Pleated, accordian and honeycomb are all economical and contemporary. Window treatments can be accessorized with unusual hardware. Wrought iron finials in black, antiqued orange and verdigris come in many styles, from Spanish to whimsical. Look for these at the Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel. Top treatments for windows other than hardware are valances, cornices and pelmets.
All top treatments serve to cover window hardware while complementing the window treatment.
Valances can be gathered, shirred, pleated or draped. The bottoms are sometimes shaped, but can be plain or trimmed. A cornice is essentially a box made of wood, foam-backed board or cardboard. Its covering is usually padded or upholstered with a welted edge. It can also be done simply with fabric gathered along the top and bottom.