By Cal Stewart
As an owner of Brax, one question I’ve been asked numerous times over the years is “What blinds do you (or would you) have in your own home?”.
Having worked in the industry for a long time, I’ve seen many trends that have come and gone. I’ve always been attuned to the world of interior design, and consequently I have always embraced changing styles, colours and fabrications for blinds in my own homes. There’s nothing however that can beat a classic, well-considered window treatment combination.
My own ideal ‘perfect combo’ would have to be a roller blind teamed with a beautiful, flowing linen style sheer curtain. This offers privacy while still allowing light to filter gently into the room. Sheer curtains have the ability to soften an interior, adding a more feminine touch to the space without being frilly or too girlish. With the huge range of fabrics available this look can be casual and relaxed or suited to a more luxurious, formal interior space. The possibilities are almost endless.
Behind this flowing sheer curtain quietly sits a roller blind, obscured from view but at the ready for when its services are required. It is ideal for blocking out the light for sleeping or providing night time privacy when it’s time for the lights to go on indoors.
Ultimately for me, this blind would be fully automated, so I could simply operate it at the touch of a button or via my iPhone when needed.
Roller Blinds
One of the most versatile and functional window treatments in today’s market is the humble roller blind, or holland blind as they were previously known. Available as a simple mechanical, hand operated blind or with a range of automation options that make operation extremely easy, these blinds have been around forever, but have seen a return to style in the past few years.
Fabric choices are now extensive, with different light filtering capabilities to total blockout, along with different textured finishes or plain options.
If teaming a roller blind up with a sheer curtain, I usually tend to stick with the simplicity of plain fabrics, which are often more affordable too, leaving more in the budget for the sheer curtains, which really star in this show.
Sheer Fabrics
I’m always drawn to natural fibres. I love the look and feel of linen, and I have always insisted on wool carpet despite being told it wouldn’t last or wear as long as nylon.
When it comes to choosing fabrics for sheer curtains, the same rationale applies – natural fibres such as silks, cottons and pure linens are less stable than man made fibres. This means that they don’t hold up to the UV and sunlight quite as well, and will also often shrink or drop due to any moisture in the air.
That’s where my choice would be to go for a blend – many of the ‘linen’ fabrics today have been woven with a polyester that has a stabilising effect on the fabric, which ultimately means it will last longer but still gives that natural slub textured look of pure linen.
How They Hang
How a sheer curtain is hung will also impact on its appearance and its performance. Going all the way from the floor to ceiling will give a
dramatic look to a space and may help make the room appear larger, but it may not always be the best option.
There’s a range of options for the rods or tracks that a sheer curtain will hang from, but make sure it’s practical as well as pretty.
There’s nothing worse than seeing a curtain rod hanging off the wall because it was never strong enough to take the weight of the curtains or has come unstuck due to the effort required to drag them open or closed.
Always ensure that there is something for the track or rod to fix to, as fitting directly into plaster can potentially damage the wall, or even be
hazardous to inhabitants.
This is really where expert advice and professional installation will make a huge difference.
For me, the winner is definitely sheer curtains and roller blinds – a perfect, classic combination that will always be in style.
