08/22/2026
Cafe panels work because they solve a specific problem beautifully. You get privacy on the lower half of the window while light still comes through at the top. For kitchens, bathrooms, laundry rooms, or anywhere you want coverage without closing off the room, it's often the most thoughtful choice on the wall.
A few things that make these work beyond just the concept: scale matters. We use a small, petite pleat on cafe panels to keep everything in proportion with the overall size of the treatment. Side hems and bottom hems stay petite tooāyou don't want a big, heavy hem on a sweet, lightweight panel.
And fabric selection is everything. Cafes are typically unlined in a lightweight fabric, which means the material has to carry the look on its own.
On this Fripp Island new build, designer Dana Bacher selected two different fabrics for cafe curtains in different rooms. A neutral striped linen in the kitchen with those gorgeous marsh views, and a delicate block print in the scullery that adds just the right amount of pattern in a hardworking space.
Same treatment style, completely different character in each room.
Designer // Dana Bacher Design
Window Treatments // Savannah Window Fashions