In the News!
As Seen In ‘The Reflector’
By Brandy Grey, Staff Reporter
Battle Ground, Washington
Mindy Thomas is not a “snooty” designer.
In fact, the Battle Ground resident said that similar to a number of her clients, she dislikes the over-inflated attitude some designers adopt toward business clients.
As owner and manager of Accents Plus, the window treatment specialist said she has over 20 years of experience working on projects from lavish houses on Mercer Island to single window jobs.
“I like to have a good time and be creative,” she said. “Some people think that you can’t get someone to do specialized work at their home unless you are willing to spend thousands. That’s just not true. For me, no job is too small.”
Consultations are always free, said Thomas adding that she drives to client’s homes at a time that is convenient for them. Rather than turn away new business opportunities, she said, she works with clients regardless of project size. While she has performed work at commercial businesses, Thomas primarily works with residential bids.
Thomas got her start working at home. Friends kept complimenting her creative work, and over time she expanded.
“They really encouraged me to take it further,” she said. “I was able to work from home and start small.”
Thomas has worked in homes throughout the Southwest as well as the Pacific Northwest, including a number of years as a representative for American Drapery, Blind and Carpet in Seattle. She relocated with her family from that city to Battle Ground and continues to operate out of her home. Costs are kept low by avoiding a showroom, she said.
Still, Thomas’ workroom is fully stocked in fabric samples from delicate prints to lustrous sheers and silks. While she specializes in fabric treatments, Thomas also works with blinds.
First, Thomas narrows down fabric options with clients, asking what they are looking for in the home. She brings samples into the client’s home for approval. Her final design can vary depending on the client’s particular concerns, from blocking out the sun to letting the light in or hanging thick fabrics to help block out the cold.
“Regardless, I’m always looking for ways to tie a room together,” she said.
Client demands have shifted over the years, she said, reflecting new trends in the design world. When she began working with fabric treatments, a majority of clients still preferred sheer curtains and heavy drapes. Blinds became the next fad, she said, with vertical blinds gaining in popularity.
Then people decided that vertical blinds looked “too clinical,” she said, and clients began gravitating to cellular shades and wood blinds.
“Once the market is saturated with a particular thing, people tend to get sick of it,” said Thomas. “It evolves over time. Today there are a lot more options in fabric treatments.”
Accents Plus can be reached at (360) 573-4473 or Accentsplusdecorating.com.
