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What is the name of this window treatment I'm looking for?

addictedtoroses

14 years ago

We're remodelling our kitchen, and I've decided I want to use a certain window treatment, but I can't find it because I can't remember the name of it. Can you help me?

It's normally sold as a shade but I can't find it when I search "shade". It has little loops and hooks on the back that you hook up when you want the shade up. When it's up, the effect is almost that of a gathered balloon valance. Help! I've decided that this would make a nice valance for the long space between the ceiling and the window- like I would hang it at the ceiling level and let it come down to where a regular valance would on the window.

Thanks in advance!

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Comments (7)

graywings123
14 years ago
It is called a balloon shade, but the ones I have seen are designed to be stationary. Sometimes the balloon area is filled with tissue paper or plastic bags to get the puffiness just right.
folkvictorian
14 years ago
If you want one that raises and lowers, try looking at Roman shades. When up, they lie flat, in a shingled way, not a swag-y way, but at least they're mobile. Good luck in your search!
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Beautiful! I'm a fan of pleated shades - not cellular, although that could work, too, but I find pleated to be a cleaner look and the stack is tiny so they disappear when fully open. They are light filtering, not room darkening but in general, anything that is room darkening has a larger stack because it's a thicker or doubled material. On your windows, because they are not very tall, if you hung pleated shades as an inside mount, the stack would probably not be more than the size of your window frame. In other words, none of the glass would be covered when they are open it would all be exposed to your view.
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I think baloon shades would be too bulkie in the corners. Looks like you have enough room in the corners to get roman shades in there without interfering with each other. How high to mount them would depend on what the drop is. You want the drop to cover up the top of your trim and maybe a bit more. You can get that info from the place you buy from. A nice treatment that would go well with your decor is a vignette by hunter douglas with the cordless option. Beautiful treament with a nice clean look. No cords hanging. If you want to do a cornice in the corner. I would recommended it be done professionaly. Then when you raise the shades they will disappear under the cornice.
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dawnp
14 years ago
Hi addicted,

As Graywings said, it is called a balloon shade. The ones that are stationary are called mock balloon shades/valances.

I have made these before. If you can't find them in the store, perhaps you have a seamstress make them for you.

Dawn
tomorrowisanotherday
14 years ago
You aren't thinking of an Austrian valance, are you? I think they can be raised and lowered or made to be stationary.

Here is a link that might be useful: cool website for patterns
2ajsmama
14 years ago
Like this?

Simply Shabby Chic (Target) calls it a balloon shade. It has the rings in the back like you're describing.
bronwynsmom
14 years ago
Yes, it is a version of a Roman shade, and it gets its balloony-ness from being cut wider than the finished with, and then reverse pleated or gathered at the top. It can be either stationary or operable.
Just to give you an idea, here are instructions for a gathered one :
http://www.doityourself.com/stry/balloonshade
And for a pleated one:
http://www.ehow.com/how_4719109_pleated-balloon-shades.html

I haven't vetted these instructions, but these sites can help you communicate what you want to a seamstress, if you have them made.
addictedtoroses
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you all for your responses. You're right, they're called Balloon shades or valances. Yesterday, I love the website you suggested- I didn't like the Austrian Valance, but I looked up the Balloon Valances on that site and their pattern for Pleated Balloon Valance was exactly what I had in mind. Thank you.

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