There’s no doubt that curtains are trending but if you’ve ever explored that world, you’d know how limited and disparate the options are. Essentially you’re looking at high-end, expensive curtains purchased through an interior designer or cheap and nasty, off-the-shelf ones; neither of which are great options for the quality-conscious yet budget savvy consumer. But that’s all set to change with the recent launch of Draperly, a purveyor of luxurious yet affordable custom linen curtains available to purchase online.
“While shopping for my interiors clients, I found that the options for custom curtains were overpriced and underwhelming. The question I kept asking myself was simple – why did custom-made curtains have to be so expensive? I knew there had to be a better way. So, I set about finding it,” says interior designer and Draperly founder Lee Sandler. She travelled across Australia and overseas to meet directly with fabric houses and makers in order to realise her idea.
“I was determined to find a way to provide custom curtains to my clients at much lower prices than was currently on offer, but I didn’t want to sacrifice on quality so I decided to go directly to the sources myself. I knew I could eliminate all of the layers of middlemen who drive the prices up along the way.” Lee ultimately ended up partnering with one of the world’s best and oldest flax linen producers in Belgium and making the curtains in Australia.
“Belgian flax linen is our core fabric. Our aim is to offer a high-end luxury product at a fraction of the traditional retail price and there isn’t a more luxurious fibre on the planet then linen. As well as being luxurious, linen is ecologically sound, totally biodegradable and recyclable. It is strong and flexible, and unlike many other fabrics, it just gets better with age,” says Lee.
And as for the makers, after looking across the globe, she found a team of talented producers nearby. “They’re right here in Sydney and have been sewing curtains for generations,” says Lee.
Eschewing a traditional bricks and mortar store is another way in which Lee is able to keep costs down and the site’s simple, online-only ordering platform makes ordering curtains fast, easy and accessible. All you need to do is jump online, choose a fabric, style and lining and follow Draperly’s measurement guide. “We even send you swatches for free so you can feel the fabrics before you order and once an order is placed, within just a few weeks, your curtains arrive at your door, ready to hang.”
And with a set of Belgian flax linen curtains starting from just $299, Lee has certainly delivered on the affordability front. “Our curtains are at least 50 percent cheaper than what you would pay an interior designer for a comparable product. Our pricing doesn’t mean that we aren’t as good as our competitors, we are just a whole lot cheaper. We have worked very hard at getting get rid of all of the unnecessary layers of middlemen and we take all the savings and pass them all on to our customers,” says Lee.
And as for the curtain trend, Lee believes it’s an enduring one because nothing adds quite the same interior touch. “In the last few years we have seen a massive resurgence in the popularity of curtains in the home. Curtains add a touch of luxury to a space that just cannot be achieved from the other window treatments on the market and accessible luxury is exactly what our design and budget savvy clients are looking for.”
If customers are unsure of the best course of action for their windows, Draperly are happy to offer free advice too, if they send them a photo of their room.
DISCOUNT FOR OUR READERS
For a limited time, Draperly is offering Interiors Addict readers a 10% discount on purchases, plus free shipping (some rural locations excluded). Just use the discount code friendofinteriorsaddict at checkout.
