DEMYSTIFYING DESIGN

Here I am hanging Velcro to a window in our living room at Madcap Cottage to attach the fabulous Thibaut fabric valances that our friend Diana Parton crafted. Diana is such a talent with a sewing machine and 10 nimble fingers. Jasper directs the action. Please note my classy self standing upon the sofa instead of using a ladder.

Velcro is a fabulous trick of the trade for attaching valances to a window without expensive window hardware. We added the Velcro and pulled the fabric tight when attaching it to the windows in our living room. The results are gorgeous, as well as crisp and tailored. Why not try this at home... Your valances need not be as ornate as those at Madcap Cottage. If you can sew--or use a non-sew adhesive like Sealah Tape--craft some valances of your own. Then show us your handiwork!

Your curtains don't necessarily have to match your drapes. Here we paired amazing Hunter Douglas all-wood shutters in sagebrush with valances to create entirely bespoke window treatments. The result is private yet airy.

Valances aren't just for windows. Here, we attached valances to both sides of the doorway that leads from our foyer to our living room. The door treatment adds drama and a dash of the delicious to the passage from one room to the next.