Contessa Curtains - 35 years of interior fashion (From Living Northeast)
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Contessa Curtains - 35 years of interior fashion
1:35pm Monday 22nd March 2010 in
As Contessa Curtains in Hartlepool celebrates 35 years in business, Ruth Addicott finds out how trends have changed.
SINCE opening its doors in 1975, Contessa Curtains has had all kinds of challenges, including a request to kit out the captain’s quarters on an oil tanker.
“That was a bit different,” says David Burmiston, one of the company directors.
“Trying to find something for a round window – basically a porthole. We kept it simple in the end and went for plain blue curtains.”
Trends have changed dramatically over the past 35 years with most people these days opting for something plain and simple.
The shop supplies theatres, restaurants and interior designers in London, as well as catering for the more elaborate tastes of some of the local residents in Hartlepool.
“People have this vision of Hartlepool being a run-down sort of place, but the people who live there certainly feel passionate about their homes,” says David.
While most tend to opt for plain curtains with tassels, fringing or braids, David recalls a request from one lady who wanted leopard print venetian blinds. “She had animal prints everywhere,” he says. “I persuaded her to go for a plain blind with an animal print braid in the end.”
The curtains are manufactured on the premises and David’s advice to anyone thinking of buying is to keep it simple because bold patterns tend to date. “When I started, everyone had patterned curtains, patterned carpets and patterned wallpaper,” he says.
“People tend to go for plain curtains and floral cushions now – and you can always have Swarovski crystal heavy tassel tie-backs if you want a bit of bling.”
