Hi Elsie here,
I always get people asking me how to dress their apex windows.
They look great admittedly but they are a bit of a pain to dress.
You are restricted but it all depends on what you need the dressing for. You may not need one at all.
However if the apex is in a bedroom or bathroom……………
Option 1
Curtains.
Curtains are shaped into the apex so therefore the heading is unable to move. You have to open and close the curtains via Italian stringing at the sides.
http://casartcoverings.com/ Italian string from the back.
Surprisingly they do not cut off as much light as you would imagine, but be careful which fabric you pick. Avoid bulky and stiff fabrics and go for something that has a good “drape”. The drape is the softness that the fabric hangs in its folds, with as little kick out as possible.
The fabric here is a Prestigious Poly-cotton. http://www.prestigious.co.uk/. The Zeplin light fitting looks cool too. Pencil pleat heading fitted onto battens with horse shoe hooks for strength. I always use press and drape for added support between the hooks to help stabilise the heading.
I use velcro with pinch pleats as well as hooks.
This is a crushed velvet type fabric that drapes beautifully.
You tend to have to set them down a smidge when fitting otherwise the forward pleat squashes on the ceiling, a quarter inch and no more should be fine. calculate this in your drop before making.
Expert advice from Clive Pennington www.classicalgenesis.wordpress.com =There should have been a sub batten somewhere between one and two cms away from the ceiling so the curtains could be mounted slightly away from the ceiling enabling them to be dressed out into a V shape.
You can shape around beams.
http://www.creative-curtains.net/ Pelmets look good also
http://www.tracksandpoles.com/
Always work out if the curtain will pull back off any doors that are there.
The Italian stringing is always shaped up to the corner (where the heading usually begins).
If you pool the curtains on the floor it gives you luxury and makes it that you do not have to hem on site. I always hem on site with apex curtains that are not pooled or kicking as you cannot guarantee a precise hem for this type of window finished in the workroom. This is because of the way the weight of the curtain hangs on the warp and weft weave can cause a hem to be uneven when in situ.
2.
Shutters
Great for bathroom areas and minimalist looks. If you are worried about light leaking through the slats then there is a bevelled version that interlock that you can get from The New England company.
Custom made and fitted.
3.
Plisse’ Blinds
Very similar in its simplicity to shutters but lets more light in. Opens up or down as you can see.
Available in a range of colours. Minimalist and neat.
I would say these are the three best options to dress apex windows.
Measuring these windows is interesting.
1. Draw out the basic shape of the window and the space it fills. Some apexes have wall around and some do not.
2. Plot along the angle (sloping edge) at set spacings, I tend to do do every 2 / 3 inches depending on the size of window. That or take the length and divide it by how many sizes I want to take. Use your own discretion.
3. Measure at these points top to bottom. Yes ALL of them, it will be worth it in the end.
The shape is wrong here but the concept is the same as an arch
Just a couple of types of apex you may come across. Some even have beams cutting into them!
Here are the basic sizes needed. I would recommend the segmented drop sizes being taken when you have the job or before ordering. This saves time and money. You should be able to work out costs off these sizes.
4 . Make sure you have the very centre drop.
5. Measure also the width you are covering.
6. Measure the outside drops which are vertical. Corner to floor.
7. If you can reach take the angle measurements.
You will then need to scale draw this all up to work out your curtains or whatever you decide to do with the window. I would recommend hemming on site if pooling is not being done!!
Be aware of their restrictions before you have one fitted .
Thanks for reading.
Elsie Wolfe
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