FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Here are some of the most commonly asked questions we receive. If you don’t find the answer you’re looking for, don’t hesitate to contact us at 770-967-6543. Help is only a phone or email away!
Donna Cash, the owner of Designs by Donna works with you from the initial contact, all the way through to the installation of your beautifully designed and fabricated custom soft furnishings. Soft furnishings is a term to encompass draperies, curtains, window valances, Roman shades, bedding ensembles, pillows, cushions, slipcovers and other fabric treatments for the home. Designs by Donna also provides upholstery. Donna will measure your space and present a selection of fabrics, trimmings, hardware, and designs available so that you can easily and simply choose those that will make your house feel like a home.
At Designs by Donna, our products are delivered on time, within budget, and meet or exceed your expectations.
A phone interview is scheduled to discuss your project and for us to get to know a little bit about each other. Once it is determined you are ready for Designs by Donna to bring joy and beauty into your home with beautifully designed and fabricated custom treatments, we will schedule a time to meet in person. This in-home consultation will allow Donna to measure your space, and then together you will look at fabrics, and discuss design options. An estimate is emailed to you within 48 business hours after the final details have been selected. Upon receipt of the down payment for your custom products, all items will be ordered. Your treatments are fabricated in our in-house fabrication studio using the highest of quality standards and are personally delivered to you by Donna within 6-10 weeks after all fabrics, trimmings, and hardware are received by us. Your items are expertly installed by Donna’s professional installer.
Homeowners and executives who desire custom products but don’t have the time or the desire to create for themselves. We like to collaborate with our clients to create a place for them to unwind, rejuvenate, and to enjoy their families and friends.
Our interior designer clients are interested in working with a professional workroom whose expertise, experience, and skills provide exquisitely fabricated and designed custom soft furnishings. Our designers appreciate our willingness to help as little, or as much, as needed in order to make their designs come to life and for that ‘no unhappy surprise’ installation. We become a part of the designers team and they appreciate our goal of making them look good to their clients.
We also work with restaurants and commercial spaces.
There are window and custom treatments available for almost any budget. In order for Designs by Donna to best select and design treatments for you and your lifestyle, we will need to understand the investment you are willing to make towards these items for your home. We do not want to design something you absolutely fall in love with only to disappoint you with the price. Understanding your budget will allow us to select fabrics, hardware, and design options to fit within your budgeted amount. Custom window treatments are designed for beauty and functionality, suited specifically to fit your needs. The cost of custom soft furnishings is based on the cost of not only the fabrics and trimmings used in the fabrication of these, but also the style and the amount of labor necessary to create your one of a kind treatment.
We set aside time to focus on you and your home which takes us away from working on another project or with another client. Education, training and experience over the years have enabled us to provide you with a high level of service and exceptional products. At Designs by Donna we’ve developed a process to make our job look easy, but it’s because of all the time we have put into learning our craft. Over the years, we have made many custom treatments and we have seen it all. With our knowledge, we can steer you away from making a mistake and help you find the perfect combination of style, fabric, trim & hardware for your home. We collaborate with our clients to create a place for them to unwind, to rejuvenate, and to enjoy their families and friends. Because of all that goes into the planning & designing of custom treatments, we are not able to give you those services for free.
Discuss your budget with Designs by Donna early in the discussion. We can help you select designs and fabrics that will raise or lower the costs of your treatments. ·
As a starting point, consider these levels and associated ranges (based on a 36” wide x 72” long window) Installation not included in the below costs.
Foundation Level: ($175.00-$600.00) – blinds and shades that provide best functionality and privacy. *Motorized will be more
Second Level: ($700.00-$1,700.00) – one layer of soft treatment, including valances, Roman shades, cornices or stationary panels
Third Level: ($1,400.00-$3,700.00) – multiple layers of soft treatments that are embellished with decorative trimmings.
Custom is more expensive than ready-made. We are making one item specifically for you and not mass producing. Over the years that you have your custom made products what you will love for decades, you would have to replace ill-fitting readymades time and time again.Custom window treatments, bedding ensembles, slipcovers, and upholstery are an investment in your home. Don’t you deserve perfectly tailored treatments that fit your unique personality? Yes, you do!
A client once said, “It’s just a simple drapery panel, it shouldn’t take you long to do, I don’t understand why it costs so much?”
What you may see as a simple project, our 30 years of experience tells us it’s anything but. First, we accurately measure your windows. We make recommendations with regards to types of fabrics, linings and styles that will work well in your room and for the style of treatment being fabricated.
All fabrics are inspected as they arrive in the workroom to ensure they are flawless and printed on grain so that the treatment hangs beautifully once installed. No fabrics are ever cut without carefully planning and figuring the best use of pattern placement on the treatment. We use the following supplies and tools in the design, fabrication, and installation of your products: lining and interlining, fabric stabilizer (which is applied with a boiler iron) hand stitching thread, hand stitching needles, tape measures, extra long rulers, specialized adhesives, silk pins, an industrial sewing machine, an industrial serger, an industrial walking foot machine, tweezers, wonder clips, stabilizing rods, flat wire, upholstery tack strips, welting cord, clear pine boards, table saw, pneumatic stapler, compressor, staples, and dust board hinge plate. We will then need a cordless drill, angle brackets, screws, stud finder, anchors, ladders, a level and possibly a steamer to install your “simple panel” or other custom treatment.
Each step and the additional time that we take to be sure your fabric is used to it’s best advantage makes all the difference. Your simple panel and all custom treatments will be something you will love for years to come when it’s correctly fabricated. It’s an investment in your home.
It costs more than ready-made because it’s made exclusively to bring joy and beauty to your home with you in mind.
Most custom projects take 6 – 10 weeks, once your order is placed and all fabrics, trimmings, and hardware arrive at Designs by Donna. Some projects, like blinds and shades, will take less time. We will provide a timeline for your particular project at the time of order. Please plan ahead for any parties, family gatherings, and especially around the holidays.
Payment for the consultation appointment is due at the completion of the appointment. A downpayment of 75% of project cost is due in order to schedule your project on our calendar. The final 25% is due at the installation.
Donna Cash works with you from concept to creation, and all the way to the final ‘no unhappy surprises’ installation. Donna will be present at the installation of your beautiful new window treatments, so she and the installer can handle all of the details for you! Donna will discuss the installation with the installer and he will do his magic. During the installation, you can go about your daily activities or you can discuss additional projects with Donna so she can measure while the installer is hanging your custom treatments.
At one time, Donna said yes to this question. She learned when a panicked husband called at 9:00 pm from the top of a two-story window begging for her professional installer come out and help him. He was ready to pay any amount of money to be put out of his misery!
Custom window treatments should be professionally installed. A professional installer knows where the rods or brackets need to be installed, has the proper ladders, stud funders, anchors, a level and other installation tools and equipment. An installer also dresses the treatments so they look gorgeous and hang beautifully. And having your custom treatments professionally installed may save your marriage!
Yes! Two story windows are no problem for Designs by Donna. When you first meet Donna and see her short 4’10” stature, you may be a little surprised at this answer. But don’t worry, Donna’s expertise and experience at measuring will allow her to get the measurements necessary to fabricate those extra tall treatments with no problem.
I understand some designers are hesitant to hire workrooms that also offer retail fabrication. Let me share the benefits to you, the interior designer, of using Designs by Donna as your professional workroom. In my 30 years in the custom soft furnishings business, I have measured countless windows and fabricated numerous simple to highly complicated treatments. I understand how to fabricate your designs for a ‘no unhappy surprises’ installation. That perfect installation actually starts at the measuring stage of the project. I understand this as I used to install my own window treatments. For the last 25 years, I have been working with one of the best installers in the area. He will be glad to install your designs too should you need this service. Should you want me to be at the installation as well, I will personally deliver and assist the installer. I also understand scale and proportion and take this into consideration if you need assistance with this. I can assist with the custom soft furnishings area of your projects, as much or as little as you prefer. It is my job to help interior designers look good to their clients. I look forward to being part of your team.
We are not the least expensive, we are not the fastest, but our client testimonials are proof that we make our clients happy.
Your custom treatments are made at our in-house fabrication studio. As a member of Window Coverings Association of America, we use the high quality of standards adopted by the WCAA. At Designs by Donna, our products are delivered on time, within budget, and meet or exceed our clients’ expectations.
We recommend a light vacuuming or dusting with a lint roller as needed. Washing your treatments in the washing machine is never recommended, and we cannot be responsible for the results. Dry Cleaning is an alternative method of cleaning drapery panels, however, we take no responsibility for the results of the dry cleaning process. Dust & vacuum as long as humanly possible! Even if your treatments survive the dry cleaning process, they will never look as good!
Our goal is to meet and exceed your expectations
in quality and service.
Contact us today to discuss your next project made in our custom drapery workroom.