Tuscan drapery calls for thin, white fabrics.
If you're looking to decorate your home with Mediterranean-inspired designs, you'll want to complete your hard work with Tuscan-style window treatments. Since Tuscan decor is relatively simple and uncomplicated, you'll be able to frame your windows without breaking your budget. Even better, Tuscan drapery is frequently handmade, so if you're skilled with a sewing machine, you'll truly be able to inject a personal touch into your window treatments. Does this Spark an idea?
Basics
Tuscan houses often have casement windows that open towards the room, with the window treatments attached to the window frame, not a curtain rod above the window. Tuscan curtains cover the whole window, or most of it, and remain like that for the entire day. Choosing translucent fabric, like cotton or lace, ensures that light will still get through and shine into the room. Don't opt for completely transparent drapery, though, as it won't protect your living space from sun glare or provide privacy.
Renaissance Cutwork
Throughout Tuscany, windows are covered with embroidered cotton panels that have shapes and designs cut out, known as cutwork. You can either hang these from a skinny curtain rod or as flat panels. Hanging them as flat panels will help show the shapes and designs better than if the fabric is bunched up on a curtain rod. You can either make this kind of drapery by hand or purchase it.
Large Window Treatments
To cover long windows, gather a large amount of lengthy fabric, such as lightweight cotton, cheesecloth, or linen. Just as in smaller window treatments, Tuscan design calls for simple white or off-white drapery that will let a bit of light through while still ensuring privacy. The Tuscan feel is all in the embroidery and design of the curtains. Consider layering an additional layer of fabric behind a cutout piece of fabric for extra shading.
Additional Ideas
Add lace borders to your curtains by using a sewing machine. Add extra lines of lace to the bottom of your drapes for a more sophisticated appearance. You can also connect two cotton panels of your fabric of choice by sewing a strip of lace down the center. If you're skilled at hand embroidery, add some to your drapes. Also keep in mind that you can mix and match different shades of white together, and you can also insert designs into the middle of your drapes by making a cutout in the fabric, forming a seam around the opening, then stitching in your addition.
Tags: window treatments, your drapes, cotton panels, flat panels, sewing machine, shapes designs, Tuscan drapery