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Cornice?

16 years ago

In our new home, we will have windows with what I guess is a transom window above them -- you can see what they look like in this picture of a model: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mythlady/1041073163/. The transom part doesn't open.

Since wallpapering as I would like to do it is impractical for various reasons, I have an idea of using cornices over the windows that I would then cover with reproduction arts & crafts paper or fabric, to bring that element into the room without breaking our budget (some of the reproduction papers are $200/bolt).

But . . . where would I put the cornice? I'm thinking of something about 12" -- would I put it over the lower window, leaving the top one uncovered? Or over the top windows, which would then be partially covered? I will probably hang some kind of drapes under the cornice, although since the windows will have blinds, the drapes will be just for show.

Any help with this idea will be gratefully appreciated. I don't want to spend a ton of money for fabric or wallpaper and then find out the whole thing looks goofy --

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It is best to have enough room for stack back of drapes so that the door is cleared. Cornices are more formal, and for it to really look nice it needs to cover molding. Usually they are too deep over a slider to look nice proportionally. Plus, consider minimum distance for walking through. A door is typically 80", so at least 4" into that for a cornice or valance, therefore someone who is 6'4" would have to lower their head to enter/exit. Just saying! If you do drapes, consider an H-track rod. The carriers operate so smoothly! The rods come in 1.125 and larger metal. They can be wall or ceiling mounted. An H-track can also be built with a wood fascia if that is a preferred look.
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There is lots of room-specific detailing in this house. Unlike now where most people want the interior details to match all over the house (not something I agree with necessarily, although I believe there should be some "system")--the Victorians jumbled together all sorts of things: among the original details of this house are Eastlake, Gothic revival, Romansque, Italianate and Colonial revival sometimes adjacent to each other. Maybe this was a man's bedroom or study. Maybe this room was remodeled later, although I doubt something like this was too recent, the other more recent modifications were not of the same level of work as this.
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