How Custom Window Treatment Projects Come Together

Crafting a custom cornice box in a window treatment workroom, showcasing hands-on upholstery and fabrication in Newcastle, Ontario.

How we came about the name “Sensational SEAMS”, our Humble Beginnings, and what’s on the horizon.

It’s 1986, the year Jamie and I got married and bought our first home right here in Newcastle, ON on Church Street.

Original home location where Sensational Seams began as a small home-based business in Newcastle, Ontario.

Early custom bedding project featuring duvet, shams, and pillows made in 1986 in Newcastle.

First custom Roman shade and valance project created in 1986 by Sensational Seams in Newcastle.

Vintage sewing machine display and early Sensational Seams signage used during the company’s beginnings.

I made my first bedroom ensemble consisting of a custom duvet cover, shams, and pillows for our waterbed, and a custom roman shade and valance for our bedroom window. That’s the project that officially started our business. Coming up with a name, we knew it needed to have the word “SEAMS” in it as I had also taken an upholstery course. I didn’t want the name to restrict me to clothing or upholstery or window treatments. Jamie and I brainstormed a word that would go with SEAMS and came up with Sensational, not SEAMS Sensational, as that would portray it was good but not really…so flipping it around made the best sense: Sensational SEAMS. A graphic designer friend came up with the logo for me that was black at the time. As the years went by and our business continued to grow, we knew we needed to brand our business somehow. My love of the colour PURPLE made the most sense as purple represents imagination, creativity, and luxury. Everything over the years became purple: our logo, pens, letterhead, and eventually our vans and uniforms.

Early home sewing workspace with sewing machine and cat, representing the beginnings of Sensational Seams.

Handmade dresses created through custom sewing work in the early years of Sensational Seams.

Custom wedding party dresses sewn by Sensational Seams during its early years in Newcastle.

Wedding couple from 1986 featuring custom sewn dress created during the early years of Sensational Seams.

Close-up wedding photo from 1986 highlighting custom dress craftsmanship and floral details.

Looking back, it if hadn’t been for my Grade 9 Home-Ed Teacher, Mrs. Mitchelajko, I don’t know where I would be or what I would be doing. She recognized and encouraged a talent in me for creativity and sewing. It’s those teachers and mentors in our lives that, if we choose to believe and put in the effort, will take us down roads and into careers that change our lives. My Mom was always a great encourager, so the following Christmas, she promised to buy my very first sewing machine and in January of 1980, I was the proud owner of a Bernina Sewing Machine, which we still use to this day. That machine, along with my cat, took over her kitchen table with small projects of skirts and blouses, then her dining room table for bigger projects of pant suits, jackets and dresses, until we decided to make a sewing room of my own downstairs. By Grade 11, I made my sister’s wedding dress, which lead to several others over the years. I had spent most of 1985 sewing dresses for our wedding: my Mom’s, Maid-of-Honour, Bridesmaids and the FlowerGirl. The highlight for sure was my wedding dress. My Aunt, who was a seamstress in Holland, came to stay with us over the summer months. She helped me take several patterns, along with many design ideas I had, to combined them into one dress. So when we moved into our house, I figured if I could make wedding dresses by piecing together all kinds of ideas, and with all the intricate beads, trims and sequins, for sure I could make window treatments, something that didn’t change in size, gain or loose weight…lol.

Custom ruffled curtains with café curtain designed for a bathroom window in Newcastle, Ontario.

Custom dining room pocket rod valance created by Sensational Seams in Newcastle, Ontario.

Living room window treatment with sheers, side panels, and a ruffled valance made by Sensational Seams in Newcastle, Ontario.

Custom balloon valance with contrast ruffles created by Sensational Seams in Newcastle, Ontario.

Formal window treatment with swags, jabots, drapery, and rosettes made by Sensational Seams in Newcastle, Ontario.

I was working at Dennison in Bowmanville at that time, in the Customer Service department during the day. Jamie & I had a vision to be able to establish a business that I loved while staying home with the family we desired to have. On evenings and weekends, I started sewing window treatments for family, friends and neighbours. No patterns, no lessons, just going off of my creative intuition creating all the styles and window treatment projects from the 1990’s: Lots of Ruffles & Cafe Curtains, Gathered Valances, Sheer Curtains, Balloon Valances, Swags & Jabots with Rossettes & Bishop Sleeves. I had built up enough work and clients, and took a leap of faith to leave my office job on March 2 of 1990, to build our business on a full-time basis.

Early home workroom with sewing machine used by Sensational Seams in Newcastle, Ontario in 1992.

Living room workroom setup with pressing table and sewing machines used by Sensational Seams in Newcastle, Ontario in 1992.

Spare bedroom used for pillow storage and supplies during the early years of Sensational Seams in Newcastle, Ontario.

Helen and Wilma working together in the home workroom of Sensational Seams in Newcastle, Ontario in 1992.

Sensational Seams home business location on Church Street with new addition and grey work van in Newcastle, Ontario in 1992.

Jamie and I converted the laundry room of our house into a sewing room, bought an industrial machine, and before long I took over the living room with pressing tables and more machines, and then the spare bedroom with pillow forms, rods and fabric sample books. My sister Helen started working for us and together we started brainstorming solutions on how to put these window treatments styles together. After using every square inch possible of our home, we signed the papers to build our very own Sensational SEAMS Workroom onto our house in 1992, the same day we found out we were expecting our first baby.

“SEW” that’s the background…with more of the story to unfold over the next few months…let’s fast-forward 40 years to see what is on the horizon for Sensational SEAMS. We are still imagining and creating luxury window treatments for homes all over Newcastle, Courtice, Durham Region and Campbellford. We also continue to provide HunterDouglas window treatments, the world leader and innovator of custom shades, blinds and motorization. But let’s consider this: With the warm weather on the horizon, wouldn’t it be nice to add two extra months to your outdoor season? Outdoor Living Solutions with Motorized Screen Shades has become the best way to extend our homes by bringing us out into the beautiful outdoors while helping to keep those pesky bugs away. We have a “Sensational Outdoor Shade Solution” for you. By adding motorized screen shades to your patio, deck, pergola or gazebo, you can turn your backyard outdoors into your favourite “room” this summer. The shades help you stay cool, block glare and enjoy more privacy, all without sacrificing your view. Don’t let the bugs chase you indoors. Check out our website for this month’s promotion. https://sensationalseams.com/promotions/

Stay tuned for our Mother’s Day Stories & Flashbacks where I share how our family grew and became involved in the business that lead to my life’s work and our family business.

Elevating Your Windows with a Sensational Touch