I've been eyeing the gorgeous patterned curtains at Anthropologie lately. To me, drapes seem like an investment -- heavy, expensive, often custom. Curtains seem more casual and less permanent.

A lot. A lot. A lot.

Thank you.

I especially like this in folk art textiles. Patterned fabrics can provide more privacy than solid fabrics, all else being equal. The biggest objection I have to soft window treatments is that they're higher maintenance, and most can only be dry cleaned.

I love the Chiang Mai Dragon draperies I had made up for my den - I only with I had the fabricator use interlining so that the morning sunlight wouldn't penetrate the lining and the fabric...
...I may end up taking them down and having them resewn.

I made huge floral drapes for my living room a year & a half ago & love them. Very graphic blue & white print that stands out nicely against the other colors of solid furniture in the room. I was inspired by a Josef Frank textile, though couldn't get close to affording the $300/ yard price... so I got a really nice 2 color fabric at the local store & spent about $200 total on the materials. Thankfully, my mom helped me make them. She's an amazing seamstress!

Patterned drapes are a mom's best friend! Grubby hands like to peek outside or hide from Daddy in the throws of a rainy day hide and seek game. I agree wholeheartedly that drapes are an investment, too. And, while patterned drapes run the risk of going out of style, as long as you pick a classic pattern that $500 investment is well worth it!

Clarke & Clarke Fabrics have colorful and modern patterns that are perfect for draperies! See all the great examples of draperies using their fabrics at the link below.
The Designer Insider
http://thedesignerinsider.blogspot.com/2010/03/clarke-clarke-designer-fabrics_16.html

Room 4 excites me.

Over the last few years I've noticed both more availability of patterned drapery and sheers, and clients being a little more willing to use prints and patterns in their window treatments. Not to say that "neutral" isn't the most common descriptor they use when describing their design ambitions, but they do seem a bit more willing to consider pattern in this area.

Frankly, I love it!

I love the bright, bold colours in #1.

Phew! I just bought a burnt-orange flower pattern fabric for my dining room curtains. Everything else in the room is going to be muted (wood, iron, steel) so I decided to rock out on the curtains. Am enjoying sewing them as we speak, even more so now that I know I'm part of a style comeback!
PS: spent two glorious hours in Mood Fabric in NYC choosing the fabric. Such fun.

Phew! I just bought a burnt-orange flower pattern fabric for my dining room curtains. Everything else in the room is going to be muted (wood, iron, steel) so I decided to rock out on the curtains. Am enjoying sewing them as we speak, even more so now that I know I'm part of a style comeback!
PS: spent two glorious hours in Mood Fabric in NYC choosing the fabric. Such fun.

am i the only one who can't see the room for the half naked chick?

here i was getting tired of my patterned curtains, I guess if it is in I'll leave them on. :) I bought mine in Urban Outfitters about 2-3 years ago

@fernyone, I hadn't noticed until you mentioned it, but am sure that you're not the only one for whom it's the natural focal point.

i ♥ my vintage printed curtains(drapes)

http://ragamuffindesign.wordpress.com/2010/05/20/fantastical-restore-finds-downtown-charleston-sc/

I just redid my living room and these patterned drapes from Ballard were my inspiration: http://www.ballarddesigns.com/concorde-medallion-panel/panels-draperies/window-treatments/13838. I got the indigo color. They brought out the blue in an oriental rug I already have. I love love love them and they were only $79 a panel!

Huh. I never realized that solid draperies were a style "do" in the last 8 years. And I didn't consider patterned drapes that huge of a commitment - but maybe because I usually sew my own? Regardless, I usually consider it defeat or a temporary fix to buy solid colored drapes.

Seems like these work best in "serious Statement" mode -- floor to ceiling, major accent in the room, etc. I'm not sure what would happen if they were fitted to smaller windows and/or there was competing visual texture in the room...

some wild designs are available on www.fabocity.com