The dismal default for most fabrics is combination of opacity and patterns. For some purposes, such as bedsheets or fully light-blocking window shades, this makes sense … for many interior applications, however, something semi-transparent and altogether more dynamic can make a world of difference design-wise.

Création Baumann has been involved with the production of so many types of textile it would be impossible to begin to list them all here. A brief overview would also be difficult, so the focus here will be on simple and color-free designs that revolve around creative pattern, printing and cutting strategies.

In some cases, transparency is a by-product of the constituent materials used and the way they are assembled. In others, a layering of certain components or selective slicing of the finished textile creates a system of solids and voids through which patterns of light and shadow emerge.

For interior space dividers and room-from-room separators, these provide a point of visual engagement but also exist in tension between being solid and invisible, windows and doors. Over glass, they add an artistic element absent in a traditional curtain, roller blind, cover panel or adhesive textile. Some have acoustic properties, too.

“The topic of Création Baumann’s sound-reducing textile solutions is an integral aspect of interior design. Surfaces made of concrete, steel or glass, minimalism and contemporary loft architecture: the architectural style of modernity fascinates us with its impressive aesthetics. But acoustics, temperature and light control are also part of a functioning indoor atmosphere. In addition, all these levels can be shaped and controlled with textile modules to specifically align them to an integral feeling of well-being for the people living in those spaces.”

If there is a take-away message maybe it is this: do not underestimate the transformative power of light-weight, relatively-cheap and easy-to-deploy materials that can serve various functional and decorative needs simultaneously. Black, white and shades of gray can go a long way using daylight and shadows, solids and voids.