Sharen & Suzanne
Sharen and Suzanne are sisters who share a passion for interior design, and more specifically soft furnishings. For the past 20 years they have been working together to design and make the best quality bespoke curtains, blinds, cushions and upholstery for clients throughout the country.
Sharen started her working life in a very different world - as a landlady in London city pubs. A career she enjoyed for over 10 years. Once Sharen and her husband sold their pubs and, after having her daughter, she began to reconsider her options.
Suzanne had been working as a hairdresser and running her own salon in Shoreditch for four years. Having recently returned from living in Portugal she, like Sharen, was looking for something she could juggle alongside being a mum.
A good friend, who was starting to run curtain making courses asked them both to join one of her courses as guinea pigs. On the course they both discovered they had a flair for curtain making and soon began making curtains for friends and family.
Small beginnings
They started Sew & Sew in an outbuilding in Sharen’s then home in Toot Hill. Here they stayed to work for six years, long after Sharen moved out! But after six year they needed more space and moved to a unit at Channels in Little Waltham. In 2010 they moved to their current and biggest workroom and studio in Howe Street just outside Waltham and the rest is herstory.
Specialist service
As the business grew the sisters found their niche. Helping people choose window treatments including styles and fabrics as well as what kind of poles to use and all the other finishing touches like tie backs or pelmets. Sew & Sew offered a whole ‘service’ - from start to finish. They realised the key to ultimate customer satisfaction was actually going back and hanging the curtains - poles, fixings the lot - and then dressing them.
As their reputation locally grew it wasn’t long before the business was thriving and they found they had to employ another team member to help with the workload. Enter “GI Jane” - an Ex Army PT instructor, the girls call her their ‘workroom superstar’. Jane can be relied on never to be late, follows instructions to a tee, and makes everything with military precision. She too has found her new niche in life in curtains and blinds and is a key team player. She can be found (when not on cruise ships) working hard behind the sewing machine.
A mood board created for a client featuring our own hand-made lampshade.
“We found people were asking for more of a ‘complete package’ - someone who could not only make the curtains, but measure the space, advise on styles and then come back and fit them. You’d be surprised what a difference it makes when you professionally ‘dress’ the curtains once they are fitted. We do that and then give the customer tips to ensure the curtains always look their best, even when we’re gone!”
The rest is herstory
The ladies at Sew & Sew Interiors would love to hear from you. Get in touch today for an initial, no obligation consultation.