Curtain Call! Part V -- The Return of the Valance

Not that it really went away, but in this Mid Century Moment we're having, valances are not de rigueur as they were in the excessive 80s.  However, they do serve a practical purpose:  they hide unsightly mechanisms and cover uninteresting windows.  They can also add a certain finish to a room, and of course there are cases when draperies just don't work.  I think it's time to reconsider the valance (I'm using that word generically) and here are some photos that show how it can coexist in less traditional settings.

If you remember the Curtain Call "Ballgown" post, I cropped this photo to show just the drapery part of this elegant treatment by BLS Design.  Well, here it is in its full glory.  It's one of my all time favorites.  But it works best under certain conditions.  Since it's designed to resemble a shirred bodice, "inspired by a Balenciaga dress," by definition it needs a narrow expanse of window.   High ceilings also help, although it can be modified to work with lower ceilings than these.  Silk, used here, is ideal, but not necessary.  

I have to admit that I shamelessly copied this treatment (indeed, the sincerest form of flattery) under less ideal circumstances, as you'll see in the next shot, and it still looks beautiful.

With apologies to Messrs. Bentley, LaRosa and Salasky, here is my version of their shirred valance.   In this situation, the ceilings were 9 feet high (theirs' were probably 12+) and the fabric was a semi-sheer wool crepe.  However, the window was tall and narrow.   That ( plus having it made by a pro) makes it all work.  Photograph by Andrea Brizzi.

Here's another soft yellow bedroom with great modern furnishings and a good looking valance (or more specifically, a cornice).  If you enlarge the photo, you'll see that the trim appears to be tiny silver nailheads.  Great touch.  (House & Garden; photographer and designer unknown)

These two photos above are in a London townhouse designed by Kelly Hoppen.  They illustrate her  deft and whimsical touch with two-toned treatments.  (photography by Henry Wilson for Metropolitan Home)

In this promotional photo for Corragio textiles, they feature a most elegant valance (see next photo).  While appropriate for this rather grand room, it could just as easily be at home in a more modern setting.

Here's the close-up of the valance.  It is exquisite in its drape and detail.

Stripes and the border trim give this pleated valance a casual appeal.  (source unknown)

In a Montauk house, designer Phillip Gorrivan gets great mileage out of this pleated valance by using three very different fabrics.  (Traditional Home; photographer unknown)

Whoever did this room cornered the market on this striped fabric (yes, it's on the ceiling, too!)  But it looks great, and I especially love the simple valance --notice how the fabric is worked on the border.
(Traditional Home; photographer unknown)

When you have a situation like this, a window framed by built-ins, an inset cornice is a great idea.  I love the shape of this one.

This London townhouse has the most beautiful dining room, and the soft window dressing adds to its charm. Under different circumstances, it could be heavy and stuffy, but with Jeffrey Bilhuber's masterful touch it feels fresh and new.  (Elle Decor; photographer unknown)

At his home on Maryland's Eastern Shore, designer Joseph Paul Davis used a tailored cornice to soften  a corner window.  (source unknown) 

Bay windows can be difficult, but this one is handled with a wonderfully light touch.  Notice how the curtain is draped over the valance.  (source unknown)

I'm sorry for the quality of this image.  Like many of the photos ripped out of magazines over the years to add to my idea files, this one got a bit damaged in the process.  But designer Jackye Lanham created beautiful cornices for this Atlanta house, photographed by Michel Arnaud.  I would describe the furnishings more as "classical" than "modern" but these tufted cornices that frame the windows transcend those labels.  See photo below for a close-up.

To obtain the best effect, these cornices should be made by an upholsterer.

This dining room in an old Henredon ad may well be a stage set, but there's a great idea here, especially for windows that are plain or views that are worse than plain.  It appears to be a scrim over the entire window, and it has a clean, modern look.

I've always loved these Roman shades (photos above and below) that T. Keller Donovan designed for a Manhattan apartment.  The navy edging gives it a crisp, tailored look (photography by Tria Giovan for House Beautiful)

Here's the bedroom's version of Donovan's shades.  While these appear to be operative, you could also use a faux Roman shade, and get the same effect for less expense.

What a jaunty variation on the tried and true roll-up shade.  Easy and adaptable, it would be great in any casual setting.  (source unknown) 

I hope these images give you some food for thought.  My next post will continue our consideration of the valance and other examples of window treatments that just exude charm.

As usual, I want to thank everyone for reading, but especially a new "Follower."  Greet Lefèvre is an interior designer from Belgium who writes a wonderful blog called "Belgian Pearls."  I highly recommend checking out Greet's posts, which have a wonderful aesthetic and point of view.  You'll enjoy them.