Board-Mounted Flat Swag Valance with Handkerchief Jabots

About This Window Treatment

This window valance has a somewhat transitional style. It still retains its traditional look with classic, cascading jabots. Yet, rather than a bulky, gathered swag in the center, it features a flat section here. We like to treat our window valances as a form of art, so this center section is a great opportunity to feature a unique fabric design. Whether you choose a large farm toile or colorful floral print, it will be prominent on this valance.

And if you choose a simple solid or small-scale print, know that the valance is still simple enough to blend in effortlessly with the rest of your room decor.

Frequently Asked Questions

What widths are available for this style of valance?
It can be made 45 to 54 inches wide. Due to the scale of the valance and the shipping restrictions of a valance that’s mounted on a board, we are unable to accommodate sizes outside of this range at this moment.

However, if you would like this style of valance but need it wider than 54 inches, we would be more than happy to make it for you as a rod pocket valance. You’ll need a continental rod for installation and we would create a 3-inch hidden rod pocket. Note that we sew hidden rod pockets by hand, and therefore, there will be a slight upcharge for this service. Please contact us for a special order.

Do I need to attach this valance on a board?
No, the valance arrives ready to hang at your home. We meticulously select the perfect wood board for your size, wrap it in our premium lining and staple the valance onto it in our workroom. The valance arrives ready to hang from a box, with the appropriate angle brackets also provided for you. Each one of our board-mounted valances typically weighs about 10 to 18 pounds, so be mindful that two people are needed to install it.

Do I need any hardware?
We already provide angle brackets, but you may use your own if you prefer. The beauty of board-mounted valances is that there is no need to buy any expensive drapery poles or hardware. All you need are screws and anchors.

What’s a jabot?
The longer sections that fall on each side of this valance are called the jabots. They wrap around the sides of the valance to help frame the window.

How long are the jabots?
We typically craft the jabots for this valance at about 31 to 32 inches long, excluding any trims.

How do I buy this valance?
Simply make your selections above and click to add to cart. Then proceed to checkout.

(In case you’re wondering, the price changes in real time each time you make a change to your custom design. The price is displayed on this page right above the purple “Add to Cart” button.)

How long does it take to ship this valance? Will I be updated?
Depending on the size of your order and whether the fabric is in stock, you could receive your valance in as early as 2 to 3 weeks. However, for most of our customers, the normal turnaround time is about 3 to 5 weeks. We rarely see a 6-week turnaround, but it does happen with some of our larger orders.

We get busier right before the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays due to higher demand. Please plan accordingly.

And yes, we understand this is an important purchase for most of our customers. We take ample measures to update our customers via email at least three to four times during the process.

What is accent fabric and which should I choose?
This is the fabric that will be used to line the inside of the long jabots on each side. We suggest solids or small-scale fabrics. If you prefer to have a valance made in one fabric only, select the main fabric again.

A side note about this that we’ve seen throughout the years – most homeowners tend to choose similar colors for main and accent fabrics. While we understand that it may often look nice to have fabrics that are “matchy,” greater contrasts between the two fabrics tend to best bring out the peculiar lines of a custom window treatment. We especially recommend solid colors for accent fabrics.

I like this valance because you centered a large print in the center of the swag. Will you do the same for my custom valance?
If you select a fabric with a large pattern, we’ll do our best to center it whenever possible.

Can you tell me more about the lining of this valance?
The swag in the center is lined in white premium lining, while the jabots are lined in your chosen accent fabric. You may wish to add interlining. Interlining adds more structure to a valance and is especially great for “flimsy” fabrics like silks, faux silks, and thinner semi-sheers and polyesters. For this valance, the thermal abilities that are normally present in interlining are limited because of the style of the window treatment. But, if your window tends to get a lot of sun, interlining might be a good idea.

What if I don’t want to add trim?
Just skip it. Trim is only optional and not mandatory like the other options you have to select. And if you’ve added it by mistake or changed your mind, you can always delete it in the shopping cart.

What’s a projection on a valance?
Since the valance is installed on a board, the board will have some depth. The projection is how far out the front of the valance is from the part that touches the wall. The same fabrics that you choose on the jabots wrap around the board, making this window treatment look nice when viewed from the side as well.

You may select a 3 1/2-inch or 5 1/2-inch projection. Most average rooms will work fine with a 3 1/2-inch projection, but if you’d like to install a pair of draperies under the valance, you must select the 5 1/2-inch projection to be able to clear them.

Can I layer this valance over a Roman shade?
Of course. An inside-mounted shade would look great with this valance over it. However, be mindful to not make the valance too wide when pairing it with an inside mounted window treatment. Otherwise, it may look out of place with the window treatment underneath that has the smaller size and scale. Make sure the valance covers just enough of the window to be able to install it properly. The 3 1/2-inch projection should work unless you feel that the treatment underneath needs more space.

Should I choose trim to be placed on the swag only or on the jabots as well?
Either way works, but certainly adding trims on the jabots can only make your valance more luxurious.

Can I send you my own fabric if I don’t see one that I like, or need to match the valance to the rest of my room?
Yes, you can. You don’t need to wait around for us to give you a custom quote. If you wish to send in your own materials and pay for lining and labor only, simply select “Customer’s Own Fabric” under fabrics and continue making your other custom selections. Once you complete the last step of the custom design above, you will immediately see the price displayed at the bottom. However, we ask that you please contact us first before actually sending in the fabric. We must pre-approve your selections first, so we may require a fabric swatch or online link to the fabric that you plan to use.

Suggested Measuring Instructions

Standard Instructions
Measure the outside of your window, including any wooden frame. If the valance is meant to be installed alone, without any draperies, then adding 3 to 5 total inches to the measured width will be sufficient. If you plan on installing draperies underneath and space permits, keep in mind that adding 10 to 30 total inches will make the window appear larger.

Another trick of the trade is to install the valance higher, regardless of whether it hangs alone or over draperies. Hanging the valance higher will add height to your room. Not every valance is capable of doing this, but the large scale of this valance allows it to frame your window generously. However, make sure to not install it too high and expose the top of the window.

Special Instructions for Bay, Bow and Corner Windows
This valance has a lot of weight and thus requires a lot of space. Do not select unless there are at least 12 to 18 inches between the individual window sections, depending on projection chosen. Otherwise, follow standard instructions above.

Special Instructions for Arched and Palladium Windows
Valance is installed at the base of the arch. However, since it is board-mounted, it will only work if the window does NOT have a wooden frame. Please do not purchase this valance if you have an arched or palladium window with a wooden frame and want to install it at the base of the arch (please ask us for a special order with a hidden rod pocket instead).

Otherwise, follow standard measuring instructions above.

Special Instructions for Patio Doors
Valance is not meant to be used on patio doors.

Special Instructions for Sliding Glass Doors
Follow standard instructions above. However, since sliding glass doors are a busy area in your home, we need to address the height of this valance and how high it needs to be installed. Generally speaking, valances that have swags (regardless of whether they’re flat or gathered) hang at about 18 to 20 inches at the deepest point. This is before adding trim if you so choose.

Make sure that the valance is installed high enough to accommodate for your household traffic and low enough to cover the top of the sliding glass door. If you can see the wooden trim or wall paint above the sliding glass door, then the valance needs to be installed lower to cover it.

We suggest buying the valance without trim to save on space if you have 8-foot ceilings like most homes do.