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What a Cornice Actually Does
A cornice is a rigid, fabric-wrapped structure mounted across the top of a window. Functionally it hides hardware, blocks the light gap above a shade or drapery, and adds a clean horizontal line that makes ceilings read taller. Decoratively, decorative window cornices carry fabric, trim, and shape up where the eye lands first, which is why designers reach for them to anchor a room's palette. Unlike a fabric valance, the cornice holds its form forever; nothing droops, gathers, or needs redressing.
Designed to Your Room
Every cornice we build starts as a drawing against your window's proportions: depth, drop, and profile sized so the board crowns the opening rather than crowding it. Fabric comes from our home decor libraries or your own bolt, and details like contrast welting, banding, and shaped bottoms tailor the piece to the room. Because the structure is built in our Palm Coast workroom, window cornices can be patterned to arches, bays, and corner windows that a stock board would never fit.
Pairs With Everything
Cornices play well with the rest of the window. Over drapery, they conceal the track and finish the header. Over blinds and shades, they soften a hard treatment and close the top light gap; a cornice over a motorized roller hides the cassette completely. Many of our projects pair one cornice profile across a whole floor of windows, which is the quiet trick that makes a house feel designed rather than decorated.
Proportion is the craft, and it's worth seeing in examples. A cornice that drops too deep shortens the window; one cut too shallow looks apologetic; the right depth, usually drawn against the window's height and the ceiling line, makes the opening read taller and the room more composed. Maintenance is nearly nil: an occasional pass with a vacuum brush keeps the upholstered face fresh for years. If you're planning drapery, decide on the cornice at the same time, since the board's depth determines the track placement behind it, and the two installed together always beat the two installed apart.
