CURTAINS FIRST

The first thing Majbrit set in motion for her new home was ordering new curtains. One of the best features of her previous home was the long fabric curtains that created a tactile frame for each room. Since the old curtains remained in the old home, a new apartment meant new curtains.

“I felt that the black window frames and architectural style required softening, something tactile – something which added texture. I also wanted to preserve the beautiful natural light while integrating the curtains as an organic part of the décor rather than just a functional addition. Our view from the apartment is exceptional, so it was crucial that the curtains didn’t feel like a barrier” Majbrit says.

Majbrit soon realized the need for curtains as a functional addition as well as aesthetic. The impressive, black-framed floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding door partitions leading to the balcony allow both the sun and heat to flood the dining- and living room.

“It becomes very hot here in the summer if you can’t filter the sunlight, and I also want to protect both my art pieces and furniture from the UV rays.”

ICE-BLUE FABRIC ON METALLIC CURTAIN TRACKS

When Majbrit works with interior styling, she always uses mood boards as visualization tools. On her mood board for the new apartment, the open space living- and dining room was bathed in soft light from ethereal ice-blue curtains that gracefully danced across the floor in the breeze from the open balcony door.

She wanted fabric which was delicate and organic in appearance, ice-blue without leaning towards aqua. The length was to be adjusted so that the bottom hovered just so above the floor. The stitching had to be concealed. The curtain top would feature wavebands rather than pleats, and the bottom would have weight bands and overlock. Yes, Majbrit has an unwavering commitment to detail.

Majbrits final choice of fabric was from Swedish Almedahls’ ‘Shine’ series. Curtains, which couldn’t possibly be hung on an ordinary white curtain rod but practically demanded a rod that dared to stand out. So to complement the fabric’s delicate weave, Majbrit turned to Stillings’ exclusive HORISONT™ collection, which comprises fine metals and finishes such as brass, chrome, and stainless steel.

MATCHING THE ARCHITECTURE

She chose our square, decorative curtain track, HS 1515, in the unique metal colour finish ‘Palladium,’ mounted on 15 mm cubic brackets to create a light and graphic installation.

“The apartment’s architecture is graphic and minimalistic with strong, bold lines in concrete and black metal, making the HORISONT™ decorative curtain track the perfect match. The unique square curtain track is gracefully suspended from the ceiling on an very aesthetic cube-shaped bracket, creating an airy expression while highlighting the track’s presence as an integral part of the decor, rather than merely a practical curtain suspension.”

“I opted for the Palladium colour as it complements the ice-blue curtains in a way that accentuates both the colour of the curtain track and the fabric. Additionally, the curtain tracks constitute a beautiful detail in the overall interior design and harmonize with the other metal accents in the rooms.”

Only a few different metals adorn the apartment’s interior, where, for instance, the steel countertop in the kitchen and the oak furniture in the dining room have been carefully selected for their interaction. The curtain tracks are no exception:

“The strong, bold lines of the living room formed by raw concrete elements and black metal, meet a contrast in the rounded forms of the furniture and the warm oak floors – all draped in ice-blue softness. There is a consistent theme in my choice of materials, and I am particularly excited about the interplay between the colour of the curtain tracks and our smoked oak furniture.”

PERFECT WAVE CURTAINS

“For me, it was truly important that the core expression of the curtains – the waves – appeared as perfect and sequential as possible. Like a graphic artwork repeating itself over and over again,” Majbrit says.

That’s why both the fabrics and curtain rods were ordered with Stillings’ ‘Perfect Wave’ technology, ensuring that the fabric cascades in perfect ripples. A technology that Stilling has been pioneering and developing, and which has become the clear preference for curtain solutions.

The secret behind perfect wave curtains lies partly in the sewing of the fabric; instead of using the classic pleat tape for the curtain top, the special wave tape is applied.

To prevent the waves from flattening out and to maintain a perfect curvature, the curtain track is equipped with wave gliders – gliders that are connected on a cord – ensuring that all waves remain perfectly uniform in size and expression.

Finally, the curtain is adjusted with wave hangers and wave stoppers, ensuring that the first and last fold has a perfect shape and stopping the waves from flattening out.

HOTEL-STYLE CURTAINS IN THE BEDROOM

For the bedrooms, Majbrit has opted for two-layer curtains, commonly referred to as ‘hotel curtains’. These curtains consist of a light semi-transparent inner layer mounted closest to the window to provide privacy, and a denser outer layer to block out daylight.

“I always go to bed early and wake up early, but I also want to be able to decide when I wake up. Also, with teenagers in the house, it’s undeniably necessary to be able to control the light. Their rhythm doesn’t always align with ours,” Majbrit smiles.

The bedroom curtains were chosen for their tactility. With a precise idea of what she was looking for, Majbrit found some gems in a series of tightly woven wool fabrics.

“I was actually a bit worried that the thick fabrics in black and gray tones would create a gloomy look, as ours are rather small bedrooms, but that was not the case at all. The curtains actually add a subtle depth to the rooms – almost making them appear larger.”

The delicate, matte under-curtain is made of recycled co-polyester and has just enough transparency to allow a glimpse of the outside world while still offering privacy.

“My bedroom has been completely transformed by my new curtains. The two layers of curtains and the total control they offer, makes it feel like a hotel suite.”

BLACK CURTAIN TRACKS

“Since the curtains hang inside the black window frame, it made perfect sense for the curtain tracks to be matte black and mounted very close to the frame. Not because the tracks shouldn’t be seen, but because it creates harmony between the elements in the window,” Majbrit explains.

To create Majbrit’s hotel-style curtains, Stillings’ technicians recommended using the elegant AP 1121 curtain track. This track not only meets the functional needs, as its load-capacity is suitable for both the light under-curtains and the heavy wool curtains, but it also fulfills Majbrits aesthetic requirements. The track comes in the collection colour black, and the pre-drilled mounting holes allow it to be installed flush with the ceiling, without the need for brackets.

“The wool curtains and the graphic expression of the AP 1121 track blend into a kind of wall-mounted installation, creating a very special feeling of texture in contrast to the cool, raw concrete and dark metal aesthetics. It’s almost like putting on a blanket; it creates a sense of calm.”

Majbrit and her husband each have their own area in their home office, which is used frequently by both of them. Here, too, the AP 1121 curtain rod in black is installed inside the window frame. However, unlike in the bedrooms, it only holds a sheer fabric that provides privacy while allowing light and a view of the outside world to filter through. The subtle light gray shade of the wave curtains beautifully complements the rustic look of the room, seamlessly combining functionality and aesthetics.

“I have to say that all my new curtains have turned out exactly as I had hoped. My bedroom feels like a hotel suite, my office is inviting and functional, and my living room is draped in iceblue softness. I love it.”

ABOUT MAJBRIT WEIDEMANN

Majbrit Weidemann is a trained designer with a master’s degree in psychotherapy and leadership. Throughout her extensive career in fashion, interior design, branding, and marketing, she has specialized in creating brand value for lifestyle brands through design-driven communication and concept development.

Her passion for aesthetics and creative expression is not only reflected in Majbrit’s choice of profession but also in the carefully selected elements that adorn her own home.

Majbrit works as CMO at the iconic children’s footwear brand, ‘Bundgaard Sko’.