10 ways to make a statement with your windows drapes
Photographs: Sebastian Zachariah I Photographix, Nrupen Madhvani and Pranav Ovalekar
Long and flow-ey, "puddling" on the floor or sultrily “kissing” it? A touch of digital funk or the old embroidery that is still in vogue? Shimmery translucence in the front or hidden behind solid mains? No, these are not questions for your next outfit but questions you should be asking yourself before selecting curtains for your home. Architects Anu Chauhan and Prashant Chauhan of ZERO9 architecture and design studio, share the ins and outs of getting the piece of drapery fit for a fashion runway.
1. Wooden blinds or fabric curtains? Use wooden blinds instead of fabric curtains for a touch of formal sophistication. Visually they are the most appealing when paired with small rectangular windows in passages or in a somber study room.
2. Consider the outdoors too! Most of us choose curtains based on the decor within, but what about the direction of your window and the kind of light coming through it? In India, southern light is the harshest. For this, make sure you have a double layered protection: translucent sheers to let a soft glow in the morning and thick drapes to cut off the heat and the glare in the afternoon.
3. How about some glow for your curtains? Create a masterpiece by incorporating fibre optic lights randomly strewn, replicating a starry sky.
4. Take your curtain fashion a notch higher by cladding it with crystal. Clad them in a desired pattern, adding that coveted classy bling to your home. This glamorous piece is sure to be the talk of all your social gatherings.
5. Balance is key. For a room with an overarching glossy theme, tone down the gloss by choosing subdued curtains in shades complementing the existing colour palette.
(Left) Wooden blinds bring in a touch of sophistication. (Centre) A blind with a digitally-printed photo adds a high-tech effect. (Right) Sprinkling drapes with crystals takes the fashion quotient a notch higher.
6. Go back to the earth by opting for linen, khadi or cotton curtains with a natural texture for a house with an earthy and warm theme. The absorbent feel automatically ups your calming quotient and puts you at ease the minute you step into that space.
7. Go high-tech on your guests by getting a photograph digitally printed on your drapes. For a touch of aesthetics, pixellate your photographs before getting them printed. These will appear as minuscule coloured patterns when seen closely but read as a picture when seen from afar.
8. Why build a four poster bed when you can elegantly suspend curtains from a hook on the ceiling? Restrict the spread to cover the back of the bed and 2 feet on the sides to avoid the feeling of being hemmed in. For a charming experience, use sheer curtains that will keep you visually connected to the rest of the room. At the same time, light from the side tables will filter through as a soft glow.
9. Indulge your dream of living in a palace with long flowing curtains by letting your curtain loosely create a “puddle” on the floor. This is ideal for out-houses with limited dust concerns. If not, end the fabric just a few millimetres above the flooring for it to look like a classy skirt.
10. Should sheers be in front of or behind the main curtains? Luckily, there is no thumb rule so do as you fancy. However, in case of bespoke, meticulously embroidered main curtains, display them unabashedly and keep the sheers behind for functionality.
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Anu & Prashant Chauhan
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