We list some live custom inquiry cases in order to let you know how to fix similar problems and what we are able to advise.

CASE 1: 

How to select a blackout curtain for a media room with a motorized traverse rod?

Inquiry from customer Chris on Feb 21, 2019

Thank you for assisting me in getting the curtains that I need.  I will attach some pictures to this email to show you the area they will be going in and the look I want.  I need two Black, Velvet (or velvet type), Blackout Curtains for the media room in my home.  I prefer Pinch Pleat so I can attach the hooks the track comes with (seen in the picture).   I will be attaching them to an automatic track. I need one for the left side and one for the right side and they will meet and have an overlap of seven inches in the middle.  The wall measurements are 148” wide by 100” tall, maybe a few inches taller since I can mount the track farther up on the wall if need be.  I am assuming that I would need each curtain to be 148” wide so that when they are closed they aren’t pulled too tight and still look right.  Is this correct?  Please let me know. I don’t want them pulled too tight when fully closed, but also don’t want them too bunched up when closed.  How wide do you think each curtain needs to be?  Is this something you can make for me?  If so, please give me a price quote.  I need to make sure they will be within my budget.  I need them to block all light and be the same black material on both sides since they will be visible while both inside and outside the room.  I have attached four pictures showing the room and the wall they will be mounted on and covering.  I have also included one picture of the look I’d like, and two pictures showing the Pinch Pleated look with the hooks.  I look forward to hearing back from you.  Please send me your website and give me your advice on how wide each curtain needs to be for my application.  Also, if you have pictures of the material then please email them to me.  Lastly, I need them to block all lights since they will be for our movie room.

Answer from ChadMade on Feb 22, 2019

My suggestion is to purchase 2 panels of each 85” Width by 99” Length, Pinch pleat header type, Birkin velvet ( matt finish), Lined with the same velvet on the back.
Our velvet curtain collection is named Birkin, a smooth luxury heavy-duty 300 gsm velvet in mat finish. We have 111 colors, and color#111 is named warm black color, please see the attached color board to see all. This velvet fabric has the same color on the front and back but has a different texture, so I suggest using the same as lining, it will be same color, same texture and hand feel. Two-layer will be enough heavy to block out 99% of sunlight.

You may read the measuring guide by this link, here below is the quick review information.

Width
DETERMINE DRAPERY FINISHED WIDTH
Single panel width =  ( Rod Track Full Length + Fullness ) / Panel quantity
Track length 148”
Overlap 7”
Fullness 1.1x ( suggested)
Panel quantity: 2
Then (148+7) x 1.1 = 170, divided by 2, then each panel width is 85”.

Pinch pleat standard manufacturing. In order to make the finished width 85”, we need to use 153” to create the pleats.

Panel width is the width that pleats already are set. We use 1.8X fabric width in default to create pleats and folds. The width measurement of each panel is based on the top pinch pleat width instead of the total fabric. When the size list says width 80 inches, we use 144 inches width to make it. Our quote already considers this cost. Pinch Pleats can often require more widths of fabric for a given track/pole width, it can be quite a bit more expensive than other headings. The fullness is a conception that the pleats were already set. We suggest fullness 1.0-1.25x. 1.0x is normal to consider, and 1.25x is for overlap, and possible some fabrics are not easy to be stretched in neat and straight shape at the top when hanging. No more width fullness is needed. For example, rod or track's full length is 80 inches, the single panel width needs 40-50 inches ( 80 x 1.25 = 100, 100/2) if you need 2 panels to hang. Pinch pleats are more gathered than other headings and have permanent sewn-in pleats for a more luxurious, tailored look. We use a fully adjustable sliding plastic curtain hook for ease of use.
Please see and compare how the 1x ratio fullness and 1.25x fullness look like.

We use an adjustable pin hook, not a metal S shape ( if you need it, then we may offer it). Adjustable 3.5" Plastic Ratchet System Adjustable Pinch Pleated Curtain Drapery Pin Hook.

Please see this image to show how it was inserted on the curtain back. This pin hook has a ratchet system, and it allows you to control the whole tall. If you need the curtain bottom to touch the floor, then you may put the ratchet higher, if you need to raise the curtain bottom higher, then you may put the ratchet lower, there is 3” space to adjust.

Length

Measure from bottom of rings to top of floor or top of the window sill, depending on desired window coverage. Subtract 1/2" to get the panel length you need. Pin hook has a ratchet system to make it adjustable up and down within 3". I guess 99” will be fine, but you may measure accurately to decide the length.

Custom unit price: $187.99 / panel. Please click this page to select according to header type, width, length, lining type, then the price will calculate automatically.
Lead time: 7 days to produce and 2-4 days for delivery by DHL or UPS express from China factory to the US.
Customized items are not returnable. If you need to review fabric quality, please follow the fabric swatch procedure as below.
We provide 2 methods to order.

Method 1
1- Click this pricing adjuster to choose "custom 29.99" to pay us $29.99 per shipment.
2- Indicate which items of fabric you need on "customized requirements". You may choose 5 fabrics per shipment. You also may send us an email at chadmade@chadmadecurtains.com to advise which items you need for your certain order ID.
3- Advise us order ID.
4- We ship you fabric swatches via DHL expedited shipping in 3-4 days.

Method 2
1- Order from Amazon.com, search ASIN B01GUZAHPG to place an order on Amazon.
2- Send us an email at chadmade@chadmadecurtains.com to advise Amazon Order ID and fabric swatch list ( you may copy the product name or ASIN number).

CASE 2: 

How to decide media room with wall speaker curtain size?

Inquiry from customer Cedric on March 15, 2019

We have a media room project for a client.  
For this project, we need drapes to cover. 
1) a large flat panel television with center open pinch pleated drapes that will go underneath a mounted wood cornice board on the wall over the flat panel.
2) drapes to cover two windows at the rear of the media room.

Concerning 1)
The wood cornice board that is above the flat panel television has an available inside width of 125" and an available inside depth of 5 1/2" and an available floor to the inside top of the cornice board measures 89" tall.  A digital picture is attached of the cornice board and how it looks today (it is made of wood and we will be painting it to give it a finished look).
We will be ordering a remote-controlled motorized curtain rod to operate the flat panel television drapes.  The motorized curtain rod only works with pleated drapes. 
Since the available inside width of the cornice board is 125" wide we will be ordering the motorized curtain rod that can be adjusted in width from 80"-144" to properly fit in the 125" wide space.
Since the motorized curtain rod will operate as a center open operation (drapes moving both to the left and right simultaneously) to reveal the flat panel television when fully opened, what width panels should be ordered to provide the proper "look" for the flat panel drapes when they are closed?
We will need two tie-backs so that once the drapes are fully opened they can be pulled back and held in place so as to prevent the drapes from covering the already installed left and right wall speakers (they can be seen in the attached photo).
The height from the floor to the inside top of the cornice board measures 89" tall (the room itself has 96" tall ceilings).  
The motorized curtain rod will fit inside the mounted cornice board with no problem.
So what would you recommend as the optimal size for the two panels to measure in order to look very lovely inside the cornice board (both closed and when opened) in their width and height?
The panels only need lining in the "Privacy" lining, nothing heavier than that.

Concerning 2)
I've attached a second image of the two windows in the rear of the media room that need drapes to match the ones over the flat panel.
The drapes for the two windows will also be pinch pleated.  We will need four panels total so that each window has a pair that will open in the center over each window.  When opened it will create three groupings of drapes along the back wall:
* the left windows left panel will open to its left and the left windows right panel to its right
* the right windows left panel will open to its left and butt up against the left window's right panel
* the right windows right panel will open to its right
The total width that we want the back windows' drapes to cover when closed is 136" wide.  That measurement will be with the two windows' drapes closed.
Stating it another way each window will have drapes that when closed will need to cover 68" of width with two panels over each window.
The back window drapes will stretch from ceiling to floor so the height of the room at 96" tall would be the height of these drapes.
Again, what optimal size would you recommend for each of the four panels in order to look very lovely with them in the fully closed position?
These drapes will also be "Privacy" lined.
We will be ordering samples shortly of the drapes to show the client but we need your help in determining what optimal sizes to order for 1) the two drapery panels for the front cornice board flat panel television and 2) the four draper panels for the two windows in the rear of the media room?
Can you please quote what you would charge to custom make the drapes to meet the above specifications that you recommend?

Answer from ChadMade on March 16, 2019

Thanks for your inquiry. I fully understand your concerns, and here is my suggestion.

Concerning 1)
You need 2 panels of single panel size 65"W x 89"L, The total width of 130" ( 130/125=1.04x fullness) to cover your inside width of the cornice board is 125" wide. Additional 5” is for a buffer, as the size I made is end to end, but the width needs to be calculated from the left fold to the right fold. You don’t need too much fullness, as you have a 2 wall speaker, which needs to show up completely when you open the drapes completely, so your drape needs as few widths as possible when open drapes. 65” width pinch pleated curtain will get 10-12” width when it open ( account for 16%). Hopefully, it makes sense.
As for the length of 89", you still need to measure the length from motorized curtain rod eyelet to the floor ( normally it need above 1” of the floor).
Our velvet curtain collection is named Birkin, a smooth luxury heavy-duty 300 gsm velvet in mat finish. We have 111 colors. Please see the attached color board to see all. This velvet fabric has the same color on the front and back but has a different finish.

Birkin velvet
Pinch pleated
Single panel size: 65" W x 89" L ( need you double confirm)
Privacy lining
Custom unit price: $169.99 /panel
Pinch pleat standard manufacturing.
Panel width is the width that pleats already are set. We use 1.8X fabric width in default to create pleats and folds. The width measurement of each panel is based on the top pinch pleat width instead of the total fabric. When the size list says width 65 inches, we use 120 inches width to make it. Our quote already considers this cost. Pinch Pleats can often require more widths of fabric for a given track/pole width, it can be quite a bit more expensive than other headings. The fullness is a conception that the pleats were already set. We suggest fullness 1.0-1.25x. 1.0x is normal to consider, and 1.25x is for overlap, and possible some fabrics are not easy to be stretched in neat and straight shape at the top when hanging. No more width fullness is needed. For example, rod or track's full length is 80 inches, the single panel width needs 40-50 inches ( 80 x 1.25 = 100, 100/2) if you need 2 panels to hang. Pinch pleats are more gathered than other headings and have permanent sewn-in pleats for a more luxurious, tailored look. We use a fully adjustable sliding plastic curtain hook for ease of use.


Concerning 2)
The total width that we want the back windows' drapes to cover when closed is 136" wide.  That measurement will be with the two windows' drapes closed.
Stating it another way each window will have drapes that when closed will need to cover 68" of width with two panels over each window.
The back window drapes will stretch from ceiling to floor so the height of the room at 96" tall would be the height of these drapes.
You might need 4 panels of each single panel size 35"w x 95" L, pinch pleated, custom unit price: $129.99 /panel.
The right window's left panel will open to its left and butt up against the left window's right panel, that is easy, when drapes are opened, the left one of the right window and the right one of the left window will butt up.


To order Birkin Velvet Fabric Swatches.

CASE 3

Inquiry from customer Cedric on Sep 21, 2019

I hope I ordered the correct width. Other than this email, thank you, by the way, I found no direct way to contact you to ask questions. My automated traverse rod is 167” wide (length) with an opening in the center so there is an overlap of approximately 2-3” in the center and wraps around ends another 2". The length from the top of the rod (not the hooks) is 102” leaving 2” from the floor. I wanted the Thermal Blackout Lining but found no option to choose it. Can you please advise me on what width per panel would be best to cover my window but have the smallest possible stack on each side when opened fully so as not to obstruct the view too much? Also, what the difference in price will be for Thermal Blackout Lining? The color choice is Rock Grey. After receiving the curtains and I like how they look, etc I will order the curtains for my remaining large windows, one with exactly the same specs as this one and another one with the stack going to only one side. 

Answered by ChadMade on Sep 22, 2019

To meet your need, 2 panels 92" width is fine. As for curtain length, could you please send me a detailed picture of your track? The picture should show hooks and track. And please kindly remark where you measure the length from in the picture. Order product ChadMade Extra Wide Curtain 92" W x 102" L Polyester Linen Drapes with 250 gsm Thermal Blackout Lining Pinch Pleat Curtain for Sliding Door Patio Door Living Room Bedroom, (1 Panel) Rock Grey

If you have questions, please fill out the online inquiry form like this.