Greetings Vancanargo20!
Welcome to the Forums and the world of Vintage Argosy Ownership!
Quote:
|
Originally Posted by Vancanargo20
Greetings everyone we're new on here
We bought a 20' Argosy '73 at the end of last season and have been renovating it over the winter....
We replaced the appliances and are just getting ready to do the cushions, counter tops, flooring and curtains.....
What kind of curtains or blinds work best?
what are some cushion making tips?
|
My '78 Minuet 6.0 Metre is a close cousin of your Argosy 20, and they both have quite similar floorplans. Originally, the coaches had pinch-pleated draperies, and that is what I went with on my coach in a fabric that was quite close to the original in weight and appearance (it is actually the same fabric that the designer from Ethan Allen Galleries used on the living room picture windows in my house). To save the rather expensive fabric from damage while the coach isn't utilized, I went with mini-blinds at the suggestion of Arlene Fowler who did the work on my coach -- they work well, but the drapes are still a necessity for me as the blinds do not conform to the curvature of the walls -- but the drapes compensate for this as they attach to the walls with snaps and have velcro closures between the panels. If your coach still has its original interior accessories, it should have upper and lower drapery tracks to accommodate the elasticized hangers that are utilized by the drapes in both Airstreams and Argosys of the period.
For the new foam on the lounges, I went with the recommendation of an upholsterer whom I trusted (Arlene Fowler) -- she suggested a high density firm foam from one of her suppliers that has served me well for more than five years in my Overlander and more than three in my Minuet. There are many quality and price points as well as firmness and resiliency levels, and in the case of my coaches the foam was just a little more costly than the upholstery fabric.
While it might seem counter-intuitive, I chose to go with a premium upholstery fabric as I don't want to pay for a reupholstery job any time in the foreseeable future. Again, I sought out the advice of a trusted upholsterer who was able to recommend a heavy-weight, tightly woven upholtery that has held up very well to active Summer use -- my Chihuahuas haven't even succeeded in creating any pulled places in the upholstery due to its tight weave and density.
My suggestion would be to consult a local upholsterer with a good reputation and inquire as to their recommendation for foam and upholstery fabric based upon the use patterns your coach will experience. You may be asked to pay a consulting fee if you don't purchase product from them, but my experience has been that working with a professional in the area can save costly mistakes.
Good luck with your Coach!
Kevin
Linear Mode
