Culture
Great Art and Good Curtains
In this episode of Livden, we explore the intersection of art and interior design, focusing on the importance of framing and the versatility of cafe curtains. Join us as we highlight stunning art piec...
Great Art and Good Curtains
Culture •
0:00 / 0:00
Interactive Transcript
spk_0
Welcome to Livden, the interior design podcast for ordinary people living in ordinary homes.
spk_0
It's season five and we are doing voice notes.
spk_0
So each week you'll hear from me, we'll be talking about art, real estate, architecture
spk_0
and quick tips that we can use to cover any one of those categories.
spk_0
This week we're talking about good framing and great design. Let's get into it.
spk_0
Okay guys, so I'm going to go ahead and just skip straight into this.
spk_0
The art that I am featuring this week in the newsletter is by Devon Wilde.
spk_0
Devon has spelled D-E-V-I-N, wilde spelled W-I-L-D-E.
spk_0
And it is vessel number seven.
spk_0
That's Roman numerals, so I may have messed that up, but it's vessel number seven.
spk_0
And I actually discovered this artist, and I think this is actually the first piece of art,
spk_0
I'm including that isn't a 2D project. It's a 3D sculpture that you can touch.
spk_0
But I discovered this artist because a designer who I follow had included one of his pieces
spk_0
in a room that he designed. And so actually that's a really great tip if you are looking for
spk_0
new art or exposure to new artists. See who designers they're using and kind of use that as your
spk_0
gateway to exploring new artists and different forms of art. Highly highly recommend.
spk_0
I also love this vessel because this artist also makes stalls and I love those and pedestals
spk_0
and things like that. I can't use those in my house, so those would get destroyed.
spk_0
But a vessel like this that I could put flowers in potentially or just have on a higher shelf.
spk_0
As a display item, I really love. So that is our art segment for this week.
spk_0
Now on to our listings.
spk_0
So this week, three listings all about space. We are just capitalizing on space.
spk_0
I think actually I was prioritising spaces with around 3,000 square feet because that to me is a
spk_0
chunk of space. A very good chunk of space. The first listing is 301 West Central Street. It's in
spk_0
Maxden, North Carolina. I have never been. But it is the historic McKinnen house and it was built in
spk_0
1925. Really gently updated. 3500 square feet and it has so much charm and a ton of space.
spk_0
There are gorgeous fireplaces, beautiful arched doorways, original built-in bookcases.
spk_0
When you look at it, it doesn't look huge but it's a ton of space. Definitely go and check that
spk_0
one out in the show notes. The next one is 512 or 512 Medcalf Drive Southwest. It's actually kind
spk_0
of funny to have these two listings back to back because they are so vastly different.
spk_0
Medcalf is a beach house but not quite at the beach. It's in a waterfront community called Sunset
spk_0
Lakes and it's 4,900 square feet. This is 3500 to 4,900. This is Udalls of Space. It has
spk_0
walls of windows and it's surrounded by trees in the backyard. You get a ton of nature and you
spk_0
also get lots of privacy despite being really close to the neighbours on both sides.
spk_0
The last one and this one I think is my favourite is again vastly different from the other two.
spk_0
This one is 37, almost 3800 square feet. It's in Goldboro, North Carolina. I have been there.
spk_0
Not too far from me and the address is 704 Park Avenue and this one is a showstopper, guys.
spk_0
It is the Peterson Bane Hallwell, sorry, Peterson Bane Howell House in the historic district of
spk_0
Goldboro which now I have to go and explore all of the houses in this district because this one
spk_0
is gorgeous. It really reminds me of Northeastern coastal architecture. So something that you would see
spk_0
on Rhode Island or on Maine or something like that but it's a big house, makes a statement has
spk_0
these beautiful columns as you walk up and a wide staircase up to the entry. It has updated
spk_0
original bathrooms and elegant, very understated wraparound staircase in the centre of the home
spk_0
and then probably the cutest walk-in pantry that you've ever seen. The laundry room is also huge.
spk_0
I think personally they made a mistake on the tile that they used in there but that's my personal
spk_0
opinion. Everything else is amazing. So make sure you go ahead and take a look at those in the show
spk_0
noob. Okay, so this is, if you're familiar with my newsletter, the point at which we typically do
spk_0
a room study. So I will have an image and you can look at it and I will explain kind of three or
spk_0
more things that make it work cohesively and why it looks good. And I love doing this because it's
spk_0
the art of noticing which is always what I'm trying to teach you. But what we're looking at today
spk_0
is actually an item study and that's cafe curtains. And kind of what's formed this for me was a
spk_0
friend in Sweden recently shared pictures online of some cafe curtains that she had made or either
spk_0
made and hung up in her dining room and they just reminded me of the deep dive that I had to take
spk_0
into cafe curtains when I was looking into them for my own home. And so I thought to myself,
spk_0
what better place to share some insight on them than in the newsletter. So
spk_0
there are a few different things to think about but I'm going to just kind of walk you through
spk_0
them and then I'll talk about the images that we've got as well. And they will be in the show notes.
spk_0
So if you can't see them because you're listening to this go to the website and you'll be able to
spk_0
see the images there or just view the newsletter and you'll see them there. So anyway the number one
spk_0
piece of advice that I would give is when you're coming to cafe curtains is to consider the formality
spk_0
of your space. So in my house we have cafe curtains in the primary bathroom and we also have them in
spk_0
the dining room which is actually now our living room. And the curtains are not hung the same way
spk_0
in both rooms. So in the dining room slash living room they are hung on clips and those clips
spk_0
hang on the rod and the rod is both functional and ornamental. So it extends beyond the width of
spk_0
the window frame as an outside mount. And then the curtain itself is kind of flat and straight.
spk_0
I wanted it to hang fairly straight on the window. Another option would have been to do strong pleats
spk_0
but I made this choice and I say those two options because this is a space where we entertain and so
spk_0
the architecture of the room has raised tray ceilings, has wall paneling etc. And so that architecture
spk_0
kind of suggests that a more formal decorating approach is needed there versus what we use in the
spk_0
bathroom. Now in the bathroom the curtains are mounted directly onto the pole so the pole is
spk_0
kind of inserted through a opening in the curtain and then that pole is inserted inside of the
spk_0
window frame. So this is called an inside mount and the curtain is rushed and gathered. So it's not
spk_0
pleated, it's kind of wavy if you will. The pleats would have been extremely formal with rigid lines
spk_0
but instead this has a subtle wave throughout. And this is because the bathroom is a very relaxed
spk_0
private space that only myself and my husband use. So we are more relaxed and don't need hard lines
spk_0
or rigid fabric. Things can be a bit looser, a bit more casual, a bit more relaxed.
spk_0
So the two images that I have included in the newsletter as references. The first one is from
spk_0
restaurant Bobay I think I'm saying that correctly which I believe is in Copenhagen. And the first
spk_0
one has it has a flat panel curtain and it's mounted inside of the window. The panel is flat,
spk_0
it's actually narrower than the full width of the window so it does fall completely straight
spk_0
flat inside the window. It's beautiful. Make sure you check out the images. The second example I've
spk_0
included are pleated inside mount clip hung cafe curtains and interestingly these are actually
spk_0
in a bathroom. So how I said for us, our bathroom is really relaxed and we don't need pleats
spk_0
in our curtain there. The architecture, the design in their scheme doesn't dictate formal,
spk_0
it's very relaxed and approachable. But in this example from Sarah Shem and Samuel, it's from her
spk_0
clover to the project and she has clip hung pleated inside mount curtains. So she has gone for
spk_0
something more formal and more structured and honestly when you see the design in the room,
spk_0
that makes sense. She's got this stunning marble, she's got a boxy vanity with hard clean lines,
spk_0
it makes sense that she would probably lean that way in her design. So when it comes to choosing
spk_0
what type of cafe curtain you want to use in your space, here is what you need to know.
spk_0
As always I recommend looking and collecting examples on Pinterest and then kind of deciding
spk_0
based on again which spaces have a similar feel or a similar use type to the space that you are in
spk_0
and then make sure to observe the following. Number one, how the curtain is mounted, whether that
spk_0
is on a tension rod inside of the window frame, on an ornamental curtain rod that's visible outside
spk_0
of the window frame or even on a string, which is actually what I saw in my friend's case.
spk_0
And she did that because it makes sense for her kind of elevated cottage style, that's the style
spk_0
of her home. So she's gone for a kind of more rustic feel on a string. So that's number one,
spk_0
how the curtain is mounted. Also pay attention to how the curtain panel hangs. Is it hanging flat?
spk_0
Does it have slight waves in it? Is it pleated? This will help with how formal it might feel.
spk_0
You don't want to have something that feels too casual in a space that's very formal and elevated.
spk_0
You probably want something that is a bit more relaxed. So that's number two, how the curtain panel
spk_0
hangs. Number three is how the curtain is hung. So this again goes to, we talked about whether
spk_0
it's inside of the window frame or outside, but this is about whether the curtain rod is going
spk_0
through the curtain or the curtain is attached to the curtain rod through clips or string or whatever
spk_0
it might be. One more thing that you should think about is the material of the curtains and whether
spk_0
or not you want them to be lined. So in our dining room, living room, we have lined curtains because
spk_0
that room faces the street. And so we want it to be, even though we wanted to be private in our
spk_0
bathroom and we need it for showering, because it's at the back of the house where nobody can
spk_0
really see in. The online curtain gives us enough privacy for that location. In both rooms,
spk_0
we have linen curtains and they're made by a vendor on Etsy who I swear by, Daendily Decor,
spk_0
is her name. She's extremely easy to work with, she communicates well, she offers a wide range
spk_0
of sizes. This is not sponsored by her. I'm not telling you to go buy it, but if you want to look
spk_0
at what's available, they'll be linked in the show notes for that.
spk_0
All right, time for our final segment. One good thing. Something quick and easy that you could
spk_0
implement today. And here it is, a good frame or even just a good mat goes a really long way.
spk_0
I'm somewhat embarrassed to admit that I don't think it was prior to coming to the US. I'd
spk_0
even ever paid attention to matting. And if you're not familiar with matting either, it's a card,
spk_0
typically, that goes inside of a frame. And so then your picture just occupies a smaller
spk_0
opening within that card. And I love matting because the art that you are framing could be mediocre
spk_0
at best. But if it's well-matted and framed, it will look great. I actually once saw someone frame
spk_0
and mat their kids art, which I thought was genius. You can frame it all. Your kids art, a crappy postcard,
spk_0
Picasso, Rembrandt, a receipt, a photo, a magazine cut out. If you mat it well, then you're good to go.
spk_0
Advice for where to buy mats. In the US, you can definitely get them at Michael's. You could probably
spk_0
get them at Hobby Lobby. You can get them from essentially anywhere, probably, that really sells
spk_0
quality frames. But I would say Michael's and Hobby Lobby are my go-to places. You can also order
spk_0
them online from anywhere. In the newsletter, I did include a picture from Jennifer Garner's
spk_0
home, which was designed by Steve Geonetti. And there is a really beautiful small frame next to her
spk_0
very beautiful blue bed. And it's got a nice white matting around it. And the reason it's significant
spk_0
is because on the wall she's got this larger dark piece and the two work really well together.
spk_0
Anyway, that is it for this week. I will see you next week. If you haven't already signed up
spk_0
for the newsletter, make sure you go ahead and do so. Make sure you're also following us on social
spk_0
media. I'll see you next week.