For my latest ‘chat with’ I’ve had the pleasure of speaking with not one but two visionary women who have transformed an age-old craft into a vibrant expression of contemporary design.
Established in 2018, Julie Vendal and Nadia Al Zagir Balling are the dynamic duo behind &Drape, a Danish curtain studio who specialise in bespoke window dressings for both private homes and professional spaces.
Found in the most stylish addresses across Scandinavia and beyond, their made-to-measure curtain collections always make an instant impact, shaping both the atmosphere as well as the experience of a room.
Here’s what Nadia and Julie had to tell me:
Shall we start with how the idea for &Drape was conceived and what inspired the curtains you create?
Nadia: When we met, we both worked with lifestyle and design brands in the advertising industry and quickly realised a shared fascination with how an aesthetic and innovative approach can be merged with a traditional industry to create something new.
Julie: Many people see curtains as functional objects, but we want people to start thinking about them like they would a piece of designed furniture. Curtains really finish off an interior, and spaces can feel so naked without them, we love the magic curtains have on a room and call it ‘creating visual poetry’.
You both bring a wealth of personal experiences as well as skills to &Drape, can you tell us more about your backgrounds?
Julie: I come from an old curtain family, my grandparents made curtains from the 1960s, so I’ve been surrounded by the traditional curtain industry since I was a baby.
Nadia: My background is in the design and fashion industry. My father is from Yemen and my mother is English, and I remember always being fascinated by the many textiles in our relative’s homes that we often visited which was very different to the minimalistic Danish interior style my parents and friends in Denmark had.
Your Copenhagen showroom is always a must-visit, but which are your favourite &Drape products and why?
Julie: At &Drape we only offer what we ourselves love. We spend a longtime looking for the right textiles, and we’d rather wait for the completely right one than take in something that does not feel right.
Nadia: I think this is why we are known for constantly pushing the boundaries and making timeless, modern curtains packed full of design details, whether it’s our all-time favourite natural Transparent collection through to or our new Lace Curtains, which are inspired by the Danish author Karen Blixen’s home, ‘Rungstedlund’.
When considering tailor-made curtains in a home what would be your top tips?
Julie: We always recommend hanging curtains as high and as wide as possible. By using a discrete wall to wall ceiling track, they give the illusion of extra space in a small room. While in bigger spaces by using flexible curtain room dividers you can move the curtains around and change the expression easily.
Nadia: Secondly, when it comes to choosing colours go with your heart. We always recommend curtains with a dusty undertone, as they give a timeless modern look and rather than taking over your interior they will complement the rest of the room.
Julie: If you live with a lot of furniture that has a heavy texture it is nice to contrast it with a more smooth, clean curtain. While if you are missing tactility and atmosphere in your space, choose curtains with natural structure and depth.
Nadia: And finally, don’t be scared to ask for advice. We are always on hand to offer customised curtain styling solutions designed for your specific space and interior dreams – that is what we love doing most.
How do you see curtain styles evolving, what are the key themes we need to look out for next year?
Julie: There are so many exciting themes emerging at the moment, but for us flexible zoning and using curtains to create a ‘room-within-a-room’ is a at the top of the list, as well as blending 2-4 complementary colours together, rather than colour blocking, this approach teases the eye.
Nadia: Something is that you will see more of is shiny or reflective surfaces such as silver mirror or metallic net. These high-gloss, sculptural pieces create a futuristic vibe, adding a touch of luxury and intrigue, while lace and zebra patterned curtains give a playful contrast to minimalistic decor.
WANT TO KNOW MORE?
Thanks again to Nadia and Julie for chatting with me, my windows are definitely in need of a revamp now. To find out more about &Drape, visit their website.
All images courtesy of &Drape.
Enjoyed this post? Then why not read my chat with Jessica Vedal, and find out more about her latest collection created in collaboration with Danish lighting brand, Nuura.
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