I Tried This Gwyneth Paltrow–Approved Curtain Brand to See What All the Fuss Was About

Shopping for curtains isn’t a design task I look forward to. While they’re one of those finishing touches that makes a room look truly done, I don’t relish feeling my way through the maze of materials, sizing, and hardware. That much is clear from the fact that my husband and I didn’t put anything special up in our Brooklyn two-bedroom for four years (don’t judge). Admittedly, there are a few other reasons for the reluctance: We only have four windows total; a building across the way blocks the afternoon sun; and most of the year we have tree coverage that obscures the view in from the street. Ultimately, curtains is the category where I want someone else to do most of the heavy lifting for me. Enter Everhem.

I’ve written and edited my fair share of house tours, and while many use custom curtain and shade services, one window treatment brand has popped up again and again over the past few years: L.A.-based Everhem, founded by interior designer Haley Weidenbaum and her husband, Adam. Sarah Sherman Samuel uses its drapes in her projects; Heather Taylor Home has done a cobranded line; and Gwyneth Paltrow hung its shades in Goop’s New York office. Alyssa Coscarelli swears by the blackout curtains, and Madelynn Furlong turned to the company for her Manhattan apartment. I’ve spotted the window treatments in a photographer’s cozy home, a jewelry designer’s greenhouse, one Connecticut nursery, and this serene primary bathroom. I was intrigued, to say the least: What was it about these curtains that had everyone snapping them up, especially given their higher price point (standard sizing starts at $400)? 

Everhem Café Curtains

In November 2023, our panel of judges handed Everhem a Good Design Award for its cotton-linen blend Café Curtains. Turns out, that was the style I’d been looking for and didn’t even know it. 

Velvet was too heavy for us; paper shades too light to feel long-term. Plus I’m one of those people who actually prefers the sun to filter in in the morning; I don’t like sleeping in pitch black. Offering privacy without blocking the whole window and more romantic in style than top-down/bottom-up shades, sheer café curtains can channel a cottage kitchen or Paris bistro (I’m a big fan of the look at New York’s Corner Bar). In our space, I knew they’d lend the same timelessness that we embrace in all of our furnishings, decor, and paint colors. But, as an editor, I like to test as many products as I can to get a better sense of quality and material. I decided to get in touch with the brand to see if I could try out the curtains at home.

A Little Hand-Holding for Measurements

The measuring process on our initial call—yes, you can choose to talk to a real, live person—couldn’t have been simpler. Ahead of my scheduled chat with Kasandra, one of the customer support managers, she sent me a brief prep guide on products, tools, and more to have on hand. Together over the phone, we measured each oddly sized window in our circa-1800s carriage house, taking note of the width and length of the frames as well as where the hardware would go (we chose to inner mount). There was none of the trial and error inherent in buying curtains off the shelf, not to mention the wasteful nature of lots of packaging and returns—one of the selling points that makes the splurge worth considering in my eyes. 

Customize Like an Interior Designer

Everhem’s café curtains come with more than a dozen customization options, including fabric, pleat style, lining, and hardware. A few days after the call, three neutral swatches (primarily a linen-cotton blend with a small percentage of polyester) arrived, and Kasandra sent several images via email of the different pleat options. After holding up each piece in various lighting throughout the day, I decided on the Bone hue with classic box pleats and matte black hardware to blend in with the window frames. Lastly, I loved the look of two curtains instead of a single panel, so we went that direction. 

Ordering With a Few Clicks

Order quotes are inputted and updated on Everhem’s website so that you can double-check that everything is correct before adding yours to your cart. The brand is clear and up front about the timeline for drapery, shades, or hardware: up to six to eight weeks. That’s because each window treatment is hand-sewn and custom-made in the U.S. While some components like cords might be sourced globally, manufacturing—including cutting, sewing, hardware forging, and powder coating—is done solely by small American businesses. All of that comes with a higher price, of course, so I think Everhem is a better bet for a longer-term rental or a home you own.

The Fine Print

A few things to note before you dive in. All products are final sale; there are no returns unless something is incorrect, damaged, or defective. Your fabric color and pattern selections are limited to six options, but I expect that to grow over time as the brand does. (If you’re in the market for more color and a slightly lower price, try Loom & Decor or Ballard Designs, but you won’t be able to customize to specific measurements or pleat style.) 

A DIY-Friendly Installation

When they arrived, I could see that the hype was real. The products come well packaged in hard cardboard but not overflowing with unnecessary padding, and installation was straightforward. For something more involved, like a floor-to-ceiling look, I could see the process taking longer or the need for hiring a Taskrabbit, but café curtains are very DIY-friendly; it probably took all of 30 minutes to put up the four rods and curtains. The slightly textured panels bring warmth without feeling fussy; the pleats are sharp but not straight as a dart; and they add a little privacy without being lined. Everything about them, even the hardware, is soft and delicate. They do, indeed, finish the room, and without the usual shopping anxiety.