Frequently asked questions

Yes, every time. I bring the full sample case to your living room, measure each window myself, and write up an honest quote on the spot. You get to see the blinds, shades, and shutters in your own light before you decide anything.

Completely. There is no fee, no deposit, and no obligation. You get real measurements and an itemized quote, and if the timing is not right, that is fine. The quote is yours either way.

All of Des Moines and the surrounding metro, including West Des Moines, Ankeny, Waukee, Urbandale, Johnston, Clive, Altoona, Pleasant Hill, Norwalk, Grimes, and Indianola, plus anywhere within about a two hour drive. If you do not see your town on our service areas map, call and ask.

Seven days a week. Monday through Saturday 7am to 9pm, and Sunday 10am to 6pm. Evening and weekend appointments are normal here, not the exception.

Just clear easy access to the windows you want covered and have a rough sense of what bothers you about them, glare, privacy, bare glass, whatever it is. I bring the samples, the measuring tools, and the answers.

It depends on the size and number of windows, the material you choose, and any specialty shapes. Since everything is custom made to your openings, the honest way to get a real number is a free in-home estimate, where I measure and hand you an itemized quote with no obligation.

Room by room. Humid rooms lean faux wood, showcase rooms lean real wood or shutters, bedrooms lean blackout shades, and big glass leans solar or panel track. That is exactly what the in-home visit sorts out, and the blog has full comparison guides if you like to research first.

Cellular, or honeycomb, shades are the workhorses here. They trap a pocket of air at the glass and slow the heat that escapes on a cold Iowa night, which eases the load on your furnace. Pairing them with plantation shutters up front is a common Des Moines setup.

The names homeowners ask for, including Hunter Douglas, Norman, Alta, Rowley, and SunPro. Because we are part of a national brand, you get big company selection with local service.

Yes. Cordless and motorized options remove dangling cords entirely, and I recommend them as the default in any home with young kids or pets. The cost difference is usually smaller than parents expect.

Several. Blackout cellular and roller shades, lined Roman shades, and liner options on woven woods all get a bedroom genuinely dark. Careful measuring minimizes edge light, and I will tell you honestly which option gets darkest for your specific window.

That is the whole point of bringing samples to your home. You hold real swatches and slat samples against your trim, floors, and furniture in your own light before anything is ordered.

Yes. Motorized blinds and shades can run from a remote, your phone, or a quick word to Alexa, Google, or Siri, and they are perfect for tall or hard-to-reach windows. I program and test everything on install day before I leave.

Most systems I install run on rechargeable batteries inside the headrail rather than house wiring, so an outage does not strand them. A prolonged outage will eventually drain a battery, but day to day blips are a non event.

For tall windows, hard-to-reach glass, and shades you adjust daily, usually yes. For an easy-to-reach window you rarely touch, often no. I will tell you honestly which of your windows justify it, and the blog has a full breakdown.

Most projects run about two to four weeks from the in-home estimate to install day. Custom plantation shutters can sit on the longer end because they are built to your exact frames. I give you the timeline in writing before anything is ordered.

Installation is part of how I quote every project. Your itemized estimate spells out exactly what is included before you commit to anything, no surprises on install day.

Most whole home projects finish in a single visit. Motorized systems take a little longer since programming and pairing happen on the spot, but you should only need to plan for one day in almost every case.

Yes, and older Des Moines homes make sure I get plenty of practice. Settled frames get shimmed and squared, arches and angles get custom built solutions, and tall windows usually get motorized so you never need a ladder.

Call me. The person who installed your treatments is the person who answers, and I will either fix it or walk the manufacturer warranty process with you. One phone number, no call center.

Mostly light regular dusting, with product specific care for wood, fabric, and naturals. The blog has a full guide to cleaning blinds without damaging them, and I walk through care basics at install.

Often, yes. Whether a repair beats replacement depends on the product and the problem, and I will give you an honest answer either way rather than selling you something you do not need.