Retro style is nice, but those veil curtains are a bit too much for us. But we do want curtains that close completely. So we're going to replace those cosmetic "half" curtains from Eriba. The elastics will then guide the actual curtains instead of the veil curtains. We're also replacing the ugly plastic brackets. 

When the new caravan was delivered, two curtain elastics had already failed. (Photo left)

 

We replaced the cheap plastic brackets that hold the elastics with stainless steel hooks from China. The screw spacing is almost the same. (Photo below)

You can't use curtains to darken an Eriba. The original curtains are only decorative.

 

The sliding screens darken the room but aren't very inviting. So, we're also replacing the Eriba's dummy curtains with curtains that can actually close completely.

Because we've removed the veil curtains, we now have enough sliders left over for the new curtains.

On a Chinese website we found curtains that completely darken the interior. They are insulating, drape very softly and are wrinkle-free. We unsewed the sliders from all the veil curtains (photo on the right). These will be sewn onto the new curtains. This is because only the veil curtains have enough length fitted with sliders. The original Eriba curtains are only 20 cm wide.

Sewing new curtains to the correct length. We now have stainless steel brackets instead of Eriba plastic ones, and fully closing curtains. The white elastic does not match the gray curtains very well. So we're replacing it with black elastic. Final result: see photo below.

 

Comments and questions

Eric_Isobel: If you throw out the net curtains, those elastic bands are no longer necessary, right? Answer: Indeed Eric, in that case you could skip the elastic cords. Removing the elastic cords also makes operating the windows easier. But we opted for new curtains that close completely. In that case the elastic cords are still needed. 

Marga Kampeert: We love those retro net curtains! But it's true: the elastic bands get in the way when opening a window.... We've now tied both the net curtains and the (half) curtains to the brackets at the sides, so we've removed all the elastic bands.

Hochhütte: Those stainless steel brackets alone make all the difference. Thanks, I've ordered them too. (Even though you don't advertise, a Google Lens image search makes everything searchable 😏) And yes, you're right: simply being able to darken the room with beautiful curtains is more romantic than looking at roller screens that look a bit like an office space.

Jutta: How did you make and secure those loops in the elastic bands? In the large photo at the bottom, I see a copper-colored, ribbed tube? Answer: We crimped tiny copper solder tubes around the elastic band with a crimping tool. See photo.