Every window has a personality. Some flood your room with gorgeous morning light. Others invite a little too much of the neighbor's attention. And some do both, depending on the time of day.

Custom blinds are one of the easiest ways to take control — blocking glare, adding privacy, and making any room just plain more comfortable. But if you really want to dial things in, there's one option that outclasses the rest.

Meet Top-Down Bottom-Up Shades

Most shades give you one choice: up or down. Top-Down Bottom-Up shades give you both — at the same time.

Lower the top to let soft light pour in from above. Raise the bottom to keep prying eyes out while preserving your view. Or do both at once and frame exactly the slice of the outside world you want to see. It's a level of control that standard shades simply can't match.

Real-World Example: A Seacoast Living Room

We recently installed Top-Down Bottom-Up shades in a stunning Seacoast living room with views that the homeowners definitely didn't want to give up. 

The solution was perfect. The shades let them keep those beautiful scenery views wide open while blocking bands of bright sunlight hitting the room. No sacrifices. Just a smarter window.

What Could They Do for Your Windows?

Whether you're dealing with summer glare, street-level privacy, or just want more options than "open" and "closed," Top-Down Bottom-Up shades are worth a serious look.

Ready to find the perfect fit for your home?

Contact us today for a consultation — we'd love to help you see your windows in a whole new way.

When a client from Maine came to us with a design puzzle, we knew it was going to be a fun one. They had a recreation room built around a golf simulator — a dream setup — but they wanted it to pull double duty. Bright and airy for everyday living. Dark and distraction-free when it was time to hit the links (virtually speaking).

Golf simulators are fantastic, but they have one demanding requirement: darkness. A room flooded with natural light might feel wonderful on a lazy Sunday morning, but it's the enemy of a crisp, clear simulator screen. Our client didn't want to choose between a cave and a sunroom — they wanted both.

The answer was simpler and more stylish than you might expect: fashionable blackout shades in a complementary fabric.

When the shades are raised, the room is exactly what you'd want — open, light-filled, and relaxed. The kind of space where you'd happily sip your morning coffee or host a casual get-together. When it's time to play, simply lower the shades, and every last bit of daylight disappears. The simulator screen pops, the image is crystal clear, and suddenly you're on the back nine at Pebble Beach.

The best part? These aren't the clunky, utilitarian blackout shades of years past. Today's options come in beautiful textures and colors that look intentional and polished — a real design feature, not an afterthought.

The Takeaway

You don't have to sacrifice style for function (or function for style). With the right window treatments, a room can transform from sun-soaked retreat to immersive simulator studio in seconds.

​Now if only we could help with the handicap. Fore! ⛳

When a Seacoast client came to us with a collection of colorful fabrics they'd fallen in love with, they had a vision — they just needed help bringing it to life. The goal was to create custom valances for a pair of large bay windows, and we were excited to make it happen.
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The process started remotely. The client sent us photos of their fabrics and windows, and we responded with color sketches so they could visualize exactly how the finished treatments would look in their space. Getting that design approval before any fabric is cut is always worth the extra step — it means everyone is on the same page and there are no surprises down the road.

Once the design was approved, we visited their home to take precise measurements of both windows. Bay windows present a unique challenge because of their angled geometry, and accurate measurements are everything.

Back in our workroom, we constructed both treatments and pre-mounted them onto headrails that were carefully cut with angled joins — while still being divided into three segments per window for practical handling and transport. This approach lets us do the heavy lifting in the workroom, so the installation at the client's home goes smoothly and efficiently.
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And smoothly it went. We unfolded each headrail on-site and mounted the complete treatments above the windows — and they fit like gloves. The colorful fabrics the client had chosen looked exactly as we'd sketched, bringing warmth and personality to the rooms.

​It's one of those projects that reminds us why we love what we do.

What do we do with our scrap fabrics? That is always a question we ask ourselves so that we can preserve and repurpose some beautiful prints. These were made from fabric sample books that were discontinued but we needed to do something fun with the printed fabrics and keep them from the landfill. 

The fish bag totes measure 14.5" and the way their mouth opens and closes with the drawstring, brings a smile to our face every time we use them. They are whimsical, fun, and easy to make following our instructions.. We hope you give it a try and show us your completed fish totes so we can see some more personalities!

The .pdf pattern includes instructions and the pattern pieces. Please print it on 8.5"x 11" paper, but you can enlarge or reduce from there for other sizes. 

​Happy Fishing!

​We’ve streamlined our process to make designing and creating your custom soft window treatments easy and enjoyable. Along the way, there are plenty of opportunities to share ideas and refine the details so everything turns out just right. Here’s how it works:

Ready to bring your windows to life? Let’s create something beautiful together!

Valances are a simple way to add color, softness, and a finished look to any room. With endless options for styles and trims, they can be as decorative or as understated as you like—but even a clean, classic valance brings instant elegance and customization.
We love helping clients choose color palettes and fabric textures that complement the space while reflecting their personal style. As an added bonus, fabric valances can even help dampen sound in rooms that tend to “ring,” making them both beautiful and practical.

​These valances were added to a Seacoast rental apartment, and with minimal cost and effort, the space now feels warmer, cozier, and more complete.

Take a fresh look at the windows in your own spaces and consider adding—or updating—valances to truly make them your own.

​If you’re curious about what might work in your home, we’re always happy to help you explore options and get started.

​When winter rolls in, cellular shades do more than just look good—they help insulate your windows while offering excellent privacy and light control. If you’re looking for the most flexible option, a Top-Down/Bottom-Up cellular shade is hard to beat.

The “bottom-up” function works just like a traditional cellular shade, but the real magic happens at the top. With discreet magnetic clips holding the shade in place, you can raise or lower the bottom as usual—or pull the top down to let natural light flood in while keeping the lower part of the window private.
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This versatility gives you options for every moment of the day: privacy below with light above, full coverage when you want it, or even “parking” the shade in the middle of the window for a balanced mix of both. It’s a smart solution for rooms where light and privacy needs change throughout the day.

​Take a look around your home and think about which windows could benefit from this highly adaptable, energy-efficient window treatment. And if you’d like to talk through the possibilities, give us a call—we’re always happy to chat!

Our last installation of 2025 was a satisfying one: a pair of matching slipcovers for a mountain lodge retreat. 

The client was ready for a change, moving from well-loved reds to smooth, cool blues for a lighter, fresher feel—and the transformation was instant.

Slipcovers are a simple, elegant way to refresh a room, shift a color palette, or breathe new life into much-loved older pieces. In this case, these two chairs look ready for many more years of use—and we’d say they’ve gotten a well-deserved new lease on life.

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Have a favorite chair (or two) you’d love to reimagine? Let’s talk about what’s possible!

In late November, a customer reached out to see if we could make new cushions for two heritage pieces of furniture—two armchairs and a loveseat crafted from the end of a bed. We settled on a lovely light-colored fabric that would still be reasonably child-proof, and then went to work.

​We decided the new cushions needed to be thicker than the originals so they would be properly scaled to the furniture. To achieve that, we used a thicker foam core, added a polyfill wrap for comfort and softness, and finished the cushions with zippers and piping for a clean, tailored look.

​The results were delightful—and as an added bonus, everything was completed just in time for Christmas! Don’t let a well-loved piece of furniture fade away. With new cushions, it can gain fresh life, color, and function. Reach out and let’s chat about what’s possible.

​We recently had the pleasure of updating an apartment at the RiverWoods Retirement Community in Durham, NH. The space already had plenty going for it—beautiful natural light and a comfortable, welcoming layout—but the homeowner felt it could use just a touch more warmth and color.

​Our solution was a set of custom valances for both the dining area and the living room. To tie everything together, she revisited a fabric she’d loved years ago and had originally used for a throw pillow. Bringing that fabric back into the room added just the right pop of color while still feeling familiar and personal.

The result is a space that feels brighter, cozier, and more complete—proof that even a small update can make a big difference. We think it was a lovely addition, and it was a joy to help bring a bit more color into an already beautiful home.

​Whether it’s a subtle refresh or a bold change, we’re always happy to help bring your vision to life. Contact us to learn more.