Don't you love spell correction? You quite reasonably type "a cornice" and it comes out as "acorn ice". Shaking my head here.

I believe what you mean by cornice is what I (in South Africa) would call a pelmet -- a built-in covering over the top of a window that isn't a valance. I think the pictures below might answer your question.

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If it's the look you want, go for it. I love pelmets; I don't think they have ever become "dated", although sometimes they are used more frequently than at other times. Very neat look.

Usually the fabric covering gets dated first.

They are a little dated.

You might consider a long rod hung the full length + some extra length for stacking the drapes on the side where you have room. If you use a lighter fabric in color and density you'll get the bright effect of the sun without direct rays.

Hang the rod above the doors to give height to your room. They should be about 1/4 inch from the floor.

One common mistake is not using enough width. Curtains should be twice as wide as the window. If you skimp it will look like a sheet draped over the rod. Drapes should drape when fully closed.

A valence is fabric; a cornice is an upholstered board. Pelmet is another name for a cornice, more commonly used in the UK.

I have cornice boards in the master bedroom (DH made them) and have recovered them twice. I like the softer and more formal look as the room is quite formal and traditional.

The last time I recovered them I hung drapes with grommets and discovered that it would have been easier if the box were about one inch deeper. Previous drapes were pinch pleats and fit easily in the box. Just a word of warning.

Rina: Re auto correction--there's a Chinese restaurant here named Han Dynasty that sometimes autocorrects to Handy Nasty.

Not in the last two decades where I live.

Oh, poor restaurant, Tatts.

To heighten the intercontinental confusion, where I am, a cornice is what Americans call crown moulding.

A lighter look would be to do sliding panels that suspend from the ceiling. Easiest to use with slider doors and lighter and kind of more fun. Definitely on the modern look side however. They come in all sizes and colors.

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