Is the 7K just for the drapes or does that include other work? That's ludicrous if she is charging you that much for drapes. Do you know how many pairs of drapes I could make out of 7K? I would be sewing for many months.

That was the quote for drapes with rods. I will also need valances or not full length romans (so faux romans) in my living room. I'm scared to ask!

Bea, ask for a breakdown for each. This might help you see where costs are going.

What do you think are appropriate ranges for work room costs for drape panels? And then for roman shades which I would also need (though probably faux roman shades which are more like a valance)? I just dont have a handle for what work room costs are like.

I will also ask for a breakdown thanks. I'm considering asking for a flat fee to keep incentives aligned.

That cost is outrageous. What is she planning to use as fabric, gold? A couple of years ago I had to have two windows finished in the kids room and for four panels and sheers plus the cheapest rod I could find, it was 3k. Even that seem expensive to me since they were simple panels and I knew I could do better, but I was in a rush

For Roman shades, they are usually about $400-$500 a piece, depending on the fabric you choose. We looked at several options, including Hunter Douglas, which are pretty expensive, and they had the same price.

You are all paying way too much for Roman shades and drapes! Even if I use some of the vintage Japanese silk that I bought from a friend on Etsy to make drapes, my cost would still be under $100. for a pair of drapes! This silk was not cheap since it is vintage Japanese kimono fabric. Of course, I do not have to pay myself for sewing.

Bev you're spot on. I can't believe any of those prices. Bea both your designer and her producer are trying to gouge you. Start over with someone you can trust. There is no way your drapes should cost 7k unless she is hand weaving the fabric for you. Mind blowing.

There really isn't enough info here to judge. How wide and high is the window? Do the rods need to be custom? What price range of fabric are you looking at?

The rods we assumed are around $1k and would not be custom. Ceiling is 9' and we haven't selected fabric yet but would use interlining. I think we need about 14 yards of fabric. I would hope to not spend more than 1k to max 2k for fabric, keeping below 1.5k would be better for fabric.

Hi Bea...

It always concerns me when I hear about people struggling to understand the costs & values of interior design/decorating goods & services. It's definitely a confusing playing field!!

Before I can give you a new perspective on your project though, it's important to clarify a couple of things... First of all, it's critical to understand the terms of engagement you have with your interior designer. Are you on a fee for service basis or is this service part of the estimates you receive for products delivered such as your draperies. It's important to know because not all designers/decorators charge for their service in the same way and this often confuses the perception of value of finished goods supplied. In your case, it's a bit confusing because you say the $7,000 estimate for two drapery panels is before "commission"??

Let me explain...

A design professional charging on a fee for service (whether hourly or project based) may price finished goods at closer to wholesale cost prices and recover their portion from a "fee". Another designer might supply your goods based on competitive retail pricing with their standard trade markups included just like any other retail business. Someone else might do a combination of the two.

Once you have the answer to this question you can assess both the cost of goods & the fee for service in relation to the value of the service & goods you are receiving.

I'm in Canada but I think things work pretty much the same both sides of the border...

The designer/decorator prepares the design & coordinates its fabrication & installation which involves the procurement of "decorative" fabrics/hardware; design drawing & specifications and engaging & overseeing the workroom & installer.(s).

Two things usually make up workroom estimates - labour costs & materials. This generally means actual cutting & sewing and any supplies such as lining, notions etc. The designer/decorator usually supplies fabrics/decorative hardware etc. Installation may or may not be handled by the workroom - most often it is not.

When I prepare an estimate for draperies it's therefore made up of the following costs:

Fabric + shop drawing/specs + workroom costs + drapery hardware + installation costs... all purchased at wholesale & sold at competitive retail. There's no extra fee for service in this case and the job is quoted in advance. The marketplace keeps pricing competitive both at wholesale and retail... and in fact, suggested retail for fabrics & hardware is often published.

So to determine if your $7,000 draperies are reasonable - You need to provide a little more detail - how much fabric are you using - & what is the per yard price? That means how tall are your windows - how many widths of fabric in each panel? and what's the cost of your drapery pole? You note that you haven't even chosen fabric at this point... so, I don't know how you got to $7,000...

Here's a comparison to ponder.... fabric prices will vary because of the difference in our dollar value but generally fabrics cost more in Canada than in the U.S.... So, let's say you have a 9 foot ceiling and want to go floor to ceiling with a panel on each side. Even if you use two widths of fabric on each side (mostly it would be 1 or 1.5 for side panels) you would need 14 yards - @ $200/yd = 2800 + workroom + install = 3,350 + drapery hardware (under $500). - Plus applicable taxes of course.

I should point out that this is an extremely generous allowance for yardage... and price per yard - unless you have cathedral height windows...

Bea, I hope this helps....

And, please let me know if you need any additional information.

Cheers

Irene Turnbull

Turnbull Interiors of Distinction Inc.

Barrie, Ontario Canada

www.turnbullinteriors.com

Your assumptions are fair and I'll assume 1k for hardware. What I dont have a handle on are the workroom costs? I am trying to determine how to work with this designer and if I should. So I asked her for approximate budget I should assume for some things which included drapery. I am looking for the net pricing when I ask this question. That is where she would start and I am thinking of offering her a generous fixed fee instead of % of net to keep incentives aligned. If you included her 30% it would be on top of net pricing. If the missing link is the workroom costs, is it appropriate to ask her to consider an alternate workroom because of the price?

Bea, It's completely appropriate to ask for competitive workroom pricing... however, you should find that they are pretty much in alignment... One may be a little more for one thing and a little less for another. Workrooms generally charge by the width for standard draperies - either by the number of seams (fabric widths) for lined regular draperies and by the foot for sheers... Add-on costs would be things like banding on the edges or decorative trims etc. So design does directly impact cost. So does quality of linings etc. Specialty items such as valances; roman shades etc. are priced differently. Generally design professionals get comfortable with their workrooms and overtime, develop a give & take in the best interest of the client because everyone wants to deliver great work to build their reputations on. That being said, it never hurts to get competitive quotes and in fact, if it's the workroom that's driving up the cost, I would have thought this would be a first step for the designer especially if there was a little warning bell that should have gone off if the price seemed "high". All things aside, the one thing that must not be overlooked when doing your workroom comparison is the quality of the finished drapery - and the promised delivery time. Like all skilled trades, drapery sewing is a specialized skill and simply operating a sewing machine doesn't make you a workroom specialist!! Cheers Irene

First off you and the designer should have discussed budget before any quotes were given. If she just said maybe 2 panels could run $7000 that's not a firm quote. Custom made draperies are expensive. You shouldn't be assuming anything i.e. cost for hardware because you don't even mention the material of the hardware. I have custom wood rods, finials, etc and wrought iron and the prices were very different. If you want to work with this designer ask her for a quote. Mine gave me line item quote. Drapery panels, hardware, HD vignettes, etc. It is really none of your business the agreement she has with the workroom. She will quote you a price for the style drapery you want made with a fabric of your choice and then you decide if that price is in your comfort zone. Also she' not going to give you net pricing because again she is a business with a pricing contract that she uses with every client. What you are asking is insulting and also may show that you need to find a less higher end designer.

You should get a detailed pricing..When you pick the fabric, she needs to tell you how much the cost per yard or whatever measurement they use. If it's too expensive for you, you can look at different fabrics. Also, the same goes for hardware. Hardware is the most expensive part when it comes to drapes. If it's a more traditional look, you might find something at a decent price. I had to find something simple, out of metal and not as thick as my arm, and that was difficult...anything decent looking was $500 and above per rod. With these prices in mind you see the difference and see how much it costs you the labor. Don't be afraid to ask for detailed costs. It's your money and you want to make sure you are comfortable