Classy DIY solutions. Smith + Noble used to be called Smith + Noble Windoware, but a few years ago they grew into a windoware, rug and home decor company. While not offering scintillating design, they do offer a nice alternative to paying for expensive custom shades. You choose the shade, you do the measuring, you do the work and they'll send you exactly what you want...
Smith + Noble sells a wide range of windowware, from wood blinds, to solar shades, to honeycomb shades to curtain panels. They tend towards traditional and are noticeably absent modern, urban styles, but their solar shades come close. In our experience, they are very reliable and have excellent customer service.
While they now offer a small collection of home decor, including bedding, Parsons chairs and covers, and pillows (as well as a partnership with Serena & Lily), they are still primarily a window coverings store.
Problems? We found that measuring windows for shades is tricky and on more than one occasion shades had to be returned. It can be done, just be careful! In addition, ordering off of their site can be confusing as there are so many choices to be made and color chips on the web are hard to read. You need to really know what you want in advance, and you will want to take advantage of their willingness to send you free swatches.
Smith + Noble is not cheap. A simple cotton canvas panel will cost you as much if not a little more than if you were to find it yourself at Pottery Barn or a similar store. Smith + Noble is not offering bargains, what they are offering is a wide range of choices so that you can choose exactly what you want.
Also, as noted by some of our readers, some have had less-than-pleasurable experiences with Smith+Noble. (Others have had great experiences as well.) So, we encourage you to read the Comments from the old post and update this post with any new experiences you have had!
>>Updated from this post originally published 8.29.07 (56 Comments)
| Phone: |
1.800.248.8888
|
|---|---|
| Website: | www.smithandnoble.com |
| Categories: | window coverings |
|---|
© 2009 Apartment Therapy
Can anyone tell me who made the striped bedsheets in the featured picture? I love them!
view cate918's profile
Why is AT posting an "edited" version of the original post which retains all the praise about Smith & Noble without noting that many of the 50 comments that followed the original post were horror stories from people who ordered from this company?
view Jenny in DC's profile
Jenny in DC, I was thinking the same thing. There is a link to the original post above, but given the overwhelming amount of HORRIBLE feedback given when AT originally posted about Smith & Noble, I'm sort of surprised they would choose to run a fresh, new post extolling their "excellent customer service".
I strongly urge anyone thinking of ordering from Smith & Noble to read these comments before doing so.
view Anna at D16's profile
Boy, that's not my experience. I've purchased dozens of shades from S N over the years and I was unfailingly impressed by the value, quick turnaround, and service. Only once did I have a shade arrive with the wrong dimensions and they remedied it immediately. So my experience has been great and I recommend them frequently.
view hans111's profile
I don't see how this is an alternative to paying for expensive custom shades. They are custom, and they are expensive. They are also really nice quality and I've had three very good experiences ordering from them. It's possible to create a modern look with many of their products by exploring (or eliminating) the options. They just tend to feature more traditional spaces in their photography.
view farmhousemoderne's profile
if you live in the Bay Area, NY, LA or seattle, you can have one of their designers come out to your house and show you all the products and do all the measuring for you FOR NO CHARGE. i'm not kidding, it's a totally free service and they're responsible for all the measuring. I've never had a problem with their products myself but I've always used the free designer service in san francisco.
view rosie888's profile
I LOVE Smith and Noble. We've done 5 different rooms in 2 different houses with them, and the results have always been stunning and perfect. Plus it's so easy to install them! JUST today I forwarded their website to a friend because she wanted stylish blackout curtains. I'm really surprised to read that people have had any experience below excellent.
view ChloeSF's profile
To balance the comments out a little on Smith & Noble...I've ordered a variety of window treatments (wooden blinds, roller shades, cell shades) from them, and never had a problem with fit or my orders taking too long. I plan to use them for the 3rd house I'm working on now.
view DianaR's profile