Material World Blog

Many of us decorate our walls with art works where there is space. Many of us however only see curtain and upholstery fabrics as just serving a utilitarian purpose. Why not turn your windows into works of art? Are you brave enough to go beyond a plain or textured fabric and move into the realms of pattern? Get the benefits of curtains whilst injecting some colour and design into your home. From the more subdued abstract to brighter and bolder prints the choice really is endless. Here are just a few fabrics that could fire the imagination. Consider a watercolour effect to introduce some bright and funky colours… Pictured: Big Archie by Bluebellgrey Or bring nature inside with these stunning aviary designs…  Pictured: The Conservatory by James Dunlop Textiles Pictured: Blenheim by James Dunlop Textiles You can also get creative with sheer fabrics as seen below with Peninsula from Warwick Fabrics. This illustrates how you can introduce a pattern whilst keeping a neutral colour scheme for a very elegant look! Pictured: Peninsula by Warwick Fabrics Still not sure where to start? The decorators here at Material World can certainly recommend fabrics that will suit your home, furnishings and lifestyle.

With the advent of so many apartment blocks on both the Upper and Lower North Shore of Sydney we have had many clients need our assistance. Many of these apartments often have blinds to block out but so often I am asked if we can soften the space, give more blockout, reduce traffic noise or something with a bit more thermal quality especially during summer with hot west facing windows. Curtains have continued in popularity as they address all these issues. The most popular combination has been blockout blinds and then a lovely billowy sheer curtain to soften the room and they do this brilliantly. Pictured: Sheer s/wave curtains in Allusion bv Zepel Fabrics. There are a number of different curtain styles with s/wave still ever popular for its uniformity. You can also choose from the inverted box pleat for a neat finish, or knife pleat for a little less structured look. If heat, light or sound are also an issue, then a lined curtain works well to better insulate the room and reduce noise. Pictured: Sheer inverted box pleated curtains in Laconia Air bv James Dunlop Textiles. There are so many wonderful fabrics and accessories to choose from. Some of our favourites include “Timeless” – a beautiful art deco style embroidered sheer and “Linesta” – a stunning chunky Italian linen. Drop into the showroom and let us help you make a selection to fit your home and your budget. Whether you are on the upper or lower North Shore or in Orange, Material World can make sure you get the right, local advice for your windows. Pictured: Timeless by James Dunlop Textiles. Pictured: Linesta bv Warwick Fabrics.