Decorating the window space is an important component in interior design. Some do everything the old-fashioned way, others come up with some unimaginable combinations, but the French awning curtain is a proven option.
Content
- French awning curtain with description of window design options
- Instructions for sewing a curtain "marquise"
- The best options for ready-made curtains French awning in the interior with description and photo
- VIDEO: Luxurious French curtains made by yourself.
- 50 options for French curtains in modern interiors:
French awning curtain with description of window design options
The right choice of window textiles is half the battle, often the sewing and design itself makes the room more expressive. The style with uniform draperies is called "curtains in the style of Louis" or French curtains "marquise".
Proven options when the room immediately receives a new design rethinking:
- concert halls;
- classrooms;
- Baroque living rooms;
- palace style bedrooms;
- classic style meeting rooms;
- furniture stores specializing in expensive Italian furniture sets in historical style.
Under Louis XIV, certain aesthetic ideals emerged: lush crinolines on women's dresses, high hairstyles, powdered faces with beauty spots, and the flashy luxury of palace interiors.
Medieval France was tired of mourning and epidemics that wiped out 2/3 of the population. In the 18th century, a new approach to life took root, giving rise to a craving for luxury and sophistication. This is what distinguishes "marquises", although there is no exact description in dictionaries and history books, and the primacy of the invention is disputed.
Today, expensive translucent fabrics for window drapery are available to everyone, the store has lifting devices and fittings. All that remains is to choose the modification:
- with a lifting mechanism, controlled remotely on the cornice with an electric drive;
- standard non-sliding version (if necessary, the decorative panel can be pulled back manually).
The design with many soft folds, which has stood the test of time, is still being perfected. The method of draping in rows has been in demand for 2 or 3 centuries, periodically coming back into fashion.
It will cost twice as much to order a complicated method of sewing from a master, but it will be equipped with lifting accessories. Such equipment will help to easily change the length of the curtain. The styles of draped tulle are variable if they are equipped with heavy night curtains and decorative details made of velvet, tapestry and other heavy fabrics.
Such fabrics emphasize the beauty of the interior without weighing it down. On the contrary, one of the properties of an elegant "awning" is to create the impression of high ceilings, cleanliness, airiness and spaciousness.
Instructions for sewing a curtain "marquise"
Looking through catalogues where ready-made French curtains are presented, it is obvious that single and multi-layer options are possible.
For "French women" thin fabrics such as voile are suitable. They should be soft (for drapery) and practical - curtains are often washed, even if they have a complex design.
Stiffer and less expensive fabrics are suitable for static curtains without a lifting mechanism.
For a soft transparent veil, which is sewn for the bedroom in addition to smooth night curtains, a small step will do. It is marked with tracks of 35-50 cm.
Calculation of fabric for sewing curtains
The folds are formed only in the finished form, when the tracks are collected in a drawstring with an equal step and hung on the cornice. They should be shifted and pulled evenly. In the raised state, dense folds are formed from below.
Important information! When selecting fabric, the width of the roll must match the format of the French curtain. The width of the finished fabric without assembly is multiplied by a factor of 1.5 - 2. Plus allowances for seams and hemming under the tape for fastening to the cornice, this is another 7-8 cm.
The width of the tulle rolls is also taken into account; you have to take 2-3 panels with a reserve, taking into account the adjustment to the width of the draped tracks.
Sometimes thick curtains on the sides with grabs perform a purely decorative role, completing the window composition.
It is not worth connecting a very large wall with 2-3 windows with a common French curtain, it is inconvenient to use, especially when you need to ventilate the room.
Features of sewing technology
Before sewing, it is recommended to shrink the fabric by heat treatment, eliminating any possible difference after washing. The fabric takes up a lot of space during production, so it is laid out on a large bed or a clean floor.
After all the calculations have been made, chalk is used to mark the panels to clarify once again before cutting. When it is necessary to combine several panels of soft translucent veil, it is important to stitch them correctly so that the seams are not visible under the tightening tape for drapery.
Fabrics that are too light do not sag well, the folds and the tightening tape (it is what forms the folds) can stick out. To balance it, it is recommended to sew weights along the bottom edge. They will direct the rows of the "awning" strictly downwards.
Helpful advice! Ideal French curtains, as in the photo, are stitched in rows and gathered with a special tape, which is stitched in strictly vertical tracks. All the fittings can be purchased today in specialized stores and from catalogs. This is the secret of uniform assembly of the "ideal awning".
After cutting and sewing a single piece of fabric, the side seams are carefully processed, where the draping tape is also sewn in. The lower and upper edges are aligned - after stitching, there may be some imperfections.
We put the length allowance along the upper and lower edges for the hem. We fold more at the top to sew the tape for the curtain rod. Under it we make small creases or soft folds with an equal step, this will help to narrow the curtain evenly.
The bottom edge must be folded twice and hemmed on the machine, an allowance of 2-3 cm is enough, then the tape is sewn in rows. If there is no special fittings, use a narrow tape, which will help to evenly tighten the sagging fabric.
When sewing, use markings with special needles with a round ball. When everything is marked, you can sew on the drapery fittings (ribbon) from the back side. On the sides, the tape is sewn closer to the edges, but sometimes it is left without cutting if the edges are hidden by a layer of curtains.
We decorate the top with a fastening tape, which will help to evenly gather the "Frenchwoman" on the cornice. After hanging, the curtain is evenly pulled together with cords or special fittings and fixed.
The scallops are additionally straightened by hand. For some fabrics it will be better to go over the seams with a steam iron and leave it to hang when finished, perhaps even after this you will need weights along the bottom edge.
Fixing with a lifting mechanism for French curtains
A fixed "awning" is used on windows that are tightly closed, and the tulle lets in enough light. It can be attached with a Velcro or Velcro tape under the lambrequin.
Important! An excellent option is a ceiling cornice with an electric drive. If the curtain is equipped with a special lift with rings at equal intervals, it is very convenient to lift it using a remote control.
This equipment is recommended for those who are used to opening the transom on the bedroom window in the morning. How to fix this lifting equipment to the finished curtain should be described in detail in the instructions. It can be cast, depending on the modification, so there is no point in describing it in the article.
The methods of controlling the lift for awnings are a chain on the side (usually on the right) or from a remote control, if there is a special cornice with an electric drive.
Drawings and diagrams for sewing curtains with your own hands
With explanations, a diagram or a video master class, it is not so difficult to sew aristocratic and slightly pompous curtains. However, you should not take on the job without basic sewing skills. The overall impression largely depends on skill and accuracy.
In the Soviet era, the attitude towards luxurious curtains was ambiguous; they were sewn only for concert halls, diplomatic residences and recreation areas of cultural palaces. Today, all the secrets of hand-sewing are freely available. You can sew tassels under the curves at the bottom or leave them wavy.
The finished curtain can be secured under a false cornice and hidden behind a wide decorative strip, firmly nailed to the walls and ceiling.
The best options for ready-made curtains French awning in the interior with description and photo
The living spaces are distinguished by their functionality and their unique atmosphere, which is formed by the overall design. The decoration of window openings with "awnings" is decorated in different ways, the length and width of the festoons vary.
- The most appropriate "French" sewing of tulle is in a romantic matrimonial bedroom with beautiful furniture, where you feel like a king or queen. The uniform rhythm of the folds gives peace and tranquility, it gives self-confidence and helps to tune in to an intimate wave.
- The living room of a large house or a small hall in an apartment will be unusually transformed by French window decor. Here, guests will be able to appreciate the owners' passion for aesthetics. Multi-layered variations are appropriate here - lambrequins and decorative details of different lengths. Thick curtains on the sides are not needed unless dictated by the design concept. Antique furniture or a grand piano always win against the background of densely gathered translucent curtains.
- A modern dining room combined with a kitchen and living room in a studio apartment (another case) also needs beautiful window decoration. In this case, it is recommended to sew curtains from soft synthetic fabrics that are easy to wash and do not need to be ironed. In places where everyone gathers together at a large table or receives guests, you can allow a little more luxury in the form of elegant folds falling from the ceiling to the floor.
- In small one-room premises with a balcony door or bay window, a practical lifting curtain on a round cornice is preferred. The door or transom will not catch complex fittings, while the complex sewing of the canvas will unusually decorate the only living room. It is recommended to place a desk under a laptop or a group of upholstered furniture near the window. The color of the curtains in the tone of the sofa upholstery looks impressive.
- French curtains are not often seen in a child's room, but they are the best decoration for a little princess's bedroom.
- In a classic office, French curtains are also quite appropriate, especially if it is furnished with leather upholstered furniture in the Chesterfield style. Such a tandem will emphasize the status of their owner and add formality to the negotiation process.
- On a glazed warm loggia, a spectacular French veil with wave festoons will give a feeling of a lived-in space. Again, it is better to sew only from inexpensive practical material, since the "awning" from the balcony will have to be washed at the end of each warm season due to settling dust.
As we can see, for those who have long dreamed of luxurious window decor, a French marquise will do - the curtain will decorate even a room in the spirit of minimalism without decor. The tendency to return to curtains in historical style is obvious. This tailoring is considered the most elegant, and only it is able to level all proportions and distract attention from minor flaws in the interior design.
VIDEO: Luxurious French curtains made by yourself.
50 options for French curtains in modern interiors:
