Period Curtains - volume 2

[Nigel Watts]

Now for the main bedroom which currently looks like this:

Thinking of curtains in this or similar, with shaped pleated valance and bias bond or frilly or fringe. Ideally the red/pink should tie in with the carpet.

Walls in same/similar blue as at present

Coronet over the bed with drapes in same fabric as curtain but with plan fabric against the wall. This element is likely to be challenging as my wife thinks they are ridiculous and a dust trap.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

The carpet design is quite strong so there could possibly possibly be a bit too much curtain pattern for a bedroom-- depends on the size of your room. In general, plain or almost plain curtains are better with a patterned rug or vice versa. Nothing wrong with drapes, just run the hoover brush attachment over them from time to time. A good quality fabric does not trap much dust anyway.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Completely agree Joss. It's hard to see how the rug would work with patterns.

Nigel, if I had your beautiful bedroom to decorate, I'd want degournay to supply the hand-painted wallpapers or silks in those vivid colours you like- http://www.degournay.com/product.aspx?c=26&i=3 I just think Chinoiserie would look amazing in there and be in keeping with the more exotic elements of your house.

You could do panels of fabric round the room, using plaster mouldings: http://www.stevensons-of-norwich.co.uk/products/type/panel-mouldings

Coincidentally, I'm doing the pre-war loo in cobalt and raspberry. I'm using "Manchu" by Zoffany: http://www.zoffany.com/pages/products/products_wallpapers-detail/fleurs-rococo-wallpapers/2#

and curtains in plain raspberry silk.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Strnge train of thought, from Nigel's boudoir to your pre-war loo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[JoceAndChris]

Oh dear, no possible connection, I do assure him!

Nigel is lucky to have such a great canvas for his creativity - that room is really wonderful with its giant windows and fireplace.

 

[Nigel Watts]

Some great ideas as ever. Thanks Joce and Joss.

The carpet was an impulse purchase when I happened upon a carpet sale in a Welsh village hall. I had no samples or dimensions with me and I had intended it to go in my living room. It proved to be too big so I put it in the bedroom instead and ever since I have regarded it as a problem.

Now that I am thinking red and blue I am beginning to think that the carpet could be a starting point. It has red, pink, two shades of blue, green, gold, cream - more than enough colours to work with.

I am thinking of enhancing the height of the windows by taking the pelmets/valances as high as I can and having them less wide than the current poles.

In parallel I am thinking of the adjacent future bathroom. Our architect had seen this as a white painted shell (albeit with retained period detail) in which was plonked a highly minimal and modernistic set of fittings. I like the idea of slick modern fittings, but am rethinking the white painted shell concept. John Fowler did a number of bathrooms in which the same patterned fabric used for curtains and bed hangings in the bedroom was used as wallcovering in the bathroom, and the plain colour of the bedroom walls used as uphostery/curtains in the bathroom. Could I combine 21st C minimal with traditional chintz? I feel it could work, but it could just as well be a disaster.

 

[Moo]

my wife thinks they are ridiculous and a dust trap.

It's not so much the thought of dust that puts me off, as the fact that all those dark folds would provide a real des res for spiders.

 

[JoceAndChris]

Nigel has a cleaner! And are there any spiders in Islington? :?

I like the idea of the coronet - I wanted one too, but Chris said no.

The rug - red's dominant, don't you think? So that pinky raspberry alongside it might be a bit of a clash. Actually I think the colours of the room go very well together just as they are, it's a nice blend. But I know you want a change...

Could I combine 21st C minimal with traditional chintz?

You could certainly combine 21st c minimal with the Designers' Guild fabrics, as they have on their website. I'm not sure about combining it with heavy, very traditional fabrics such as those by Watts of Westminster - it may or may not work.

I like John Fowler's idea. Whatever you do, as you did before, collect your ideas together on a mood board and see what happens. It's amazing how that alters the individual sample, and often makes you realise you need to simplify the whole scheme.

That's just happened with my Print Room, I spent ages cutting really fancy borders, but once they were up, they shouted out too much alongside other things shouting out. Some parts of the design need to be very simple, no matter how much we like ornate and complex patterns!

Just my views - I don't expect everyone to agree with me at all.

 

[jocelyn plummer]

Less is more they say!

 

[Nigel Watts]

Spent some time in the lunch hour yesterday in Liberty's looking at fabrics. The Designer's Guild one has a very large pattern and the pink may clash as you rightly point out. Zoffany had something along the same lines but with a smaller pattern. Sample is on order. Price is equally ruinous (c £135 per metre) but is made mainly of viscose.

 

[Moo]

A bit of lateral thinking:

Sell the carpet.

 

[JoceAndChris]

I agree. It will stop you from doing what you want.