DDI’s qualified decorators have finished windows across Drummoyne, Balmain, and Concord for 30+ years — hiding every track and light gap with precision.
Custom Pelmets & Valances — Inner West Sydney
The Finishing Detail Sydney Windows Often Miss
Custom pelmets Inner West Sydney homeowners request most often solve one specific problem: the gap of light above a curtain that undermines an otherwise well-dressed room. A pelmet or valance is a decorative top treatment fixed above a window to conceal curtain tracks, rods, or headings. Four pelmet styles suit Sydney homes well in 2026 — pleated, padded, timber, and swags and tails. DDI has fitted each style across Federation terraces in Balmain, brick veneer family homes in Concord, and contemporary apartments in Drummoyne.
- Four styles: pleated, padded, timber, and swags and tails
- Custom-made to your window width and ceiling height
- Fabric matched to your curtain or chosen as a contrast.
- Improves thermal performance by sealing the top of the window
- Conceals curtain tracks, rods, and heading tape completely
- 2-year warranty on products and installation
Our Full Curtain Range — Inner West Sydney
Pleated Pelmets & Valances
Pleated pelmets use pinch-pleat or box-pleat fabric construction across the top of the window. They suit traditional and period-style interiors, including the many Federation homes found in Balmain and Leichhardt. The pleating style can be matched to your pleated curtains below for a fully coordinated window treatment.
Padded Pelmets
A padded pelmet is built on a timber frame, then wrapped in foam and upholstered in your chosen fabric, with piped edges top and bottom. The result is a structured, soft-look finish that works well in master bedrooms and formal living rooms. Fabric options include linen, velvet, and woven weaves from DDI’s full fabric library.
Timber Pelmets
Timber pelmets are flat or shaped MDF or solid timber boards, painted to complement the curtain fabric below. They suit contemporary interiors and rooms where a clean, architectural line is preferred over soft fabric. A white-painted timber pelmet above blockout curtains is one of DDI’s most-requested bedroom combinations.
Swags and Tails
Swags are draped fabric panels that fall in relaxed curves across the top of the window. Tails hang down each side and can be finished with trimming, fringing, or tassels. This style suits formal dining rooms, grand living areas, and period homes in Strathfield and Burwood, where an opulent, layered window treatment is the goal.
Blockout Curtains
Blockout curtains are a natural pairing with a pelmet. The pelmet seals the top gap that blockout fabric alone cannot cover. Together they deliver near-complete light exclusion — ideal for bedrooms in north-facing Drummoyne or Concord homes that get strong afternoon sun.
Custom-made Curtains
Custom curtains Sydney from DDI are measured and made for your specific windows. A pelmet or valance completes the look. DDI’s decorators have over 30 years of experience coordinating curtain fabric, heading style, and pelmet construction so each element reads as one considered design.
Curtain Rods & Tracks
Curtain rods and tracks are often the hardware a pelmet is designed to hide. DDI supplies both, so the track is chosen with the pelmet depth in mind. This prevents the common problem of hardware that is too deep for the pelmet box and protrudes below it.
We offer a wide array of curtains aimed at simplifying your life
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Fabrics and Materials Used in Our Pelmets
DDI sources pelmet and valance fabrics from Zepel, Warwick, and Mokum — three of Australia’s most respected soft furnishing suppliers. Zepel’s performance fabrics offer stain resistance alongside a refined woven texture, making them practical for high-use rooms. Warwick’s upholstery-weight ranges suit padded pelmets that need to hold shape over time. For homeowners looking for design inspiration before visiting the showroom, Houzz Australia offers a useful reference for pelmet styles currently popular in Sydney interiors. All fabrics are selected under your room’s natural light during DDI’s in-home consultation.
From First Visit to Final Installation
DDI’s process begins with a decorator visiting your home with a full fabric and sample kit. Fabrics are assessed under your room’s actual light conditions — not showroom fluorescents. The decorator measures each window precisely and discusses pelmet style, depth, and fabric choice on-site. Every pelmet is then custom-made at DDI’s Sydney studio. DDI’s own installation team fits the finished product, with no subcontractors involved at any stage. Call (02) 9712 2722 or visit us at 104 Hampden Road, Russell Lea, Monday to Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, or book a free in-home consultation online.
Inner West Sydney’s Trusted Pelmet Specialists
DDI has operated from Russell Lea since 1991 — more than 30 years serving homeowners in Drummoyne, Balmain, Concord, Leichhardt, Strathfield, and across Inner West Sydney. The business is family-run, with a team of qualified decorators who visit your home rather than sending a sales rep. DDI is an authorised Luxaflex showroom, Russell Lea and Inner West’s only Hunter Douglas Gallery. A 2-year warranty covers all products and installation. The Window Shading Association of Australia sets the industry standards that DDI works to on every job.
Frequently Asked Questions — Pelmets & Valances Sydney
Q1: What is the difference between a pelmet and a valance?
A1: A pelmet is a rigid or semi-rigid structure, usually built on a timber frame, fixed above the window to conceal curtain hardware. A valance is a soft fabric-only treatment that hangs from the top of the curtain or rod. Both serve the same purpose — hiding tracks and finishing the window — but differ in construction and visual weight.
A1: A pelmet is a rigid or semi-rigid structure, usually built on a timber frame, fixed above the window to conceal curtain hardware. A valance is a soft fabric-only treatment that hangs from the top of the curtain or rod. Both serve the same purpose — hiding tracks and finishing the window — but differ in construction and visual weight.
Q2: Do pelmets improve insulation?
A2: Yes. A pelmet seals the gap between the top of the curtain and the ceiling or architrave. Warm air that rises and escapes through this gap in winter is retained, reducing heating costs. This makes pelmets a practical addition to thermal insulating curtains, particularly in older Federation homes with high ceilings and single-glazed windows.
A2: Yes. A pelmet seals the gap between the top of the curtain and the ceiling or architrave. Warm air that rises and escapes through this gap in winter is retained, reducing heating costs. This makes pelmets a practical addition to thermal insulating curtains, particularly in older Federation homes with high ceilings and single-glazed windows.
Q3: What pelmet styles suit period homes in Inner West Sydney?
A3: Padded and pleated pelmets suit Federation and interwar homes in suburbs like Balmain, Leichhardt, and Ashfield. The soft upholstered finish and pinch or box pleating complement high ceilings and ornate architraves. Swags and tails work well in formal rooms where a more traditional, layered window treatment is appropriate.
A3: Padded and pleated pelmets suit Federation and interwar homes in suburbs like Balmain, Leichhardt, and Ashfield. The soft upholstered finish and pinch or box pleating complement high ceilings and ornate architraves. Swags and tails work well in formal rooms where a more traditional, layered window treatment is appropriate.
Q4: Can a pelmet be fitted to existing curtain tracks?
A4: In most cases, yes. DDI’s decorators measure the existing track depth and ceiling clearance during the in-home visit. The pelmet box is built to clear the hardware. If the existing track is incompatible, DDI can replace it with a track or rod that suits the pelmet design. See our full curtain rods and tracks range for options.
A4: In most cases, yes. DDI’s decorators measure the existing track depth and ceiling clearance during the in-home visit. The pelmet box is built to clear the hardware. If the existing track is incompatible, DDI can replace it with a track or rod that suits the pelmet design. See our full curtain rods and tracks range for options.
Q5: How much do custom pelmets cost in Sydney?
A5: Cost depends on the pelmet style, fabric chosen, and the number of windows. Pleated and timber pelmets are generally lower in cost than padded or swags-and-tails constructions. DDI provides a detailed quote following the in-home measurement visit, with no obligation to proceed. The 2-year warranty on products and installation is included in every quote.
A5: Cost depends on the pelmet style, fabric chosen, and the number of windows. Pleated and timber pelmets are generally lower in cost than padded or swags-and-tails constructions. DDI provides a detailed quote following the in-home measurement visit, with no obligation to proceed. The 2-year warranty on products and installation is included in every quote.
The Highest Quality Brands
We offer a wide variety of fabrics, materials, furnishings, fittings and related products from industry leaders, including:
See Our Pelmet Styles in the Showroom
Bring your curtain fabric sample, and our decorator will match a pelmet style and construction to your room in the showroom.
DDI has been helping Inner West Sydney homeowners finish their windows properly since 1991. Visit us at 104 Hampden Road, Russell Lea NSW 2046, Monday to Friday 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, or call (02) 9712 2722 to speak with a decorator. We carry full fabric samples from Zepel, Warwick, and Mokum, and our consultations carry no obligation. Over 30 years of custom window furnishings, all backed by a 2-year warranty.