Survey & consultation. See the whole room.

01 / The details

First, tell us what the room needs

A consultation starts with your priorities: the view you want to keep, privacy after dark, early morning light, the softness of the room and how you expect to open the curtains. A gable bedroom and a double-height living space may have similar glazing but need different curtain arrangements.

Photographs and rough dimensions help us understand the enquiry. Include the whole wall, both sides and the floor around the window. Images can suggest a direction; they cannot establish concealed structure or replace the final site measurements used for manufacture.

02 / The details

Measure the curtain route, not only the glass

The visible glazing and the intended curtain line are different boundaries. We consider where the track can be supported, how far it sits from the glass and where the heading and finished hem will fall. The measurement reference needs to be clear before dimensions can be used for making.

For an apex, we record the peak and the individual slopes, side heights and relevant widths. We do not assume that the peak is centred or that both sides are symmetrical. An uneven ceiling, off-centre roofline or changing floor level can affect the shape of the curtain.

A few millimetres at one point may change the alignment elsewhere on a sloping installation. The survey, heading choice and track detail therefore work together. A width and a maximum height alone do not describe a shaped curtain.

03 / The details

Find the support behind the finish

The chosen track line must relate to a suitable fixing surface. We ask what is known about the wall or ceiling, look at the available fixing positions and discuss drawings or building information where needed. A neat plaster finish does not tell us what is behind it.

For new builds and renovations, it helps to involve Apex before final boarding and decoration. Backing provision, recess depth and space for the heading can be considered while changes are still practical. Where the structure is uncertain, the builder or an appropriate specialist may need to confirm the connection before the design can proceed.

The survey also considers how the installation team will reach the work: entrance and carrying routes, floor space, furniture, stairs, ceiling obstructions and the position of fragile glazing. A very high peak is an access-planning question as well as a measurement.

04 / The details

Agree the open view as well as the closed curtain

We establish which panels will move, which upper sections may remain retained and where the cloth will collect. On some shaped windows, tying back opens the lower view while fabric remains along the upper slopes. A wide clear pane in a drawing is not a promise of completely clear glass once fabric is added.

Handles, inward-opening doors, radiators, beams and furniture all influence projection and stack-back. We consider how you will reach the operating position from the floor and whether the intended curtain arrangement allows the room to function comfortably.

05 / The details

Look at the cloth where it will live

Review physical fabric and lining samples alongside wall paint, flooring, upholstery and window frames. Check daylight and evening lighting. A small sample is useful for colour and touch, but it cannot reproduce the weight, joins or long folds of a full-height curtain.

Pencil, double pinch, wave and a tailored single pleat bring different structure to the top edge. We discuss the heading alongside the selected track, fabric and lining, not as a separate decorative choice. The room visualiser can help explore colour, while the final specification comes from the actual materials and measured installation.

06 / The details

A clear next step, with the assumptions resolved

The survey informs the recommendation and quotation: curtain arrangement, fabric and lining, heading, track finish, fixing approach and installation access. Clarify what is included, any outstanding building work and decisions still to be confirmed before manufacture.

Tell us if flooring, ceiling work, doors or furniture positions change afterwards. Those changes may affect the curtain drop, the available clearance or the access plan. Timing, appointments and any survey charges should be confirmed for your project rather than assumed from a general guide.