A Layered Drapery Design for Faz’s Living Room

Faz loves design. When she approached Ms. Curtain for her new home in Sydney’s North Shore area, she already had a clear sense of the atmosphere she wanted to create. However, the final curtain concept still needed careful refinement. She wanted the living room to feel soft, elegant and decorative, without turning the windows into a heavy full-wall curtain treatment.

After reviewing the furniture photos Faz had already chosen for the space, we suggested a box pleat header for both the sheer curtains and the solid fabric curtains. Her furniture selection had a structured and refined presence, so a box pleat heading was a better match than a softer wave style. It gave the curtains a more tailored, architectural finish and allowed the window treatment to sit confidently within the overall interior design.

For the solid fabric selection, Faz reviewed a wide range of options from our suppliers and finally chose Raffles-Mink online. This fabric brought the right balance of softness, depth and quiet luxury. Its gentle mink tone worked beautifully with the white sheers, while its subtle sheen and geometric pattern added richness without making the room feel heavy.

For the two main windows, white sheer curtains were installed across each window individually, while the middle wall section between the windows was intentionally left uncovered. This design was finalised after several rounds of discussion. Rather than treating the entire wall as one continuous curtain run, the design respects each window as its own feature and allows the room’s architecture to remain clear.

The white sheer curtains provide the everyday function. They soften the daylight, reduce glare and create a gentle sense of privacy while still keeping the living room bright and open. The sheers allow natural light to move through the space, giving the room a calm, airy and comfortable feeling.

The solid fabric layer was designed as a decorative feature rather than a full-width curtain. Each Raffles-Mink side drape covers approximately 1300mm in width, compared with the full window widths of 3580mm and 3680mm. This makes the solid curtain a framing element rather than a full coverage solution.

This partial-width design was deliberate. Full solid curtains across windows of this size would have created a much heavier and more formal look. By using Raffles-Mink only on part of each window, the room gains depth, texture and elegance while still maintaining a light, spacious atmosphere.

To enhance the luxurious effect, the solid curtains were made with a soft puddle on the floor. Although the Raffles-Mink drapes only partially cover the window spaces, the extra length gives them a more generous and decorative presence. The fabric falls beyond the finished floor level, creating a relaxed, elegant pooling effect that makes the side drapes feel more substantial and luxurious.

The box pleat header works especially well with the Raffles-Mink fabric. It holds the geometric patterned fabric neatly at the top and allows the drapes to fall in a controlled, elegant shape. Combined with the soft puddling at the bottom, the result is structured at the top, graceful through the body, and quietly opulent at floor level.

When tied back, the Raffles-Mink curtains frame the windows beautifully. They add warmth and sophistication without blocking too much light or visually closing in the room. Behind them, the white sheers continue to provide softness and privacy for daily living.

The final result is a carefully resolved layered curtain design: white sheers for everyday comfort and privacy, paired with decorative Raffles-Mink box pleat drapes for elegance, structure and visual depth. For Faz’s North Shore home, the solution was not simply about covering windows. It was about shaping the room — balancing function, proportion, furniture style and decoration to create a living space that feels considered, warm and complete.