the business of curtain making, by sherrie horner

In England, in 1974, I toured the great houses. Historical curtains were something of a revelation; I was amazed by their beauty, and by the form itself. I didn't know how they were constructed or created. But, not only did I think I could learn it; I knew that if one were to do it at all, that would be the end point. Achieving it became my singular professional objective. And, I was renovating my own home, so had a perfect place to start. It was a great teacher, the first of many.

I opened my first shop in England. I had an apprentice, but still did the sewing. In my second shop, in Portugal, I hired seamstresses but always did the cutting. Now, in my San Francisco workroom, I've developed a very capable team. Daily, hourly, I preach and teach technique,

process, and project management. It's been interesting to see the steady transfer of skills and responsibilities and in that exchange, to realize and appreciate how much I had learned.

range, capacity, consistency
Horner & Company provides services for design, production, and installation. We have a multi-project capacity and the experience to handle every dimension of every job.

Did we get there overnight? Hardly. Building my workroom has been an organic and constant process. We've cultivated talents, skills, and instincts, and we've finessed inventory and workflow systems, integrating the two so that each promotes and supports the other. Meticulous standards consistently applied ensure that everything we produce, from concept to installation, is

exquisitely informed and professionally delivered.
 
the commitment
Our focus is not only on what we do, but also on the way that we do it—efforts that reach beyond the goal of increased efficiencies to have everyone involved in critical endeavors, working diligently and with as much awareness as they possess. In that process, clients get the absolute best from us and we become better artisans.

moving into experience
In professional exchanges with clients, a shift takes place—in them, and in me. The shift is an experience, a moment of melody or beauty, a moment of insight or meaning. It moves the heart, and the heart must be engaged to create something authentic.

We help create environments that transform and transport. The process of installation is theatre; we at Horner & Company are stagehands, here to create a particular illusion or drama, to change the ambiance. To perform a kind of magic.

art is work
What makes a curtain maker master of the form? A historically informed aesthetic vision. The technical expertise to see it realized. Patience for endless detail and an equanimity not easily shaken, because a dozen unknowns can pop up in a day: a problem with fabric that was just delivered, or having to do an installation in the midst of construction. Change is a constant.

A master curtain maker is involved in the design process, knows how the finished product should be hung, and understands what is appropriate for the room.

Apprenticeship is long because there are so many forms to master, and so many contexts and environments in which to practice. And as one learns, one teaches others, nurturing talent and building collective capability. A workroom's depth and capacity evolve daily, with each individual mastery of new forms and skills.

listening
My process begins with listening, really listening to the client. In conversation, I hear likes and dislikes, and what pleases or doesn't. It's my job to translate those ideas and preferences into material form, to create an authentic manifestation of the client's desire and experience of beauty.

discovery
Converting ideas into form is never formulaic. The process is one of

discovery, it is fluid and invites alchemy. Conversations are relaxed and follow instinct, interest, and the individual, allowing vision and expression to emerge with ease. Solutions are entirely personal; a concept or treatment that works beautifully for one client won't for another.

When process ends in product, I want clients to feel the collaboration was intellectually stimulating and artistically gratifying. Their satisfaction, and my own, complete the experience.

informed perspective
A master curtain maker views architecture, design, and cultural tastes—past and present—in the larger context of history and material culture. A master curtain maker knows which books, furniture, art and artifacts have inhabited a particular world at a particular time, and which do in this time.

Without such an informed perspective and understanding, I couldn't create historically accurate or thoroughly modern forms that belong, and are completely at home, in the designated space. Finished in the right way and with correct proportions, they look perfectly at ease in context.

indispensable partner
A quartet of attributes makes a workroom an indispensable partner: aesthetic vision, technical expertise, capacity, and discretion. Without expertise, vision can't be realized. Without discretion, capacity is irrelevant.

It is not enough for a workroom to create an exceptional product. On site, sufficient sensitivity is required to successfully read and accommodate the client's wishes and sensibilities. Every client, every situation,

and every response is unique. Installation is the final expression of expertise.

• • • to learn more about Horner & Company's services, collaborative process and project management, download the company brochure pdf.