With just 2 screw in hooks, a couple clips, and a pretty table runner you can create a pretty inexpensive and simple to change window treatment like I made. Add a plant or cactuses in the windowsill if you like. You can use a lot of hooks or just 2 like I did.

I would either put a cloth box valance there or a wood valance that matches your cabinets.

We agree with Belle, a wood valance would be great! This customer of ours used one in her new kitchen and we love how it looks!

It looks nice the way it is, but if you wanted to dress it up a bit...you could add larger items on the sill. I think the muttons are too nice to cover up. You could also try lowering the piece above, so it sits on the trim...may work better with the flow of the cupboards and work as one with the window.
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You have a lot of dark colors in there. Your walls do brighten the area but, in my opinion, your disconnect may be the white trim on the window. Perhaps if it were the same color as the walls, it might not be so overpowering to the eye. I do agree that having hanging plants, or a stained glass panel, something large enough to balance the rest of the area, would give a focal point that would be more pleasing than the trim around the window. I hope this makes sense to you.

I agree with you whynottryit. When I had my kitchen remodeled the window was supposed to have the quartz counter on the base of the window, but the contractor made a mistake. The rest of the trim in the room is white so I thought maybe there was a "rule" that all of the trim in the room should be white. I also thought about painting the room a white color. I do like the wooden valance that goes over the windows in the picture, wish I would have thought of that when it was remodeled. Maybe I can find a pretty cloth valance or table runner!

Could you move your sign down to be at the top of the window? Either on the top of the molding or attached to the front panel at the top. That wouldn't be as obtrusive as a wood valance yet would probably give the same effect. If you had intended to have the counter top on the bottom of the window, do you have any "scrap" pieces left that you could use to just place in the bottom of the frame? It's hard to know what your style in the rest of the house is but I'm pretty quirky and would love to see something fun and personal there, either a large figurine or statue, a mobile with vintage cookie cutters or measuring cups, whatever says "you" in your kitchen. I have this little guy sitting on my refrigerator. The pic isn't that great but you can get the idea. Just something that makes you smile while you're standing at the sink.

I know I posted this discussion quite a while ago! Just wanted to get some opinions on a valance I found. What do you think of this one? Too "dressy"?

Sorry about the dishes in the sink and the cold medicine sitting in the window :)

Nice to see what you're doing now and yes, I'm afraid I do think that's too dressy. I love what you have there now. Is there a reason you feel you need a valance or something else there?

Oh, as far as I am concerned, that's just life and sometimes we don't have to time to retake that quick pic because we forgot life was going on. :D

I don't know what it is... I think you are right before about it not being so overpowering to the eye if it were the same color as the walls. I just feel like the window doesn't "blend" with the rest of the kitchen.

I'm thinking maybe I should paint the walls the same color as the window trim, which is also the same color as the ceiling.

I agree about painting the walls a lighter color to blend in with the trim. The white window is very stark against the dark cabinets. I don't think you should use any type of valance on that lovely window.

Is it the color or the style that gives you the disconnect? Personally, if I were to paint anything it would be the trim, not the walls. Try to visualize the starkness of the contrast if you had the walls the same as the ceiling and trim against those dark cabinets. I'm not sure that would be a happy combo.

What about a roman shade there? That would give you a little more umphh without taking away that wonderful space and light coming through. You could use that to bridge the color gap too.

I do agree with whynot. A better, more costly solution would be to have the window trim redone in the same stain as the cabinets, so it all reads as one. This is my window to illustrate

I have one above my kitchen window and just keep it open so it pretty much acts as a valance. Similar to this one.

Oh, sorry for the confusion, tgb. I wasn't recommending staining the color of the cabinets, merely going for a slightly less white color...something creamier. Yours are lovely though.

If you opt for a valence curtain, a useful tip is to hang most of it against the wall space above the window (a space called the "blind light"), with just the lower edge of the fabric hanging down in front of the glass. This makes windows look taller. This might resolve the oddity of the window being shorter than the cabinets that flank it. It also admits more light and protects the fabric from fading. Good luck with it. You have a very handsome kitchen to start with :-)

You guys are right. The window does need to match the cabinets. Ugh... work lol

I agree with you that this valance is too dressy. Have you considered outside mount matchstick blinds in a dark color like pecan? Mount up high, and let it hang down to cover as much or as little of the window as you want.

It seems to me that the contrast is catching your eye. If you add back splash and a crown molding (between the ceiling and the wall in white), you will achieve a more harmonious and integrated room.

I have been wanting to add a back splash as well

I have a similar situation, but I like the relief from the dark wood that the white trim gives to the eye.

Callie, I feel that all dark wood in my kitchen would be a bit oppressive, but your kitchen may not be as dark as mine.

My wall color is similar to your wall color. Maybe a valance with the wall color and white and the cabinet color will tie everything together. I agree with tfswest about hanging valance higher than the window :)

I came across this sarong that I brought back from Mexico several years ago and decided to throw it on top of the window to see how it looks. I think I kind of like it :)

I think the window and trim are too pretty to hide! I say, beef up the plants. Have you seen hanging window gardens?