Types of curtains
There are main types of French curtains.
Lifting
The most common type. The canvases rise to the top, forming waves and lush voluminous folds.
Fixed
They close the window constantly, are in a static position, do not move to the side and do not rise up.
Curtain sizes
French curtains are divided into two types of sizes.
Long
A classic and quite popular design option. They will be an excellent solution for a spacious room. Beautifully draped fabrics add special softness and sophistication to the space.
The photo shows a living room and long French curtains on the windows.
Short
They choose based on the design features of the room, for example, when there is a sofa near the window, the window sill turns into a tabletop, or the room itself is simply too small. It is in these cases that elegant and comfortable short models are used.
The main types of French curtains
French products, presented in several types, allow you to choose curtains for most interiors.
Mechanical "awning"
Before sewing French curtains, you should determine whether the window will be closed or whether the curtain will be opened often. In the second case, you need to install a lifting mechanism. Rings are built into the tape, through which a cord is threaded, making the panels movable.
Static curtain
Curtains that completely cover the window are made of translucent fabrics (tulle, organza, veil), which allow the sun's rays to pass through well and do not reduce the illumination of the room. A special feature of this option is the absence of a lifting mechanism.
Lifting
Lifting “awnings” have a special mechanism that regulates the rise and allows you to control the length of the curtain. In this case, you need to choose an appropriate cornice that will sound in unison with the curtains and not go out of context of the interior.
Fixed
These curtains constantly cover the window. They can neither be raised nor lowered, nor can they be moved to the right or left. On such “awnings” the festoons are fixed.
Long
These majestic, luxurious curtains add chic to your interior. Floor-length “French women” are quite popular. They look expensive and graceful.
Short
The length of the product can only cover window openings. Such curtains are chosen when there is a sofa by the window or the window sill turns into a tabletop. Shortened “awnings” that reach the window sill are the best option for the kitchen.
Materials
Awnings are made from well-draped materials in order to fully reveal their aesthetic capabilities.
Linen
Linen curtains look great, are pleasant to the touch, easily withstand numerous washes and do not lose their original presentable appearance for a long time.
Velvet
A material with a unique depth of color. It is covered with dense pile, which has an elegant play of chiaroscuro.
Veil
It will add tenderness and airiness to any room and will become a magnificent window decoration. The veil looks great either on its own or in combination with thicker or lighter fabrics.
Silk
Shiny durable and soft. It has the ability to be painted in various shades. Silk awnings shimmer very beautifully in the light.
Organza
Products made from organza will make the interior light and sophisticated, highlight any style and charm with its elegance.
Satin fabric
Very dense, beautifully draping fabric with a flawlessly smooth surface. Satin awnings give a radiant shine that occurs due to the reflection of light.
Photos in the interior of the rooms
This type of curtain will be the secret of real attractiveness.
French curtains in the kitchen
Both short curtains up to the window sill and long options will look appropriate here. Awnings, with their lush and luxurious folds, will perfectly complement any kitchen interior and add charm, wealth and pomp to it.
The photo shows short French curtains in the kitchen interior.
Children's
Awnings will become an original, characteristic decoration and set the tone for the entire room. However, from a practicality point of view, French curtains are not the best option for decorating a children's room, since due to the large number of folds they collect a lot of dust.
Living room or hall
They bring a touch of romance and sophistication to this room. Today, French curtains decorate both elaborate and simple living room interiors.
Bedroom
Such curtains will add chic, prestige and solidity to the bedroom. With their lyrical and delicate design, they create a special atmosphere and emphasize good taste.
The photo shows the interior of the bedroom and the window opening with French curtains.
Balcony
French curtains will be an excellent decor for large balconies and loggias. They will fill the space with warmth and comfort, and turn the room into a romantic nest for a pleasant pastime.
Cabinet
It is better to use curtains without accessories, made of transparent fabrics in calm, classic colors.
On the stairs
Awnings are perfect for decorating a tall window, and it doesn’t matter what material they are made of. Both curtains made of heavy satin and airy veil will look great. Such products will give the window opening even more chic and shine.
Installation options for French windows
When thinking about interior design with the installation of a French window, you can use different methods of installing and finishing it. At the same time, owners of private houses have practically no restrictions, but owners of apartments in a multi-storey building are limited in installation options.
French windows in the apartment
This option is only possible for owners of new buildings, which initially provided for the possibility of installing French windows. And the owner independently decides whether to give preference to French glazing or use traditional glazing, laying part of the wall with aerated concrete;
French window to the balcony (loggia)
One of the ways to visually expand the space of a living room. However, it should be remembered that installing a French window instead of a balcony block entails a change in the geometry of the doorway, and as a result, a transformation of the load-bearing wall structure, which requires approval from the permitting authorities. And it is not always possible to obtain permission. Unauthorized introduction of changes with subsequent legalization is fraught with fines;
French window in Khrushchev
They can be installed if the degree of deterioration of the structure allows and it is possible to make changes to the geometry of the openings. Considering the period of construction of the Khrushchev buildings, one must also take into account the attractiveness of the surrounding landscape, as well as the likelihood of constructing new buildings. So as not to hide the picture behind the window with massive curtains;
French windows in a private house
They give much more room for imagination. In country houses, such windows can occupy a very large area; sometimes two adjacent walls are subject to glazing. As a rule, such windows overlook a terrace, patio or garden, revealing the surrounding landscape to the residents of the house and allowing the room to continue by visually merging it with the environment;
French window in the kitchen
Allows you to enjoy the beautiful view outside your window more often. Since it is in the kitchen that users spend a significant part of their time, without being distracted by equipment.
Examples of design in various styles
Awnings with their exclusivity will add a picturesque image to the interior of a certain style.
Classic
French curtains are the embodiment of classics. Graceful flowing accordion draperies will fit perfectly into the interior in this style and add celebration, style, sophistication, elegance and splendor to it.
The photo shows a classic-style bathroom with French curtains on the window.
Provence
The elegant design of French curtains goes perfectly with the simple and laconic interior of Provence.
The photo shows white awning curtains in a Provence style living room.
Modern
Awnings will especially emphasize the freedom of style, create real comfort and add soft diffused lighting to the entire room.
The photo shows a modern-style dining room and a window opening with French curtains.
Baroque
To decorate this solemn and pompous style, long French curtains are suitable. They are especially in harmony and are associated with the luxury and elegance of palaces.
Material, types, features
French curtains are called “awnings”. Even a person far from design art will understand that it is they who decorate the window in the room: awnings are not a straight canvas, they are a cascading curtain with many assemblies (festoons). It will not be possible to open these curtains in different directions - they have a lifting design, like blinds. The curtain is divided into equal-width vertical sections, each with arched folds along its entire height.
Long awning with many scallops Source legkovmeste.ru
The peculiarity of French curtains is that they can be ordered in any length and width, for example: along the contour of the window and up to the window sill, or wider than the window opening and length to the floor. Based on the parameters of the curtain, they choose what type of “mobility” it will be.
- Stationary. The awning does not “expose” the window by rising or moving to the side. It hangs over a canvas made of light transparent fabric. Dense and heavy structures will make the interior too heavy, which is unsuitable for living space. A stationary curtain is always complemented with thick, plain curtains.
Stationary curtain in the office Source static.tildacdn.com
- Lifting French curtains vaguely resemble blinds in their design. Like them, the awning rises upward, but at the same time it is able to be fixed at any level: opening the window completely or only part of it. When fully raised, the awning looks like a massive lambrequin. The material of the lifting curtain can be anything: dense or light, transparent. The presence of curtains is not necessary.
Lifting curtains Source berkem.ru
Fabrics for sewing
To create such an unusual type of French curtains, you will need more fabric than regular “linen” ones require. This is due to the massive scallops.
Sewing awnings is an expensive pleasure, since in addition to a large amount of material, its cost must be considerable. A curtain made of cheap fabric will look cheap, and the scallops will lie unevenly, puffing up in different directions.
To make the product smooth, with smooth frills and look expensive, the following is used for sewing:
- fine silk;
- tulle;
- organza;
- veil;
- chiffon;
- batiste;
- moire.
Awnings made from the presented fabrics will be light and will not weigh down the interior. They will fit even into the interior of a small room.
Light organza for curtains Source static-eu.insales.ru
It is possible to use draping dense fabrics:
- velvet;
- velours;
- curtain fabric.
French curtains made of these materials will visually reduce the space of the room and make it heavier. It would be more appropriate to use them for windows in large rooms with interiors in a classic style.
Velor for French curtains Source static-eu.insales.ru
You can sew French curtains from just one type of fabric, or you can harmonize several. For example, an elegant and rich tandem will make a veil with organza. We combine the last type of fabric with satin and natural linen.
Do not forget about the decorative elements appropriate for the awning. Volumetric tiebacks, glass beads, beads on a string - all this will dilute plain curtains.
Color palette
French curtains have a fairly rich range of colors.
White
It is a symbol of purity, harmony, peace and inner peace. A window decorated with white curtains will create a feeling of airiness and softness and give the room a special lightness, weightlessness and tenderness.
Red
A bright and emotional color associated with energy and strength. French red curtains will simply be impossible not to notice in the interior. They will attract attention and become a great accent in the room.
Beige
Curtains of this color are suitable for decorating any room. The light passing through the beige curtains warms up, making the room cozier and more pleasant.
The photo shows beige curtains in the kitchen interior.
Pink
A gentle shade of dawn, freshness, charm, romance and love. Pink awnings will be a rather original solution and will add charisma to the interior.
Violet
Sensual, mysterious and deep color. The presence of purple decor on the windows in the room stimulates inspiration and creative thinking.
The photo shows purple French curtains in the kitchen interior.
Green
Creates a fresh atmosphere in the room. A wide selection of shades makes it possible to choose a product for any style and type of room.
Pros and cons of French windows
As you can see, there is plenty to choose from. Such a variety of types and types of French windows is due to their advantages and demand in the market.
Advantages of French windows:
- panoramic view;
- presentable and unusual appearance;
- visual expansion of the room space;
- maximum natural light (insolation). Installing a French window allows you to reduce the cost of electric lighting;
- good thermal insulation properties;
- excellent sound insulation (depending on the type of profile and material for its manufacture, the number of glasses in the double-glazed window and their type);
- decoration of the facade of the house.
Disadvantages of French windows:
- high price;
- need for air conditioning in summer. During the day, the temperature in the room rises significantly due to the fact that double-glazed windows transmit up to 95% of the sun's rays;
- the difficulty of caring for fixed glass, which is especially important for residents of high-rise buildings. A French balcony window of a fixed structure can only be washed with the assistance of industrial climbers;
- difficulties with installation in a residential building, especially a multi-storey one (redevelopment is required, which is difficult to perform when installing windows in load-bearing walls);
- specifics of installation of heating devices;
- psychological discomfort. Some people have difficulty staying “in the public eye” all the time. Panoramic French glazing is designed to blur the line between the room and the environment.
Awning curtain design
A well-chosen design will make the window in each room original and interesting.
Flowers and vegetation
They will give you comfort and joy. Colorful floral awnings will set the interior a special mood, make the atmosphere more playful and fill the room with energy.
Monograms
Such an ornament on curtains will easily satisfy even the most refined taste. After all, with its help you can turn an ordinary room into a real royal apartment.
French windows in the house
Panoramic windows - doors from ceiling to floor, occupying the entire wall area - can increasingly be found in our area. Such translucent structures suggest themselves if the windows overlook the garden, forest, river, terrace, winter garden, courtyard or patio. Look how good these windows look! Panoramic windows visually expand the space - they allow the picture outside the window to fit into the design of the room.
Manufacturers of windows and doors offer to equip French windows with modern fittings. Technology does not stand still here. Convenient and ergonomic fittings that allow the window sash to slide easily and smoothly, impact-resistant energy-resistant glass up to 6 mm , reinforced reinforcement and a wide window profile make such a window reliable and safe.
Special fittings have been developed for panoramic glazing. And this area is constantly evolving. Various manufacturers offer such accessories. The most recognizable market leaders are German Veka Slide, Siegenia Aubi and Schueco .
Combination with other types of curtains
Awnings can also be perfectly combined with other types of curtains.
Curtains
This combination will create a harmonious and stylish image in the room. To accompany the exquisite French curtains, both smooth and light curtains with a classic design and more laconic options, sewn from denser fabric, such as blackout, are suitable.
The photo shows the living room and awning curtains in combination with drapes.
Roller blinds
They fit perfectly together. Roller blinds give the window design a modern touch, while awnings add pomp and significance.
Decorating curtains
A well-decorated window opening will add a bright accent to any interior.
Lambrequin
Soft, beautifully draped fabrics are especially suitable for each other, thereby creating an original window image.
Tassels
With their help, you can achieve visual highlighting of the curtain structure and give it an even more beautiful and elegant look.
Fringe
It looks playful and light and gives the beautiful awnings a special charm.
Bugle beads
Reminds me of precious stones. Using glass beads you can create a truly sophisticated look for curtains.
Examples of non-standard windows
When decorating such window openings, you should not adhere to certain standards and do not be afraid to add something individual to their decor.
Bay window
They will highlight the design and help highlight it. To decorate bay windows, you should choose French curtains in light shades, made of light fabrics.
The photo shows bay windows decorated with French curtains.
Window with balcony door
Elegant awnings, thanks to their drapery, easily emphasize the aesthetics of a window with a balcony door.
Arch
For an arched window, both short and long versions of curtains placed on the eaves in a semicircle are suitable. Such decor will attract attention and help to correctly highlight the unusually shaped window opening.
Using panoramic windows in a private home: photos of interesting projects
There are several ways to create an unusual design using panoramic glazing:
- installation of windows of original shape (radius structures, windows in the form of arches or polygons);
- the use of folds of various sizes and shapes;
- inclusion of unusual architectural structures for installing windows into the building design;
Panoramic windows can also be used indoors, instead of walls, zoning and combining rooms
- installation of overhead false strips;
- purchasing window structures with frames in bright colors or painting them yourself;
- a combination of different types of windows in one room.
Design of large windows in a private house: photos of cottages with bay windows
A bay window is an architectural addition to a building design, which is a small protruding element. It acts as a decoration for the facade of the building. An integral element of the bay window design is panoramic glazing. This protruding part of the building is used to increase living space. The presence of a bay window allows you to increase the amount of natural light entering the house from the street. From the inside, the decor is adjusted to the interior of the room.
The bay window allows you to increase the interior space of your home, as well as improve illumination and insolation
In some cases, the extension can serve as a separate room. This space is most often used to organize a work office, living room, and play area.
Ecrer is often used for the outside of the house, less often - for access to the courtyard
Frame glazing is used to decorate the bay window. Moreover, the folds of the frames located on the side open. Most often, an angle of 30 degrees is formed between the wall and the window frames. In bay windows of non-standard shapes, for example, rounded panoramic windows are placed at right angles. Typically, this area is used for recreation. In addition to frames, such designs require the use of flexible profiles and additional connecting elements. Moreover, the higher the glass is placed, the more decorative the bay window looks in the project.
Projects of one-story houses with panoramic windows on the veranda
The veranda is a part of the building that is located on the same level as the entire house. This element has its own walls, foundation, roof and window openings. Since the veranda is part of a residential building, if there is heating in it, it would be most advisable to install warm glazing with panoramic windows.
A bright, spacious veranda can become the main place for spending leisure time at home
This ensures reliable protection from negative external influences:
- precipitation;
- noise from the street;
- insects
As a result, the veranda can be used as an all-season recreation area. But an extension to a house is a separate structure, which, according to the design, is adjacent to the building or is installed at a distance from it. The extension does not need to maintain heat, so it will be enough to install cold glazing. Preferably without frames.
When installing panoramic windows for a veranda, you should take into account future heating costs in winter.
Frame glazing of a terrace or veranda is considered as a simplified design option with a budget cost and the possibility of partial replacement or repair in case of damage. Frameless glazing, on the contrary, is considered an elite and decorative option, although it is less reliable, higher price and complex installation technology.
Interesting house projects with large windows: photos of indoor pools
Modern country house projects offer developers the construction of indoor swimming pools. The owner of such housing will not have to visit a club or public institution to swim. Depending on your budgetary capabilities, you can get by with building a simple structure or build a luxurious, elite pool. Proper glazing of such building elements is a key point of success. This provides protection from negative weather conditions and a beautiful external design.
French glazing is one of the most popular solutions for an indoor pool
Installation of panoramic windows during the construction of a swimming pool is the most complex type of facade work. This is determined by the special operating conditions of the room. Increased humidity in the room where the pool is located leads to the formation of condensation on the panoramic windows. Severe frosts will turn this moisture into ice, which is unacceptable.
Most often in projects, the pool structure is built using large spans. It is recommended to use warm glazing technology for these purposes. Also, restrictions are imposed on the size of double-glazed windows. Taking into account the high loads on windows, the technical requirements for reliability and strength of both the structures themselves and the glass in them are increasing.
Large windows for indoor pools are usually used in country cottages where the territory of the house is fenced
Beautiful house designs with large windows: photos of greenhouses and winter gardens
Many people associate projects of country houses with greenhouses or winter gardens with high cost and respectability. In fact, the design can be variable and take into account different budgetary possibilities.
Modern winter gardens in terms of architectural features are in many ways similar to bay windows and verandas. The only thing that distinguishes them is improved insulation and the largest possible area of panoramic glazing of the walls and roof. Thanks to modern construction technologies, it is possible to create almost continuous warm glazing.
A large amount of daylight is important for plants, so by installing panoramic windows, you can easily organize a winter garden
The presence of panoramic windows helps to integrate the surrounding nature into the house. Due to the transparent walls of the greenhouse or winter garden, the boundary between the interior of the room and the landscape design of the site is completely erased. At the same time, the maximum possible amount of sunlight is collected in the room, which will be useful not only for plants, but also for the inhabitants of the house who decide to relax with a book or soak in a hammock.
To bring nature closer, you can install sliding designs of panoramic windows. In warm weather, this room can be used as a relaxation area with access to fresh air and access to the street.
The photo shows an example of beautiful and practical glazing of a winter garden where you can grow citrus fruits and other trees
Country housing projects with a winter garden allow you to increase the space of the house, visually enhancing the massiveness of the building. The adjacent greenhouse adds decorative variety to the building's architecture, and the presence of a large number of transparent surfaces adds lightness.
