DESIGN FEATURE OF THE MOMENT
DRAPES AREN’T JUST FOR WINDOWS: THEY CAN TRANSFORM THE FEEL OF YOUR SPACE AND EVEN ALTER THE FLOW OF FLOOR PLANS
Curtains don’t need to be confined to windows. In a pinch – or shall we say cinch – statement curtains and drapes can stand in for heftier renovations like partition walls, sliding panels, hinged doors and more. And many designers lean into their flexible architectural qualities, softening the lines of rigid contemporar y layouts while adding a gentle dose of drama. ‘I think that embracing the idea that a “wall” can be made out of something soft, like a curtain, seems very of the moment – this notion that space can be defined with materials that are impermanent,’ says Adam Charlap Hyman, principal at New York’s Charlap Hyman &Herrero.
Modern track systems can create soft, flowing curved ‘walls’ and straight ones alike. They are also simply installed and manipulated without an architectural degree, making this one of the easier DIY room dividers for your home. Designers using curtains beyond the window frame can expertly change the f low and form of layouts, particularly in open-plan living spaces in need of articulated zones. ‘Utilising curtains as space dividers contributes to a sof tened ambience and introduces an element of warmth within the environment,’ says Joyce Li of Design Pair.
Don’t underestimate the decorative potential of this idea. ‘The extensive range of fabric colours and textures further enhances the versatility of this design choice,’ says Joyce. Certainly, using a statement fabric as a strong yet not-entirelystructural element creates an entirely softer feeling compared to a permanent wall – and along with it, you can select from a range of decorative variations (from patterns to colours and pleat options) that add a element of style at the same time.
1 CUT CORNERS
The curtains in this Hamptons home smooth over an awkward corner while adding a statement feature thanks to a bespoke wooden cornice that cleverly edits the room’s architecture. ‘Curtains can act as a cinematic backdrop for a space, but of course they can also close off smaller areas or hide select elements to increase a sleek sense of organisation,’ says NY-based Timothy Godbold. ‘Curtains specifically are elegant; they aren’t fixed or static but move and follow long gestural lines.’
PROJECT BY Timothy Godbold
2 BLURRED LINES
Using a flexible curtain partition helps blur the lines in this dual-purpose living space. The gentle transition allows a spacious niche to feel just as much like a sitting area by day, as it does a guest room by night. For Charlap Hyman & Herrero, a monochromatic colour scheme, in soft blue, was key to uniting the zones. ‘The idea was that
