We teased this project in our last newsletter, and now we finally get to share more of the fun details. This rambling vintage Seacoast cape was a treat from start to finish. The homeowner brought in a Minneapolis-based design firm to guide the overall vision—and they, in turn, brought us in to fabricate and install a whole collection of custom window treatments and one very cool bench cushion.

The house quickly became a showcase of the range of work we love to do.
We started right at the stairwell, where a striking window got a luxurious treatment layered with a rich fabric and an insulating "English bump" lining that adds both depth and warmth. A classic Kirsch rod with beautiful finials completed the look, tying everything together with a hint of old-school elegance.

In the kitchen, we built a set of shaped cordless Roman shades designed to echo the cut-wood detail above the bank of six windows (photo at top). The result feels timeless and intentional, with soft light control and a silhouette that just fits the architecture. We also worked in a playful nod to the stairwell treatment by adding tassels—a little detail that makes the whole space feel cohesive.

​Even the laundry room got its moment with a tidy cordless woven wood shade that instantly elevated the space without overwhelming it.

​And then came the pièce de résistance: a fully custom bench cushion for the newly built breakfast nook. (Yes, the one we snuck into the last newsletter!) Bold fabric, beautifully tailored shapes, and marine cushion snaps to keep the back cushions securely in place—it all came together even better than we’d hoped.

​All in all, this project highlighted the full spectrum of interior décor work we can take on, from technical fabrication to thoughtful design details. It was a joy to bring this home’s personality to life, and we’re incredibly proud of how everything turned out.

Roman shades can be a beautiful and functional solution for bedroom window treatments — combining everyday practicality with timeless style.

Practical Perfection
Roman shades can be crafted with blackout linings or layered fabrics to suit your needs. Whether you’re creating the perfect environment for kids’ nap times or looking to block out early morning light, blackout options make restful sleep easy. They can also add a layer of thermal insulation — especially valuable in older homes with drafty windows — helping maintain comfort year-round.

​Creatively Elegant
Beyond their practicality, Roman shades offer endless creative possibilities. With nearly infinite fabric options, you can design shades that truly reflect your style. Because Roman shades display the face fabric beautifully both raised and lowered, they contribute to the room’s design at all times. Patterns, textures, and colors can tie together your décor and create a cohesive, polished look.

In the master bedroom of this Seacoast home, the chosen fabrics perfectly complement the trim color, carpet, and bedspread — tying the entire room together in a soft, coordinated palette. When lowered, the shades block light completely, adding to the cozy, restful atmosphere.

Is there a room in your home that could use the beauty and functionality of Roman shades?
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Contact us today — we’d love to help you design your own perfect set!

​Sometimes the best design choice is the one that ties everything together. For a recent project, our client wanted window treatments for two side-by-side Dining Room windows. Rather than dressing each separately, we chose a single elegant rod with sparkling Kirsch finials to unify the space. Four panels—two per window—frame the light beautifully while giving the room a sense of balance.

​Because we had already completed Roman shades in the kitchen and entryway with a favorite Premier Prints fabric, we carried the same textile into this design. Striped accents of the fabric trim the panels, creating a subtle thread of continuity throughout the home. To add just a touch of personality, we finished each panel with a charming button embellishment.

​The end result? A crisp, coordinated treatment that feels both fresh and timeless. The customer will move the rug away from the wall to let the panels hang fully. The bubbly finials really do feel like they’re raising a glass in celebration of this cheerful Dining Room makeover!

​At Domicil Design, cordless Roman shades are one of our specialties, and we love sharing recent projects to spark inspiration for your own home.

​We recently installed twelve custom Roman shades in a local residence, all made with a stunning upholstery fabric chosen by the client. 

​One of the unique challenges with Romans is aligning patterns across multiple windows—and this project truly highlights that skill, especially in the five-shade bay window.

​The finished shades bring warmth and elegance to each room while offering practical benefits: they’re child-safe and easy to operate with a discreet hem grip. We couldn’t be happier with how beautifully they came together!

​Thinking Roman shades might be the right fit? Let’s explore the possibilities together.

Four generations later, still sitting pretty.

This summer, we had the privilege of working on a very special project: a nearly 100-year-old wicker chair that’s been passed down through four generations of one family. Our client was updating the color scheme in her coastal home, and while most of the room’s furniture needed just fresh cushions, this heirloom chair called for something more.​

​Beneath its fabric exterior, the cushion had a full upholstered seat built on wood and metal framing—an old-fashioned level of craftsmanship rarely seen today. We carefully stripped away two layers of fabric from decades past, then restored the structure itself by re-gluing cracked wood joints and reinforcing them with metal brackets. 

​Once the frame was sturdy again, we added new batting for comfort, created a fresh back cushion, and upholstered everything in the same beautiful fabric used on the matching wicker couch.

​The result is a timeless ensemble that blends seamlessly with the room’s new look while honoring a beloved heirloom. With a refreshed style and reinforced frame, this chair is ready to carry family stories well into the next generation.

​Have a piece you’d love to see refreshed? Let’s bring it back to life.

From Blackout Panel to Custom Roman Shade
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Every so often, we get the chance to work on a project that’s a little out of the ordinary. In this case, a designer came to us with pre-made, name brand blackout panels that their client wanted installed in a summer home. Four of the panels would hang as-is on floor-length windows, but the client had a special request for the fifth: could it be transformed into a Roman shade for a recessed alcove window?

​The designer—new to Domicil Design—found us through an online search and reached out to see if this could be done. Their wish list was clear: reuse the original lining and interlining so the shade would match the other panels for light-blocking performance, add a decorative border, and make it a manually operated cordless style. We were happy to say “yes” to all of it—even starting from a pre-made panel.

This was a long-distance project from start to finish. We never visited the home (not our usual process), and the designer provided all the measurements. Once complete, we shipped the finished shade to the designer for installation. Both the designer and client were delighted with the result, and now there’s talk of adding that same decorative border to the other panels in the home.
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A perfect example of how we can create beautiful, functional window treatments from just about any fabric—pre-made or not!

​Don’t Overlook the Hardware—It’s Part of the Show!
When people think about custom window treatments, their minds usually go straight to fabrics—colors, patterns, pleats, trims. But one of the most important, and most often overlooked, elements of a well-designed window is the hardware. Sound boring? Not anymore.

​Today’s hardware options are far from one-size-fits-all. Curtain rods, brackets, finials, and rings now come in an astonishing range of designs, materials, and finishes—from classic bronze to sleek matte black, brushed gold, or even custom colors to match your walls. These aren’t just functional components; they’re design features in their own right.

​Think of your drapery hardware as the frame to a beautiful painting. The right choice enhances the overall look and brings cohesion to the room. We’ve had curved tracks custom-made to fit turret rooms from the early 1900s, commissioned 20-foot-long rods to span entire walls of windows, and sourced specialty finishes to coordinate with everything from antique brass fixtures to modern chrome accents.

​If you can imagine it, chances are we can make it happen. Your windows deserve more than just beautiful fabric—they deserve the full treatment.

​Let us help you design a window that shines—hardware and all.

​When people think about hiring a decorator, they often picture full-scale room makeovers or costly renovations. But the truth is, thoughtful design doesn't always mean big changes—and sometimes the smallest updates bring the biggest satisfaction.

Take this recent project, for example. Our client had been busy working on larger updates throughout their home, and this one small side window had fallen to the bottom of the list. It wasn’t a focal point—just a modest window letting in too much sun by day and the glare of driveway lights at night. Still, it was affecting the comfort and feel of the room.

After we had installed a simple valance and coordinated cushion nearby, the window began to stand out—and not in the best way. It clearly needed a finishing touch.

That’s where a custom-fitted cellular shade came in. Sleek, discreet, and incredibly functional, this shade offered just the right amount of privacy and light control. We chose a Top-Down/Bottom-Up model, giving our client flexible options: full coverage for total privacy, a clear upper view with lower shade, or anything in between.

Just like that, the space felt complete. No major overhaul, no major budget—just a little thoughtful design that made a big difference.

Sometimes it really is the little things that pull a space together.

Start small. Feel the difference. We’re just a message away.

It’s amazing how something as simple as cushions  can completely transform a space—and that’s exactly what happened in this recent project along the Atlantic coast.
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Our client’s home features expansive window benches calling for a fresh update that would celebrate the home’s coastal character while adding comfort and style.

​For the benches, we focused on fabric choices that captured the light, breezy feel of the ocean—soft blues, sandy neutrals, and classic nautical stripes. To elevate the space even more, we created coordinating pillows in a variety of shapes and sizes. The mix added dimension and brought warmth to the larger window nook, turning it into a true lounging destination.

The result? A bright, fresh, and inviting space—exactly what you’d want in a coastal retreat. Every stitch, cushion, and fabric was chosen to reflect the serenity of the sea while honoring the views from the home.

Have a favorite piece that needs a little TLC—or a room that could use a splash of color? Let us help you bring new life to your space. Reach out for a consultation today!

Tucked into the third floor of a Victorian-era home, a uniquely challenging dormer window called for a creative and elegant window treatment. The goal? To soften the intense southern light filtering through the space while honoring the home's historic charm—and working within serious structural limitations.
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The dormer featured sloped ceilings and a trio of windows: a center arched window flanked by two rectangular sash windows that extended just past the straight section of ceiling. The client and designer envisioned an operable sheer panel to diffuse the light, but the configuration presented a few hurdles. The operable rod could only be mounted on the flat portion of the ceiling—meaning it wouldn’t span the full width of the window area, nor would it cover the side sash windows.

A simple sheer treatment would have left awkward gaps and exposed the complex geometry of the space. As both a designer and workroom, I collaborated closely with the interior designer to engineer a layered solution that provided visual balance, function, and architectural harmony
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Our Solution: Tailored Layers for Seamless Integration
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To address the asymmetry and ensure complete coverage, we fabricated angled velvet pinch pleat side panels. These stationary panels were ceiling-mounted and carefully cut to follow the slope of the dormer ceiling, visually framing the operable sheer and disguising the areas where the sheer could not extend.

Each velvet panel overlapped the sheer by about six inches, concealing the sheer’s termination points. To soften the look and keep the treatment open without exposing the uncovered sides, simple metal holdbacks were installed. These allowed for a subtle swag of the velvet without revealing the absence of sheer on the far side windows. The holdback placement was critical—not just for aesthetics, but to maintain the illusion of full coverage.
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The result was a refined “trompe l’oeil” that cleverly disguised the irregularities of the space while delivering softness, light control, and period-appropriate elegance.

A Harmonious Blend of Form and Function
This tailored window treatment not only brought visual order to a chaotic architectural moment but also enhanced the traditional charm of the Victorian home. The final look was both functional and beautiful—balancing historical sensitivity with inventive design.
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The designer and client were thrilled with the outcome, and we were proud to turn such a complex challenge into a polished, stylish solution.

​Have a tricky window in need of a creative solution? Let’s collaborate and bring harmony to your space. Reach out today for a custom consultation.