By Rosemary Sadez Friedmann
Scripps Howard News Service
Isn't it funny how what once was taboo is now often so commonly accepted? And while I might agree that some of what has been accepted should still be taboo, there are many instances in which acceptance has led to improvement.
To cover your windows with sheer fabric, for example, was once thought of as being in bad taste. Sheers were thought of as lingerie for windows; the morally-minded wouldn't even consider it. Lace? Same thing. Today, lightweight see-through curtains, be they sheer, lace, gauze or voiles, are used extensively.
A window can be decorative on its own, without any treatment whatsoever. It can be heavily covered with layer upon layer or fabric, or it can be simply dressed with the lightest of fabrics, just enough to add color, dimension or hominess to a room.
But since it's see-through materials we are discussing today, let's delve further into those choices.
Synthetics often are better than the real thing, such as synthetic lace rather than real cotton lace. Why? Well, curtains are the first barrier to dust and dirt coming in through any fenestration. If they are synthetic, they will launder better and also keep their color longer.
Look for fabrics that are heavy enough to hang gracefully, yet lightweight enough to pleat well. Let me contradict myself here a little regarding synthetics. Most fabrics that are 100 percent polyester will not hold pleats in a consistent manner, so ask a professional before you commit to buying anything.
Sheers are very versatile. We know they will do the basic pinch pleat dance quite well, but have you tried them artfully pirouetted around a pole across the top of the window? This treatment is simple to sew; all you need do is hem the top, bottom and sides. It might take a bit of fussing, fixing and folding to get it to look just right.
Once you've got it where you want it, be sure to secure the material onto the pole so that the first person, puppy or cat running near the drape doesn't pull slightly at a long corner and destroy your work.
When calculating the amount of material you will need for lace, sheers or nearly sheers, be sure to be generous. The fluffier, the better. Remember, these are lightweight materials and if they are miserly cut, they will be skimpily viewed.
With this in mind, go ahead, be a lightweight and let the sun shine through.
(Rosemary Sadez Friedmann, a member of the American Society of Interior Designers, is president of Rosemary Sadez Friedmann Inc. in Naples, FL. She is the author of a newly released book, Mystery of Color. It is available for $34.95, plus $4 for shipping and handling, from the publisher at L&M Publications, PMB 229, PO Box 413004, Naples, FL 34101-3005, or online from Amazon.com.)
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