Striped relaxed Roman shades on corner windows above a breakfast nook

Lic# 1134061

San Diego County · Made to Measure

Roman Shades in San Diego

Fabric you can see and a fold that stays tidy — tailored to your window, and made for it from the first cut.

Call (619) 770-8300Free In-Home ConsultationAll San Diego Services

Made in USA · Factory Direct · No Middleman

The basics

What a Roman shade actually is.

One flat panel of fabric on a headrail, with horizontal rods sewn into the back. Pull the lift and the rods stack the fabric into soft, even folds at the top of the window. Let it down and it hangs as a smooth, uninterrupted panel.

That is the difference from a roller shade, which rolls onto a tube and shows you a plain fabric face. A Roman shade shows you the fabric itself — the weave, the texture, the way it takes the light — which is why people choose it for rooms they actually look at.

Three constructions

How the fold is built.

The same fabric reads very differently depending on how the shade is made. We build all three, and we hold samples against your window so you can see it before anything is cut.

FlatA clean, smooth panel when lowered, with the folds stacking neatly at the top when raised. The most architectural of the three, and the one that suits a modern room or a bold pattern.
RelaxedSofter. The hem hangs in a gentle curve and the folds sit a little looser, so the shade has more movement. It suits linen and natural textures and kitchens, bays and bedrooms.
TailoredStructured and evenly pressed, with defined folds and a crisp finish. The most formal of the three and the one that fits a dining room or a traditional interior.
Linen Roman shades raised across a bay window above a cushioned window seat
Linen Roman shades across a bay window.

Lining

What goes behind the fabric.

The lining changes how the shade works as much as the fabric on the front does, so it is worth deciding on purpose.

StandardAdds body so the folds hold their shape, shields the face fabric from sun damage and softens the light without darkening the room.
BlackoutBlocks the light through the fabric. It is the right choice for a bedroom or a media room, though a little light will still show round the edges of the shade.
PrivacyKeeps the fabric opaque from the street without making the room as dark as blackout does. A good middle ground for a front-facing room.

Worth knowing first

What a Roman shade will not do.

It does not disappear. When raised, the folds stack at the top of the window and cover part of the glass — a taller shade or a heavier fabric stacks taller. If you want the whole window clear when it is open, a roller shade rolls up much smaller.

It is not the right shade over a shower or beside a sink, because steam and splashes are hard on fabric. And on a very wide window the shade gets heavy, so we would normally split it into two or move to a motorized lift.

The common mistake. Choosing from a small swatch alone. A linen that looks airy in a sample goes noticeably more solid once it is lined, and a heavy fabric stacks tall. We hold the lined sample and the stack against your own window before you decide.

Operation

How it lifts.

Cord-and-pulley

A smooth, traditional lift that holds the shade at any height. Reliable on larger and heavier shades.

Cordless spring

No hanging cord, so a cleaner look and a safer choice in a home with children. Best on smaller and lighter shades.

Motorized

Raise and lower by remote, wall switch, app or voice, and group several shades so a whole room moves together. The right choice for tall, wide or hard-to-reach windows.

In the room

The folds, up close.

The same idea, built three ways, and paired with drapery. Seeing the fold on a real window is the quickest way to know which one you want.

A relaxed linen Roman shade with a softly curved hem on a kitchen window
Relaxed: a softer hem and looser folds.
A flat pleated linen Roman shade above a window with garden views
Flat: a clean panel with neat, even folds.
A tailored Roman shade in a woven fabric beside a dining table
Tailored: crisp and structured.
A Roman shade beside sheer drapery on a bedroom window
Paired with sheer drapery at the same window.
Close view of a smooth flat Roman shade in natural linen

Mounting

Inside the frame, or across it.

An inside mount sits within the window opening and shows the frame, which is the cleaner and more tailored look but needs enough depth and a square opening. An outside mount covers the frame, hides an uneven opening and blocks more light round the edges.

We measure the opening on site and choose from the numbers, not from habit.

The decision is made at the measure, not after.

Free In-Home Consultation

See the fabric against your own window.

We bring the samples to you. Band height and colour look completely different at your own window than they do on a screen.

Call (619) 770-8300Book a Consultation

The process

How a Roman Shade Order Runs

1

Free consultation

We bring fabric and lining samples to your house and hold them against your own glass, in your own light. Prefer to see them first? Our San Diego showroom is open by appointment.

2

Precise measurement

Width, height and depth, with a decision on inside or outside mount and on the lift, based on the opening.

3

Made in Miramar

Cut, sewn and finished at our workshop on Silverton Avenue, with the fabric pattern matched across the shade.

4

Installed by the same crew

The people who measured come back to fit them, set the lift and take the packaging away.

Service Area

Roman Shades Across San Diego County

La JollaDel MarCarmel ValleyRancho Santa FeEncinitasCarlsbadCoronadoPoint LomaPowayScripps RanchMira MesaChula VistaEscondidoOceanside

For the trade

Working with designers and builders.

Roman shades get specified for the fabric and judged on the construction. The lining, fold style and mount decide whether a run of them reads as one piece of work.

Specified as a set

Tell us the windows and the fabric and we will come back with a construction, a lining and a lift that work across all of them, rather than one window at a time.

Pattern matched across the job

Shades for one job are cut from the same run of fabric and the pattern lined up, so the repeat matches from window to window.

One crew, start to finish

The people who measure the openings make the shades and come back to install them. There is no sub-contractor in the middle.

Questions

Roman Shades, Answered

Can a Roman shade be blackout?

Yes, with a blackout lining behind the fabric. It will make a bedroom properly dark, though a little light can still show round the edges of the shade, as with any shade that is not set in side channels.

Can I use one in a kitchen or bathroom?

In a kitchen, yes, as long as it is not directly over the sink. In a bathroom we would avoid putting one over a shower or tub, because steam is hard on fabric. A roller shade is the better choice there.

How much of the window will it cover when it is raised?

The folds stack at the top of the window, so some of the glass stays covered. A taller shade or a heavier fabric stacks taller. We show you the stack on the sample before you decide.

Are cordless Roman shades safe around children?

A cordless spring lift has no hanging cord, which is why it is the safer choice in a home with young children. It suits smaller and lighter shades; for larger ones we would suggest a motorized lift instead.

Can I combine Roman shades with drapery?

Yes, and it is a very common pairing. The Roman shade does the light control and the drapery adds softness and height. We plan the two together so they do not fight over the same space at the top of the window.

How do I clean one?

It depends on the fabric, so we tell you when you choose it. Most can be dusted or vacuumed gently with a soft brush.

Free In-Home Consultation

Let us hold the fabric against your window.

We bring the screens to your house and hold them up at the hour the sun is actually a problem — anywhere in San Diego County.

Call (619) 770-8300

Mon–Fri 8am–5pm · All San Diego services · Custom drapery

Book your free in-home consultation

Tell us where you are and what the window is doing. We bring samples to you, measure, and quote from real measurements. No charge for the visit.


Scroll to Top
☎ Call Us Now ▾