Kitchen draperies—the most important window coverings in a home
Life centers around the home; and, often, the heart of a home resides in its kitchen. In this room, simple ingredients blend together to make memorable meals; jokes bounce from smiling face to smiling face; hopes and dreams emerge; and stories find their shining spotlight.
In this room where life thrives, kitchen draperies require just the right design to highlight windows that welcome in the light and spread the home’s inner joy to the world around it. Custom Drapery Designs specializes not only in bringing together the best fabrics, hardware and coverings in just the right colors and patterns; but also in customizing those combinations for each client and each living space.
A relaxed Roman shade
During a recent kitchen and dining room installation, CDD paired a relaxed Roman shade made from Robert Allen Serene Linen fabric with a 2” pleated border from Samuel & Sons. This combination of Sterling and Oyster colors fits right in with current kitchen design trends.
Modern kitchens go back to the basics with natural stone in soft gray and white tones. Designers often top this foundation with the elegance of soft natural-colored linens—like the one by Robert Allen—or with simple, flowing sheers. Pops of color come in with blues or turquoise in either fabric choices or with decorative pottery.
Titanium-colored Achilles medallion accents from Paris Texas Hardware add the custom design details CDD loves so much. The pleated sides of the shades draw the eyes up toward these lovely, bold diamond-shaped features. The completed project crowns the view from the kitchen sink. This style then carries over into the three open windows in the dining space, unifying the entire area.
Continuity exists with the colors in the dining chairs and draperies. Meanwhile, the colors of the medallion accents and the table and hardwood floors flow together in perfect harmony, creating a space as warm and inviting as it is stunning.
Valances or Roman shades work best in kitchen designs
Utilizing an outside mount adds height in order to balance fabric designs with the cabinets around them. Durable natural fibers—such as layered linens or cottons, complete with linings—produce optimal fullness and structure, allowing window designs to stand out in the best possible manner.
Since most windows today serve as a frame for beautiful outdoor views and come in large panes uninterrupted by decorative wooden grilles, home owners do not want them covered. Instead, we can highlight such lovely views with shades which can be hidden within a fabric-covered headrail or which open stack to become an accent in themselves.
Framing the view of outside activities
We chose the first option in this elegant eating area flanked by large curved windows which join the outdoor and indoor entertaining areas and allow for a framed view of the outside activities. These custom draperies feature Kravet’s Maeva Sparkle Linen fabric.
But, what truly makes this window design complete is the wide Celtic Knot braid designed by Barry Dixon for Vervain. CDD loves Dixon’s intricate trimmings and exquisite style. Check back for more on his designs and inspiration in a future blog!
Open stack options
For an open stack option, CDD likes Hunter Douglas’ Provenance Woven Woods, as used in this breakfast nook with three large windows to provide a homey quality while maintaining a rich design element. The Tahiti Coconut color contrasts well with Fabricut’s Panettone fabric in Denim. The Panettone pattern lends itself well to use in kitchens and bedrooms and comes also in Aqua and Fog colors.
Two other window coverings we like for kitchens are the Hunter Douglas Pirouette® and Silhouette® shadings. The Pirouette® option includes a sheer backing that presents the illusion of floating shades. This style also closes up to look just like contemporary shades. Stay tuned for more details about new colors available for these shadings in next month’s blog.
Silhoutte® shadings
The Silhouette® shadings brilliantly diffuse light and as they seem to hang suspended between two sheer fabric panels. Both types of shadings qualify for the 2016 Smart Shades Rebate Program. Call Custom Drapery Designs today to take advantage of this great event; but hurry—the deal ends on September 12.
Style choices for kitchen draperies are as varied and unique as the families they represent. Three aspects remain the same for all houses, though. Custom designs in kitchens should reflect the family’s character, maintain functionality and accentuate all the positives the heart of a home has to offer.
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