Blinds, Curtain Rods, Closets & Door Hardware in South Pasadena
Windows, closets and doors — the small installations that make a century-old house work like a new one, at a flat price per visit.
Flat price per item. Minimum order $69.
Century-old windows: hand-built then, hand-measured now
The casement windows of the Craftsmans and the double-hung sashes of the Victorians were built by hand a hundred years ago — and each one is slightly its own:
- Three-point measurement on every opening: there are no "identical" windows in a 1905 house, and catalog-sized blinds go up with gaps.
- Mounting into the wood of the frame or into a stud — the plaster around century-old openings crumbles under anchors.
- We do not cover the woodwork: casings and muntins are part of the house’s character, so blinds go inside the opening where they do not argue with the wood.
- Single-pane glass: cellular shades add insulation for winter mornings and summer noons.
- Kids’ rooms: blackout for nap time and cordless for safety.
Closet systems — in place of built-ins that were never built
Closets from the 1910s were not designed for a modern wardrobe. A closet system here means: measuring the niche, assembly, anchoring into studs (with lath there is no other way), and adjustment. The ceilings are tall — systems go up full height.
Doors
Up to three doors per visit at one price: we adjust settled century-old doors at the hinges and strike, and we rebuild original hardware and keep it in service — a brass handle from 1912 will outlive us all if someone helps it along.
Frequently asked questions
Five windows, all slightly different.
As they should be in a 1905 house. We measure each one and mount them straight.
I do not want to cover the wooden casings.
Rightly so: blinds go inside the opening, the wood stays visible.
Kids’ room: nap time plus cords worry me.
Blackout plus cordless: dark and safe.
The original handle is loose but I would hate to replace it.
We will rebuild and tighten the original. Things like that are worth keeping.
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