Two years ago, while decorating her home for the holidays, Sarah Ives was placing her throw pillows on the couch when she had the thought, ‘Wouldn’t it be great to have winter curtains to enjoy?’ Her budget didn’t allow it, but she got a big idea. Why not add a fabric border to her existing curtains without sewing a stitch?
Sarah’s idea has led her to develop a line of draperies called Infinity curtains that she not only sells out of her home and with in-home consultations, but most recently, on her new website, called upscaledownhome.com. The Infinity curtain is a ready made curtain that you can customize in seconds by adding decorative fabric borders.
Step one in designing your window treatment is to choose your basic panel; unique, concealed velcro bands give versatility – different from any other curtain on the market today. The velcro bands are hidden under a decorative flap so you can also use the curtain without any fabric borders. The basic panels come in white or natural and are manufactured at a sewing company in Milwaukee.
Step two is to choose decorative borders. The borders come in small and large sizes and can be custom made. The borders attach in seconds and allow you to change the look of your room without having to invest in new drapery.
Step three is to choose tie backs. Ives uses vintage jewelry and oil paintings to create one of kind looks. The website describes them like jewelry for your windows. They feature high energy magnets, which also allow you to change the look of your accessories in seconds.
From her website, you learn that when Sarah was a little girl she loved to color and play with color combinations. “I have enjoyed decorating three homes over the years,” says Ives, “and I have always had the dream of developing a product from start to finish.”
“The name of my business, Upscale Downhome, describes what I am all about. I design upscale curtains, tie backs and accessories that utilize vintage fabrics and found objects to make room decorating not only rich and beautiful, but cost effective.”
Ives, who grew up in New London, has an Elementary Teaching degree and was in Direct Sales for 10 years. She now substitutes at New London Middle/Intermediate School.
An exciting turn of events has made it possible for Ives to pitch her product to Country Living Magazine. She supplied a video, photo album of items and filled out an application form. She flew to Atlanta, GA Oct. 23 and was allowed five minutes to pitch her product in front of Country Living editors.
Country Living Magazine will be choosing different entrepreneurs from around the country to feature in an article and also to sell their product. Winners will be notified by Dec.19.
Contact Ives at Upscale Downhome, LLC, 804 Dickinson Street, New London, WI 54961 or Email: at [email protected]; Facebook: www.facebook.com/upscaledownhome; Twitter: www.twitter.com/upscaledownhome orEtsy: http://www.etsy.com/shop/UpscaleDownhome.