​​Each week, Mansion Global discusses a topic with an elite group of designers from around the world who work on luxury properties. This week we discuss how to smartly dress a window for a contemporary look.

Window treatments are often seen as an element of traditional home decor, whether it’s swags and jabots, pleated curtains or trimmed Roman shades. But modern and contemporary spaces can sometimes benefit from a sober but well-dressed window display.

“For modern interiors, we always prefer a clean look when it comes to draperies and shades,” said Scarsdale, New York-based interior designer Sharon Rembaum. “Simple, minimalist choices go a long way towards a relaxed, modern aesthetic.”

We sought advice from several designers to dress the windows of modern and contemporary rooms.

Blend into the architecture

“In contemporary design, window treatment should blend into the architecture, not draw attention to itself with bold patterns or colors.

“Roller shades and simple drapes and sheers work well in contemporary spaces. The best fabrics to use for curtains are linen, cotton, and in some cases a low-pile pile to give a more luxurious feel. Sheers will be made of cotton and a cotton/polyester blend.

“When a combination of function and aesthetics is desired, roller shades in the back with drapery or sheers in the front can always be a good solution. There are modern styles of roman shades available if that look is Motorized shade options can be useful for high windows in large spaces.

— Sarah Bay, director of interior design and senior partner at Three in Dallas

Continued: Add character with a colorful sofa

Streamline the design

“Avoid burying your window treatments in layers of fabric. Less is more. We often use flat roman shades as well as wave pleat draperies, especially in living areas. The wavy pleat drapery gives a very elegant look with a beautiful rippling wave that ripples all over the fabric. It is very functional and glides effortlessly.

“We also love custom pleated draperies or French pleated draperies. They are a bit more formal and classic so tend to work well in both modern and traditional spaces. Custom pleated drapery is fuller and known for its elegant cascading pleat design in which the pleats are held rigid at the top. French pleat drapery, also known as a pinch pleat, is another classic look that pinches a few inches from the top and gives curtains some shape. French pleat drapery is often seen in more traditional spaces, but can be designed in more contemporary settings depending on color, pattern or texture.

“For modern interiors, we prefer clean, narrow hardware with a simple finial for a simple look. When the curtains are open, you want the drapery to just cover the edge of the window frame so the rod is wide enough to do this.

—Designer Sharon Rembaum of Sharon Rembaum Interior Design in Scarsdale, New York

Continued: Create a functional and fabulous outdoor kitchen for entertaining

Do not pool the curtains

“In a modern home, you’ll want to let the furnishings and decor speak for themselves. Let the window treatments play in the scheme, but don’t take over the show.

“Some materials are better than others when it comes to light filtering, durability, and how they cling and drape. For a modern bedroom, I would opt for linen drapes. It’s not too heavy, but its weight hangs beautifully. The material also naturally allows air to circulate easily, so it’s ideal for all seasons. It’s also a pretty strong natural fiber, so you can count on it to last.

“Cross rods are great for a modern look. They don’t include brackets or rings, so they offer a super sleek design that’s visually appealing and contemporary in nature. Another way to make sure your curtain style is modern is to make sure they end right on the floor, any fabric pooled on the floor will give a traditional touch.

— Leslie Murphy, owner and creative director at Murphy Maude Interiors in Memphis, Tennessee

Continued: Changing rooms that welcome with style and functionality

Keep color in mind

“When using or implementing interior stained glass – whether in a room with fully stained millwork or just stained glass on its own – the best window treatment is something that disappears. The stained wood blind strategically allows this wooden element to disappear into its application.

“The trick to making a wood blind less traditional and more contemporary/modern is to start with a stain color that is not in the warm golden brown family. A slightly sandy or light gray wood evokes this more transitional feel.

“Also, contemporary aesthetics frequently use dark interior windows such as metal. If the wooden blinds were then stained to match these dark windows, a more modern feel could be achieved.

— Architect Cathy Purple Cherry of Purple Cherry Architects in Annapolis, Maryland

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