What the top of the window says
A top treatment hides hardware, corrects proportion, and finishes a window the way a cornice finishes a room. Soft valances gather or pleat in fabric. Cornice boards are rigid, upholstered boxes - padded, sometimes shaped or nailhead-trimmed. Pelmets sit between: structured, tailored, refined.
All three are built in our own workroom to your exact window dimensions - which matters, because a top treatment that is an inch off-center or a half-inch short reads wrong to the eye even when nobody can say why.
Styles we build
Box-Pleat Valances
Crisp, tailored pleats at regular intervals - the most architectural of the soft treatments.
Gathered & Scalloped Valances
Softer, traditional shapes with shaped hems, cording, or fringe.
Upholstered Cornice Boards
Rigid padded boxes, straight or shaped, with welt, nailhead, or contrast banding.
Pelmets
Structured crowns with clean returns - the tailored middle ground between valance and cornice.
Swags & Jabots
Traditional draped swags with cascading jabots for formal estate rooms.
Hardware Concealment
Any of the above hides a shade roller, a drapery track, or a motorized headrail completely.
Frequently asked
What is the difference between a cornice and a pelmet?
A cornice is a rigid upholstered box; a pelmet is a structured but softer crown. Both hide hardware - the difference is formality and depth.
Will a top treatment make my ceiling look lower?
Mounted high and shallow, the opposite: it draws the eye up. We size the drop to the room, not to a formula.
Can a cornice hide my motorized shade?
Yes - that is one of its best uses. We build to the exact roller and bracket dimensions.
Are these still in style?
Traditional and transitional rooms, yes - and a clean pelmet or shallow cornice is very much at home in modern architecture.
Discerning homeowners, designers, and developers across South Florida trust Exotic with their most important spaces.
"I'm really happy with my new curtains! The team came to my place, helped me choose the right fabric, and guided me through the whole process. Great service and beautiful results. Highly recommend, A+."
"We were referred to Exotic Shades by our contractor. They understood exactly what we had in mind and delivered it. The whole process was simple, and the pricing was very good."
"I needed help adjusting the existing Lutron shades in my new home. Most companies would not touch a system installed by someone else, but Exotic sent a technician the same week."
Finish the top of the window
One free hour with our team routinely saves owners thousands in avoidable mistakes. Book a private, complimentary consultation - we bring fabrics, samples, and honest answers.