The Window Design Studio provides window coverings for residential and commercial clients throughout the Greater Bay Area. The company’s mobile showroom carries a wide variety of shutters, shades, blinds, and drapes made by industry-leading manufacturers like Hunter Douglas and Graber, and it also offers motorization systems that allow homeowners to control their window treatments from their smartphones or tablets.
Owner Michelle Nielsen credits much of The Window Design Studio’s success to its creative approach to the window covering selection process. “When we take on a job, we don’t just quote a product—we look at the entire home and try to give it a distinct look,” she says. “There are so many beautiful fabrics on the market, so we really enjoy the artistic practice of finding textures and patterns that tie everything together.”
The Window Design Studio prioritizes communication in every aspect of its operations, which Ms. Nielsen says is the key to achieving positive results. “We pride ourselves on being excellent listeners, so we approach each consultation with patience and take the time to understand our clients’ goals before moving forward. They appreciate how thorough we are when it comes to answering their questions and helping them choose the right products.”
“Our clients are very important to us, so we make sure they feel heard and understood during each step of their projects. Ultimately, we want to provide them with a smooth, pleasant experience that makes them feel confident that they made the right decision.”
When it comes to buying window treatments, do your homework to make sure you’re getting quality products for a fair price.
It’s easy to find discounted window blinds, but for high-quality, life-enhancing window fashions, you need to choose carefully to find the right provider and products. Here are some things to consider:
Your choice in window treatment companies matters.
Not all window treatment sellers are the same. From big-box stores to luxury sellers, you have plenty of options. But be careful making that choice, because the company you choose will set the tone for the entire job and the results you’ll live with afterward.
Start by getting three to five bids from different providers. Experts recommend carefully evaluating the numbers and details in each bid. “Sometimes you’ll get a supplier that accidentally or intentionally misses a room, doesn’t include the control system you want, or bids products from lower-quality manufacturers to offer estimates that look low,” explains Michelle Nielsen, owner of The Window Design Studio in Petaluma. “All things are not created equal, so you need to make sure your bid includes the right number of rooms and windows, the exact products you want, the control system you’re expecting, and the manufacturer you’ve chosen. You don’t want to sign a contract and then find out the price wasn’t quoted correctly.”
Don’t sacrifice quality for price.
Next, focus on the manufacturers and the exact products that they offer. “A lot of companies buy products very cheaply,” cautions Ms. Nielsen. “They promise a lot, but their products have inferior components. There’s a reason their price point is so low, and it’s usually because of how the products are manufactured.”
Choosing cheap materials made by inferior manufacturers may seem like a smart money-saving decision, but it’s almost a sure way to lose money and set yourself up for disappointment. “These products will cover your windows, but they won’t look as good, last as long or function as well,” says Ms. Nielsen. “You have to be really careful about what a company promises and what they deliver. It’s much better to pay for a superior product that will last a lifetime than a cheap product that will need to be replaced.”
Window covering companies are always looking for ways to differentiate themselves from their competition, and those that have earned the prestigious Diamond Certified award are already several steps ahead. In addition to its Diamond Certified status, The Window Design Studio sets itself apart by bringing an extensive showroom right to its clients’ doorsteps. “We’re a shop-at-home service, which means our customers get to see our products in their own homes,” affirms owner Michelle Nielsen. “By seeing how different window coverings match with paint colors, lighting, furniture and artwork, we’re able to find the perfect elements for each situation.”
The Window Design Studio has been providing window coverings for residential and commercial clients throughout the Greater Bay Area since 2022. The company carries a wide variety of shutters, shades, blinds and drapes in its mobile showroom (including products made by Hunter Douglas, Graber and other industry leaders), and it also offers motorization systems that let homeowners control their window treatments digitally.
Unlike window covering companies that take a “one size fits all” approach to every job, The Window Design Studio takes the time to tie everything together aesthetically and give each client a “designed home” look. “We don’t just quote products—we find beautiful patterns, colors, and textures that give the home a cohesive look and make it feel customized,” says Ms. Nielsen. “Functionality is also important to us, so we address things like privacy, light control and energy efficiency to make sure our window coverings are serving a purpose in addition to looking great.”
Ultimately, Ms. Nielsen sees The Window Design Studio’s highly personalized service as its most important attribute. “Window coverings can be big investments, so we make sure our clients are educated on the products and have a good working knowledge of their options so they can make the right decisions,” she says. “When we meet with a client, we give them all the time and input they need. We listen to the entire scope of their needs and put a lot of time into helping them, which they really appreciate.”
