22 Divine Draperies That Indulge and Delight

Yards of luscious fabrics, luxuriously swagged and layered, create drapes that gratify the senses

July 17, 2012
Comment28
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If you crave truly beautiful draperies, get some ideas from these eye-popping, luxurious examples fit for palaces and design icons like Coco Chanel. Oh, yes, these are all custom draperies — nary a tab-top panel from a big-box store in sight. As you go through these photos, notice how two common denominators set these designs apart:

1. Volume and yardage. Even if you use purely decorative panels, which you'll never pull closed, you'll need a minimum width of 1 1/2 times the standard panel on each side of the window to keep the look from feeling scrawny. Notice that there is a lot of fabric in each of these. Instead of going with the minimum amount of fabric, custom draperies have enough width to create a feeling of luxury and opulence. They tend to go floor to ceiling. And they fit the window perfectly. Nothing here is dangling 5 inches above the floor.

2. Beautiful fabric. You will see silk, velvet and linen. Polyester, not so much. Beautiful fabrics have a higher price tag, but they are worth it. They feel better, hang better and elevate your entire space.
Contemporary Living Room by Glenn Gissler Design
Glenn Gissler Design
Countless yards of luscious peachy-gold fabric swept dramatically to the side create a luxurious statement. This fabric has such a lovely drape. Look how compactly it all folds together below the tieback.
Traditional Dining Room by Rick Hoge
Rick Hoge
Drapes aren't just for windows. These opulent embroidered drapes frame a grand entrance. I love how the sheer is fanned out on the other side of the entrance. My friends who know my contemporary and minimalist tendencies would be surprised to know that I secretly covet luscious draperies that puddle out on the floor like this.

Unfortunately, I have cats who would curl up on the bottom of these, thinking I had at last provided them with a suitably glamorous spot to sleep.
Traditional Living Room by Ownby Design
Ownby Design
This is one of my all-time-favorite inspiration photos for drapes. I love the pattern in the sheer fabric and the way the evening light comes through. They cover part of the window, yet they seem to add to the view rather than cover it. These are a great style solution for those giant arched windows that have no room on either side for draperies to be pulled back away from the glass.
Eclectic Living Room by duroque
duroque
I shudder to think how many yards of fabric it took to create this triple-layered window treatment. But it was worth every inch. Soft pink in the center is overlaid with dusky violet to either side and then the final, top layer is deep, muted plum. Simply stunning.
Traditional Home Theater by Cravotta Interiors
Cravotta Interiors
Velvet is a richly textured fabric that shimmers in low light. If you are looking for a sexy and romantic fabric for bedroom drapery, you might want to think about velvet.
Traditional Living Room by RLH Studio
RLH Studio
If Coco Chanel had draperies, I bet they looked something like this. The button at the top of each pleat is a subtle and sophisticated touch. Do you like the break in the fabric at the bottom? It adds just a little bit of visual movement and is best for a drape that will remain stationary so you don't have to arrange it when panels are opened and closed.
Mediterranean Living Room by Interiors by Myriam, LLC
Interiors by Myriam, LLC
Hardware is like jewelry for drapes. These diamond-shaped holders (click photo to see full view) are showstoppers above this lush drapery panel.
Mediterranean Dining Room utopia projects
This heavy double set of drapes is fit for a palace. Notice how beautifully scaled the tiebacks and tassels are to the volume of the drapes. Those fabrics are to die for. I just want to touch them.
Contemporary Bedroom by Chloe Warner
Chloe Warner
Drapes don't have to be ornate and heavy to be sensational. These minimalist, ripple-fold drapes are just right for the feeling of floating above the city. Though they are minimalist in style, there is still a lot of volume in the amount of yardage, and they go floor to ceiling. I love the silver detail at the hem.
Traditional Living Room by Debbie Evans Interior Design
Debbie Evans Interior Design
This unique, asymmetrical drapery arrangement is a great solution for a window that follows a vaulted ceiling shape. The addition of the white helps create definition on the line of drape.
Traditional Living Room by Dawn Sercia Designs
Dawn Sercia Designs
These draperies, along with this ottoman, make me think of a wedding cake — very light and frothy in feel. Instead of using tiebacks to swag drapes to the side, the designer used them to add volume by lifting the drapes partway down. Are you designing a bridal showroom? Take notes!
Traditional Living Room utopia projects
You don't have to match your drapes in the same room, but they should coordinate. In other photos of this room, there is another window to the right that matches the one on the left. In such an enormous room, I think different window treatments are more interesting than having three in a row exactly the same. The fabrics and triple layering are just stunning.
Traditional Family Room by Reaume Construction & Design
Reaume Construction & Design
Metallic fabrics always add glamour. These silk draperies in metallic gold are so Hollywood! The sheers have been coordinated with a touch of gold trim on the edge.
Traditional Dining Room by Studio William Hefner
Studio William Hefner
After some of the ornate draperies in previous photos, these light drapes are like a breath of fresh air. Sheer fabric on the top portion allows light to stream in even if you choose to close the panels for more privacy.
Eclectic Bedroom by User
User
Even teenagers have dream drapes. This eye-popping color is so much fun and is perfectly matched to the art and the ceiling treatment.
Traditional Bedroom by Van H. Robinson
Van H. Robinson
This is another great example of metallic fabric for drapes. The volume and length combine to give this bedroom a soft, romantic feel.
Victorian Bedroom by Cravotta Interiors
Cravotta Interiors
Aren't these drapes perfect for being next to this exquisite secretary desk? The ripples in the drapery and the gold fabric echo the desk's shapes and colors.
Beach Style by Liz Williams Interiors
Liz Williams Interiors
Sometimes just the smallest thing, like this delicate trim on the edge, creates that look that says "custom."
Mediterranean Living Room by Elad Gonen
Elad Gonen
Lightweight drapes over sheers keep this window treatment feeling airy in a room with a light, neutral palette.
Traditional Hall by Jennifer Bevan Interiors
Jennifer Bevan Interiors
In this grand rotunda (how often do you get to use the word "rotunda"?) the drapery panels on the lower level spread their wings like angels or butterflies. They add much-needed color and warmth to the white space.
Traditional Powder Room by Twist Interior Design
Twist Interior Design
These drapes may not be huge, but check out the sensuous, asymmetrical swag of the sheer and the drapery. Silver metallic gives shine, and the sheer underneath has a little silver too. Beautiful.
Traditional Living Room by PHX Architecture
PHX Architecture
These bright green drapes in this sunny sitting room make me think of spring. They are cheerful, and they hold their own next to fabulous leaded-glass windows.
Comment28
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Christy Bishop Interior Design
I always encourage clients to allow their curtains to break, just an inch or so, at the floor. It adds a little body and luxury to the drape, without being so extravagant and over the top. Making them puddle above floor level, on a bench? Mmmmmm.....dont' see it.
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veshea
Hi I have custom oak plantation shudders w grass cloth wallpaper. Do you think side panels will overwhelm the shudders? The shudders are about 5 feet wide and five feet tall. We r considering floor to ceiling window treatments. What are your thoughts and do you recommend a tie back and what kind of tailoring at the top? Loose mounted rings on a rod or more tailored.? Thank you very much! A timely article for me. Very confused about detracting from the plantation shudders. Thank you!!!
   
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Beatrice Briggs
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