Ripple Fold Drapery Three Ways
A sheer ripple fold drapery with a black traversing rod.
One of the most challenging “windows” to cover in a home can be sliding glass doors or particularly large, floor-to-ceiling openings. Sliding glass doors are often highly trafficked, key access points, and some of the best sources of light in a given room - so function and light transmission is key. But there are times when covering them is essential - for darkness to sleep, for privacy, or just insulation and sun shading.
With large openings like glass doors that operate side-to-side, we tend to shy away from using treatments that move up-and-down like roller shades or roman shades, which need to be fully opened in order to pass through. On the low-end, a budget option for covering wide windows and doors are vertical blinds, though certainly not the most elegant or durable for that matter. And always the X-factor on sliding glass doors - the handle. You need a covering that will not only look good and operate with ease, but will not physically interfere with the door itself.
Draperies are often the best option. But they don’t have to be bulky, old school, and ornate like you remember from your mom’s house in the 90’s. A ripple fold drapery is stylish and sleek, can be made substantial or light and airy, and easily cover spaces tall and wide.
In Long Beach, Orange County, and the South Bay, one of the most common aesthetics we encounter (or help to reinforce) is still in the mid-century vibe, and what we consider “coastal contemporary.” This is especially true as original mid century homes in neighborhoods that were once overlooked and under-appreciated, filled with authentic mid-century ranchos, get bought up and glammed up.
Three different ripple fold draperies for three different situations
Unlined Linen Ripple Fold Drapery on the Beach
In this case the client wanted something that felt light, airy, and natural - that felt right at home at the beach. We needed something that provided privacy without blocking too much light and still had some opacity or view through, and wanted to make sure the hardware matched other brushed stainless finishes elsewhere throughout the house.
An unlined natural linen ripple fold drapery with a brushed stainless traversing rod fit the bill perfectly.
Sheer Dining Room Ripple Fold Drapery
Priya and Rob were on the eve of moving into their new construction and needed window coverings quickly. Most of the house got roller shades, but the dining room, flanked by large glass sliders, presented a different challenge. Though seemingly bare now, of course the space outside will soon get upgraded with landscaping, and though the light from the large glass doors is nice, the wall and BBQ area just outside them did not need unobstructed views.
These sheer ripple fold draperies, opening with a one-way-draw to allow for optimal use of the doors, warmed up the space without closing it down. Here the draperies are complimentary and additive, almost framing the dining room table without overpowering it - we can already picture the table full of future guests sharing food and laughs.
The black traversing rod complimented other black finishes in the kitchen connected to the dining room and is a beautiful and bold contrast to the sheer white draperies.
Blackout Ripple Fold Drapery
This client had some old, chunky, bulky drapes installed in his ocean front condo years ago that had since deteriorated and become very difficult to operate - the intense sun and salt air tends to do that sort of thing.
Blackout was top priority for him, so we installed a blackout ripple fold drapery that was considerably more streamlined than his previous window covering, while completely darkening the room when he needed it. We also eliminated an unnecessary drape along the the east wall, and replaced it with a tall and slender custom blackout roman shade that more comfortably fit into the space. The fabric we used was suggestive of the sand tones just outside his window.
