Project Showcase: Mountain Modern Drapery for an Evergreen Great Room
Short answer: this Evergreen great room took nine drapery panels, a 24 foot curved motorized track and 118 yards of wide width linen blend, fabricated in our Westminster workroom and delivered to the designer in four weeks from approved measurements.
Tall mountain glass is unforgiving. Any hem that drifts, any pleat that leans and any panel that hangs a half inch short reads instantly across a 22 foot room. This showcase walks through the decisions that kept the finished install crisp, from fabric selection to the delivery window the designer promised her client.
1. The brief and the constraints
The designer came to us with a west facing great room, 14 foot ceilings, a stone fireplace centered between two window walls and a client who wanted softness without hiding the view. Glare in the late afternoon was the practical problem. Proportion was the aesthetic one.
We agreed on floor length pinch pleat panels stacking off the glass, hung from a curved motorized track so the client could clear the view with one button. Because the panels were tall and wide, every construction choice had to account for weight. Read more about how we approach tall openings in our guide to fabricating wide panels for tall windows.
2. Fabric selection and yardage
The designer specified a linen and viscose blend in a warm oatmeal. We recommended the wide width run so each panel needed fewer seams, which matters visually at this scale. Total yardage came to 118 yards including pattern allowance, hems and returns.
Linen moves. It relaxes in dry Colorado air and it can grow slightly once hung, so we cut with a controlled hem allowance and weighted the leading edges. If you are choosing textiles for a similar project, our fabrics we use page covers the blends that hold their shape in this climate, and working with linen drapery goes deeper on handling.
3. Engineering the panels
Each panel used three fabric widths, four inch buckram headers, blind stitched hems and interlining for body. Pleat spacing was mapped to the track carriers before a single cut, so the finished stack landed exactly where the designer wanted it against the stone.
Weight distribution is the quiet part of tall drapery. Interlining adds hand and hangs the fabric straight, but it also adds pounds, which changes the track and carrier spec. We size hardware to the finished panel weight, not the fabric weight. The full construction menu lives on our custom drapery page.
4. Track, motorization and hardware
A 24 foot curved track was bent to the room radius and paired with a rechargeable motor so no new wiring was needed at the ceiling. Remote programming was set to two positions: fully open for the view and a partial stack that softens the afternoon sun.
Motor and power planning is where timelines usually slip, because a hardwired run means an electrician on the schedule. Our notes on that tradeoff are in planning power for motorized window treatments, and the hardware lines we carry are listed on the hardware page.
5. Timeline, pickup and install
From approved measurements to finished goods was four weeks. The designer picked up at our Westminster studio rather than waiting on freight, which pulled two days out of the schedule and let her installer stage everything the night before.
That pickup option is one of the reasons designers work with a local workroom instead of shipping across the country. We wrote about it in why local fabrication matters in Colorado and our Denver workroom hub.
Frequently asked questions
How long does a great room drapery project take?
Plan on four to six weeks from approved measurements for a nine panel project with motorization. Rush windows are sometimes possible depending on the production calendar.
How much fabric does a 22 foot window wall need?
For floor length pinch pleat panels at standard fullness, budget roughly 110 to 130 yards depending on repeat, width of goods and return depth. Our yardage estimating guide shows the math.
Should tall panels be interlined?
Usually yes. Interlining adds body, improves drape and helps panels hang straight in dry climates, at the cost of added weight that the track must carry.
Can designers pick up finished goods?
Yes. Trade partners collect at our Westminster studio by appointment, or we deliver locally. Details are on the trade professionals page.
Bring us your next great room
If you have a tall opening, a curved track or a client who wants softness without losing the view, send us the elevations. Start at contact and we will walk the construction with you before anything is cut.
