How to Build a Mediterranean Style Window Cornice With Nail Heads

Measure the width of the window outside the window trim. Add eight inches. Cut plywood sheet to 18 inches tall by your width measurement.

Place the plywood horizontal on the work table. Measure 10 inches from the bottom left corner and mark. Measure 10 inches from the bottom right corner and mark. Measure to the center of the width and mark. Measure from the bottom center mark 10 inches upward and mark.

Position a bendable curve on your left, upward center and right marks. Draw a curve. Cut the curve out of the plywood using a jigsaw.

Measure the thickness of your 1-by-6-inch board. Wood measurements are less than the advertised size. Subtract the actual thickness from 18 inches. This is the height measurement of your side boards. Cut two pieces of 1-by-6-inch board to your height measurement. Cut one piece of 1-by-6-inch board the width of the plywood.

Glue the long 1-inch edge of your top board. Align the board with the top edge of the plywood and press into place. Glue the 1-inch short end of one side board and one long 1-inch side. Align the short end against the top board and the long glued side against the side of the plywood. Repeat for the second side board.

Nail finish nails through the top board into the side board. Use four nails. Repeat for the second side. Turn the cornice over keeping your boards aligned along the edges. Nail finish nails through the plywood into the three boards. Nail every eight inches. Allow the glue to dry for four hours.

Place paper over the face of the plywood and trace out the shape. Remove the paper. Measure 1-1/2 inches inside each line. Draw out the smaller shape. Cut out the shape with scissors. Place the paper shape over 1-inch thick foam. Draw the shape with a marker. Cut out the shape using an electric carving knife.

Spray the face of the plywood with spray adhesive for foam. Center the foam inside the plywood and press into position. Cut quilt batting twice the length and width of the cornice. Center the batting over the face of the cornice. Place a staple tight to the foam 1-1/2 inches from the top corner of the cornice. Pull the batting snug over the foam and staple tight to the foam 1-1/2 inches from the plywood edge. Staple the center of each side next. Work your way away from the center top, bottom, left and right, around the foam. Remove excess foam at your corners. After the batting is wrapped tight to the foam, wrap the batting over to the back underside of the cornice and staple using a similar technique.

Cover the cornice with fabric using the same technique. Make sure the batting is smooth so that the fabric will look smooth. Finish the face of the cornice by hammering nail heads following the edge of the foam. Hammer a second row following the edge of the cornice. This will create a double row of nail heads around the face of the cornice following the shape of the cornice.