French Whorehouse

Would you want a valance like this on top of every window in your house or RV?

Not me.  It belongs in a French Whorehouse!

The fabric's okay but I hate the way the bottom's shaped.

I've never actually visited a French Whorehouse but I've been to Versailles Palace and this ugly piece of crap would fit right in there.  The style is Louis XV, I think, although that particular Louis isn't solely to blame.  A whole string of Kings, all named Louis, were involved in the design and furnishing of the Palace.  Apparently, if your name wasn't Louis, your chance of becoming king was nil.  Jacques?  Maurice?  Ralph?  No way.  Forget it.  Acquire a skill, get a job and pay your taxes to Louis XIII or XIV or XV so he can build his friggin castle. 

The valance was in our RV, along with several more, over 30' of butt ugly.  They're outta there now, to be replaced by new ones with tasteful fabric and straight lines; Trish will make them.  The new valances are just part of the project; we're also replacing the original shades with new ones.

Old shade on left, new on right

New one has 2 roller shades, black-out shade above, sun shade below.

This picture shows the night shade pulled down, sun shade rolled up.

The original day/night shades were pleated, mounted over and under, controlled by tension cords on the sides.  They were difficult to raise and lower, the day shades were ineffective as sunscreens and the night shades leaked.  They were better than nothing but just barely, and now they, too, are outta there.  Operating the new shades is effortless.

Installation was a bitch though, because the shades are quite heavy and the walls and ceilings are quite flimsy, like hardwood veneer on a hollow core door.  Had to jury rig L-brackets and spacers, and locate the studs, which are few and far between.

Why do they put these ugly valances in RVs in the first place?  Do lots of RV people actually think they're attractive?  Maybe so.  Trish and I strongly prefer a clean, sleek, spare look in our furnishings and window treatments; add colorful pillows and wall decor and we're good.  We strongly dislike busy, frilly, ornate, curvy stuff.  Folks that like Louis XV would sneer at our stuff, probably call it Scandinavian Whorehouse.