Good Questions: Top Design Curtain Advice?

Hello AT,

I’ve done my best to help answer other ATer’s Good Questions and would love it if they can now help me with one of my own! I’ve been agonizing over what window treatment to use for this terrace door/window area...

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I would like to use ceiling-mounted hospital track spanning the entire niche so when open, the drapes are primarily in the small area of wall on either side and don’t obstruct the view. But what kind of fabric should I use? I’ve been considering:

-White sheers, but I’m afraid they won’t provide enough light control or heat/cold insulation;

-A textured oatmeal-colored linen;

-Steel gray shantung silk or velvet;

-Rougher-textured, oatmeal colored linen;

-Tan or gold-colored silk;

-“Pieced” drapes in one of the above colors like these.

-A more graphic black and white pattern like this one from Harry Zarin: but will a pattern clash with the Woods wallpaper?

As you can see from the pics, the curtains would be a major element in the living/dining area where I spend much of my waking hours, plus I know these drapes are going to cost a fortune, so I do want to get this right. And keeping them bare forever isn’t an option, while I don’t need blackout drapes I am concerned about sun damage to my furniture as well as added heating and cooling costs. Thanks so much for your help and feedback!

Thanks so much for your help, Elaine/eeeck.

Dear Elaine,

Our favorite fabric for this exact situation was a cotton/silk mix that we once found at Home Works on Broome Street. While we don't expect they will still have it, we would find this type of thing somewhere else.

The weave was tight but the fabric thin so that there was a feeling of translucency. The silk gave it a touch of glowing white shine and a luxurious drape. AND we suspect that - being silk - the thermal quality wasn't bad.

In short, we'd go for light white curtains that are solid but allow light to pass through and float through your space. The better the material, the better.

BTW, you home is way nice, what else can we help with?

Anyone else?

Comments (18)

My mother always said "natural fibers love water" so I agree completely with Maxwell, and moreso because you can wash them.

I agree with the sheer aproach, although I would not go with completely white, an off white would be better. But I am all with you with the damage that is caused to furniture by the sun. If you have direct sun streaming into the room, I would definetely consider two options (I had the same problem in my apartment) Option one, install sheer curtains, and at a later phase (when your wallet recouperates a bit) buy a) pvc blinds (I know some people hate them, but they will be used only when you are not at home to block the sun) or b) in case the idea of pvc makes you nauseaus, then you need to install a second set of thick blinds, which would serve as good insulation as well). BTW the blinds also provide thermal insulation, it does make a difference, as I have a large three panel sliding door into a balcony and it works.. Hope this helps

If you install a double track, the option of adding a second layer of fabric is always open to you, even if you don't do it at the first installation.

Hospital-style ceiling mount tracks come in singles and doubles--the double is only a fraction wider and hardly noticable if your single layer is mounted on the outside track.

I helped a friend do this---just one row of sheers were perfect in the low-light winter months, but then in the summer, she found that she needed a second row to add more light control and cut down on solar heat gain. Then, she was hooked on the layering--adding different colored sheer panels with the seasons and her whim. It looks great.

Good luck!

I can't comment on which fabric to use, but I did just purchase great suspension tracks from ikea.

http://www.ikea.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?topcategoryId=15594&catalogId=10103&storeId=12&productId=83176&langId=-1&categoryId=15846&chosenPartNumber=30115113

The link doesn't show it, but they have the option for double tracks, or triple tracks, where you can layerd different kinds of fabric.

Presumably, wherever you purchase your fabric from they'll have such options.

Good luck. Your place is beautiful!

Source on the ottomans(men?) please!

I have a similar window situation. Right now I'm floating between semi sheer, inside mounted charcoal colored blinds from Smith and Hawken or Justblinds.com. Smith and Hawken is the expensive choice, justblinds is the economy choice. Would the same type of blinds but in white or off-white not be a good choice here? I know there is a big difference between curtains and blinds and maybe blinds would not provide the desired look.

How about somthing like this? (not specific on fabric, but the panel style.)

http://www.smithandnoble.com/sn/product_detail.jsp?prod_oid=253119&nav_cat=-18480&sch_cat=Solar%20Panel%20Track

I'm feeling Maxwell's solution pretty strongly here. If you go with oatmeal or gold, you'll confuse your existing use of oatmeal tones to zone your space, plus you'll have the visual pressure of a block of color pushing inward at one of the narrow parts of the room.

Though I ordinarily prefer blinds over curtains, more hard surfaces and square edges just don't fit with your overall sensual vibe.

I don't know which way your window faces, so it's hard to measure just how much sunlight will come in. I have about 13 feet of windows facing south. The fabric in the windows fade within a season. The sun just eats them up, so I would go lighter so any fading isn't as noticable, and I would use sun resistant fabrics or shades if you can.

Hi everyone - thanks so much for the kind thoughts and good advice! I was worried that white would be too boring or something but based on what I'm hearing here it does seem like common sense to not create a big square of color on one side of the room that could close things in. (The windows face north, FYI, but since I overlook a park the light is still very strong.)

Meanwhile, I am too amused by your question about the ottomans, Robyn - because they were a former "hot or not" right here on AT! Check them out in their original ghastly blue:

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/hot-or-not/hot-or-not-showdown-but-its-super-70s-cool-006803

Since the tops unscrew from the bases, I covered them up myself using fabric remnants from the garment district. Took all of an evening.

BTW, I moved into this apartment in January 2006 and AT has been a great help and inspiration in my experiments with home decor. Thanks so much everyone for your advice and insights, not just with this specific question, but always!

I would choose a linen in the color "Linen," which is slightly darker than your carpet.

Sorry I can't help eeeck but I just wanted to say that I am a fan of yours here and on curbed.

On curbed you always post helpful, relevant information and help defray some of the arguments.

Great space BTW and I like what you did with the ottomans.

jp (aka VDH)

I am intrigued by the linen sheers idea.

Village Workroom has them in all sorts of lengths and widths:
http://www.villageworkroom.com/index.html

and also in a variety of colors, including "oatmeal."

I have linen in my house; they're more durable than one might think. Mine are seven years old and still in very good condition.

I went the cheapo route: I bought the linen at a fabric store and had the curtains whipped up at a local dry cleaners. If you sew, the cost would be negligible.

Great place! Good luck with this! Please show us the results, no?

I vote also for the double track (with a dapre and a sheer), since function is such a key consideration.

But I'm not sure drapes wide enough to cover the space when they are completely closed will "stack" completely back into the side wall niches... no big whoop, but just prepare yourself for that.

I'm ordinairly a fan of drapes the same color of the walls, but you seem (perhaps) to be itchin' to make a statement... which I think the space can handle (not "need" but "handle"!)

If you feel "big block of color" here will create imbalance in the room, then fit the other window with a tailored shade from the same fabric.

But from your list above, I like the bottom-banded Restoration Hardware ones the best. But silk doesn't always hang straight unless weighted.

For "hang" (no puns, please) I like drapes with weight... a wool cashmere is unbeatbale for how it hangs, and I think you need an "architectural" hang...

Good luck... the space looks awesome!

Very nice. Love the banded bottom drapes, which would provide some color but not overwhelm the wall, and you could keep the top a light shade.

In case anyone was wondering about the low-e windows protecting furnishings from fading, they definitely help. They don't completely keep things from fading, but slow down the process a lot. One option might be to get your windows tinted with a low-e film, then your curtains could be almost any material.

Elaine/eeeck, WOW on the ottomans -- I wouldn't have given them a second look in their "blue period". They look amazing now -- great job.

Thanks for the kind words, everyone - I know p(too) has very high standards, so I feel like I got the Good Decorating seal of approval! And jamiepup, I do spend WAY too much of my workdays on this site and Curbed (it always pays to have your own office ;-), so it's always good to know someone is appreciating your musings.

Sounds like views are mixed on whether the drapes should be white, oatmeal linen, banded, etc. but I do think no matter what they should remain a fairly light color to avoid the "big block" problem. I think I am going to have to head to Zarin to check out my alternatives in person and go swatch-wild.

Great space and i love the re-upholstered ottomans. Good job!

My vote goes for the banded curtains - but with the band on the top. I noticed that most of the furniture you had in the space were at similar height/eyeline. So adding the band on the top of the curtains will break this pattern and draw the eyes to the height of the ceiling creating more visual interest in the space. How about choosing a 2-3 ft band on the top with a fabric that is 2-3 shades darker than the fabric on the bottom. This way the contrast is sutle but not too sutle to be unnoticed.

Good luck with the fabric selection.

www.lushlivings.com