Curtains etc
 

A random question…we are budgeting for our impending move to BC and we're thinking about what we'll need for our house (which we'll be buying as soon after arrival as possible). In the UK I know exactly where I would go to buy new curtains….places like John Lewis who have a large choice of materials and do ready made as well as made to measure. Is there an equivalent in Canada (lower mainland area of BC) where people go for good quality furnishings? Is there a particular department store in Vancouver maybe?

I found Sears, which I've heard of but I have no idea what kind of quality Sears is known for.

Anyone?

Re: Curtains etc
 

Sears are generally mid-range quality. Another department store with somewhat higher quality is The Bay (Hudson's Bay Company). There are more smaller interior decorating stores that can make bespoke curtains (often called drapes) than you can shake a pointy stick at.

Often homes will come with custom cut blinds so you might want to hold off until you find somewhere before deciding what curtains you will need.

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This is a bit off topic but may be helpful as you're budgeting!

No-one told us that in Canada it seems to be normal to leave behind washers, driers, fridges etc - even when these are stand-alone rather than built in. It can save buyers a few $$!

Re: Curtains etc
 

I bought all ours in Fabric Land, but thats Ontario- not sure if over in BC. The Bay and Home Depot would be other trans national options.

I think you get the curtains though- I needed to buy because our house had blinds everywhere.

Re: Curtains etc
 

Or even curtains/drapes of cosmetic appearance rather than practical use that would likely not 'fit' windows at a new home for reasons of style and size.

We bought our house with cooker, dishwasher and fridge included.

An ice and chilled water dispensing fridge. The height of luxury. :nod:

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Pull yourself together man.

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Curtains are metric over here ;)

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If you go to Sears expecting anything like John Lewis you would be so disappointed. I can't really place a UK equivalent to Sears it's so basic. There are also ready made curtains at the DIY stores eg Rona, Home Depot but nothing like the range or quality you would get at John Lewis, M&S or Fenwick in the UK.

Curtains don't seem to be so common here and windows often just have blinds for which there seem to be a similar range of options for as in the UK.

I also looked at a number of independent "Drapery Specialists" and it was all pretty ugly stuff and not cheap. I remember one "expert" describing the fitting of a curtain "rod" which seemed to them to be of similar complexity to the manufacture of a Rolls Royce jet engine.

In the end we ordered curtains from John Lewis - fortunately they were eligible for overseas delivery as the weight of the larger ones would have been too much for a relative to post for us. I've paid for an extra bag to bring back curtains when returning from the UK. The curtain rods at Home Outfitters (part of The Bay) were just about ok.

If you are at all particular about curtains I would be very tempted to buy good ready-mades in the UK. Bringing the fabric might be another option.

Re: Curtains etc
 

Curtains can be found all over of varying quality and styles, can't compare to the UK stores though, but Wal-Mart, Sears, Bay, Ikea, Home Depot, amazon dot ca, bed bath and beyond will all sell standard of the rack stock, and home depot possibly custom sizes.

Most city's also have more independent or small stores that might not be nationwide, which may sell higher quality items, but you'd have to ask around or google to find those specific to certain area stores.

Re: Curtains etc
 

Buy the material, get a seamstress to make them for you (or make them yourself, it's not difficult).

Simples.

:)

Re: Curtains etc
 

I think you should wait on these things. As Collie says things are rather different here. People are expected to leave curtains etc. behind and lots of other useful stuff that, in the UK you would normally have to budget for on a house move. Don't forget: there's always IKEA.

S

Re: Curtains etc
 

Thanks everyone - you've all been helpful! :-)

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If all you have to worry about/budget for is curtains, you should be laughing! ;).

My vote goes to a sewing machine.

My favourite & "best" curtains are a Habitat repurposed sheet/duvet combo passed down from a relative; & a pair of circa 1966 John Lewis bedspreads.

Otherwise IKEA & Walmart:

Re: Curtains etc
 

I don't think curtains are really all that popular here. We have some as an accent in our bedroom but they are never drawn (we also have nets). We do have curtains across our patio doors, for privacy. Elsewhere it's blinds or shutters.

Don't ever draw curtains or close blinds at night when it's very cold outside, by the way. You'll regret it in the morning if you do.

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???

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I'm curious, why do you say that?
I do every night and have never regretted it.
We don't have much choice anyway as we are in a bungalow with neighbours close by. I could wave at them from my bed lol

Re: Curtains etc
 

It creates a barrier between the warmth of the house and the coldness of the window panes. Moisture in the air inside can freeze on the panes. You need pretty low temps for this (low minus teens and lower).

We have pretty good double glazing but know to not shut coverings completely when it's really cold. Let the warmth get to the windows.

It's the same with beer. I keep mine in the garage. Below -15, I bring it inside.

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Ah ok.
I think because the blinds here are the wooden louvre style ones we have never had that problem even on the very cold nights because some air still gets through from the vents that are right next to the windows.

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We have those too. We angle the slats downwards on the inside, so the warm air vectors up.

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Must admit never had that problem at all with any curtains and blinds in the house and yes, they are closed throughtout winter evenings, must be the air vents in the floor by the windows.

Strange.

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I think you answered the question. We are all-electric. No vents, so no rising warm air.

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What I have learned is definitely not to leave things in the tumble dryer overnight if you want to wear it the next morning.
The vent to the outside makes it a very unpleasant experience!:blink:

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I got my curtains from home depot.

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I remember when I first came to Canada from the UK and I wanted blackout curtains. I checked out Walmart, goold ole IKEA (both of which had products I wanted) but I found Bouclair to be a good bet, they are on the mainland. They offer mid range and some low budget options too, with a wide selection of products. I was also interested in some net curtains but that isn't a thing here, and I guess it's not a thing anymore in the UK either!

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Maybe it's a regional thing, but I don't recall ever seeing curtains in a home here. Various types of blinds seem to be standard.

Re: Curtains etc
 

Agreed, not many curtains where I am. Maybe as we get very hot in the summer and blinds just seem "right"- a bit like curtains would seem odd in a Spanish home.
Forget Sears- its just a shambolic mesh.
The Bay is much nicer- but I'm not sure if I've seen many curtains. It tends to look expensive but the trick is to wait for sales- which happen all the time and get huge savings.
Fabricland- Whats in Store
seems to be everywhere- huge selection of fabrics although I've never looked at curtain fabric, it also sells some ready mades.
If you get stuck try
Welcome to Marks & Spencer London
Started up last week- duties etc paid, looks a bit expensive because of the exchange rate. Sign up and wait for the email giving you 20% off.
I've tried it-got my stuff-fast as well- and it seems legit- links from the UK site

Sorry just seen fabric land already mentioned!

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We too followed the herd and abandoned curtains - some California shutters downstairs and blackout/thermal insulating blinds on windows and skylights upstairs (made-to-measure and ordered from the internet - most impressed). Curtains certainly aren't common round here, and I don't miss them at all.

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Sears sell ready-mades but shut down their custom drapery operations in the last 18 months.

I don't think The Bay does custom draperies as I've looked in the past.

For custom (made-to-measure) you really have to find an interior decorator, an interior design shop, or find your own fabric (not many fabrics stores around anymore) and find a professional drapery sewist to make them.

Bouclair used to do custom but re-invented themselves and no longer sell fabrics so probably no longer do custom. They only contract to people like me anyway.

I think Restoration Hardware and Pottery Barn will do made-to-measure (not exactly `custom`) but they are way over-priced in my opinion and I don`t think the quality is great, especially the lining. I have had to alter them at times.

I believe places like Budget Blinds also do `custom` but again I think they often contract to people like me.

I`ve been in the business of making custom draperies for local interior decorators since I moved back to Canada but I`m in Guelph, Ontario.

If you decide you want custom at some point I may be able to recommend someone in your area as I belong to a small Canadian networking group for this industry.

Cathie

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Marks and Spencer mentioned on their website that they now have new dedicated websites for Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and USA!!!! Hooray. Maybe they might bring back a store or two after trialing this new website. The link is Welcome to Marks & Spencer London

Back to curtains, Homesense is a place where I picked up some blackout curtains too and at a good price.

Re: Curtains etc
 

Just wondering: has anyone ordered from the M&S site to Canada?

They say all customs duties paid. Does that really hold true or will there be additional charges at delivery?

I know for example if you use this kind of "customs/import charges paid" services on ebay, they're a bit of a con and you can still end up having to pay on delivery.

S

Re: Curtains etc
 

I ordered some vests from M&S a couple of years ago and I had to pay duty on delivery, I ordered through the regular website and it did't say anything about duty, so I wasn't surprised when I had to pay it.

But this is a new dedicated website just for Canada it seems, and it mentions that duty is covered etc. I am curious to give this a trial run to see what does happen if I place an order. I know this is a new website as I have been keeping an eye every few months and I have never seen this before. I have also been sending them emails asking them when they will come back to Canada. All of my emails have been ignored, but I understand they won't give any ole tom, dick n harry this information.

Re: Curtains etc
 

See my post earlier in the thread!!!!!!
I have ordered as I said, I was dubious, I had heard about the website from Facebook, but there was no link on the uk site. I actually emailed the UK M&S, they emailed back saying I had to order on the UK site, so I went back the UK site only to find a link to the Canadian site had appeared overnight!
Anyway, I ordered, it arrived very fast,no shipping, no duties,tax. In an M&S bag, with tags attached.
My Amex appears untouched by crooks 2 weeks later. The importer was a woman's name oddly but otherwise all seems kosher ;)

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You never told me you had ordered anything!!!:frown::frown::frown:

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I wore a new top all day Friday and you never said a thing:thumbdown:

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Domestic bliss argy bargy- look what Expats has become! And I never noticed, even it being Valentines and all :o