Lambrequins in the kitchen: what are they and how to choose the right option?

To make the kitchen cozier and more expressive, to hide possible window defects and layout flaws - all this allows lambrequins. For the first time, windows were decorated in this way in France, and the word "lambrequin" is translated from French as "drapery".

Lambrequin is a kind of home textiles, this is a drapery at the top of the window. It performs many functions - it hides the places of fixation of curtains and tulle, it is used to decorate the cornice, finally, beautiful waves and draperies are attractive in themselves and become a decoration of the room.

Lambrequin is a complex design. The upper horizontal part is called swag. It can be both symmetrical and asymmetrical. Frill - it is a draped vertically descending element that can have different lengths (depending on the size of the window, the design features of the kitchen). The part of the lambrequins connecting with the frill is called tie.

Sometimes you can see how the panels of lambrequins are thrown over the cornice. These elements are called overshoot, their ends usually hang down freely, adding splendor and solemnity to the interior. Puffs called lush folds, which can also be found in the design of lambrequins.

Depending on the location on the window and the features of the patterns lambrequins can be symmetrical and asymmetrical. The first ones will successfully fit into the kitchen of the correct square or rectangular shape, emphasizing its harmony.

Hide the "angularity" of the room, make it softer, allow soft draperies, lambrequins-arches, as well as models hanging down in beautiful folds. An asymmetric analogue will hide some imperfections in the layout or arrangement of furniture in the room.

Depending on the type of fabric used, several types of lambrequins are distinguished.

• Soft... They are made of soft, well-draped fabrics. This is the most common option in the kitchen, as it brings a sense of coziness and warmth to it. In addition, soft lambrequins are quite easy to clean.

• Hard (bando)... These are lambrequins made of curtain fabric, but having a rigid rigid base. They do not form folds and draperies; they can have a straight cut or curly edge.

• Combined. They combine the features of the first two types, for example, the top of such lambrequins can be rigid, frame, and soft tissues are used below. The combined design is suitable for spacious kitchens with large windows and high ceilings.

The fabric for kitchen lambrequins should be easy to clean, not afraid of numerous washes, high temperatures. Ideally, it should be impregnated with special fire-fighting and water-repellent compounds. For the kitchen, many housewives prefer natural materials - linen, cotton, viscose. Synthetic analogs are used less frequently.

The most inappropriate option is heavy expensive fabrics (brocade, velvet).

The most common fabrics for sewing lambrequins are the following:

• veil - allows you to create light, airy designs, drapes well;
• organza - stylish and original design, drapes well, looks respectable;
• felt – dense material that does not form folds, is also suitable for creating dense curly structures;
• chiffon - another option for light and flowing fabric, which will help to visually expand the room, add nobility to it;
• nylon - nylon products look unusual and elegant, but very capricious in care;
• atlas - allows you to create respectable, noble design options, the material looks very stylish.

Lambrequins can act as a color accent or create a so-called blurred border effect. In the first case, the color of the lambrequins will be contrasting, instantly attracting attention. In the second - matching the shades of the walls and furniture. Popular color schemes include the following options.

• It is easy to get a beautiful contrasting window decoration using red lambrequins. In general, this shade suits most kitchen styles, the main thing is to choose a design and a suitable saturation of red.

• In some interiors, the white version can also become a contrasting one. White lambrequins look perfect, impressive, they will help to emphasize other colors of the room.

• Green is also considered a good color for the kitchen., as well as shades from the same and similar palette (olive, light green, light green). It calms, makes the interior harmonious.

• The yellow shades of lambrequins will help to bring energy, sunny mood and lightness to the kitchen. Such options are especially relevant for the Provence style.

• Making the interior deeper, more solid, solid will allow the use of brown lambrequins. They are especially well combined with wooden furniture.

• Blue tint (as well as blue, turquoise, deep blue) adds harmony to the room, a certain stability, but experts say that this color reduces appetite, disposes to contemplation, reflection, and therefore is not the best for the kitchen.

• Pink modelon the contrary, it improves appetite, fills the room with warmth, comfort and ease.

• The feeling of coolness and solemnity gives lilac and purple shades of designs, it is better to dilute them with white, pastel, beige tones.

As for the design features, the following types of decorative elements of lambrequins are distinguished:

• chill mold - a textile element representing a symmetrical cascade; it is lined with vertical folds converging in the center;
• jabot (de jabot) - looks like waves hanging along the edges of the window opening and emphasizing its boundaries;
• cascade - located on the side of the curtains, has a zigzag look, which is emphasized by the use of contrasting fabric for the lining.

Classic products are usually symmetrical cut, complex draperies, dense fabrics. Modern counterparts can be both complex and laconic. Design novelties just mean models without folds and draperies - these are semi-rigid and rigid models.

The optimal height of lambrequins should not exceed 1/4 of the curtain length. Their length should correspond to the length of the eaves. It is also important to consider the location of furniture in the kitchen - it is dangerous to hang too long models near the stove.

It is important to combine lambrequins and the general style of the room, window sizes, design. For spacious kitchens with a solid set in a classic style, you should choose a voluminous lambrequin, a frame option is also suitable. For small rooms, on the contrary, more laconic and lightweight counterparts are suitable.

Visually enlarge the room, as well as raise the ceilings will help use of lambrequins of light shades. It is better to fix them to the ceiling cornice. For a kitchen with a balcony door, it is recommended to purchase asymmetric products so that the opening door does not violate the design of curtains and lambrequins.

You should also think about the features of care.... Many complex constructions made of heavy expensive fabrics can only be cleaned in dry cleaning. Lambrequins made from natural fabrics get dirty faster, absorb odors, they will have to be washed more often. Besides, when washing, natural fabric can be very wrinkled, which leads to additional hassle.

Synthetic and blended fabrics are easier to care for, look stylish and noble. However, if the slightest spark hits the fabric, it will flare up. Ideal if the model has a fire and water resistant impregnation.

Lambrequins go well with Roman shades. This tandem is especially successful in small kitchens. Lambrequin allows you to soften and make more comfortable austere and laconic Roman blinds. It is advisable to make them from the same fabric. An acceptable option is dense one-color Roman blinds and translucent monophonic lambrequins in the same range.

Classic style kitchen. A delicate fabric curtain in soft draperies and transparent tulle are harmoniously combined with soft lambrequins.

To colored curtains it is recommended to select dense or combined lambrequins to match. Colored textiles are usually matched to the tone of furniture or walls; it looks no less attractive in combination with light monochromatic walls.

Blinds for the kitchen - it is practical and easy to use, but they can look too strict and boring. Pleated lambrequins, which are thrown over the cornice and go down beautifully, will help to avoid this.

The next example is bright illustration of country style kitchen. Floral and floral ornament on lambrequins is one of the signs of this style. The overall color scheme of the product is combined with warm brown-pastel shades of furniture. Natural material also allows you to emphasize the lightness, environmental friendliness of the room.

The spacious classic dining room looks stylish and sophisticated openwork tulle on the windows. A carved lambrequin allows you to add personality and elegance to the interior.

For kitchen rustic the option of simple design lambrequins made of natural fabric became the optimal one. One gets the feeling that these are just curtains tied with braid. The olive shade brings a cool effect to the room, it is associated with calmness and vitality.

The following interior of the kitchen-dining room is made in the baroque style. The best addition to the curtains are multi-layer two-color lambrequins made of heavy fabrics. They are complex in design and form numerous draperies. All this emphasizes the luxury of the interior.

For information on how to sew a lambrequin in the kitchen, see the next video.