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Drapery Drama

May 09, 2022 | Posted in How To & Decorating Tips | Share

There are a million-and-one ways to dress and cover your windows. Wooden louvers, venetian blinds, roman shades, cellular shades, plantation shutters, curtains – the list goes on! With all of these options, one of my favorite ways to style windows is with draperies, a classic, enduring choice. Read on for my top tips!

Luxurious Layers

Living room with peachy walls, blue-grey ceiling, fireplace at the left with art above it and bookcase to the side, a periwinkle sofa with dark blue piping, 2 large pillows in lime green, and 2 large pillows in a blue, yellow, and white, floral with dark blue edging. Two lime green chairs are just out of view at the forefront, while in the rear, stacked and gathered gold spotted draperies flank a wall of 5 windows with wood edges and translucent blinds that fold up. A gold table lamp sits upon a side table, and a coffee table is dressed with books and flowers in the center.

In high-end projects, attention to detail is paramount. This one is an inspiring example because the homeowner was willing to spend time creating something he really loves.

Periwinkle sofa with dark blue piping, 2 large pillows in lime green, and 2 in a blue, yellow, purple, and white floral with dark blue edging. Stacked and gathered gold spotted draperies draw your attention to the dark wood window, with translucent blinds that fold up. A gold table lamp sits upon a side table, dressed with a blue vase of greenery and an artistic sculpture in yellow.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

To balance the straight architecture of the room and the amount of wood on view, stationary side draperies are stacked in sage green outdoor fabric to prevent sun-fade over time, while accent trim stands out from the face edging, a luxury detail. The sage green fabric tones with the exterior color of the house for additional curb appeal.

Close-up of a dark wood-edged window and stacked and gathered gold spotted drapes, showing edging in a moss green check, repeated as a tieback with repeating tassels in a lighter green. The natural grass blinds underneath have a textural quality, while a fabric liner at the back keeps light from spilling around, creating a soft light.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Eric Rorer

Replacing the old wood shutters with woven natural grass Roman shades meant we could add a fabric liner in the back: Pull down for privacy, or up to allow a lovely filtered light through the natural grass. A beautiful and useful result.

Techno Style

Looking from the second floor down over the ground floor in a colorful condo. Orangey-yellow full height textured draperies are stacked at the sides of the window, while a slightly transparent roller shade comes down just to the top of the transom and door underneath. A large curved tan sofa with a chaise long on the right wraps around a circular coffee table in yellow, in front of a TV, with a corner fireplace to the side. A yellow and brown paisley patterned rug defines the space, while glass pendant lights and bronze teardrops help bring the height down.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Joe Fletcher

For this San Francisco loft created to remind you of a Moroccan bazaar with a midcentury element, because of the height of the space, the best solution is remote roller shades with automated floor-to-ceiling draperies.

Colorful condo viewed from the ground floor. Orangey-yellow full height textured draperies are stacked at the sides of the window, while a slightly transparent roller shade comes down just to the top of the transom and door underneath, showing a large potted plant outside. A large curved tan sofa with a chaise long on the right, stuffed with a riot of colorful pillows in different sizes and shapes, wraps around a circular coffee table in yellow, with a corner fireplace in the back. A yellow and brown paisley patterned rug defines the space. A shiny red console table under the TV is dressed with a pair of red lanterns, and a large potted plant stand just to the side of the console table.
Design by Kimball Starr / Photo by Joe Fletcher

The weight of the draperies allows light to filter through, a sumptuous moving artwork created with patterns of sunlight that adds life to the selection of colors, patterns, and textures in the space.

Join me next time for part 2.

Kimball Starr designs beautiful window treatments for luxurious homes throughout the San Francisco Bay Area and Lake Tahoe. Contact her today for a remote or socially-distant in-person consultation.

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