Drapes vs Blinds

[Softshell]

Greetings!
I have a '94 Excella 1000. I'm in the process of upgrading and modifying the interior.

I'm thinking about purchasing new drapes or removing the drapes and go with stainless blinds.

Replacing drapes is very expensive. I've seen newer Airstreams without the drapes and look very stylish.

Your thoughts

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Mark910234

Greetings!
I have a '94 Excella 1000. I'm in the process of upgrading and modifying the interior.

I'm thinking about purchasing new drapes or removing the drapes and go with stainless blinds.

Replacing drapes is very expensive. I've seen newer Airstreams without the drapes and look very stylish.

Your thoughts

Drapes don't have to be expensive. You can buy fabric of the weight and print that you want, and sew your own, for far less than it costs to buy them pre-made. This would also let you use prints that you might not find in premade drapes, such as a clan tartan (if you're part Scottish), or whatever.

And heavy cloth drapes have an advantage over blinds, that they're better at blocking heat transfer if kept closed in the hottest part of the day, especially if made with a white backing or liner.

[webspinner]

We redid the interior of our 1971 Tradewind. We tossed the previous owner's floppy, broken Home Depot vinyl miniblinds. We now use a combination of home sewn triple pleated drapes in front, Levolor aluminum blind in the kitchen at at the desk, a cord adjusted roll shade for the curbside back window and a spring loaded roll shade in the bathroom.

The main thing to watch out for with blinds is how the bottoms will be anchored to keep them from swinging into the room. The top of the windows are several inches in from the bottoms in some cases. Ask yourself if you are going to want to raise the blinds completely or just tip the slats.

In our kitchen (see blog in sig line) I made a wood copy of the original plastic window frame. This keeps the blind from swinging out over the sink and yet lets it be raised and lowered with ease. It was a pain to make, but I'm sure a simpler version could be as effective.

At the desk, we seldom open the blind all the way. We have loops on the bottom bar of the blind. They slip over hooks (upside down small coat hooks) when the blind is down. If we want to raise the blind all the way, it's not much trouble to unhook the loops, but it is an extra step.

I bought our Levolor aluminum blinds through Home Depot online.

Our curbside back window sits above a dinette we built back there. It also has a bunk bed board that crosses in front of the window. This proximity of bunk to window would put metal blind slats at risk of getting bent. So I ordered a roller blind kit from JoAnn Fabrics and made a fabric covered roller blind that matches the curtains and accordion doors that I made. Hooray for leftover fabric!

For the bathroom, I picked an accent fabric (a single piece from ebay - wide selection) since that window is visible from the whole trailer. I made a new blind and attached it to the original roller.

Take a look at how you use your trailer, the "look" you want it to have, and your budget. There are many window options out there.

[HiHoAgRV]

We went with roller blinds in our '63 and have been very happy...BUT it doesn't have the curved front corner windows like our '91 (and I assume your trailer)

Kinda tough to get a louvered or roller blind that fits those little boogers!

[Softshell]

Sewing my own custom drapes sound good but I don't have the skills sewing machine or time to create my own. I received a quote from a company for Airstream drapes.
$780 for the front galley area, $1300 for the entire unit.

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Mark910234

Sewing my own custom drapes sound good but I don't have the skills sewing machine or time to create my own. I received a quote from a company for Airstream drapes.
$780 for the front galley area, $1300 for the entire unit.

If you provide the fabric, there's bound to be a fellow Airstreamer who's good with a sewing machine that that could be tricked— that is, persuaded— to do the sewing for you in exchange for reasonable renumeration.

[Softshell]

Good idea.

Where would I post such an add??

[Protagonist]

Originally Posted by Mark910234

Good idea.

Where would I post such an add??

Haven't a clue. I've never had to get drapes made. Which is why it's easy for me to come up with the idea; I'm not the one who has to follow through.

I suppose you could use this thread you've already started, and ask for anyone interested in making a bit of cash in exchange for sewing, to contact you by private mail…