Paul Miller
Interior Designer While drapery does not feature in all of my bespoke designs, there are few homes that are not improved by them.
Practically speaking, drapery can improve thermal efficiency and acoustics and protect other elements in the space from fading. They can also ensure a good night’s sleep for light sleepers. Whether operational or merely stationary panels for looks, the pleasing lines of these treatments can highlight and improve the scale of the architecture, while giving the room personality (or reinforcing the one already in place) through the colors, textures and patterns of the fabric; the scale and fabrication details; and the finish and silhouette of the hardware.
Here are the questions I ask myself as I design drapery for my projects.
Photo: Stacy Zarin Goldberg
As seen on Home & Design Magazine
Does The Room Need Functional Drapery?
Functional drapery can be used to keep out light, provide privacy, and block drafts. If my client wants any of the above solutions and their windows are well-suited to drapery, I will plan for the drapery to fully span the glass when closed.
In some cases, functional needs are met by other means, such as blinds, shades or shutters. For other projects, there may be no concern about privacy or light control. Non-functional or stationary drapery in these instances adds panache and visual softness, such as in the living room at Nest #110, shown below.
What Are The Best Drapery Proportions?
As in all elements of design, proportion has to be just right. The exact amount that the drapery should hang above the window is determined by ceiling height and other architectural factors. I find that drapery is most attractive when there is enough space between the top of the window trim and the hardware for visual clarity. In the home office I designed at Nest #335, the exposed rafter detail above the eyebrow arch drove the height of the drapery.
Photo: MakeNest Interiors
Ideally, when drapery is fully opened, it does not cover any of the glass, allowing as much daylight in and keeping the view as open as possible. In some rooms, there simply is not enough wall space to left or right to accommodate this preference. If you are still in the design and building stage of your project, consider how much of the wall the windows take up.
What Is The Best Drapery Fabric?
I select drapery fabric with one or more of three objectives in mind: creating a focal point, supporting other elements, and/or blending into the architecture. In the sun room at Nest #48, the drapery fabric both establishes a focal point and supports the drama of the ombre striped wallpaper. The fabric selection defines this room as chic, stylish, and playful.
While the style of this room welcomed a large-scale pattern, this is not always the best approach. That is the wonderful thing about fabric: there is something for everyone. In the living and dining rooms at Nest #1409 , shown below, the aesthetic was subtle modernity. The sunny, velvet drapery makes these rooms luxurious, fresh and friendly.
Photo: MakeNest Interiors
How Will I Have The Drapery Made?
The details matter. In the yellow drapery above, I incorporated ivory fabric banding on the lead edges to carry the soft wall color and light sofa tones up onto the treatments.
Some fabrication details are not merely decorative. I plan the drapery header (the point from which the treatments hang from the hardware) based on whether or not the treatment will function. Many ready-made drapes are made with a sleeve or pocket that the rod slides through, but these can make opening and closing the panels awkward and leave the treatments looking messy. For functional drapery, I specify any number of pleat styles, which hold a pleasing shape and operate smoothly.
On non-functioning drapery panels, other header choices can work very well, such as with the tab-and-sleeve treatments we designed for Nest #704. My installer trains the folds of my drapery on site, using a steamer and skilled handling.
Hardware plays a significant roll in the finished look and function of the completed treatment. Dense fabric, bold patterns, and dark colors are best complimented by substantial hardware. Light colored drapery and sheers are well-balanced with more streamlined hardware.
Generally I prefer finials that are relatively subtle, but there are projects where a dramatic finial is the perfect choice. The finish on the hardware should never looked contrived and must always compliment the fabric, while being in harmony with other aspects of the design. It is not necessary to match metal hardware to the metal of light fixtures and door knobs, although the finish should be compatible or contrasting.
I hope these insights into drapery help make sense of the amount of planning and care that goes into the creation of a beautiful window treatment. The addition of drapery to a room can transform a space into a joyful, honest, and fearless oasis.
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Drapery is never out of style. Fabric, hardware, and fabrication preferences change over time, but the usefulness and beauty of drapery is timeless. When custom drapery is thoughtfully planned by an expert interior designer, factoring in the architecture, furnishings and practical needs of the homeowner, it retains its appeal for a long time.
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To have anything designed, made and installed with your home in mind naturally comes with a higher price. In my experience as a professional interior designer, creating spaces in homes in the Northern Shenandoah Valley, NOVA and the DMV for more than twenty years, I have found that my clients feel that the investment in their custom treatments is well worth the rewards.
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The cost of custom drapery is driven by many factors, including the per-yard price of the fabric, the size of the windows, and whether or not the drapery functions. Side panels for looks alone use less fabric and require less labor than functional treatments. Conversely, bespoke details like trimmings and banding add both material and labor costs. The best approach is to talk candidly with your drapery or design expert about budget ahead of time to establish clear expectations.
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