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Collection by Megan Hamaker

Curtain Call: 8 Unique and Beautiful Uses for Curtains in the Home

Everyone knows that window treatments can make or break a room but the windows are not the only place to use curtains in a home. Here, we take a look at some great examples of unique uses for curtains as well as a couple traditional uses that really do their job.

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To make the bedroom seem ethereal—and far larger than its 12-by-12 dimensions suggest—Pratt designed a curtain that hangs on three sides, hiding closets to the left and right of the bed and providing privacy when extended in front of the sliding glass doors. The bedspread, in charcoal with undulating turquoise stitching (www.foldbedding.com), recalls the folds of the curtain; the overall effect is of a place for floating off to sleep.
To make the bedroom seem ethereal—and far larger than its 12-by-12 dimensions suggest—Pratt designed a curtain that hangs on three sides, hiding closets to the left and right of the bed and providing privacy when extended in front of the sliding glass doors. The bedspread, in charcoal with undulating turquoise stitching (www.foldbedding.com), recalls the folds of the curtain; the overall effect is of a place for floating off to sleep.
Checking email over coffee, Hughston places his laptop on the fold-down Formica table that Sanders designed. Jack Lenor Larsen's Cybelle fabric covers the wall on his right. Above the sofa hangs an Italian pendant lamp of mysterious origin; if you recognize it, please contact us.
Checking email over coffee, Hughston places his laptop on the fold-down Formica table that Sanders designed. Jack Lenor Larsen's Cybelle fabric covers the wall on his right. Above the sofa hangs an Italian pendant lamp of mysterious origin; if you recognize it, please contact us.
When residents want privacy (from the outside world or from other family members), sliding curtains, like this one dividing the office from the staircase, create temporary walls between rooms. "When you close the curtains, you can't see anything," says Wibowo. "It's more like Asian culture, where you don't want to show everything all at once. We want to be in control of what guests see."
When residents want privacy (from the outside world or from other family members), sliding curtains, like this one dividing the office from the staircase, create temporary walls between rooms. "When you close the curtains, you can't see anything," says Wibowo. "It's more like Asian culture, where you don't want to show everything all at once. We want to be in control of what guests see."
Seeing Double To cover up his shoe-storage shelves, Sherman bought bamboo bead curtains from the Callaloo Company emblazoned with an image of the Madonna. He separated out every other strand to create two curtains from one, resulting in twinned pixelated images. The resulting pattern is “like a Chuck Close that everyone can afford,” says Sherman.
Seeing Double To cover up his shoe-storage shelves, Sherman bought bamboo bead curtains from the Callaloo Company emblazoned with an image of the Madonna. He separated out every other strand to create two curtains from one, resulting in twinned pixelated images. The resulting pattern is “like a Chuck Close that everyone can afford,” says Sherman.
Weinfeld’s cinematic streak is also evident in the home’s interiors: he designed the entertainment center in the media room. The rug is from Clatt Carpete & Cia. Throughout the house, the Strozenbergs use floor-to-ceiling curtains for privacy.
Weinfeld’s cinematic streak is also evident in the home’s interiors: he designed the entertainment center in the media room. The rug is from Clatt Carpete & Cia. Throughout the house, the Strozenbergs use floor-to-ceiling curtains for privacy.
A palette of soothing hues creates a calm mood in the bedroom. The wallcoverings are from Innvironments, the bedcoverings are from Deborah Sharpe Linens, the curtains are Manuel Canovas and purchased from Cowan & Tout, and the candelabra is by John-Paul Philippe through the Cristina Grajales Gallery.
A palette of soothing hues creates a calm mood in the bedroom. The wallcoverings are from Innvironments, the bedcoverings are from Deborah Sharpe Linens, the curtains are Manuel Canovas and purchased from Cowan & Tout, and the candelabra is by John-Paul Philippe through the Cristina Grajales Gallery.
Two layers of aluminum woven-coil drapes hang outside the large, south-facing windows above the living area.
Two layers of aluminum woven-coil drapes hang outside the large, south-facing windows above the living area.