Custom Fabric Top Treatments

Custom Fabric Top Treatments

A drapery or upholstery top treatment is the crowning glory of a custom window treatment. Top treatments can be a “fun” and simple upholstered cornice or valance style top treatment, or an elaborate and elegant embellished fabric valance or festoons top treatment. The style of the top treatment must fit the use and style of the room (and window)and the home decor, and, the top treatment; whether an upholstered cornice, fabric valance, or other custom top treatment; must be perfectly proportioned for the space and decor it occupies.

Used on their own, or over another window treatment, custom drapery top treatments offer both decorative and functional advantages: Custom top treatment can fool the eye into thinking a window is larger than it really is, hide imperfections in a wall, or the top treatment may be used to conceal the headrail of a functional window treatment. An upholstered fabric cornice top treatment over lined fabric drapery or curtains can also reduce energy bills by preventing heat loss.

A custom tailored fabric top treatment design such as a straight upholstered fabric cornice will use a minimal amount of fabric and accentuate the design in the fabric. Top treatments with more dramatic effects are created using generous amounts of fabric in swags and jabots; gathered fabric valances, custom shaped fabric valance designs, or kingston or empire valances. Decorative fabric trim, passementerie, or other embellishments like decorative nailheads or fabric cording can add even more detail or elegance to your window's custom top treatment.

Cornices

Valances

Swags or festoons

Top treatments made out of wood are referred to as cornices. When those top treatments are padded and covered with fabric they become an upholstered cornice top treatment. Upholstered cornices or wood cornice top treatments that extend down the sides, either partway or to the floor, are referred to as lambrequins. An upholstered cornice top treatment is a good choice when the goal is to accentuate the fabric being used. That being said, an upholstered cornice top treatment can be as elaborate as any fabric valance top treatment. Decorative trim, cording, nailheads, keystones, woodwork, etc. can all be incorporated into the custom design of an upholstered cornice top treatment. Pleating the fabric or shaping the underlying wood frame of the cornice are all ways to create a more custom design for this top treatment.

Valance is a word that loosely means any top treatment made of fabric. valances can be any of these top treatment categories: Swags or festoons and cascades, pouf valances, roman valances, shirred valances, and pleated valance top treatments. A valance top treatment can be hung from a decorative pole, drapery rod, or mounted onto a board.

In nearly every historic period custom fabric swag and jabot or festoon top treatments have graced the windows in many a formal setting. Creating a swag top treatment can be accomplished with a single length of fabric. These top treatments are generally referred to as a scarf swag. The swags and jabots or festoon top treatment can also be constructed with neat, precise, folds. Either way, A custom swag and jabots or festoon top treatment makes a statement in any home's decor.