In this case the side " a lumfline or fluorescent tube, which will provide indirect lighting against veiling, while permitting an interesting illumination of the curtains or blinds below. 2 52 FURNITURE MAKING AND CABINET WORK As indicated in various illustrations in this and other chapters, valances perform a valuable service as tieins between pairs of closets, over dressing tables or desks, or to mark off alcoves of varying size. For a long narrow living room, a permanently installed valance over drapes, such as the one illustrated in Figure 4.8, will serve as a semipartition for a dining alcove. Cut from hardboard with a BUILTIN FURNITURE AND CONVENIENCES 25 coping saw, the aprons are fastened to a Ushaped assembly of % in.stock (i Figure 48 b) which is spiked to the ceiling beams. The drapery track is secure to the center member, and the joints between the hardboard and ceiling conceale by cove molding. Fig. 4.7. Valances. The shape shown in Figure 4.9 is a formalized treatment subject to individual enons. The longer the distance to be covered, the gentler should be the curves ะน ivnich to soothe the everrestless eyes. Although in constructing window ances it is customary to measure so that the short sidepieces butt against the Is of the headpiece of the window trim, in so doing it must be remembered that 2 54 FURNITURE MAKING AND CABINET WORK heavy window draperies will be somewhat constricted. Often, therefore, it is desirable to optically widen narrow or misplaced windows, in which case the valance can be lengthened so that it extends well beyond the window trim on one or both Fig. 4.8a. Valance as a room divider. sides, permitting the curtains or draperies to extend out upon the wall. This will necessitate attaching the sidepieces of the valance to extensions nailed to the headpiece of the window frame, or to angle irons bolted to the wall itself. radiator camouflage A successful heating engineer tries to locate his radiators against an outer wall and in positions which will combat, to a maximum degree, incoming cold air currents. When unhampered by anxious householders, he appears to be but little concerned with the fact that his floorconsuming units almost invariably break u; usable wall space, often violating the basic principles of proportion and harr in the selection of locations. Since he is keenly aware of the influx of cold an that even the bestfitted sash and casements permit, his favorite site for a radiator BUILTIN FURNITURE AND CONVENIENCES 25 is in the valuable space below a window, so that the rising current of warm air will overcome the effects of the cool air, which sinks after being chilled by contact with the cold window glass. While it is true that of recent years radiator manufacturers have been turning out low, square units that fit snugly under FiG 4 g6 CeiHng valance conceaUng the average window sill, yet the space loss is drapery track, annoying, especially since the radiator juts out where the light from the window naturally attracts a grouping of chairs anc their attendant tables.