Tailored Elegance: Choosing the Right Curtains for Richmond’s Period Homes

Richmond’s historic streets are lined with homes of character. With tall sash windows, decorative cornices, bay fronts and grand proportions that invite generous light and thoughtful design. Dressing these windows isn’t simply a question of blocking out the sun or adding softness; it’s an opportunity to enhance the architecture, define the mood of a space, and honour the building’s proportions.

At Curtains by Max Buston, we work with homes just like these every day, whether they’re on Richmond Hill, Sheen Rd, or tucked into one of the town’s quiet period terraces. Here’s what we often consider when helping clients choose the right curtains for their Richmond home.

1. Respecting the Architecture

Older homes, particularly from the Georgian, Regency and Edwardian periods, often have tall windows and generous ceiling heights, both a gift and a challenge when it comes to curtain design. The proportions of the window, the depth of the recess, and the surrounding mouldings all inform what will look natural and balanced.

We often use tall interlined curtains with a Cartridge Pleat or our signature Tailored Pleat heading, hung on substantial brass or hand finished wooden poles. These styles complement classical rooms beautifully without overpowering them.

2. Bay Windows: A Richmond Staple

Bay windows are among the most common window shapes in Richmond homes, and among the most difficult to dress well. We regularly design for three-, five- and even seven-sided bays, using custom curved poles or layered treatments that combine Roman blinds for privacy with full-length curtains for softness and warmth.

The right solution depends on the room’s function, furniture layout, and the kind of light or privacy the client needs, all of which we explore during our design consultations.

3. Colour, Fabric, and Mood

Neutral tones often feel appropriate in period homes, but that doesn’t mean they need to be bland. We work with a wide range of textured linens, cottons, wools, and silks, often combining traditional materials with contemporary French and American palettes or subtle patterns to add interest.

For more formal reception rooms, velvets or silk can add a sense of richness and weight, or we go all out with very large patterns. In bedrooms, we often suggest dim-out or blackout linings to help manage light and improve sleep quality.

4. Handmade, for Good Reason

Every curtain we make is handmade, right here in our Richmond workshop. This allows us to control the quality, adjust to unusual windows, and offer design-led options that aren’t available off the shelf. It's also the only way to get the crisp folds and beautifully balanced drops that period homes deserve.

Visit Us in Richmond

Whether you already have a vision, or just know your current curtains aren’t quite right, we’d be happy to help. Visit our Richmond showroom at 15 Richmond Hill to see styles in person, browse our curated fabric collection, and speak to a designer.

We’re open Tuesday to Friday, 11am–4pm, or by appointment.