Windows on the World

Last weekend I started a dining room redesign project. A love of diversity and global perspectives makes me choose certain elements for a design based on those qualities. The entire design is urban/country with a touch of swedish simplicity. Here's how it is coming together...

Swedish Design Elements

Swedish design is often very sparse and clean. Swedish window treatment designs are good for quick projects. So inspired, I decided on an unlined panel designed to be fixed in place on the window and hung on a tension rod inside the window. This was the quick and simple pattern that I had in mind when I went shopping for fabrics.

Urban / Country Elements

When shopping I was drawn to a very tactile burlap fabric. Yes, burlap. The lady at the fabric store looked at me sideways when I told her it was for a window. Despite the funny looks, I knew that burlap would be ideal for this window treatment project - it was just the unexpected, edgy urban quality I was seeking. And frankly I think people may be afraid of working with it because of the tendency to fray and maybe the cost stigma? I think though, that when you're designing multiple looks for each season, you should feel free to experiment. Nothing has to be permanent!

The color I chose was the natural burlap color:

Because of the open weave, burlap won't provide complete privacy unless you include a privacy liner which in this case was not important to the design. But if you want something that you won't see on the windows next door, give it a try as a valance cover or fixed panel. I don't recommend using raw burlap as a drape, but there are other fabrics which mimic certain qualities of the burlap with better draping qualities.

So, the next urban element is the black, amber, and crimson beaded trim for the hem. As you can imagine, the beading was actually more expensive than the fabric. It's urban because of the color, unexpected qualities, and subdued sparkle from the beaded trim + country for the use of the hard-working burlap fabric, hardware, leather, and twine.

Here's a detailed view -------------->

I also love that the burlap will make a great contrast to a more upscale fabric such as raw silk - which in this case is the next layer on the windows. The silk is a crimson color picking up on the color of the beaded trim.

The silk panels will be lined and fixed in place also - just providing that color pop against the earthy burlap color. I will hang the fabric panels in a non-traditional way too. I have narrowed the hardware down to two choices - grommets and hooks, or wrapping the top of the fabric with twine or leather cording and hanging on a hook or nail. I am growing tired of the traditional rod and clip, plus because this is a bay window with decorative trim in inconvenient places it calls for a bit more creativity.

I like the country rustic look of hooks and nails I found online at Rustic Hardware. The selection reminds me a lot of the Southwest style of furniture I fell in love with in Texas and Mexico. Love that look.

So there it is - How does your interior design reflect a global perspective?

Lise

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