What's this wooden thing in my bay window called, and any tips on removing it?

[panamacanal]

We've recently moved into a house with a bay window and it has this large wooden structure in the bay, with curtain track around it. We've been calling it a "pelmet" but a quick google of that word suggests it's not right. Does it have a name?

We're planning to have blinds rather than curtains so would like to remove the wooden thing. Anything we need to be careful of? We're thinking the worst case scenario is that the ceiling underneath is in a bad way and will need to be re-plastered.

It is indeed a pelmet - it's concealing the curtain track and curtain heading. I quite like it with its Art Deco styling.

Can you see how it's fixed? I've just had a look at one in our house and there's a substantial batten screwed to the ceiling and the pelmet looks to be fixed to the edge of the batten on the room side. The curtain track is fixed to the underside of the batten.

It is probably screwed or glued to a batten or there might be fixing blocks at intervals. Before you remove anything, work out how you are going to fit blinds as you might want to fit the blinds to the battens if there are any. There is the risk that removing it could damage the ceiling - depends how it's been fixed and how sound the ceiling is.

I would say that is a pelmet, a weird one but a pelmet all the same. I too always worry that when someone puts a structure up like this that they are doing it to hide something underneath. Still, I would say if you want it gone then take it down and make good. It will be all over in a day or so. Second worst case scenario a plasterer for the day, best case a few screw holes to fill and paint over. Worst case scenario, having to live with something you don't like wishing you had taken it down when you first moved in.

It is a pelmet, I actually quite like it yy pp has an Art Deco look they were very handy, as you could have the most basic of curtain headings thereby hiding them, they could also be painted to match decor.
Wouldn’t have thought be to difficult to remove, just have look at how it’s attached & work out what to unscrew first.

Yes, a pelmet. That's the most attractive one I have seen actually. Are you sure you can't keep it? I think it looks rather good and will hide the tops of curtains and give a neat edge.

I agree tis a nice one.

Thanks for all the comments - glad to hear people think it's attractive as we may have to live with it for a while until we can afford blinds. I will put up some curtains and see if it grows on me!