I sometimes have clients that contact me because their room just doesn’t seem “finished.” They have the furniture. They have the art. They have painted. They have accessorized. They have put rugs on the floor and installed new lighting, yet it still seems “undone” somehow. The first thing I ask them: “What are you doing about your windows?”

Window treatments add the finishing touch to any room and they add a sense of completion. There are loads of options for window treatments that include curtains, blinds and shades. Lately, I have been thinking of another, often overlooked option: Pelmet Boxes.

A pelmet box (also known as a cornice, cantonnier and lembrequin depending on the length of the outer legs) is a wooden box that can be cut in a variety of shapes. It is  sometimes padded and/or covered in fabric and then mounted to the top of a window, creating a framing effect. You may remember them in your grandmother’s house, but let me assure you, pelmets are back and in no way can they be considered old fashioned.                                                          

 Some typical cornice styles/shapes. Cantonnier and lembrequin have longer outer legs. They can often be cut to have any cornice design at the top!                                                       

Pelmet boxes have been described as the “eyebrows” of your window. They are a great way to add color, pattern and ornamental interest to any room. Are your windows sort of plain? A pelmet box can add architectural interest. They can be styled to fit any decor whether it is traditional, transitional or modern. The best part about pelmets? They can hide a multitude of small flaws, cover ugly frames, even level out an un-even window frame in an older building. They can even give the appearance of height to those squat, little windows you are fretting over.

Some more pelmet box images: notice the difference in style and fabrics.

 Photos: Veranda.com, Smithand noble.com, Elledecor.com, Decor-medley.com, Theshadestore.com