Ask Glamour
Thirty years of measuring, fabricating, and installing window treatments across New York City — and the questions that come up every single time. We're putting everything we know in writing.
No showroom pitch. No upsell. Just the information you need to make a good decision — whether you work with us or not.
Our Brooklyn workroom fabric library
Ask Glamour is where thirty years of New York City window treatment experience gets written down. Whether you are weighing custom drapery against ready-made, deciding if Somfy motorized shades are worth it, choosing between Roman and roller shades, or trying to budget a whole apartment, the answers here come from real projects across Manhattan, Brooklyn, Long Island, the Hamptons, Connecticut, and New Jersey.
We cover the questions clients actually ask: how much custom window treatments cost in NYC, how to pick the right fabric for the light in your room, how motorization and smart-home integration really work, how Phantom Screens perform on a terrace, and how to plan around a prewar versus new-construction apartment. No showroom pitch, no upsell, just the information you need to make a confident decision.
All questions & guides
7 answers so far — more added regularly
For most NYC apartments, motorized shades deliver real value—convenience, precise light control, and a polished look that justifies the investment. Here's what 30 years of installations taught us.
Custom window treatments in NYC typically last 10–15 years with proper care, though motorized shades and high-traffic installations may need service sooner. Sunlight, humidity, and air quality are the real factors.
Fabric is the decision that determines everything else about your Roman shades — how they look, how they hang, how long they last, and how much light they actually block. Here's how we walk clients through it.
A real room-by-room breakdown for one of the most common projects we do — the full furnishing of a 3-bedroom Manhattan apartment. Ranges, sequencing advice, and where most clients spend more than they expected.
The honest answer depends on two things: which rooms you're putting them in, and which motor you're buying. Here's how to think through it — from 30 years of NYC installs.
They both cover a window. Everything else about them is different. Here's how to know which one actually belongs in your apartment — and which rooms can take both.
The real breakdown by product type and room size — including what drives the price up and what you can do about it. From 30 years of NYC installs.
Have a question that isn't here?
Book a complimentary consultation and bring every question you have. There are no dumb questions when it comes to a custom installation in your home.
Book a Complimentary Consultation