Floor-to-ceiling fabric panels make good partitions

Many old buildings in what used to be industrial areas are being renovated for residential use. These dramatic spaces often attract buyers on the basis of their sheer size. But prospective purchasers need to know that it may not be easy to carve out the room divisions and establish the noise control that residential spaces usually require.

In fact, I advise against making this a do-it-yourself project. Along with the architectural issues that will arise, anyone reconfiguring an industrial loft must take account of local building and safety codes. Professional help is essential -- unless you happen to be a licensed electrician and plumber as well as skilled carpenter and experienced contractor.

Q: I love the loft to which I recently moved. It's a two-level space, with the kitchen in the lower section and the living area and bedroom above it. At least that's how I think it will be configured once the loft is made more residential.

My plan is to use furniture and bookshelves to separate the living room from the bedroom. I also want to conceal the kitchen from view because I'm a messy cook.

Can you suggest a simple and contemporary style solution?

A: The shelving you plan to install is part of a design common in lofts. Shelves can be used to conceal the kitchen as well as to separate the living room from the bedroom. Cookbooks can obviously be displayed on the kitchen shelves, as can dinnerware and various accessories.

Another kind of partition can be easily fabricated in a drapery workroom. Flat panels of decorative fabric hung floor to ceiling -- and not gathered like drapery -- will function like sliding doors when installed on a track that allows them to be pulled to one side. Panel Track is the name of the hardware used in opening and closing the fabric panels.

A similar solution is shown in the accompanying photo. These panels with a track system are manufactured by Hunter Douglas to ensure light control as well as privacy.

Although they're called Skyline Gliding Window Panels, the sections of fabric can work perfectly well as room dividers. They come in a variety of colors and materials, both translucent and opaque, with the choice depending in part on how much you want to hide. The panels overlap one another and stack together tightly in case you do wish to open them to give a view of an adjoining space.

Rita St. Clair is a syndicated columnist with Tribune Media Services Inc. E-mail general interior design questions to her at rsca@ritastclair.com.