Valances fit Jonathan Adler's happy, but chic design philosophy

No one could accuse interior designer Jonathan Adler of taking himself - or his work as a potter and decorator - too seriously.


Adler's latest two books in his Happy Chic series are Happy Chic Accessorizing and Happy Chic Colors, and they celebrate a witty, and sometime wacky, approach to livening up one's home scene.


According to the Mail Tribune newspaper in southern Oregon, Adler ends each chapter with a light-hearted observation. "If I were a doctor, I would prescribe yellow to cure all ills. It’s simply impossible not to feel good when eating a Marshmallow Peep or chewing a stick of lemon-flavored Fruit Stripe gum," he writes in the color book.


Adler's approach to happy designing encourages people to bring out furnishings that show their whimsical side, and colors that allow them to stand out. Among his tips is advice on how to pair colors effectively and ways to arrange accessories to their best advantage.


Valances can add a dose of chic to brightly-colored window treatments that would fit Adler's happy style. A valance can be mounted over window shades, blinds or curtains. They add a different texture against a range of materials available in shades or blinds, or a strong contrast to print fabrics chosen for curtains.