Alcoves are recess or small room adjacent to or opening out of a room. They were considered as old-fashioned things beyond the curtains. So, in recent years, they are all gone because we felt it was not beautiful anymore. But it’s worth thinking about a design twist on the classic. On the one hand they were build to hide the suspension of the curtains. But then they also reduce drafts and air movement in the house. What is more important is the following: we all know that warm air in a space goes up and the cold air descends. On the first drawing you can see what happens when a window is without coves. The air between the curtain and the window is cooled by the cold, which is due to the glass pane. That air is lowered.Because of this downward movement, the warm air is above and it automatically is pulled down. There is a cold air flow in the room, which is becoming warm air to cool the window. The heating must still heat in order to keep the air temperature at the desired level. Keep your hand to the lower edge of the curtains and feel the cold air flows. So, a valance can occur above the curtains such that a cold air flow. This is the picture shown above. The air between the curtain and the glass cools it down, but can not drop down because there can be no air sucked in at the top. The cold thereby hangs behind the curtain. There is no air flow and the temperature remains constant. There is needed less energy to create a pleasant space. Think about this and be sur...