apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I have no experience with them, but Budget Blinds (www.budgetblinds.com) will measure and install. I am pretty sure they're in NY.

After a terrible year-long debacle with Janovic I cannot urge you strongly enough to avoid them.

I searched high and low for a simple blackout shades this winter and it turned out that Smith & Noble did in fact have the best options. It took about 5 minutes per shade to install the plain white rollers beneath my current sheer roman shades.

I recently ordered blackout blinds from Blinds Galore:

http://www.blindsgalore.com/

I shopped around a bit (online) and the thing I liked most about Blinds Galore was how well thought out their ordering proceedure was to make sure you buy exactly what you want (do you want them to hang inside or over the window frame, roll over or under, auto retract or maual pull, etc.).

One thing you might consider is, ordering online, then hiring a handyman to hang them.

I had a good experience with Janovic, but that was many years ago - sounds like they have declined! I would also warn you away from Home Depot, they rescheduled my appointment to measure several times then raised my estimate since a sale expired in the meantime; Smith & Noble remained by far the cheapest approach, particularly with an online discount.

I would also add that to buy time, you can purchase temporary blinds from Home Depot (I got mine at the 23rd St. location). Although not true blackout shades by any measure, they are super-cheap (well under $20 I think) and are peel-and-stick. I used these in my apartment for several months while deciding what to do about blinds and found that they were sufficient to block out evening light although they weren't much help against sunlight. If you already have curtains too they may be more effective.

We got a solar shade and a linen shade with blackout lining (with a valance over the solar shade) installed in our bedroom from Beckenstein Fabric & Upholstery. They came and measured beforehand and then came to install. We went there first to pick out the fabric, so I'm not sure they would do it for you.
They were not cheap, but they did a beautiful job, and I sleep much better now.

Oh, and as for Jessica's comment, "took about 5 minutes per shade to install", your windows must have already been perfect, and perfectly level themselves, then, and/or maybe you have a lot of play (ie. extra space) between the width of the shade and the wide of the window recess. Older windows (wooden window frames) have a larger border to the window frame and are therefore a lot more forgiving. If you have more modern windows, the glass will go right out to the very edges of the frame, and may (as in my case) be set tightly into width of the recess. Therefore, if you want the blinds to completely cover the glass, you have to have them cut to a width that fits precisely into the recess of your window within a half an inch. It leaves no room for error in hanging them PERFECTLY LEVEL. If they are off by even the tiniest fraction of a degree when hung at the top, by the time the shade reaches the bottom it is hitting the side of the wall on one side or the other.

I say all of this because I have very very tall, somewhat narrow windows, where my windows are new (window frames go right to the edges of the window's recess), but the building is over 100 years old and has settled a bit (as in- nothing is perfectly level). Getting those blinds to hang straight down the length of those windows, cover the glass, but not hit the walls on either side of the recess when fully extended was an incredible feat. I had all the right tools, several different level meters and a plumb. It took me hours for each window, There wasn't a single window that didn't need at least one peice of hardware to be shimmed in some fashion.

If I had it to do all over again, I would absolutely pay someone to do it.

Blinds and Beyond in Union Square. Seriously great. And Good prices.

I'm currently dealing with Jenovic, and I'd disrecommend them as well. I told them at least 3 times that I would be out of town when they wanted to come measure and that they should call my roommate, but they still called me in CA to ask why I wasn't home. Then they had to come back because they didn't take all the measurements. There are only 2 windows! And they were incapable of making an appointment when they called ("Well, when _can_ you do it?" "Oh, wow, I don't know.") I hope the curtains end up nice in the end, but I don't have my hopes up.

I have used Janovic twice, once 5 years ago and again last year. Both experiences were extremely positive. Jessica, could you please elaborate on your ordeal with them. I'm curious....to hear about it.

i had a good experience with Janovic as well (about 2 years ago).

m

I recently used Horizon Window Treatments and they were fantastic. They will even come to you with options and price it out before moving forward. I think it is fairly easy to get a discount - just ask or say you got referred. Their website is here: http://www.horizonyc.com/

We recently got venetian-type wood blinds from Blinds & Beyond (based on AT's listing of them!), and they did a great job, on time, efficient, neat and tidy. I'd highly recommend them.

Oh boy, this could be a very long explanation. I ordered fairly simple curtains (one tab top, one pocket top) for my living room and bedroom. We went in with the measurements for the windows, picked out fabric and placed the order with the Janovic employee. She asked all the right questions and we assumed everything was fine.
12 weeks later (8 weeks after the original delivery date) the curtains came. The fabric had been cut to match the dimensions of the windows exactly and them hemmed! Closed the curtains didn't even cover all of the glass and open there was barely enough fabric to create even a soft billow. We called and complained, they acted shocked and appalled and came back right away to replace the curtains.
Two weeks, four weeks, six weeks, 12 weeks go by with nothing. We call every week and they tell us the factory is finishing them up and will send them Monday. We threaten to have the charges reversed and voila the living room curtains arrive, with new fabric pieced onto the miscut originals!
It took from January to November to incorrectly cut the fabric and then sew on the new to "fix" it. And not once did our salesperson do anything. We had to get the factory number ourselves, since according to her they weren't reachable.

I really recommend blindsforless.com. I know you said you don't want to deal with the measuring and installing, but their measuring system couldn't be simpler and the installation is also a breeze - even I could do it. We got the natural grass blinds and you can get a blackout lining applied on the back of almost any of those styles. They are really reasonable and the customer service was fabulous.

If I remember correctly, Smith and Noble has a local service provider who will measure your windows before ordering blinds and then install them when they arrive. It does cost extra, but it might be worth calling their customer service number and asking them about installation in NY.

Another recommendation for Blinds and Beyond. We used them a few years ago for our Hunter Douglas "Park Avenue" Duette cellular shades and we were very pleased with every aspect of the service they provided - from the initial estimate and design/style advice to the installation. The prices were excellent and everyone we dealt with was friendly and professional.

I second the recommendation of Manhattan Shade and Glass. They just did shades for the entirety of my new apartment and they're fabulous. Took not more than 4 weeks for a totally custom order (I have weirdly sized windows) and I've been getting tons of compliments on them...

Another resource is Eldridge Textile on 37th Street between Madison and 5th. They will come over, measure and install blinds, drapery, etc.They are very professional and trustworthy.

I without question, would highly recomend
ABC Window Fashions. They are a family business with two generations of experience in their field. They service Manhattan and the surrounding NY areas including the Long Island shore. Finally someone with "full product knowledge". From consulting, designing, measuring, installation and execution, this closely held family operation made my NYC apartment look "spectacular". The service was outstanding..the owner "Christopher" (a type "A" perfectionist..like myself)arrived on time to my apartment and asked me a series of relavant questions re: my use of each space. (right off the bat...I was impressed) His knowledge of all products and proper use of implementation was seemingly effortless. Most of all the selection available to me was quite incredible. After feeling very secure about my selections I was then given what I thought was an incerdibly great deal. I was given free installation due to my having multiple windows. Additionally, this was the first time in all my apartments I have lived in thatI felt someone was working for my best interests and offered me a great deal with great service.
They do have a web site to check out to see for yourself. abcwindowfashions.com
You're in good hands
Alan NYC

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I'd TOTALLY steer clear of Beckenstein's. Their customer service has really taken a nose-dive since they moved, and all they seem to get done on time is the billing. Deliveries are HOURS late (if they show at all or don't reschedule the day of the appointment) items have to go back for repair, a client's wall was deeply gouged during installation, and the "sales manager" is rude, unprofessional and insulting.