swag and side screens to hide the AV gear - though we won't go to the lengths of building any upper soffit. The long side walls will be simple 8' velour curtains on long ceiling mounted tracks which will allow the to open/close to convert/blackout the room as needed...when not is use they can stack away up by the stage. We'll probably do just one riser, but try to keep it very simple, and hopefully lightweight!

Because we'll have such long curtain runs down the sides, I'm shopping for the best price I can find - any suggestions? 96"h curtains/drapes are not so easy to come by in theatrical style fabrics...I've found these at Target for $30/panel - http://www.target.com/gp/detail.html/sr=1-12/qid=1183302596/ref=sr_1_12/602-4566470-8615065?ie=UTF8&asin=B000HV23QQ

Problem is it would take like 10+ panels to do the job = $300 or more at the very least! Maybe that's the best we're going to do? Other options for this space, ideas or sources???

Attached below are the "blank slate" before pics....

 

[Adam]

Sorry, no suggestions for you. I was just writing to say how much I like your room there. Fighting...back...jealousy...

You'll have to put up the "After" photos once you get this all set up! Looks like it will be a nice place to enjoy a show.

 

[the grunt]

Six months ago I was looking everywhere for curtains and I think that’s about the best deal you will get if you want 96” velvet. You may shave a couple dollars off each panel if you find a clearance or get a deal on ebay. You could do it for about half to two thirds the price if you went with a cheaper material but then it wouldn’t look as nice. We have a parachute shop where I work so I was lucky enough to have someone there make mine for a case of beer.

If you have the means or know someone who will do it cheaply you could make your own with the added advantage that they would be custom fit to your needs. However, bulk velvet is still fairly expensive so you would only save about a third of the price if you did it yourself.

I’m guessing you want the curtains both for looks and to darken the room for viewing. Something I noticed when I installed my curtains was that the darker I got the front of the room the more annoying any light source other than the screen became. I ended up adding blackout curtains behind the ones covering the windows.

Whatever you do don’t paint the room dark it looks way to nice the way you have it now. I’m also looking forward to seeing it finished. Curtains will add a very nice touch.

 

[iGirl]

Thanks....

Also ran into a little logistics issue, as the stock curtains run 96" tall at most, but my floor to ceiling distance is 108"! (Need full length to keep light out even though this will be night time use only, it just wouldn't look right to come up short!)

This means I either have to build a 12" lower facade around the side of the ceiling to run the track from - or add 12" to the bottom of the curtains which might not look so hot.

This might result in us having to have custom made curtains...I might have to start looking or cheap fabric instead - and a simple to use sewing machine (since I have no clue how to use one)! LOL

 

[the grunt]

If you go with the panels like the link in your first post you could use the matching valances to cover the top 12”, but that would add another $15 per panel. Presently I have the custom curtains that I had made for the home theater in my fathers house and I’m using cheap black panel curtains from Walmart in my apartment. For a house I would go with custom made curtains as they look nicer and are easier to open and close. For something temporary like an apartment panels work fine but just don’t look as good.

Also even if you make custom curtains a valance around the room can look very nice even when the curtains are open.

Don’t give up on dark curtains either. They improve picture quality and help let you suspend disbelief by limiting distractions in your peripheral vision. For the cost they are one of the best home theater investment I have made. And best of all it’s one thing I don’t keep getting the urge to upgrade.

 

[Audioholics]

I would totally go the sewing machine route. Even with buying a machine you'll be in for less money than getting custom curtains or even buying like ~10 of the 96" versions. I ended up buying a bunch of 96-inch blackout curtains off of Amazon.com (third party seller).

Learn how to do tab-style curtains (WAY easier than ruffles) and double up with inexpensive blinds. I found the combination of blinds and curtains makes for a very effective solution.

 

[avaserfi]

I would totally go the sewing machine route. Even with buying a machine you'll be in for less money than getting custom curtains or even buying like ~10 of the 96" versions. I ended up buying a bunch of 96-inch blackout curtains off of Amazon.com (third party seller).

Learn how to do tab-style curtains (WAY easier than ruffles) and double up with inexpensive blinds. I found the combination of blinds and curtains makes for a very effective solution.

Thats a really good idea. I have been meaning to get some curtains but I keep spending my money on things with buttons or setting it aside in my savings account. Maybe my girls roommate will help me out with her sewing skills after my room is filled with a big window .

 

[majorloser]

Honeycomb Shades

For the two windows I'd go with a double or triple honeycomb pleated shade in full opaque. I'd also go with "top-down bottom-up" which gives you more lighting options available. I've had good experience with Hunter Douglas:
http://www.hunterdouglas.com/hdg_product_detail.jsp?id=6

For the doors I'd look at some opaque vertical blinds. These are fairly cheap.

If you wish to cover everything with curtains, find somebody to make them for you. Unless you feel you can handle sewing yourself. The nice part about the blind/shades is that they do most of the light control. the curtains are just for "show".

BTW- you do know that velour is a PITA to keep clean? And dark colored velour is a dust magnet.

 

[Savant]

Don't know how inexpensive they are, but I often recommend Rosebrand for heavy velour curtains. (N.B. the "Closeouts" section of the site.)

 

[adk highlander]

I would add another vote for blinds.

Check out http://www.decoratetoday.com/default.asp?si=8&ref=1 American Blinds and Wallpaper. We have used their brand of cellular shades throughout our house and have been very impressed with their quality and price compared to other name brands. We just put up some of their blackout cellular shades in our bedroom and they do a better job than the double layer curtains.

 

[iGirl]

Thanks for the thoughts everyone!

If I attach the curtain tracks - http://www.walmart.com/catalog/product.do?product_id=5150988 at the outer sides of the ceiling, then the measurement drops to only 102"...6" more than a 96" curtain. The track & clips (or optional hooks) will take a couple of inches so I'm now getting close to working this out. IF I decide not to go the bulk fabric/sewing machine route..... Maybe a border hot glued/velcroed around the bottom, or an extra reinforced top carrier panel can get the lengths correct.

Basically I am now looking at side curtains about 102" high and 20' long each. The windows/door won't be a factor as the curtains will pull flush to the walls - any light leaks in between the panels and I could use velcro to help seal them off if need be - but again, we won't hardly ever use this in daylight hours anyway.

A couple other panels, valances and tracks for the screen and I think I'm off and running - Yes, velvet/velour might be a pain to dust/clean, but I don't think there is anything nicer looking or easier for the money! I'm going to let this simmer for a couple of days and work it out on paper before buying the materials, but so far this seems like the simplest, easy to install, lowest cost option.

The screenwall pic below is from Ronnie over on avsforum (http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=638024 ) but matches my room plan almost exactly. I won't build the upper soffit, and the stage may only have one step...and just side curtains, no fancy side walls as he ended up doing - but it still looks pretty cool!!

 

[mtrycrafts]

Don't forget no matter which way you go, you want it cheap and you will get it and won't like the outcome.