How we work
Our Made-to-Measure Process
From the first phone call to the finished installation, here is exactly how a custom blinds, curtains or shutters project runs with Opal Blinds and Curtains across Sydney.
Product origin and warranty terms vary by selected range; applicable details are confirmed in your written quote.
From enquiry to installation
Five steps, no surprises
Every window we supply is made to the measurements we take, so the process is built around getting those decisions right before anything is manufactured.
Enquiry and booking
Call, email or request a consultation online. We ask which rooms you are looking at, roughly how many windows, and your suburb, then book a time that suits you.
In-home consultation
Our consultant brings product and fabric samples to your home, discusses how each room is used, and recommends options that suit the light, privacy and traffic in that space.
Measure and quote
Each opening is measured individually and mounting conditions checked. You then receive a written, itemised quote covering products, fabrics, controls and installation.
Order and manufacture
Once you confirm the quote, your selections are ordered and custom-manufactured to your exact measurements and specification.
Installation and handover
We install, check operation on every window, demonstrate how each product works and explain care. Aftercare is available if anything needs attention later.
Step two in detail
What happens at the in-home consultation
We consult in your home rather than a showroom because fabric behaves differently in every room. A sample that looks warm under showroom lighting can read grey against your flooring, and a fabric that seems private in the middle of the day may not be once the lights are on.
Expect the visit to take longer for a whole home than for a single room, since each opening is assessed and measured individually.
Sleeping, working, entertaining or a thoroughfare all point to different products.
Which way the window faces, and when glare and heat are worst.
Street-facing, neighbour-facing and night-time privacy are assessed separately.
Frame depth, handles, furniture, traffic paths and power access for motors.
Before we arrive
How to prepare for your consultation
None of this is essential, but it makes the visit faster and the recommendations sharper.
Know your priorities
Room darkening, glare, privacy, insulation or appearance. Most rooms have one that matters most.
Clear window access
We need to reach each window to measure it accurately, so moving furniture away helps.
Gather your inspiration
Photos of looks you like, or a note of what you dislike about your current setup.
Have finishes handy
Flooring, paint and fabric samples let us compare colour and texture on the spot.
Send a floorplan
You can upload a floorplan beforehand so we can prepare.
Think about timing
Move-in dates, renovation stages or events help us plan the order and installation.
Why measuring matters
What a site measure actually checks
Because every product is made to your measurements, the details we confirm before ordering are the ones that decide how the finished window looks and works. These are the things a site measure catches that a guess does not.
Recess depth and mounting
Whether a blind can sit inside the window recess depends on the depth available for the roll, stack or headrail. Too shallow and the blind protrudes or fouls the frame. We check this on every opening rather than assuming consistency across a home.
Wall alignment and squareness
Few openings are perfectly square, particularly in older homes. Measuring at multiple points lets us manufacture to the tightest dimension so the product fits without binding, and lets us flag where a light gap is unavoidable.
Hardware clearances
Window handles, locks, architraves and tiled reveals all affect where a blind or track can sit and how it operates. Catching them at measure avoids a product that cannot be fully lowered or a handle that cannot be reached.
Stack and clearance space
Curtains, panel glides and vertical blinds all need somewhere to sit when open. We calculate stack so doorways and windows stay clear rather than being half-covered when the treatment is drawn back.
Power for motorisation
If any product is being motorised, power access is planned before the track or headrail is fitted. See our Automation page for the control options available.
New builds and renovations
Working alongside your builder or designer
For new builds and renovations we work to the construction program, confirming recesses, pelmet allowances, track fixings and power for motors while those details can still be changed cheaply.
Talk to us early and we will set out what needs deciding and when, so nothing has to be reworked after the walls and ceilings are finished. Larger projects can also be installed in stages to suit move-in dates or room availability.
Recess and pelmet allowances confirmed before lining and cornices go in.
Motor power located before wall linings are closed up.
Fabrics, colours and controls coordinated across the whole home.
Fitted room by room where the program requires it.
Common questions
Questions about our process
How much does the consultation cost?
Nothing. The in-home consultation, measure and written quote are provided free of charge and with no obligation to proceed.
How long does the whole process take?
The consultation and quote are usually quick. Manufacturing is the longest stage because everything is custom-made, and lead times vary by product and are confirmed when you place your order.
Do I have to decide on the day?
No. You receive a written quote to consider in your own time. We would rather you were confident in the specification than rushed into it.
Can I change my selection after quoting?
Yes, before the order is placed. Once manufacturing begins the products are being made to your specific measurements and specification, so changes may not be possible.
Do you measure, or should I?
We measure everything we install. The measurement is what the product is manufactured to, so responsibility for fit sits with us rather than you.
What if a window is awkward or unusual?
Bay windows, raked ceilings, skylights, shaped openings and very wide spans are all common. We assess them on site and recommend the products and configurations that suit.
Will installation make a mess?
Installation involves drilling for brackets and tracks, so there is some dust. We work tidily and clean up, and we check operation on every window before we leave.
What happens if something is not right?
Contact us. Aftercare is available and we would rather look at a problem early than have you live with a product that does not operate properly.
Ready to start
Book your free measure and quote
Book a free Sydney measure and quote for practical advice, samples and a clear written proposal.
Request a Consultation