Drapery-fabric Roman shades

A drapery-fabric Roman shade gives you the structure of a shade with the character of real furnishing fabric. It rises in tidy folds, but with the texture, drape and colour range of curtain fabrics. At Stores d’Aujourd’hui, we tailor these custom Roman shades in our Gatineau workshop.

This is the decorative Roman shade. It coordinates with your curtains and valances, and it comes in a plain fold or hobbled style. If what you mainly need is a functional, more affordable Roman shade, take a look at our roller-fabric Roman shades, made from shade fabrics.

Why the fabric matters

Drapery fabric behaves differently from shade fabric. It has more body, more texture and a warmer look. Depending on the fabric, it can also be softer, which shows in the way it folds.

Common fabrics

• Cotton, easy to coordinate, in a wide range of prints and solids.
• Linen, with a natural, slightly textured finish, often chosen for bright, airy rooms.
• Velvet, dense and rich, for a more classic look.
• Blends and other drapery fabrics, to suit your taste. You can also bring your own fabric; we will advise on yardage and suitability.

Lining and interlining

Depending on the room, you can leave the shade unlined, add a blackout lining to block light, or a thermal interlining for extra body. Hems and stitching are concealed for a clean finish.

Plain fold or hobbled

A plain fold Roman shade forms crisp, horizontal creases as it rises. Lowered, it is a smooth, flat panel. It is modern and understated, and it puts the fabric on display.

A hobbled Roman shade keeps a soft, permanent drape at the bottom, even when lowered. It is more classic and more textured, and suits living rooms, dining rooms and traditional decor.

A patterned fabric generally reads best in a plain fold, while a solid or a linen lends itself well to hobbled. An advisor can help you decide with the sample in hand.

Matched to your curtains and valances

The big advantage of this version is coordination. In the same fabric, or in coordinated fabrics, you can have made:

• your custom curtains;
• your valance;
• the Roman shade itself.

A common pairing: a Roman shade for everyday light control, with side panels for the decorative look. The shade does the work, the curtains do the styling.

Lift and motorization

The shade lifts with a cord, a chain or a Somfy motor (wired or radio). Motorization helps on a large window, a heavier shade or a tall window. To learn more, read our guide to motorized blinds.

Drapery fabric or roller fabric?

Our guide to Roman shades vs roller shades can help you choose too.

Tailored and installed by our team

Every shade is tailored in our Gatineau workshop, as we have done since 1984. On request, an advisor measures each window to the 1/8 inch, included in your quote. You can also follow our guide to measuring windows for blinds.

• Dimensions: made to measure, within what the fabric allows.
• Lead time: 3 to 6 weeks.
• Warranty: lifetime tailoring, 5-year mechanism.
• Where: Gatineau, Chelsea, Cantley, Ottawa and the Outaouais.

Let’s talk about your project

Bring a photo of your room, fabric samples or your existing curtains. Ask for a free quote or drop by the showroom at 865 boulevard Maloney Est in Gatineau.