CURTAIN AND Gift Traders (01-283 6547) is a well-thumbed address in the little black books of design industry insiders.
The shop on Newtown Park Avenue in Blackrock sells new and second-hand curtains, from private homes, show houses and also design errors.
From the outside the shop doesn’t look like much but the exterior belies the range of high-quality curtains available at discount prices.
Their sources include several of the capital’s major curtain suppliers, although Curtain and Gift Traders (CGT) is not allowed to say who.
Right now a pair of cream linen-mix curtains, which measure 5ft wide and have an 89in drop, are on sale for €320. Their estimated original price is €760, says owner Helen O’Connor.
Another gold embroidered pair, more suited to a period setting, has moss green detailing, burgundy fringing and silk interlining. These are 5.5ft wide and have a 98in drop. They’re on sale for €500. An estimated new price for these is €1,100.
CGT has a silk sale with prices reduced by 15-20 per cent. The company also sells unwanted gifts including Waterford and Tipperary Crystal, making this the ideal hunting ground for cash-strapped wedding guests.
