3 min readWindow treatments—including blackout shades, double-layer curtains, and everything in between—are perhaps the easiest way to add a pop of personality to any space. Today, however, we’re paying extra close attention to one particular type of window treatment that, more often than not, appears in only one room of the house.
We’ll just cut to the chase: Café curtains in kitchens (and, by extension, breakfast nooks) are taking the design community by storm. Café curtains have been around for a while, but as their name implies, they normally live in cafés and not so much in private homes. At least, until now. We took it upon ourselves to find the most beautiful kitchens and breakfast nooks, each complete with a café curtain you’ll definitely want to copy. Luckily, the designers behind these beautiful spaces are sharing their tips and tricks for making them work.
Preserve the Top Half of the Window
Café curtains famously cover only half the window: The top half or the bottom half, but if we’ve learned anything from this group of experts—especially Melissa Lee, founder of Bespoke Only—the top half is more important than the bottom half of the window. “We gravitate toward café curtains for the balance they strike between privacy and openness,” she explains. “They soften the lower portion of the window while keeping the upper half clear, preserving the view and allowing natural light to move freely through the space.”
Opt for a Pattern
There’s something about a café curtain that feels a bit more charming than full drapery or Roman shades, which is why Dafna Kikuchi, principal at Daf & Co., loves to enlist them wherever possible. “Because they’re cropped, I like to use an unlined fabric so they don’t feel visually heavy,” she explains. “Kitchens tend to be full of hard, functional surfaces, so this is a nice opportunity to bring in something softer with a bit of pattern.”
Make Them Sheer
In some rooms, hanging an opaque, heavier curtain makes more sense, but for a room in which you may want a little more light, going sheer is the move. Just ask designer Laura W. Jenkins, who went for a classic pick in this breakfast nook to keep the space light and bright. “For this application, a sheer fabric was the perfect choice, as it let in the most light while still providing some privacy,” the designer says. “Sheer café curtains also add a whimsical touch to the space while not feeling as formal as a full set of drapery. They always feel a touch playful to me, which I love.”
Prioritize Privacy
Anyone who lives on a busy street knows that privacy is precious. Here, bordering two canals in Amsterdam, the kitchen is basically on full view to anyone walking by, so the designers at RA Studio opted for a set of curtains: one full-size and one café-size. The former is for the vibe, and the second is for privacy without completely blocking out the natural light.
Choose Something Subtle
The only two options are not solid or pattern. There is something in between, and while technically a pattern, it’s so subtle that, from far away, you barely notice it. That was Haldon House’s motive. “Subtle fabric lets light become part of the design. Instead of stopping it, it diffuses it, creating a soft warmth that makes the space feel more lived-in and relaxed,” explains co-founder Autumn Oser.
Choose Complementary Colors
Generally speaking, red, white, and blue can feel more kitschy than not, but here, Oho Interiors offers a masterclass in how to nail this color combination. One way they did it right is with tone. Instead of opting for bright hues, the design team focused on restraint, utilizing more subdued, muted shades. “It's no secret that blue and red are having a moment,” explains Melissa Oholendt of Oho Interiors. “As we considered which complementary color to bring into the space, the answer felt obvious!”
