Thanks for reminding me about proportions. A will consider moving the shades onto wall, but I was thinking of covering a couple of inches of the the first pane of glass, if using a valance. What kind of valence would give a more updated look, and not too formal? Would you suggest two side panels or skip the panels. I thought four panels might be too much.

Thanks for your time.

Here are some ideas for pretty top treatments over your shades:

Relaxed London Shade with pleats and trim:

Valances - Top Treatments · More Info

Tapered pleated valance with trim:

Traditional Hinsdale · More Info

Tapered pleated valance in floral pattern:

Bright by the window · More Info

Fishtail valance with trim:

Foyer designs · More Info

Long shaped valance in blue and white plaid:

Grand Country House · More Info

Shaped valance with "bells":

Green Mountain Homestead, Killington, VT · More Info

I don't think you have enough room on the sides of the bay window to do panels--there's not enough room for the "stack back." But you could do a valance and panels on the living room windows. Asymetrical valances over panels would look very nice, something like this:

Window Treatments for Bathroom WIndows · More Info

It might be a good idea to contact someone who could fabricate the valances for your windows. Lots of towns have independent contractors who work out of their homes and are reasonably priced. They also are very skilled at determining scale, proportion, and style. Many of them have trade accounts at the better fabric houses and can get you great fabrics at a discount off retail.

you have baseboard heat in the equation also, which doesnt play well with full length panels.

Diana is correct. You can do what you’re asking here, but the size and shape of the valance needed, will always look out of proportion.

IMO none of the ideas work with waht you want to do. None of them would cover the top of the shade that is showing without looking way out of proportion. I would just leave it the way it is or change out for drapes. BTW please lower thtart work so the top lines up with the top of the windows that will bring it down to pretty close to the proper height .

Good comment on the art work, the charcoal is just to hide some wall marks until we paint, it is too big for the space with the chair rail, sure hope I can find the right art someday! I think panels on these window would be too much and we would lose space for eventual art options, do you agree ? Do you think a 18-24" valence would be too tall if it covered part of the top pane and the roller for both the bay window and the side window?

Remember that a top treatment doesn't necessarily mean fabric.

This might be a great option for you! Determine the depth you'll need to box in the existing motorized shades. Make them as clean or traditional as you want with added moulding.

Thanks This may be a great option. Any suggestions for planning for the option of hanging drapery panels in the future, such as depth or with of wood valence.

Honestly, I would consider replacing the shades at some point. For one, they shouldn't be mounted on the woodwork, but they also should be slightly wider than the molding, not narrower, unless they're inside mount. I assume they did this option because of the bay, but it doesn't look good on the single windows.

Anyways, if you're gonna keep them, you need 2" between each treatment. You could make the valance/cornice with a 6" depth over the existing shades, but if you want to hang panels first, then a valance/cornice, the rod will need to extend out 6" if the panels are stationery. If you want to open and close them, it'll need to extend out 7 or 8", and the valance/cornice would need to extend out 10". It would probably be best to forget about panels if you're keeping the shades as is.

I would just make the valance about 2" wider than the window frame. I like them to hug the window rather than too wide otherwise it then looks like a top hat.

If you were to hang panels, then a valance/cornice would need to be wider than the rod. You'd need to figure out the width of the rod first, before you made the valance/cornice.

Another thing, what ever you decide, the valance/cornice should be one piece to fit the bay.

I would do some research on the drapery hardware before you create the wood valances. So in the event you do add drapery, you'll have enough space. It's always better to go slow and steady and add a half an inch ;)

Thank you for your time on this. Very helpful! I am thinking we will just do the wood valences, take off the chair rail and add some great transitional paper to make room look tall and updated!

If you have any photos of wood valences used for bay windows, please share.

Sadly this is not on a bay. I hope you get the idea of a wood valance!