I would agree that drapes would soften up your home if that's your goal...but not that style drape, and they definately don't fit the period of your house.

Have you considered just doing lovely basic panels (big squares just like these) that hang on simple rods to either side of the window? I think they'd fit the style of your home so much better, soften the feel of the home, and flow with your furnishings.

I'll admit that while I do a lot of sewing, I hadn't heard of ripplefold drapes, although the name is very descriptive.

I recently made 'back tab' drapes for my living room, but they are on a decorative rod as I wanted only panels to hang at the side for softness, and I don't close them. My home is likely a bit older than yours, as I just found out it's older than the 1937 date that I had thought it was built, and I very much like the look of the back tabs, which to me, LOOK very much like the ripplefold while hanging.

In other words, I think you'd be fine!

I have never heard of Ripplefold drapes, do you have a picture?

Ripplefold are contemporary, so the probably wouldnt work well with the spirit of your house, unless the furniture was contemporary. Since you are considering them for other reasons...stack back and ease of fabrication, you may be able to use them if you hid the top under some kind of valance or pelmet, which would be in keeping with your house. A few inches down from the top, they look similar to pinch pleat.

The prefabricated tape with snaps forms the top edge, which snaps onto hangers that run in a track. They are flat until installed.
{{!gwi}}

my3dogs, thanks for the photo - it helps give me an idea what it would look like. I was thinking of a wood traverse rod so the effect would be similar. Do you ever close your backtabs? Are they hard to get the folds to look nice?

Palimpsest - I appreciate this photo too! There are very few pictures of "real" curtains, only Kirsch's brochures. I'd thought about a valance to hide a ceiling track (my husband would like one) but I'd have to decide on a valance!

I never close mine. They're there just to add softness and another pattern to the room. VERY easy to get the folds in place on the rod. I used the instructions at the link below, and spaced my tabs about 7.5" apart.

Here is a link that might be useful: 'Hidden tab tops'

So that's what those are called. I love those.

skye, would you feel like sharing any pics of your house? From the description it sounds fascinating.