CURTAIN FABRICS
COTTON Easy-to-clean and great with most styles, the softer the cotton, the better the drape.
LINEN A textured fabric, linen is great lined or unlined, paired with sheer silks and soft voiles.
VELVET A rich, luxurious fabric that provides great privacy, insulation and feel-me texture.
LACE A little pattern, a little sheerness, a little texture, lace adds a light, feminine touch.
SILK Choose a faux silk for longevity or line your real silk as it’s easily damaged by sunlight.
VOILE A lightweight cotton perfect to create that breezy, billowy feel. Great for use on pergolas.photographyshannon mcgrath/hecker guthrie; peter krasilnikoff (opposite page)
MEET THE DESIGNER
“Curtains layer a room or add warmth, movement and texture,” says Paul Hecker, director
of Hecker Guthrie. The Sydney-based company is at the forefront of the curtain-wall
movement, namely sheer and motorised curtains in open-plan spaces. Heckerguthrie.comPrivacy please!
If you have a large expanse of glass doors or
windows facing the street, a sheer curtain will give
privacy while still letting natural light into the room.@reallivingmag
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FA BR IC T YPE S
Your lifestyle and aesthetic needs can determine what
fabric you choose, so too does the location of a room,
its function and how you live in it. Here are your options.
Blackout styles Heavily lined curtains can insulate
a room, keep the light out, provide ultimate privacy and
give a room a slightly more formal feel. They can also give
fabrics more body and allow the curtain to drape nicely.
Sheer styles Lighter, translucent curtains go a long
way to softening up a room and giving off a romantic,
billowy vibe. Sheerer styles are ideal for spaces that
could benefit from filtered light and don’t require privacy
screening such as dining and living rooms.
The in-betweeners Mid-weight fabrics such as linen
and cotton are great for all spaces – lined or unlined, they
can be dressed up with pleats or left casual with tab-tops.
Pair with a simple blind to get the best of both worlds.
Layer up Sometimes, the best of both worlds is just
what you want. In these cases, install a double rod or
track system and use two different but complementing
curtain styles: a primary curtain to block the light and
provide colour, pattern and style, and a sheer that will
lighten the feel of the room, allow light in while still
offering a small amount of privacy (see right).
Try before you buy Consider your fabric as you would
paint - collect swatches and get a feel for how it looks in
your space, how the light comes through it when held up
against the window you want to use it on, and how it will
drape by gathering or pleating the sample. Too heavy or
too light will affect how it drapes. R