Normally I don't open the sheers, but thinking I might like to on occassion. So if I put the sheers on a decorative rod, how do I hang the drapery panels? My old drapes had a swag valance - very formal - that covered the top of the sheers where the pleats are. Now that would be exposed if I don't do a valance and not sure how that would look with a rod over it that the drapery panels go on. Hope this makes sense.

nothing is dated if it is a style you like ..it is easy for someone who prefers computer age styling to say that your style is DATED..they are not in your head. if you love it it is NOT dated..it is YOUR style. each person should seek out their own personal style umbrella..take a style test..there are tests in a lot of books and on web sites.. they generally ask a lot of questions about different styles and have you check the one YOU PERSONALLY prefer..the comparisons will be things like country, traditional, modern, asian, etc. if you like traditional or country style..you would be foolish not to go with jabots and swags, as they are country or traditional styles..if you are modern or asian or some other style that doesn't, then you won't want them..pretty simple. traditionaly styling will NEVER go out of style for people that prefer it. can you imagine buying a french chateau, or buying a gingerbread covered victorian old lady house and NOT wanting to style them in the traditional style?? it would be out of character with the house to not style them traditionally.. however if you are buying a tract house, it is basically your choice what style, you can go traditional or modern asian or country..by how you accessorize your home. people shouldn't expect other people's tastes to be the same as theirs.. as a designer i suggest people tear out pictures of everything they love, from every type of magazine that they buy, or save photos of online places that they love, and then sit down and look them all over and try to identify what it is that you love, the color, the style, the materials, the light, and then choose for yourself among these ideas how you will decorate your home, not a copy, but your own style umbrella. i also suggest that you make a list, of the colors and styles and fabrics and trims that you like, finishes etc..and carry it with you, so that you aren't temnpted to get something that won't fit into that style, just cause it is a good price, or whatever. you will notice also on this particular site when you look at photographs, they do tend toward traditional or modern with a few country..so who should say traditional or country are OUT?

Those look to me like linen...not sheer but light weight. The more I look at these the more I'm quite sure they're not straight panels. They just can't be. The center panel might be, but the ends are not. Here's what I'd do if I were you (so that you can do this and share the results with us and save ME the work because frankly I'm going to copy this look with the wider base...) I think I'd do an unlined, and very cheap fabric just to get a pattern out of...start with perhaps an 18" or 2' center straight cut piece, then add gad I don't know...some long sail shaped pieces, say...well actually use a standard width (54 or 55" and slice it into two triangles. I'd be sure to have at least 8" on either side on the top...maybe six, but not less. sew them together and see what ya get. You know if you use a better fabric you'll get a better drape to it, but starting with some cheap walmart cotton ($1 yard stuff) will give you a general idea anyhoo of the fit). I'd wash that crap first and use a good softener. It's normally got some horrible stiffiner that will ruin the drape effect. For the real drapes, if they were mine, I'd line the top in the contrasting fabric on the inside so that when you pull the center down, you get the contrasting fabric showing in that pocket.

This is now 2018, mid-year. Are valances "out of style"?? Thanks to shows like HGTV, it's easy to keep track of what is "in style" in regards to decorating your home. And this includes window treatments. But there's one thing that you must always remember, and that is that you are decorating your home for yourselves not for Southern Living magazine or for HGTV. Your home is your oasis. It reflects who you are. It reflects your style and your taste, the same way your hairdo does and the make and model of the car you drive. You're not decorating your home to please other people. It's your nest. You do it the way you want. I will give you some clarification about valances. I'm not a professional decorator but I have a certain skill which I think helps. When you look at valances, some of them are just more formal and more elegant than others. Take into consideration the room. If it's a formal living room or formal dining room, maybe look at valances that speak of elegance and sophistication. If you are talking about a family room, or a kitchen, look at how you've decorated the room. Look at your furniture, and the valance should coordinate in style with the rest of your furnishings. Some valances are less elegant than others. In today's world in 2018, using decorator curtain rods and no valance is a trend. But that's all it is .... a trend. One day that will also be out of style, just like granite on countertops, and dark hardwood floors are already going out of style, if you will. Now, instead of dark wood on the floors, they're using much lighter wood. And instead of granite with swirls and such, they're using quartz with very little design in it. But that's all just a trend. If you want your window treatments to be timeless, look for classic looking window treatments or traditional window treatments that will not go out of style. Just remember that it's your home and your nest. You decorate it exactly the way you want. Window treatments are not inexpensive. We had a designer come to our home just to see what he offered, and what it would cost to do one window. The window is about 5 feet wide and from the top of the window to the floor, it was 9 feet. We have high ceilings. I decided on a simple panel for each side, and a valance across the top that was tailored and not ruffled or gathered, what I would consider timeless and traditional. With a 40% sale off the price, it came to over $1,400. I'm not going to spend $1,400 on just one window, so I will shop at a department store or online. Decorating your window is like buying a piece of furniture. In regards to valances, for high ceilings, valances can look very nice and crown a window beautifully. If you have low ceilings, then a valance might appear to be "heavy" visually, if you will. Enjoy the process, because what you choose will be part of your home for years to come.