The Process of Purchasing Custom Window Treatments from Design to Installation
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There’s something magical about getting things like artwork, accessories, furniture, and decor custom-made. Of course, it’s nice knowing that no one else has the exact same item as you, but it goes deeper than that. When you go custom, you’re nurturing your individuality and celebrating what makes you uniquely you. It is an external display of how you see the world and allows you to express your identity confidently.
Additionally, controlling logistical details like size and function certainly doesn’t hurt!
The Pinched Pleat uses this perspective on custom-made items as a launching point. As window treatment specialists with our own professional workroom, we design and create custom soft window treatments so your windows aren’t just dressed well but dressed well for you.
We are meticulous and open throughout every step of our business process to provide clients with the best experience and the best custom soft treatments to boot. Continue reading for a complete breakdown of our processes, giving you an idea of your experience with us. But first, how do you know who to work with when you want custom-made treatments like drapes or Roman shades?
All About Window Treatment Specialists
Windows are one of the most distinctive characteristics of any home. They let in the all-important natural light and give you a view of the outside world — a view you’ll be looking at for a long time to come!
Homeowners lay out furniture and decor according to window placement and change landscaping depending on what’s within eyeshot from the inside. There’s no doubt that windows are centerpieces in the home, and a window treatment specialist treats them as such.
How to Know You’re Working With a Specialist
A window treatment specialist is knowledgeable and experienced with all kinds of treatments. Specialists should be able to consult on complex projects and provide suggestions, create designs, nail down specifications, and fabricate many different treatments in different styles.
A well-versed specialist is an expert in:
All things fabric, including hands-on experience working with different kinds.
Design creation and design planning.
The technical side of window treatments, including operation methods, hardware, and installation strategies.
Hard window treatment options.
Client relationships and cooperation.
More than anything, a window treatment specialist will ensure your opinion is heard. They may be an expert in designing and fabricating soft furnishings, but they should know the client is the expert in their home and style.
If you feel drawn to a professional, personalized, and detail-oriented experience while treating your windows, it’s time to contact a window treatment specialist.
The Pinched Pleat specializes in full-service custom drapery and uses couture sewing techniques to handcraft the perfect soft furnishings for your home. Below, you can read more about our business process specifics, including:
Consultation
Design presentation
Fabrication
Installation
If you know you want custom treatments but aren’t sure where to begin or which path to take; this post will give you an overview of what to look for in a window treatment specialist.
A Consultation Is the First Step to Creation
If a doctor diagnosed you without a consultation, the likelihood of that diagnosis being correct is low. You’d also probably be aghast at the horrible experience you had as a patient! We know that being satisfied with window treatments isn’t quite as crucial as being satisfied with healthcare, but the same rules apply.
Our initial discovery consultation allows us to get to know you, learn about your project needs, and listen to your wildest dreams so we can start designing with a plan in place.
What Happens During a Window Treatment Consultation?
First and foremost, a consultation allows us to get to know one another so you can decide if we’re the people for your project. During this meeting, we learn about your stylistic vision and get some logistical and strategic details dealt with. A consultation includes:
Discussions about treatment type and design preferences.
Questions about style and functional preferences.
Window measurements and initial design and installation strategizing.
A window photo shoot for reference during design creation and rendering generation.
The consultation is the solid foundation from which we make suggestions, brainstorm, render designs of what treatments will look like in your home, and fabricate for the perfect fit. A successful consultation should create a sense of certainty that you’re working with the right specialist.
At The Pinched Pleat, the price associated with our one- to two-hour-long consultation is included in the cost of your custom window treatment when purchased. If your interest is piqued, set up a consultation with us by scheduling a discovery call or sending us an email at hello@thepinchedpleat.com.
Design Presentations Lead to Confident Decisions
You wouldn’t buy five gallons of paint for your home before bringing back swatches and sampling it on your walls. Likewise, it’s best to choose window treatments only when you know what they’ll look like on your windows.
The Pinched Pleat creates two to three design options for your project and generates renderings for each. We present these renderings — and more! — to you during the design presentation. This allows you to skip past imagining and visualize your finished product firsthand, boosting confidence in your final decision.
The Aspects of a Design Presentation
Since there are tactile aspects to the design presentation, meeting in person is optimal so you can feel your fabric options. The design presentation meeting may last up to an hour and a half. In addition to showing you design renderings, we will provide the following:
Fabric samples. We want you to feel the texture and see the quality up close! We’ll also bring hardware samples of hardware and other relevant materials if you decide to include these in your order.
Detailed treatment specifications and suggestions. We’ll review our suggestions for treatment size, linings, and operation methods and discuss how these variations affect your project’s cost and timeline.
We also use this time to review our contract and nail down details related to cost, deposit requirements, and timelines. This is the perfect time to bring up any ideas or questions —we’re at your disposal!
Fabrication Is Your Vacation
With all the complex decision-making out of the way, you can sit back and let the excitement sink in while we get to work. After you decide on a design, we order materials and begin sewing once they arrive. The timeline for window treatment fabrication varies from client to client depending on the project’s scope and chosen materials and fabrics, but our process follows the same sequence.
The Pinched Pleat’s Fabrication Process
Once you’ve chosen your design and specifications, we order your fabric and other materials from accredited retailers in our niche industry. After receiving all the necessary materials, we start fabricating in our workroom, putting time and care into each stitch.
The time between ordering materials and presenting you with the finished treatments will vary depending on several factors, including:
The availability of your chosen materials and fabrics.
The scope of your project, including the number of treatments, size, and level of intricacy.
Schedule alignment for installation or delivery.
We will provide you with a project timeline during our design presentation meeting and keep you updated throughout the fabrication process. Though timelines can vary significantly since every project is unique, a smaller-scale, straightforward project often takes 4 to 6 weeks. This timeline can extend to about 12 to 16 weeks for larger-scale projects that involve uncommon materials or require complex detailing.
After we’re done fabricating, it’s time to get the treatments to their forever home — yours.
Installation and Satisfaction Check-In
Yards of fabric and window treatment hardware can get heavy, so proper installation is essential to keep your walls pristine while providing secure drapes and shades that function properly.
Precise placement is also a key consideration during the window treatment installation process. Crooked drapes are the stuff of nightmares, but fortunately, we’re only in the business of making good dreams a reality at The Pinched Pleat.
The Pinched Pleat’s Expert Window Treatment Installation
Our installer is certified and insured, with extensive experience installing numerous hardware and treatment styles. If you decide to have us install your custom treatments, we come prepared with precise measurements and an installation plan. Our installer will accurately and securely place your hardware.
A design team member attends every installation to supervise and dress your window with the finished treatment. We will also teach you everything about operating and caring for your treatments. Finally, we confirm you’re delighted before your final payment is due. We typically schedule installations within a week to 10 days of having all completed materials and hardware.
Experience Our Process First-Hand
Our specialty isn’t only creating one-of-a-kind window treatments. We pride ourselves on the experience we create for our clients. The world of window treatments — and interior design in general — can be intimidating, especially if you don’t know where to start. We’re here to guide you as you explore your style and share your wildest window treatment ideas.
Getting something custom-made for you should be exciting, not overwhelming, and we’re committed to making the process enjoyable.
If you want to learn more about the possibilities of custom window treatments, please email us at hello@thepinchedpleat.com or schedule a complimentary initial consultation. We will happily answer your questions about our process or the window treatment market. Another well-dressed window is a win for everyone!
