MILL END SHOPS

Called shop in Shirlington based upon a coupon. They sent someone from Fairfax store. Salesperson seemed knowledgeable. We picked drapery fabric and she provide the estimate of $2,200 for one pair of drapes, a roman shade 22 inches wide, and 3 small pillows. I thought the price was very high given the coupon, but custom drapes can be expensive. I was told the drapes would be finished in 8 to 12 weeks. I paid 50% down. Thirteen weeks later I had heard nothing from them, so I called for an update. They had to search to find my order, then told me they were waiting for the hardware. A week later (14 weeks after the order was placed), they installed the drapes and the roman shade. When I have ordered custom drapes in the past, they arrived carefully pressed with the pleats tied. These drapes arrived flat with wrinkles. Rather than hanging straight, they flare because they were not ironed. They hang 1.5 inches off the floor--I guess I should call them my "high water" drapes. There is no way to hang them lower because the rod supports are practically sitting on the window frame. Width-wise, they barely cover the window. The wand is an ugly white metal rod. The roman shades have a pattern that runs straight across. The shades are quite simply crooked--the pattern runs at an angle to the top of the shade. I am very disappointed. Rather than beautiful custom drapes, they look cheap--as though corners were cut (all puns intended) to save money, from the cheap wands to saving on fabric.

I went to one of Mill End Shops show rooms, with all the different curtains, colors, and stuff like that. The woman in the show room was very knowledgeable. My apartment faces east, and in the summertime, particularly June or July, the sun comes up very early. I wanted thick curtains to blot out all of that bright light. The lady in the showroom said, You want bomb shelter curtains. I said, Something like that. They were the color I wanted. The polls or whatever you call them that hold the curtains up were exactly what I wanted. The installer, who came and installed, was very professional and did a professional job. I got what I wanted. They were within four days of when they said they would be able to put the curtains up. That was totally within their committed time. All of these things were custom made so they had to order everything. The installer came exactly on time for the appointment. He was very fast and efficient. He did a great job. I absolutely would go back to Mill End Shops if I need to.

They are great to work with. They came out to the home to measure for the windows treatments and pick up the chairs. Everything they have done for me looks great, and I would use them again.

THE SALES CLERKS AT THE STORE WERE VERY HELPFUL AND KNOWLEDGEABLE IN HELPING US SELECT FABRICS FOR THE WINDOW TREATMENTS. THEY PERMITTED US TO TAKE NUMEROUS SAMPLES HOPE TO SEE IF THOSE SAMPLES WORKED WITH OUR DECOR. THEY THEN ASSISTED IN SELECTING THE STYLE OF WINDOW TREATMENT. THE FABRICATION WAS WONDERFUL AND THE INSTALLER WAS EXCELLENT. WE'VE RECEIVED NUMEROUS COMPLIMENTS ON THE WINDOW TREATMENTS.