A Gray Day

It was gray today, all day, cloudy, gray clouds, rainy, cold and gray, nebulous, misty, just gray.

White Curtains

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It is sunny today and breezy and with the windows open and the curtains billowing in the breeze, I am thinking about white curtains and what a quality of light it gives to the space. I like diffused light,  it is soft and has a subtle glow. It is calming. Some find it too cold.

I learned about curtain making in London, the dramatic and dressy effect well made curtains add to a room. Heavy curtains with interlining and trimmings and strong poles to support them, tie backs with tassels and jewels give a room elegance.

But in New York I came to appreciate the softness of a veil of fine white wool suspended in front of the large windows overlooking the sky, I found it equally elegant and ethereal. Here are some white curtains that have that feel:

Source: huamao.tumblr.com via Kelly on Pinterest

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I like the way this curtain is a patchwork of white scraps sewn together suspended in front of a window and gives that lovely soft light, no idea what is on the other side.

Diffused Light

The sun has been shining all week over London. Everyone is smiling and enjoying the warmth, the blossoms and the trees with the fresh green of new leaves.

In the mornings there is very beautiful quality of light that comes from the sunshine through white fabric.

It is a quality of light I find very attractive and pleasant for bedrooms or any room, but particularly for bedrooms because it is a soft, relaxing and flattering light.

I have always found when window treatments whether curtains, shades or blinds, are white they create a glow in the room. Early in the morning, when the sun is strong at noon or late in the afternoon when you need to control the sun a white fabric diffuses the light creating wonderfully lit rooms

The white fabric on the window creates a quiet space with the soft diffused light, my favorite is white linen.

Patterns of Light and Shadow

On bright sunny days when light streams through a window,  it will often leave a pattern of shadows from the window frame, a shutter or a lace curtain across the wall or floor. They are ephemeral patterns. Sometimes they will elongate and stretch out, other times they will be short, brief and transitory because of a passing cloud.

These patterns of light and shadow tell us what time of day it is, they fill the room with a temporary design, but I like to think it also guides us on window treatments; what kind of curtains should we have,  I would never want to cover a window so that we would loose daylight, but they are so necessary at night.

With such a wide window and the varied grid pattern the light creates, a wide curtain pole is needed so it doesn't interrupt this lovely shadow. What a marvelous pattern.

You can feel the breeze, but look at the pretty shadow on the wall, to me it is prettier than the curtain.

And this dramatic screen of the shadow of a tree.

Light, natural light, the way it illuminates our rooms, our minds, I find is an essential element in the concept of interior design. It gives the room soul and when you find a quiet moment you will see the light.

images via Flickr