Soft Touch Finishes Job

Question: We’ve recently redecorated our house, and I’m planning to sew drapes for the living room. I realize you usually deal with a different part of home improvements, but I hope you can help me. I have been looking for special rods for hanging the drapes. With these rods, the material doesn’t hang in creased pleats. Instead, there’s a rounded effect at the top and a very neat, soft appearance. I’ve looked everywhere but can’t find exactly what I’m looking for. Can you help?

Answer: Sounds to me as if you’re looking for Spring Crest hardware that features a stainless steel S-shaped pleater that threads through the top of a drapery, giving the rounded-pleat effect that you mention. In addition to the advantage of appearance, there’s another advantage: If you use washable fabric for your draperies, there’s no need to remove the spring or the glides when you wash them. You can wash by hand or on the gentle cycle in your washing machine.

I first saw this hardware several years ago at a home show, where Mary Ann Berry of the Spring Crest Drapery Center, 11962 Prairie Ave., Hawthorne, had exhibit space.

There are other Spring Crest Drapery Centers in Burbank, Carlsbad, Costa Mesa, Laguna Hills, La Habra, La Palma, Lomita, Rowland Heights, San Clemente, Santa Ana, Westminster and Yorba Linda.

Dale Baldwin will answer remodeling questions of general interest on this page. Send your questions to Home Improvement, Real Estate Department, Los Angeles Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053. Baldwin cannot answer questions individually. Snapshots of successful do-it-yourself projects may be submitted but cannot be returned.