How to Build a Tuscan Shade & Cornice Valance

Making the Valance

• 1

  Measure the width of the window inside the frame. Measure the height of the window inside the frame and divide it by 4. Measure and cut a piece of plywood to this size. Draw an arch, “V” shape, or other decorative edge along one long side of the plywood and cut the edge with a jigsaw, if desired.

• 2

  Measure and cut a piece of fabric and three pieces of batting to the size of the plywood plus 3 inches in length and width. Spread the fabric on a flat surface with the patterned side facing down. Layer the batting over the fabric.

• 3

  Set the plywood valance centered over the batting and fabric. Wrap the fabric and batting around to the back side of the board on all sides and staple every 2 inches. Keep the fabric as smooth as possible along the front by pulling it upward first and then over to the back. Bring the corners to the back last, pull up and over, and staple in place. Cut away any excess fabric.

• 4

  Secure three evenly spaced elbow brackets each to the top edge and sides of the valance with ½-inch screws. Hold the valance to the top inside of the window with the fabric side facing the room. Attach each elbow bracket to the inside of the window frame with ½-inch screws.

Making the Shade

• 5

  Measure the width and length of the inside of the window and add 4 inches to both measurements. Measure and cut a piece of fabric to this size. Spread the fabric out on a flat surface with the pattern facing down. Fold the two long sides to the back by 2 inches and the bottom up by 1 inch. Sew the side folds down.

• 6

  Cut three strips of ring tape to the length of the fabric, making the cut just before and just after a ring at each end. Place a strip of ring tape over the folds up each side of the shade 1 inch in from the edge, and place the third strip to run up the center of the shade. Hand stitch the tape to the fabric just above each ring.

• 7

  Count the number of rings used on one strip of tape. Measure and cut that many dowel rods to the width of your window inside the frame. Run the dowel rods across the width of the fabric through each set of three rings.

• 8

  Cut a 1-by-2-inch board equal to the window’s inside width. Place the top, raw edge of the shade over the 2-inch width of the board. Staple through the fabric and into the board every 6 inches.

• 9

  Cut one length of string to twice the height of the window. Tie one end of the string to the bottom, center ring. Run the other end of the string upwards through all of the rings that run above the first one until the string comes out the top ring.

• 10

  Lift the 1-by-2-inch board and position it behind the valance against the top of the window with the fabric front facing the room. Drive 2-inch screws through the board and into the window frame every 8 inches to hold.

• 11

  Screw a hook screw into the underside of the 1-by-2-inch board on the left or right side. Pull your string tail downward to draw the shade up to the height you desire. Tie the string to the hook to hold the shade in place.