The Hindu Business Line : Curtain call for the stylish home

Window dressing is part of the changing home fashions scene. And the options are mind boggling — from the cane blinds, the handloom drapes at the roadside stalls and the latest polyester eyelet curtains at the premier stores.

The vogue these days for the well-heeled are the eyelet curtains where the steel or brass eyelets are punched into the fabric. These curtains were all the rage in the US, about six months ago, says Jacob Abraham M. of M.A. Jacobs's Carpets & Furnishing. Now the trend has caught on here too.

The fabric, popular in the upper end of the market, is mainly raw silk and, of late, embroidered raw silk is gaining popularity, he says. Eyelet curtains are mainly used with dual coloured fabric and look good in a room with minimalist furniture. The cost for the eyelet curtains would work out to anything between Rs 200 and Rs 300 per metre while the tailoring would cost another Rs 100 per metre.

Another popular trend is the use of jacquard for curtains. These are heavily embroidered and used in rooms where the furniture comprises mainly rosewood and mahogany pieces.

A practical choice for curtains would be polyester as it is easy to maintain and stays good looking even after washes, says Asha Diwan, an interior decorator. The cost for these curtains would range from Rs 150 to Rs 600 per metre. The best curtain material is sourced from India, Abraham adds.

In most offices, the choice has naturally been Venetian blinds, either vertical or horizontal. These are easy to clean and maintain.

Floor dressing

Talking about carpets, Abraham says that in India people are more partial to rugs, as many new houses are opting for the wooden finish, either in the form of parquet or laminate for floors.

Also available are the interlocking cotton dhurries, stonewash cotton dhurries, printed cotton dhurries, and cotton, jute and hemp woven or printed mats both in traditional and contemporary designs. Hand-woven mats of palm, korai grass, and sea grass in different sizes, designs and colours are also popular.

Some people, of course, swear by handlooms and khadi, which are available in a variety of colours and combinations. Each region has its distinct weaving craft and today this material is available either as ready-to-hang curtains or bed linen or as furnishing.

Ethnic elegance

Some of the popular weaves and prints are kalamkari, daboo, jaal (only for cushions), kangoori, ikkat and kantha.

Designers are using these traditional designs to lend an ethic look. These are usually theme-based works. Kalamkari, for instance, popularly depicts evolution through its tree and leaf based designs. Ikkat is famous for its geometrical designs and washed-out look. It lends an arty look even to houses which otherwise have no character, says an interior designer.

Those who are particular about tribal art can find solace in the daboo and jaal work from Rajasthan. Daboo generally has animal motifs on a dark background. Coffee brown, deep magenta and some hues of reds are popular backgrounds on which there is work in white or off white. Jaal or mirror work, on the other hand, involves intricate weaving of glass within many layers of cloth and is available in all bright colours.

For cheaper but equally pretty options there are the many hued handloom curtains, which are available even off street corners. These ready-to-hang curtains are cost effective and user friendly.

Cane blinds are also popular, with ethic trimmings, which can be matched with cushions and other furnishings in the house.

More Stories on : Interiors & Homes | Textiles

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
Ecology losing to corporates in a big way

Dim or bright... get it right

Showers of luxuriance

Art facts, etc.

Curtain call for the stylish home

Cooking up sleek kitchens

Sitting pretty

Yatra appoints Tribal DDB to develop travel domain

NTPC Foundation gesture to disabled

Lankans seek solace in religion and astrology

Sudoku

Gazing into the crystal ball of IMS