Empire Versus Kingston....Your Input Please

Would you describe the style of these valances as Empire or Kingston? Or, do you believe they qualify as both? I ordered Empire valances back in June of this year and this is what I received.

This is the actual image I sent via email to the business back in June. I indicated that it is the exact style I wanted. I described the style as Empire. I also provided the business with the fabric which were 6 vintage damask drapery panels. The business responded to my request within 24 hours with the labor costs to execute this look and also confirming that the fabric I provided was sufficient to achieve the look I wanted.

Notice how the pleats originate and terminate on the top of the board? This is what distinguishes the difference between the Empire style and the Kingston. For me, the distinction was important. I have always felt the pleats on the Kingston and Austrian valances resembled the inside of a coffin. Furthermore, the Empire valance isn't as formal. The swags/pleats are more natural looking which was important.

Yesterday I contacted the business to express my disappointment and explained my reasons. This is the response I received:

Julio:

There are so many places that refer to the same treatment with different names. In my 18 years of experience and I'm a window treatments designer and I've worked with other workrooms, we've always referred to your pictures you have in the reverse (i.e., your pictures of a kingston as an empire and your pictures of an empire as a kingston). Just like pinch pleats are called french pleats, fan pleats, calypso pleats, three pleats, etc.

But with the fabric panels, that we were given, we would not of been able to produce the pleats to originate from the top of the board, because that requires more fabric to produce.

My comments:

First, if they saw the image I had sent them and recognized that I would need MORE fabric in order for them to achieve the same look as the image, why didn't they convey that to me? Why would you take it upon yourself to improvise and deviate from the image I sent and assume I will accept your solution without first consulting with me for approval?
Secondly, just doing a simple "google" asking for the differences between the Empire and Kingston valances, you will find that definitions are consistent about distinctive differences.
In addition, the company's very own website explains the difference which contradicts the fabricator's response about their interpretation between an Empire and a Kingston. Hello?

From: The Window Treatment Expert
Empire-

The Empire swag has pleats that stack on top of the swag. This makes the valance look like the horns are pulling up the swags. To complete the look, more attention is given to the top point of the horn to complement the empire construction.

Kingston-

The pleats on a Kingston swag are located along the sides of the swags and are hidden behind the horns. This gives it a look of a softly pleated austrian shade.

From Calico Corners:

Empire Valance-
Graceful swags are pleated to the top of the board. This style is beautiful alone or over draperies.

From Calico corners:

Kingston Valance-
Softly pleated swags BEHIND shapely fabric bells offer great style and are more structured than the Empire Valances and Austrian Valances.

I took this right off of the technical assistance forum of Mfay.com:
What is the difference between the Kingston Valance and the Empire?

Answer:

The Empire has pleats that stack on top of the mount board. The Kingston pleats develop behind the horns below the board top. The Empire is an easier construction.

Finally, I find it hard to believe that an 18 year veteran of the industry has never come across this technical issue on the difference between the two styles. I could not find anything that supports her definition that the only difference between the two styles is that the Empire has more pleats which was her initial reason prior to me sending her the above links supporting my case that in fact there is a fabrication difference between the two.

Image example of a Kingston valance from Fashionwindowtreatments.com

Image example of an Empire style valance from Fashionwindowtreatments.com

At this point, I am stuck with this look. The company has offered to eliminate some of the pleats as a solution. My other concern is that the fabric clearly does not have the same vibrancy and sheen as before because of the ironing process involved and I just don't want them to put it through the same method again causing the fabric to look more worn and faded. A $1,500.00 dollar failure. What's worse is that I liked the people I dealt with and thought they were very nice. I am just disappointed they weren't able to deliver the product I wanted.