A perfect spot to display a
collection.

A 4-inch-deep shelf, mounted on decorative brackets at the top of the window frame, doubles as a topper and a place to display favorite collections.

When designing the shelf, match the style of the brackets to the mood of your room and the collection you'll be displaying. The simple country lines of these stock brackets work well with pitchers and crocks in the kitchen. Gingerbread designs or more formal shapes would give the shelf and the window an entirely different look. Hanging a stationary valance beneath the shelf balances the weight of the accessories and adds color and softness to the hard edges of the shelf.

A beginner can complete this project in just a day. Start by purchasing a 4-foot shelf, brackets, and tension rods for about $25. Valances are additional.

• Measuring tape
• One 4-inch-deep shelf or stock lumber
• Decorative brackets (2 or 3 depending on the length of the shelf)
• Standard molding
• Saw
• Miter box
• Hammer
• Finishing nails
• Wood filler
• Sandpaper
• Paint or stain
• Paintbrush
• Tension rods
• Valance(s)

1. Size it up. The length of the shelf should be a few inches longer than the width of your entire window, including the window trim. Cut the shelf or lumber accordingly (or have the lumberyard cut it for you).

2. Trim with molding. Cut molding the length of the shelf's front edge, mitering the corners. Then cut molding pieces to fit the shelf's side edges, mitering the front ends and leaving the back ends flat where they meet the wall.

3. Nail and sand. Secure the molding to the shelf using finishing nails. Fill the nail holes with wood filler, let dry, and sand the filler smooth.

4. Finish with color. Paint or stain the shelf and brackets the color of your window trim.

5. Install the shelf. Attach ready-made brackets to the trim of the window, flush with the top. If your window is wide or you plan to display heavy accessories, add a bracket in the center. Position the shelf on the brackets.

6. Hang the valance. Using a simple tension rod to mount a lightweight valance eliminates the need for messy-to-install hardware. We chose a valance that is permanently pleated and doesn't raise or lower, offering more decoration than privacy. Simple cotton panels, shirred on the rods, would offer more privacy.