Did you ever miss one seemingly small detail only to find that it totally annihilated a much larger, well thought-out plan?
Here’s an example.
I just witnessed a top-to-bottom kitchen renovation with stunning results. Every element thoughtfully considered, every design choice weighed and reflected upon – from flooring to lighting to cabinetry to window treatments.
And then the refrigerator was delivered. Turns out there wasn’t enough depth for the 500-pound beast to fit properly within the space.
In the end, one little design flaw cost thousands of dollars, hours of wasted time and unnecessary heartache for everyone involved.
It’s much the same in my business.
I design, make and install a variety of high-end, custom-made window treatments. Over the years, I’ve found that window treatment design decisions are typically left until the bitter end of the renovation process. Construction is done. Walls are painted. Flooring is laid. Furniture is placed with perfection. And then someone says… “now, how should we dress these windows?”
In some instances, this can’t be avoided. Because, while we do work on many new construction projects and gut renovations, often times new window treatments aren’t part of a larger project. And we have to work with, or around, what’s already in place.
What do I mean by that? I mean window architecture. Put simply, does the window have the correct design to build pockets, soffits, etc., to receive and/or hide window treatments and their mechanisms? This is rarely thought of during the early design phases of a project.
In my business, as many as 6 or more layers of window treatments are not unusual. My clients want efficiency, style and convenience. That often means motorized blackout and sunscreen shades (hidden within custom built pockets and channels), maybe a roman shade topped with sheer draperies, side panels, a valance, etc. This is not uncommon. And without considering how to prepare for this, you’ll soon find that a normal window does not have the ability to accommodate everything while making visual and technical sense.
Expensive things can slip thru the cracks when there isn’t one person that can pull it all together.
A large team of talented people are involved in every high-end renovation. Architects, interior designers, general contractors, electricians, A/V integrators, millworkers, carpenters, drapery workrooms, etc. Yet none of them can manage the complete technical design for a seamless installation of window treatments.
Who can? Me. It’s been my specialty for over 40 years.
So, bring me into the process early. I will design and manage the build so that the windows accommodate all of the client’s desires – right down to the last detail.
Because the truth is, the difference between something good and something great is attention to detail.
If window treatments are part of your next project, I’d love to help.