Commonwealth bows ‘Fifth Room’ curtains  

By Staff -- Home Textiles Today, 2/10/2008 3:24:00 PM

At the New York Market – Commonwealth Home Fashions is introducing a group of window panels for “the fifth room,” tapping into the concept of indoor/outdoor living.

“The fifth room is a new trend where people are decorating porches, patio and sunrooms,” said Barry Goodman, vp national accounts for the Montreal-based company.

The curtains are constructed of fade- and mildew-resistant, washable, UV-protected, and water-repellant 100% polyester fabrics. Three stripe offerings in orange, blue and green coordinate with the solid-color curtains in natural, orange, chocolate, blue and green. They are topped with stainless steel-plated grommets and will be offered in two lengths: 84-inch and 96-inch. Retails range from $39.99 to $49.99, Goodman said.

The program is merchandised in an upscale, easily toted, tubular vinyl zipper bag with detailed, color package inserts.

In addition to mainstream retailers, “it’s also a big catalog item for specialty catalogs, garden centers, and stores that sell outdoor furniture, department stores and the home improvement stores,” said Goodman, who will spotlight the line at the Commonwealth showroom, Suite 1507 in the 261 Fifth Avenue building this week.