My Process: A Series Part 1 - Custom Made Curtains
In recent months, I have been making some changes on my website, Instagram and Pinterest. It has involved several different people at The Social Snippet including Elena for Instagram, Alex for Pinterest, Micaela for this blog, Maria for the back end of things and Kristina for always keeping me focused and motivated. As well as Laura and Maria at Lab Creative who originally branded my business and designed my website in 2019, who I contacted again this year to refresh my website and make all the changes, in collaboration with The Social Snippet. All of them were there to add, fix, and edit the various things going on in the background, and even though I had no idea what they were doing, I trusted in their process!
I would read the emails that went back and forth over the couple of weeks this process took place and thought to myself… This sounds soooo complicated!!
Then I had an “AHA” moment.
This is no different than my process!
At the end of the day, all these awesome women love what they do just as much I love what I do. I think if we compared how each of us did our own work, we might be overwhelmed by the others! My personal process, which I admit I take for granted because I love it and have been doing it for so long, is its own unique endeavor. So I’ve decided to give you an indepth look at my creative process when working on client projects from start to finish! This will be the first of many blog posts in a series, focusing on specific areas and details within a larger project.
So let’s start with one of my favourite things: custom made curtains!
The Project Meeting
I have met with my client and discussed what she wants to change in her den, which gets the most use in their home and hasn’t been updated since the 80’s! As I’m listening, I am already envisioning the room redone. I know which fabric showroom and brand to start with when looking to find ideas for the curtains, upholstery, carpet and accessories. I know the room needs to be painted, all the art that will be moved around, the bookcase re-organized and what other items will be removed from the room. After that I take some photos and measure the furniture and window. I tell her I have some great ideas, (all currently running around in my head!)
Blooming Ideas
After that, I start by putting together 3 ideas- never any more than that, as I find it can be a lot to process for the client. When I show her the ideas, she likes them, but I am not getting the “I LOVE THIS!” reaction I’m really looking for. You know the one!
I suggest that I take her to Kravet, one of my favourite fabric showrooms in Toronto, which is open only to designers. The showroom can be a bit overwhelming, as there are thousands of fabrics from multiple iconic brands such as Lee Jofa, Brunschwig & Fils, GP&J Baker, Cole & Sons and Gaston Y Daniella. And that is just to name a few! They also carry a variety of trims, carpets, curtain hardware, lighting, accessories and so many other lovely things.
This showroom is one of my happy places, if you haven’t gathered that already!
The Showroom
Valentina, the showroom manager, meets us and offers us great coffee and cookies. They are setting up for Wine Wednesdays. (But that’s a story for another time!) We start looking through the many boards, which are all organized by colour and brand. When she points to a fabric she likes, I remove the sample which is stapled to the board with gusto and start putting together ideas right there. Valentina also makes some suggestions for other fabrics to work with the mood board we are creating.
Making Moves
My client takes home the samples and lives with them for a few days in the room to get just a taste of the vision for what they might look like once they’re made. When she approves the fabrics, I start the process of getting quotes.
I then contact Mike, my curtain maker and installer. I tell him I want a pair of lined and interlined curtains with deep pinch pleat headings and trim on the leading edge and along the bottom. I give him the width and repeat of the design on the fabric. I also find some great wood poles, rings and finials for the curtain hardware and decide on a mahogany finish, as there are 5 to choose from. He sends me his price for making the curtains, how many yards of fabric needed and the details for the hardware.
All the quotes are then put into my software program in several meetings with Janine, my controller, as we go over many details to confirm. Quotes are emailed, deposits received and supplier orders placed. Eventually all the orders arrive and the curtains are in the works! I review the details and answer any questions.
Install Day
It’s install day and I am there to oversee any details that need to be tweaked due to onsite conditions and variables. At this point, I am just so excited to see my vision finally realized and my client happy!