JEM Personalized Interiors

unknown

Jo Ellen was a delight to work with so knowledgable and very professional

unknown

Incredibly helpful

Excellent.

I think I told most of the story above. It did not go well. Before we started, I told her that I had met with someone else who said that I could not have honeycombs with drapes over them because there wasn't enough to attach them both to. JoEllen said I could have them both; there was a way to do that. It is becoming increasingly apparent that the first person may have been right. This combined with the choice of fabric seem to be the big problems. Rebuttal to company response: I refute Ms. Rinewart’s version of the story as follows. First, I address her conclusion that “she had a past history of using so many ‘”decorators”’ – I first had a drapery man from Lowe’s look at the windows. He is not a decorator; he does windows. He told me I could not have honeycombs and drapes over them due to the bay window’s structure. Joanne was next and I found her on Angie’s List. She is not a decorator; she does windows. I then met Nancy, who was a friend’s decorator. Nancy is not a drapery person; she is a professional designer and is a very good designer. She, however, would be considered a decorator. Nancy brought in a drapery person who brought in another drapery person who actually makes the drapes. Neither are decorators although I think one lady could be a designer if she wanted to do so. Prior to this, I had not had a decorator for about 30 years when I lived in Clayton, and that all went fine. If this is using “so many decorators”, so be it. Secondly, she made several nasty comments in her response that just are not truthful. I did not throw her installer out. I did not hang up on her although she alleges I did so twice. I did not go ballistic. I asked her to wrap it up and leave because I was already 2 hours late. Back to the beginning of JEMs response and following her information in order: I was thrilled with the honeycombs and still am. However, there appears to be question as to whether or not they can exist on the bay window along with drapes (as she advised they could). I asked Joanne for suggestions for the entire condo. I asked if I could use blinds instead of sheers in the living room. Joanne suggested shutters instead. I went to look at them at a showroom and they sat flush with the window at the showroom. Joanne wrote up the order. She sent the installer who measured the windows. I asked him how far out the shutters were going to hang and he showed me. I said that’s going to look terrible – the ones at the showroom didn’t look like that. I did not throw him out of my condo as she has asserted. Her description of the choosing of the fabric is pretty accurate. She recommended the fabric instead of silk because it was more durable than silk and would not fade. However, it appears that she failed to mention that the fabric is very hard to work with and would not hang like silk. I liked the color of the fabric and still do like it. While the fabric looks fine, it does not hang like silk even if the other problems are fixable. As to the pleats, she showed me several different pleat sample styles and asked me to pick the one I wanted. I liked the goblet the best. She did not suggest other pleats at that time or advise me in any way that they would be tricky to work with; that came after the problems were called to my attention by the new drapery people. I did not hang up on Ms. Rinewart at any time. I may very well have said that I was busy and needed to go. I signed a contract and paid a deposit for the shutters she had recommended and was permitted to cancel the contract. I would have challenged her had I not been permitted to cancel as she had failed to tell me the shutters would hang way out from the windows. She probably did spend some time with the fabric I had. She was going to make drapes for the living room also and working on the fabric is probably what one does. Had she done a good job with the bedroom, I would have moved on to the living room with her. She called me when the drapes were done. She wanted to install them very soon. I told her that I was very busy and was going out of town and she could install them when I came back. She was very insistent that she install them quickly and assured me that it would only take 1 hour. On installation day, they got right to work. I was not “working from home” that day; I was home because they were there and intended to leave for my office when they were finished. I went back to the room 2 or 3 times. The noise they were making was very loud and there was a lot of it. I remember thinking that I would have told my neighbors in advance had I known about it. I went back to see how they were progressing. After 3 hours, I went back and told them this had taken too long and I had to get to my office. She had told me 1 hour; it was now 3. She wanted to know where I wanted the holder things. I told her not to worry about them; just leave them. They are not an issue and I blame her for nothing on the holder issue. She did not mention steaming at all or doing anything else to the drapes. She did not ask to come back to do anything at that time. She was quite apologetic about taking so long. I do not appreciate Ms. Reinwart saying I went ballistic as it is simply not true. Ms. Reinwart Emailed me a few days after the installation and I responded that I thought the drapes looked funny but would await the designer’s opinion. After the new designer brought in the new drapery people, it was about November and I did Email Ms. Reinwart with the results. I would not let her come back out because she had left the mess without telling me that anything was wrong. I outlined the problems in my Emails and offered several solutions. Ms. Reinwart is correct that the cost of the draperies only was the $2,600 she referenced. But if I cannot have honeycombs and drapes together, the honeycombs go back also and their cost was about $900 to $1000. The balance is the refund that Ms. Reinwart returned to me and, of course, that is not to be included. Thus the correct amount is about $ 3,500 give or take. I agree that Ms. Reinwart and I were not a good fit. I was glad to have Ms. Reinwart state her four-way guarantee in her response to Angie’s List. She did do on-time appointments, no question about that. The Price I do not really know about, but it was close enough to the new people that it’s fine. The quality and workmanship appears to be the big problem. And the 10 year performance. The question is what she will do about it all.

The process for each set of windows began with JoEllen bringing fabric books, books of drapery shapes and styles, and books of trim to the house. We'd hash through ideas and she'd leave me swatches to live with. The drapery construction itself takes about 4 to 6 weeks on average. JoEllen is great at keeping me updated on progress. We'd set a date for installation, which even for the largest windows never took more than a few hours.

JoEllen Reinwart came to my home to provide an estimate on window treatment (sheers) for my living-room bay windows and door. She was extremely helpful, listening to my ideas, providing advice and alternate possibilities, and keeping my cost limits in mind. She pointed out a number of important factors I had not considered, and her professional opinion was very helpful. She had a wide array of fabric samples in all price points and I was able to find one within my price range that I really liked. Measurements were taken. Although I was not yet ready to consider window treatment for my master bedroom, I asked, and she provided, ideas and advice on how I might decorate them, made fabric suggestions, and took measurements. This was extremely helpful. Within a few days I received an estimate on the living room. The estimate was within my budget and better than any other I had received. Upon receiving my acceptance and deposit a mutually agreeable time for installation (also part of the estimate and arranged by JoEllen) was agreed upon, resulting, ultimately, in my complete satisfaction with my lovely living room sheers! JoEllen was wonderful and easy to work with in every way. She is professional in every sense of the word, friendly, helpful, and very knowledgeable. All communications were handled promptly and satisfactorily, and I have complete confidence that should any issues arise, she will be most responsive and helpful. She has provided an estimate for my bedroom, and when financially possible I will hire her again. Without reservation, I would definitely recommend her to anyone needing such services.

Joellen was professional from the estimate stage to the installation. It was an excellent experience. I was very satisfied with the final product. I love the vignettes.

Overall--great experience. The finished product is even more beautiful than I envisioned. JoEllen was great to work with. I highly recommend her.

Jo Ellen is excellent at her job of making custom-made, unique curtains and creating just the right feel for the room. She is extremely professional and I love to work with her!

The experience was great! Jo Ellen is extremely personable & really "gets it". She has a very good eye for style & is talented at picking a design that works in a room to bring everything together. She is also conscious of the budget & will stay within it by steering you toward fabrics, trims etc. that will be more cost-effective. The person that she had do the installation was also very professional & did a fantastic job. I couldn't be happier with the result & will definitely call Jo Ellen to do our next window treatment!

I can't say enough good about Jo Ellen and the work that she does - even my husband noticed how beautifully the shades were sewn (and he rarely notices details). The shades were completed as promised, delivered and installed. Not only is the work done extremely well, but Jo Ellen is kind and caring and very easy to work with. I will definitely call her again when I'm ready to do window treatments in the living room.

They are very good, thorough and helpful. They take there time doing the work (no rush). There was a flaw in the fabric, but didn't recognize until later and called her and she came out and replaced the drape. Price doesn't include bed skirts.