Stanley Levine's Workroom

Stanley Levine came recommended from a trusted friend. She had warned me that she only used his services for cushions. So I decided to try his window treatment services. He claimed when I met him that he can do anything. 40 years experience he kept saying. He completed my window treatments (a repair job from a prvious bad job and an addition of lining to big panels for three rooms). The job was done by his workroom seamstress- who is good- Helen. I did visit the workshop to make sure we were on th same page. On his own he added number of pleats which then required additional rings for the curtian. Well, for two months he kept saying he can get the rings. Finally he sent me the wrong ones. Then he claimed they were discontinued! Well, guess what: I went into a "chain" curtain place and in two minutes was able to get the exact curtain rod rings to match what i have. Basically he did not tell me the truth. I will not go into the dishonesty bit as I want to say the truth about his work rather than judge his character. I gave him the benefit of the doubt. Then I had a client with 4 chairs to be upholstered. I explained, drew, went to visit workshop and talked some more about how I wanted the bottom finished in a a specific pleat. When I went to pick up the chairs, he had done exactly the opposite and not what I wanted at all. He then said: OH the client will love it! And that he FORGOT what I told him but now that I see the chair he remembered that I told him something but not exactly what! Those chairs as you can imagine where for a substantial fee. Then he claimed that the fabric I got him was not right for upholstering. I wondered with his 40 years of experience why he did not tell me that before. At the same time we had the upholstered chairs he also was working on window treatments for another client. This time I sent in DRAWING, PHOTOS, WRITING all the details. The fabric was cheer for one and linen for the other. Then there were simple French cafe window treatments. When he met with the client and myself he said: OH I CAN get any hardware you want. Well it did not turn out that way at all. He has a limited order pool and to top it he won't even try. He basically said I can just get my own 3/4 into the project. Which I was about to do when I got a phone call while I was in my car (as he always does seem to forget information) about the length measure of the cafe curtains. And when I said I am in the car but that I sent him all the details, drawings, photos and he should be able to refer to that he said he could not find what I sent in!!! I put a lot of time in making sure this time around that he has all he needs in writing and photos. It still did not make a difference. Point being: He forgets what you want, he loses insturction sheets, he does what he wants to do and then he asks for thousands of dollars. When I confront him with his mistakes (as I was putting rings I ordered on my rod I noticed for example one panel had more pleats than the other!), or the bad job on the uphostered chair, or why he forgot my instructions.. he gets defensive. In this last episode he hung up the phone in my face. Incidentally, he had done some Alpaca pricey fabric cushions for me that were so badly made and puckered everywhere. Helen then fixed them to a best of her ability and they looked fine. But he initially claimed that its the fabric! At this point I have my clients fabric and deposit in his shop. I don't know how he plans to bounce back from hanging up in my face for mistakes he has done! I don't know if anyone wants to work in this manner. If you are looking for mediocre service at best, please go see his workroom. But if you care about details, professionalism, and honest dealings, I am not sure this would be your route. Thank you.