Country Curtains in Baltimore: Made-to-Order Drapery for Historic Rowhouses and Modern Homes
Country Curtains operates as a full-service drapery workroom and fabric retailer in Baltimore, specializing in custom window treatments for residential and commercial clients across the Mid-Atlantic. The business focuses on made-to-order curtains, roman shades, and valances rather than off-the-rack inventory, serving homeowners restoring Federal-era rowhouses alongside those furnishing contemporary apartments.
What Country Curtains Actually Is
Country Curtains functions as both a fabric showroom and an in-house fabrication shop. Customers select from their inventory of upholstery and drapery fabrics, choose hardware, and work with the workroom to create treatments cut and sewn to exact window dimensions. The operation handles the full pipeline: consultation, measuring, fabric selection, sewing, and installation. This differs substantially from big-box alternatives that stock pre-made curtains or merely sell fabric; Country Curtains assumes responsibility for the finished product fitting your windows correctly.
Services and Pricing
Custom drapery panels start at approximately $80 to $150 per panel depending on fabric choice and complexity, with pricing scaling upward for specialty fabrics, lining options, and hardware. Roman shades typically range from $200 to $400 per shade. Valances and cornices begin around $150. Installation is offered separately and should be confirmed when you receive a quote, as it varies by window count and accessibility. The workroom can accommodate rush orders at a 20 to 30 percent premium; confirm current timelines when you call, as turnaround stretches during high seasons (spring and early summer renovations). Most clients pay a 50 percent deposit to start the job, with final payment due upon completion.
The business stocks a rotating selection of fabric lines ranging from linen blends and cotton damasks to performance fabrics suitable for kitchens and bathrooms where moisture and durability matter. If you arrive with a specific designer fabric or heirloom cloth, Country Curtains will often sew it into treatments at a reduced price reflecting fabric you supply yourself.
How It Compares to Other Baltimore Options
Baltimore's drapery landscape splits into three categories. Big-box retailers like Bed Bath & Beyond (before closure) forced many to look elsewhere; Home Depot and Lowe's sell pre-made panels and basic hardware but offer no customization or installation. Online retailers like Wayfair stock made-to-order options at lower price points but require customers to measure precisely and handle returns themselves if fit fails. Country Curtains occupies the middle ground: higher cost than off-the-shelf but significantly lower than high-end designer workrooms like those operating inside independent furniture stores in Canton or Federal Hill. Choose Country Curtains if you value a local business that measures for you, stands behind fit, and lets you see and feel fabric in person. Choose an online retailer if your windows are simple and you want rock-bottom pricing. Choose a designer showroom if you are furnishing an entire home and want integrated aesthetic consultation.
Who It Suits and Who It Does Not Suit
Country Curtains serves Baltimore homeowners with older homes needing period-appropriate treatments (many seek heavy linen for 1920s rowhouses), renters willing to invest in portable custom pieces they take to their next apartment, and anyone with unusual window shapes or sizes. It also works well for commercial clients furnishing offices or boutiques in Harbor East or Canton.
This is not the place if you need curtains next week for under $100, if you prefer entirely hands-off shopping and want items delivered from a warehouse, or if you are furnishing with trendy fast-furniture pieces that do not benefit from quality drapery. It is also not ideal for temporary solutions or if your design aesthetic changes frequently.
What the First Visit Involves
Arrive with photos or measurements of your windows if you have them, though the workroom will re-measure upon consultation. Plan to spend 45 minutes to an hour selecting from fabric samples, discussing lining options (unlined, thermal, blackout), and reviewing hardware choices. The staff will walk you through lead time and cost, provide a written estimate, and explain the deposit and payment terms. Bring paint chips or photos of your wall color and existing furniture if you want fabric recommendations that coordinate with your room.
Hours, Parking, and Logistics
Verify current hours by phone before visiting, as small workrooms occasionally shift scheduling. Parking on Baltimore streets near the showroom varies by neighborhood; confirm the exact location when you call, as this detail determines whether you have dedicated lot access or street parking. The workroom typically closes Sundays and Mondays. Most clients schedule consultations by appointment to ensure a staff member is available to measure and discuss options rather than dropping in.
Country Curtains survives in Baltimore's retail landscape because it solves a genuine problem: custom window treatments require someone local who measures accurately and stands behind the work. For any window treatment beyond the simplest rod-and-panel setup, a made-to-order workroom that lets you choose fabric in person beats both the imprecision of online shopping and the markup of high-end designer services.
