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jakabedy

decision to make on drapery fabric for MCM home

7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago

Our home is a 1954 MCM. Think more Frank Lloyd Wright/Usonian than Eichler/Palm Springs. Lots of original reddish fir trim that is staying. Walls will always be an off-white.

The baths and smaller bedrooms are getting blinds, so I’m down to the LR/DR and the master bedroom. I want something that rings true to the era and is a bit fun, but isn’t over the top. I’ve narrowed down to one fabric and am torn between two colors.

Draperies will go all across a 25’ wall of windows and doors in the LR, and along a 12’ wall of windows/doors and a 9’ ribbon window in the MBR.

Current LR/DR then MBR then ceiling (throughout entire house) to show you the wood tones we’re dealing with. I’ll post the fabrics below (apparently only four pictures per post).


ETA: that accent color on the wall in the MBR is going away.






Comments (18)

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Below are the fabrics. First two pics are fabric A. Second two pics are fabric B.

    A.

    A.

    B.

    B.



  • 7 years ago

    A goes better color-wise with the wood. However, I suggest that you also consider a simple white sheerish fabric. There are beautiful ones at the visitor's center at the RW Johnson site for FLW tours. Here is a link to some interiors. Very few feature heavy draperies. https://www.thoughtco.com/frank-lloyd-wright-interiors-inside-architecture-177552

    jakabedy thanked yvonnecmartin
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I like them both, but i would say it depends on couch/chairs in the rooms. If you may add orange chairs or seating i would do the green or a beige. If you are only having the color of the drapes as your pop of color then it's whichever one you prefer. I do think the orange one goes well with the warm wood. B for the bedroom if accent color is going.

    jakabedy thanked Susan D.
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    We're getting draperies, not sheers. We need them for light/glare control as well as privacy. I know all the vintage photos show sheers or no window coverings at all, but those homes were also in the middle of acreage and had privacy, and apparently in the '50s people could sleep in full sunlight with nary a problem.

    I have been back and forth about a simpler cream-to-oatmeal fabric but have concerns about too-light fabric getting dirty (dogs, and a very dusty location, so would probably veer toward and oatmeal/hessian color) and it looking entirely too plain. There's probably a bit of "I'm spending a bunch of money on these so I want it to look like a spent a bunch of money" at work here, if I'm honest with myself.

    Furniture at present is all wood and brown upholstery. Some vintage 1930s tile tables, and art that includes vintage Native American rugs. I may get a different sofa at some point that will be a cream or something along the apple green color in fabric B (but that's probably a while in the future).

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    As long as you're happy with those colors, I think it's a good choice. I'd probably choose a lighter color in the bedroom. We have light colored drapes on my family room slider. We and the dogs are in and out multiple times/day and it really hasn't been an issue. You'll be really happy with custom made drapes - they're well worth the $$.

    jakabedy thanked torreykm
  • 7 years ago

    I have MCM vintage furnishings and i have ripple fold in LR and Master bed along a wall and the ripple fold style helps with vintage MCM look, imo. Put near top of ceiling or just under molding and it creates drama and height. If i wasn't dying in the LA heat i would get up and post a photo... :)

    jakabedy thanked Susan D.
  • 7 years ago

    I'd probably use the one that is like the wood tone because it's more neutral in the context of the rooms.

    jakabedy thanked palimpsest
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Good choices for sure. Looks like silk. I prefer B. But I've mostly seen the "oatmeal" color.

    jakabedy thanked User
  • 7 years ago
    And this is the oatmeal option. Very Usonian. Very simple.
  • 7 years ago
    Oh, and Susan D, we still have the original wood cornices that conceal the drapery rods and lighting. We’re going to update to functional hardware but keep the lighting/cornice intact. Will have to think about ripple fold.
  • 7 years ago

    I actually really like the oatmeal because my general modernist preference is to match or blend with the wall color.

    jakabedy thanked palimpsest
  • 7 years ago

    Ripple fold takes up more depth than pinch pleat because it stacks on both sides of the rod. Just something to keep in mind.

    jakabedy thanked palimpsest
  • 7 years ago

    I love the green, especially if your furniture is all browns and wood. I think the orange would be too much of a muchness. But, since all the fabrics are in the same line, there's no reason that you couldn't vary the colour among rooms. I might do oatmeal in most rooms and keep the green for the room I wanted more energy in.

    jakabedy thanked Jennifer K
  • 7 years ago
    The oatmeal is definitely more in my comfort zone. I think it’s a nice mid-tone between the wood and the walls. My greatest fear is that I order one of the fabrics with more “zing” and then feel I’m forever living in a Busby Berkeley musical. My fear of regret leads to analysis paralysis, where I am trapped at present.

    I should also add my DH is pushing for a decision and seems to like the green one. But he’s really annoying me of late and I’m not at all sure he’ll be living in this house for the long term, so his opinion should be discounted accordingly.
  • 7 years ago

    Oatmeal for me.

    jakabedy thanked Yayagal
  • PRO
    7 years ago

    I have a MCM ranch 1956 vintage and I use solar shades for light control and simple drapes for privacy and I love linen if you have kept all the trim natural. I painted all mine since my space is all white , gray and black and i did tafetta drapes for a bit of glam

    jakabedy thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
  • 7 years ago

    Love the oatmeal color!

    jakabedy thanked natebear zone 10B
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