2009 Advisor
TunefulGal
Los Angeles, CA

Save energy! Stay cozy or cool with CHF's insulated curtains.

5 star rating

practical, fun loving, health conscious, a dog and cat Mama, energy conscious, owner of a weird old house, quality conscious
Pros

    landlords favor white backing, durable and quality product, thermal AND room darkening, machine washable, resist pet interference, great variety of color and style, many listings on the web

Cons
    will work best on metal rods, had to adjust to heaviness of my style, be sure and shop prices on this label

OCT
30
2009
 
 

Our "weird old house" has French-style, open-in windows,  Since they're both drafty and hard to fit I've covered them with things as dodgy as homespun shower curtains on rings and opaque Ikea bedspreads with clips.  So... you may imagine how rapturous my friends were when I finally hung real curtains.

I purchased my Commonwealth Home Fashions Habitat Hearthside insulated style on ebay.  While I would have loved off-white, I chose this cocoa-ish brown color because of the flying hair, dust, and dirty paws so common in our two-person, three-pet household.  That said, the tab tops make it easy to remove these curtains when it's time for machine washing.  The fabric of my linenlike curtains is 55% polyester and 45% cotton.

Commonwealth Home Fashions' thermals darken the room as well as insulate it.  Regardless of the color or pattern, the insulating, 100% acrylic suede backing is always white.  Though my rooms are dark when I pull the curtains closed, this darkness favors home "theater" arrangements and light sleepers.  It also reduces furniture and carpet fading from the sun.  Don't worry!  This is not a black-out.  (Though if you want black-out curtains, Commonwealth has those, too.)

Too offset the darkness but to maintain our privacy, I've hung a slender striped panel from Anna's Linens next to each Commonwealth curtain.  When the weather is reasonable and insulation isn't a big deal, the Anna's panels add light and rev up the room with a little pattern.

Commonwealth's thermal curtains also provide something of a sound barrier against outside clatter.  This softening adds to the coziness of a cold night or a hot day spent behind thermal protection.

Look for Commonwealth Home Fashions' latest designs on the web.  You'll also find close-outs of older styles at Overstock.com, Sierra Trading Post.com, and more.  Commonwealth Home Fashions, a Canadian company, manufactures its products in Montreal, Canada and Willsboro, New York.  Founded in 1946, this family business also sells decorative pillows, throws, bedcoverings and more.

I'm delighted with the durability and advantages of my curtains and have saved one panel wrapper in order to practice my Francais. 

If you need Rideaux Isolants, these are excellent. 

Last edited on Oct 30, 2009



I_thumb_up Commonwealth Home Fashions Habitat Insulated Curtains is recommended by TunefulGal

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I_comment_shdw24 Comments about TunefulGal’s Review

 


AnnaBanana wrote on Nov 11, 2009 at 12:27AM

In response to TunefulGal's comment from Nov 10, 2009 at 3:38AM:

Thanks for reading my AC thing. Yes, the free concerts sounded interesting.

Here's what REALLY sounded interesting but I guess they didn't try it this year.

The ANIMAL Messiah performed by DOGS. This was presented in 2007 by the Anti-Cruelty Society. What a madhouse that must have been because not only was the show performed by dogs but people could bring their pets with them to be part of the audience.

I think it is significant that it hasn't been repeated for 2008 or 2009!

Well, take care, Kiddo. I know you are in bed by now, and that's where I'm headed too!

AnnaBanana wrote on Nov 10, 2009 at 3:11PM

In response to TunefulGal's comment from Nov 10, 2009 at 3:38AM:

Although I have limited experience (knock on wood!) with skunk smells, I must say that even though it seemed overpowering, it didn't necessarily repulse me. I can think of worst things to smell.

Here's an interesting thought that you and your Scrabble (or Anagrams) buddies can toss around next time. What other singular case word in the English language besides SKUNK has two k's?

These are the things I sometimes think about when I should be cleaning something or other.

Take care, Cuz!

TunefulGal wrote on Nov 10, 2009 at 3:38AM

In response to AnnaBanana's comment from Nov 10, 2009 at 1:07AM:

I'm so sorry to hear about your friend. I'll read more when I check into AC.

Dolce wasn't so scared as she was PO'd by the time I got to her. I had the inside back door closed, thank God, but she came in to the laundry space and really 'contaminated' the washing machine, wall and doors there. She wouldn't let me out to help her, so I had to walk around the house and go in by the back door. That was good. I had to think it out, get clean rags, change to really old clothes, etc. Dolce has been rather docile the last few days, very cooperative with any clean-up efforts (still ongoing, I'm afraid).

Today's student was very helpful. Said the house smelled like coffee grounds. That is one of the stages that comes after the house smells like rubber burning right under one's nose.

AnnaBanana wrote on Nov 10, 2009 at 1:07AM

In response to TunefulGal's comment from Nov 9, 2009 at 8:23PM:

That's so nice of you, Mel! I've set you up for an automatic feed of things when they come up but remember I never slaver all over people to get them to read my stuff. It seems like there is so much to read nowadays, just on the Internet.

I'm sorry but I made a mistake and accidentally sent you an invitation to join AC. This was a mistake which i cannot seem to undo, so just ignore.

Poor Dolce. I love all your pets but she is my special favorite (that ear, and all) and I feel so sorry for her getting sprayed and stuff. She must have been so scared.

Well, take care! Have hit a temporary dry spell with reviews, plus had a friend die recently (I've written something about that on AC, by the way.) But will get back in the saddle again, as Gene Autry used to say!

Love, your Cuz

AnnaBanana wrote on Nov 10, 2009 at 12:55AM

In response to TunefulGal's comment from Nov 9, 2009 at 8:21PM:

I hate to admit this but I have an awful feeling that -- even with the skunk experience -- YOUR place is going to end up smelling better than MINE! Gotta do the carpets and upholstery and that's a fact!

TunefulGal wrote on Nov 9, 2009 at 8:23PM

In response to AnnaBanana's comment from Nov 8, 2009 at 6:30AM:

Please! Send the AC notices on. I've prepared a place... Ready to vote.

TunefulGal wrote on Nov 9, 2009 at 8:21PM

In response to AnnaBanana's comment from Nov 8, 2009 at 6:34AM:

Hey! Tomato juice IS a myth, and there's little rabies here though if you catch six animals, they'll check one. I've put out bowls of vinegar in addition to treating the dog. The house is starting to smell more like vinegar than skunk, so I think that's a good sign. Also, when the smell dies away, the odor is something like coffee perking. Half-full glass. And yes, you've got a good memory. I did review the product I use.

AnnaBanana wrote on Nov 8, 2009 at 6:34AM

In response to TunefulGal's comment from Nov 8, 2009 at 5:51AM:

Does tomato juice really work? Or is that an old wives' tale. Didn't you review something that worked for the after-effects of skunk attacks? God forbid that you get one of THEM in your house!

AnnaBanana wrote on Nov 8, 2009 at 6:30AM

In response to TunefulGal's comment from Nov 8, 2009 at 5:51AM:

Are you sure you don't mind about the automatic notices thing for AC? I thought that was kind of presumptious of me to set you up for that, that's why I had changed it. I would certainly understand if you didn't get a chance to actually read them and wouldn't pester you about how you liked something or other. I'm posting another one either tonight or tomorrow about a friend who died who was a teacher before she retired. I figure maybe she still has ex-students out there who live in other parts of the country who might not have read the notice in the paper but could possibly be a part of AC and would be interested.

The skunk thing really concerns me. Let's just hope they stick to spraying (which is bad enough) and not biting. I didn't realize that skunks are considered so dangerous that Animal Control sometimes destroys them without even trying to turn them loose again. Big rabies threat with skunks, at least in this area. Aunt Tatty at one time had a whole family of them living under her back porch! She thought they were cute but I think there probably could be nothing more dangerous living under a person's back porch than a mother skunk!

TunefulGal wrote on Nov 8, 2009 at 5:51AM

In response to AnnaBanana's comment from Nov 2, 2009 at 5:25PM:

They're pretty basic, so you may be right. It's a good old durable curtain.

Hope you're well and gathering credits on AC. I know I did better when I got automatic notices about your contents. I don't mind that, you know.

Dolce got skunked tonight and I've spent the last couple of hours doing my best to de-skunk her and air out the house. First time this year. Temps in the high 40s, low 50s tonight. Skunks don't usually hang out when it's that cold. Or... maybe they do. Yes,... I guess they do! A lot of the worst smell has been neutralized. Glad you weren't around. Ditto D. who will be home from Colorado (a national MRA meeting) later today.

Love from your Cuz!

AnnaBanana wrote on Nov 2, 2009 at 5:25PM

Come to think of it, they may have these at the Comfort Inn. Something about all this rang a bell!

AnnaBanana wrote on Nov 2, 2009 at 5:24PM

Another great review! If I didn't have mini-blinds, I might be tempted to try these!


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