No no no valance!

Here is what I have now. Just kinda boring.

There are some valances that have nice moderns shapes and patterns but most look dated. Add your color with art, a rug runner and a piece or two of large colorful pottery.

I would consider switching out the blinds for woven natural shades. Your kitchen is so pretty, the blinds do look a little blah.

Love those woven shades, but just bought the wood blinds, so they’re staying. In hindsight, should have gone with something else, but trying to make the best of it. Here are some pics of valances I was thinking of. I know the last one is a Roman Shade, but maybe I could do a faux one? Or really bad idea?

I think a nice deep valance in a fabric that you love would add a lot of personality and warmth to your room. Just make sure it goes up to the ceiling and is wide enough; skimpy won’t do!

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If you do a valance, a tailored one like your pictures are nice. Sorry, I have to disagree with the wide enough suggestion. You want it to hug the window. If it's too wide, it ends up looking like a big top hat! As for the height, depends how long it is, if it's a readymade. If custom, I don't care for them all the way to the ceiling. I like the look of the second pic you posted as opposed to the first pic. JMO.

Normally I would agree with you shadylady but there isn’t that much room above this window and this is a fairly wide wide( double ) window so in the interest of scale it should be wide enough as not to look too skimpy. If you drop it down too far you end up blocking the light and view. Just make sure you get the proportions right.

Doesn't matter how wide the window is, a valance should hug the window, not be wider. I'm not following the skimpy part.? It doesn't give the same look as curtains.

As for proportion, it should be 1/5th or 1/6th of wherever you're mounting it, to the bottom of the window, so it doesn't necessarily have to go to the ceiling.

I would definitely install a valance that hugs the window frame. It doesn't have to be a plain rectangle. Make sure it's an updated fabric that adds color but also pulls in some colors from your b/s and countertop. Have fun with it!

I was referring to the actual depth of the valance!

Wouldn't that be length?

😂yes

Well I knew what I was thinking 😜 , sorry for the confusion! Since there is not a lot of room above the window, in this case I would make the length of the valance go from just below the ceiling line to just below the header of the shades.

I am with sushi...no valance.

I love valances to add some color and pick up design from another part of the room (i.e. kitchen bar stools). It seems to me that a lot of designer "rules" just add to rooms all looking the same. Do what you like to make your kitchen appeal to you.

It seems opinions are split on this. While I think the woven shades would look best, if you are committed to the blinds you bought, I think I would do a valence. I would do a solid color (maybe picking up a color from an adjoining room) or a very simple pattern.

I like the idea of a valance or a fabric covered cornice. Both are very easy to make and install, and you have the luxury of choosing your own fabric. Many fabric stores also offer coupons! IMO the only thing that makes a valance look dated is the style and fabric. If you choose a valance, it should NOT be frilly or too gathered! That old formula about using 2-2 1/2 times the width of the window for the amount of fabric is what would make it look dated. A valance should hang almost straight, with very little gathering, almost like a cornice. (Requires much less fabric and is cheaper too!). Good luck!

post pics when you are finished.