I would hang a valance way up ceiling height, that wouldn't block your view and would make your window seem like it was that big.

I don't think it's just the size of the print that's wrong. I think you need something with more depth and dimension. Midwestmom's idea would give you that depth. You could also do a roman blind (bamboo maybe?) but mount it above the frame (a few inches below the ceiling) It will make the window look bigger and avoid blocking the view.

The tiles are nice, but to my eye, the dragon fly and flowers don't really "go" with the radishes and still life. (subject matter and color) But eh, what do I know? I have a snowy landscape painting over my sink window.

What about hanging a three dimensional object rather than a flat print or a row of flat tiles? Maybe an interesting antique or antique looking painted wood sign, or two or three small (dessert size) plates in a row?

A covered cornice that barely brushes the window frame in a fabric you absolutely adore, possibly gimp the edges of it, i.e., a linen color or neutral covered cornice with a gimp of the teal blue.

How about a nice looking shelf with some decorative objects on it?

Can you post a photo of the window that is not zoomed in as much. Would like to see what it looks like on the sides of the window and the sink.

midwestmom, I never thought of hanging a curtain up high and just brushing the top of the window, that might work.

budge1, I think you have hit it on the head, depth and dimension is what is needed to bridge the gap between the depth of the cabinets and the wall.

littledog, something three dimensional would be good - I thought of that, but it is so hard finding anything that isn't country, formal or traditional, which will fit in that size space and not touch the ceiling. I bought the tiles about two years ago before the kitchen was even finished and before I even knew what accent colors I wanted.

patricia43, what is a gimp? Often times I have not liked cornices, but I guess if it was the correct color or style - I will have to look around on the internet.

Maybe I can find some type of an architectural element, or a iron grate or florish, maybe something copper or iron with some patina on it - although my kitchen has stainless appliances. What about a little free floating shelf with something on it?

Maybe I am trying to go modern and need to soften it a bit with a curtain - this is so hard for me. Thanks for the ideas.

I do have these old aqua kitchen utensils, perhaps mounting them above the window? Maybe not the honey dispenser, would need to find another utensil in aqua.

{{!gwi}}

I like the valance idea. It would nicely frame the view. There is such a wide choice of fabrics, I'm sure you'd find something with the accent colors you like.

Gimp is decorative cording, i.e, you have a linen colored or neutral colored cornice (padded, of course to make it look nice) and them the gimp (or edging in a color of your choice) sewn around the border at the bottom, some gimps are like braiding, similar to a cord from a tassel but much, much smaller. I will see if I can find some gimp and see. I am sure you will know what it is when you see it.

http://www.jkmribbon.com/wrights/braids/bulk_braids/1836130.html

This is sewn into the bottom of the cornice/valance as it is hemmed so that it appears to be a part of it, raw edge not showing. Only the braid shows along the edge, just a decorative accent in the color you like.

I think doo-dads will look too busy and detract from the beauty of a window.

I made some upholstered cornices for the windows in my old house. I had shades but you could get a woven roman shade or just plain window.

Threegrad, I used to have a little table (and chairs) set like yours. It was yellow, I think. It was my grandmother's. It went to college with one of the children and never returned. I think it died at a rowdy party after a trip to the French Quarter. It was very, very cute.

My first thought was a padded cornice, just barely covering the top of the window, bring your color in on that. It really is a pretty window but I think it needs something, don't care for the tiles.... they do nothing for me. Also what about a Roman shade with your colors that is stacked enough to not block your view? What are those designer patterns that you could have a custom valence made to your liking, some of the styles I've seen on here are gorgeous.

I like the aqua stuff; what about putting a clock between them?

Aqua Clock

How about a valance in the shape of an awning?

Here is a link that might be useful: Awning valance

susan209, roman shades will block too much even if they are pulled all the way up. Cornices seem so formal and blocky - I'll have to put something up there to simulate it to see if I like it.

patricia43, I knew about cording and braiding but never heard the term gimp before and I used to do quite a bit of sewing. If I had gimp on the cornice, I could bring it over to the lamp shades in the family room. les917 suggested that some time ago for the lamps but I haven't gotten around to doing anything with them yet.

littledog, I really like that clock. A touch of whimsey in a rather monochromatic and stark kitchen might be just the ticket - and with my aqua utensils - how do they say it on Room by Room - "the unexpected". I saw an aqua clock in BBB the other day and almost bought it, but decided not to - can't remember if it was battery or plug in - can't do plug in. I'll have to check back.

threedgrad, thanks for posting your photo, your cat does just like mine do - go where ever they want. I even thought about a natural maple cornice - they actually had them when I ordered my kitchen cabinets but I thought it would make it feel closed in there - I will have to hold or tape something up there to see how it looks. What type of wood is your woodwork in around your windows and doors - it is lovely. Your counter looks almost the same color as mine. Your floors are beautiful too - are they maple?

So much to do with decorating, due to a complete house remodel, and so little time. Well with the cooler weather I have less to do outside anyway.

I have three rooms to clear out before next week because the carpet layers are coming - yikes !! Stuff is stacked in guest room to knee high - paint cans, floral packages, boxes, etc. And the office - I don't even want to think about that room. Master bedroom isn't so bad. I'll probably have to stay up all night long several nights to get it all done.

thanks to all, more later...

graywings, Wow, now those are neat !!! Not so stiff as a cornice but not so frilly as a valance curtain. I will definitely have to look into these. Won't have time till later tonight though. Thank you so much for posting the link. I like the striped one with the big buttons.

Like Premier mentioned, can you post a picture of the window and sink standing further back in the room? I think that would really help everyone get a feel for the space.

I like the high valance best for a functional reason, although the others could be good looking. I like to entertain in the kitchen, and as my friends seem to like food as much as I do, even more formal parties seem to end up in the kitchen sooner or later. The kitchen is full of hard surfaces -- hard cabinets, hard walls, hard counter, hard flooring. When a crowd gathers there voices begin to echo until I get a headache. Lately I've been looking for ways to introduce soft, sound-absorbing materials into the room. I put a small rug under the table. I put curtains up on the corner windows by the table. And yes, I'm going to put a valance of some sort over the row of windows over the sink.

Rosefolly

Thanks spring!

All the wood in the back part of this 80 year old house is maple. The orangey color is what happens to 80 year old shellac on maple. (The living and dining have all oak.) That floor used to be covered with the most hideous brown vinyl asbestos flooring that I removed by hand myself. Once I got most of the brown vinyl stripped (and the black tarlike asbestos adhesive) the floor was sanded and refinished professionally. The walls had plastic tiles 2/3 of the way up the wall that had thick thick ribbed glue underneath. I stuccoed the whole wall and painted it white.

Now I am in a rental late 1970's house in AZ with no character inside or outside.

Thanks again.

Just the right clock would be perfect.

mitchdesj - I was thinking that same thing this morning. I actually found one at Ross yesterday, but it was that frosted plexiglass against a teal cardboard, but it was actually white - I want some aqua color.

I am going to put an aqua bowl with something in it on the end of the long peninsula, so that will bring in a little color and I picked up a aqua tea kettle for the counter. I have stainless cannisters but I wish I had aqua ones. I can't use orange or red as an accent due to the cherry floors.

If I had the money I would have put a colorful backsplash with glass tiles - that will be in the next house. This was my first complete kitchen remodel and discovered this forum after I had it completed - someone probably would hve advised me on adding that instead of just the 4 inch corian backsplash. Hindsight is always better I guess. But we went from a 9x9 kitchen and 9x9 dining room and separate family room to one big open room, lots more cabinet space, counter with bar stools and a dining table we can acutally walk around.

rosefolly, you are correct about all the hard surfaces and we don't have a lot of material in our area to absorb the sound of noise and it can even echo in here. I am looking to introduce some of that. Our floors are laminate so that doesn't give any absorption either. Our living room is adjacent the great room and is sunken with slate floor so another hard surface.

Here is a long shot so you can see what the window looks like from a distance. I am limited in how far I can get back due to the sofa in the family room and can't move it because the sofa for the living is in there temporarily till we finish up the molding in the living room. Lighting isn't great once again due to lots of light coming in the window distorting exposure.

{{!gwi}}

Thanks for posting the long shot. The window looks to small for the space. You have a lot of wall around the window. I think your initial idea of putting something above the window is a much better idea than putting up curtains, valances, cornice, etc. They will bring attention to the size issue with the window and would be to fussy for your new, modern kitchen.

I think your print idea is a good idea. Try to find a print that is a little shorter and wider than the window. Don't care for the idea of putting lots of little things up there or the tiles.

I agree with premier. I wouldn't do alot of little things.

I wish I could remember who did this but someone posted their kitchen window valence a while ago where they had the valence hanging from a row of little pegs mounted above the window and then the ends swagged down the sides a little.

If you don't like that idea I'd do a smaller print or series of small prints, but I think the key is to frame in black to link to the counter top. The aqua seems too light. Or what about wall words in black?

I LOVE the aqua. If you decide to sell them, let me know!

Is this the one you are thinking of budge? It's on the floral valence thread.

The valance posted above, which is using knobs that it hangs from, can also be used another way. Create an arc above the window with the knobs and hang valance from that. It will create the illusion of an arced window and can be hung high enough to make it look like you have a large window. It won't block any view. I think this would look great because your cabs go to ceiling height and so should your valance. Below is a link that will show what I mean.

Here is a link that might be useful: arched valance

premier, the window isn't as small as it looks in the photo I posted. Not really an expert at taking digital photos.

budge1, looks like someone found your example - and I like it. I am looking on the interet to find some material I like. Not that I need a sewing project now, but chances of finding the colors I want already made is probably very slim. I think a lot of little things wouldn't be good either - either just one teal or aqua clock or a valance.

dekr8 - are those your curtains? Did you make them or do they come already made up? If you made them, did you use a pattern? I really like that idea. I can almost picture some brown and aqua valance hanging from those pegs - I like the use of pegs - different than most valances. The first material, (link posted below) edged in brown would look great on my window I think.

DH and I love aqua too. We once went to look at a boat and when we walked up and saw the interior was aqua, we just looked at one another and knew we were going to buy it. This is the first time we have used it in our decorating. Well except maybe years ago when the southwest type colors were in.

retro cotton fabric, scroll down for photo

vintage hip chocolate and brown

Thanks for everyone's help. I have never bought anything on ebay before, I might try on that first fabric and see how it goes - I have 5 hours to think about it or I could just order one yard - since it is 54 inches wide that is probably all I would need - or I could get two yards and do a couple of pillows for the family room sofa or a table runner for my dark table. Would too much coordination with the same material be too hokey?

Hey yeah, that's it. You guys are good!

Love the fabric svg. Just make sure to buy enough of the accent colour to line the back completely.

Here's another one I might like better what do you think - it does have lime green in it too, but the overall pattern is larger? The curtains would be the touch of whimsey in the decor of the great room.

lime coco beach, scroll down for photo They also have a striped fabric in these colors available.

I love that one. I would get some of the stripe if you are thinking of using it elsewhere as well, but I think the brown with teh white squiggles would be a better liner for the circle fabric becasue it is almost a solid.

I think bringing in the aqua in the fabric would also allow you to display the aqua utensils somehwere else in the kitchen (maybe beside the window if there is room?). Voila! you have a theme.

Make sure you post pic of the finished product.

I found a turquoise clock for above the window, but I need a couple of turquoise starburst doodads or flourishes or something for either side - what do you think?

Please excuse the dishes - was still cleaning up after our party - and we all know decorating is much more important than doing dishes or cleaning. Ha!

Thanks.

{{!gwi}}

bud wi, you took the words out of my mouth. I see a shelf up there.

ditto-a shelf!