Pelmet
Textile cover of the uppermost part of a window
A pelmet (also called a "cornice board") is a framework placed above a window, used to conceal curtain fixtures. These can be used decoratively (to hide the curtain rod) and help insulate the window by preventing convection currents. It is similar in appearance to a valance, which performs the same function but is made of fabric. A pelmet can be made of plywood, and may be painted, or fabric covered.
In kitchen design, a "light pelmet" or "light rail" is placed under cabinets to hide lighting.
Exterior timber pelmets are a feature of some historic buildings, fitted on the outside of a window. These may be plain or decorative, with complex fretwork in some examples. These may be purely decorative, or serve to conceal an external blind mechanism.
Due to the appearance of a pelmet, the term is often used to describe an extremely short skirt.
Sources and credits
This article is adapted from the Wikipedia article “Pelmet”, written by its contributors and licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Fathomly has changed the layout, removed citation markers, navigation and maintenance notices, and adjusted punctuation. This adapted version is shared under the same license. For references, see the original article.
Images, from Wikimedia Commons:
- (Ireland) Dublin Castle Interior (State Drawing Room).jpg by Donaldytong, CC BY-SA 3.0
- Beauval lambrequins 1.jpg by Markus3 (Marc ROUSSEL), CC BY-SA 3.0
- Toulouse-lambrequin.jpg by Frédéric Neupont, CC BY 4.0
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