Hello home, Caroline Borg

As a photographer and stylist, Caroline Borg works with light, color and composition every day. Her home brings together delicate café curtains, soft Roman shades and expressive patterns. We visit Caroline at home to talk about curtains as a natural part of interior design, her love of color and materials, and the art of creating a personal home that evolves over time.

"Nature, always. Ideally, I want every trip to be an experience of nature, and I dream of large windows with uninterrupted views. My family often teases me about how frequently I exclaim, “Look at that light!”."

Tell us about this home. What made you fall in love with it in the first place?

The high ceilings and the sense of space. We have an open-plan kitchen and living room where the ceiling reaches up to 15 feet at its highest point.

What did it look like when you moved in?

Modern and impersonal. Most of the building’s original 1930s character was lost when it was converted into apartments. Everything was white. A huge white IKEA kitchen and kitchen island with white worktops dominated the large room. The walls, the stairs – everything was painted white. And spotlights were the only source of lighting.

Is there anything you think people often get wrong when choosing curtains?
Many people make the mistake of choosing curtain tracks that are too short. Instead, make sure the curtains hang beyond the sides of the window, framing it beautifully without blocking the natural light.

Has your home turned out the way you originally imagined, or has it evolved in a completely different direction?

At first, we had no major plans to renovate or make changes beyond painting. But after five years, the kitchen and floors were starting to show significant wear and tear. We initially considered moving because there were so many things about the apartment that didn't feel quite right. In the end, we decided to stay and make it truly our own, adding more details that reflect the building's original character. It's been a long process spanning several years, and it's still not finished.

When a room feels almost right but something is still missing, what's the first thing you look at?

Textiles. They're what bring the room and furniture together, and they're often the very thing people forget when decorating.

How do you work with color without making a room feel too matchy-matchy?

I use different shades of the same color and then introduce an accent color.

What's your best advice for someone who wants to make their home feel more personal?

Take your time and let your home evolve naturally. Save up for furniture and pieces you truly love, and leave the impulse buys for secondhand shops and auctions.

If you could change just one thing about your curtains to make a room feel more thoughtfully designed, what would it be?

Choose double-width curtains wherever possible. Standard curtain widths are far too narrow, often leaving curtains hanging like thin strips of fabric on either side of the windows. Fabric quality is also important. Linen is always a safe choice and brings more texture and life to the fabric.

You've chosen Sakura, a much more expressive fabric than a classic solid-colored curtain. What made you feel confident enough to embrace pattern here?

In the bedroom, I chose Sakura in Plum as a Roman shade for the balcony door. When lowered, it almost looks like a piece of art. I love the delicate floral design, and sometimes I even wish I'd been bold enough to introduce more pattern. I'm thinking about adding a Minimalist café curtain in Sakura Ivory to the bathroom.

For someone who loves patterned fabrics but feels a little hesitant to take the plunge, what's your best styling tip for incorporating patterns in a way that stands the test of time?

I prefer not to mix too many patterns, much like the way I approach accent colors. In our bedroom, Sakura's delicate florals create a beautiful contrast with the classic, structured checks of our Kasthall rug in the Vichy pattern.