What to Expect From a Custom Window Treatment Consultation in Chicago: A Guide for Streeterville IL Residents

This guide covers exactly what to expect from a custom window treatment consultation in Chicago, so residents pursuing custom window treatments in Streeterville, IL, can walk in prepared and confident. Streeterville's mix of luxury high-rise condos along East Lake Shore Drive, lakefront residences near Navy Pier, and upscale buildings near the Magnificent Mile creates a distinctive window treatment environment. Floor-to-ceiling glass, east-facing lake views, and intense summer sun reflecting off Lake Michigan make getting the right covering more than a style decision. A consultation is the first step toward a result that truly fits your home.

What Happens During a In-Home Consultation

A professional consultation is a structured, low-pressure visit to your home. A trained specialist arrives with fabric samples, product displays, and a measuring tape to understand your windows, lifestyle, and design preferences before anything is ordered.

The specialist will assess each room's light exposure, note unusual window shapes, and ask about your priorities. Do you need blackout coverage for a bedroom facing the rising sun? Do you want a sheer roller shade that preserves your lake view while reducing glare? Every question helps narrow the options to what actually makes sense for your space. The visit covers as many windows as you want to address, and you are not obligated to purchase anything on the spot.

How to Prepare Before the Specialist Arrives

A few simple steps before the visit help you get clearer answers and better recommendations.

• Note which rooms get the most sun and at what time of day.
• Think about whether privacy, light control, or style is your top priority for each space.
• Gather paint chips, fabric swatches, or furniture photos to help the specialist match your decor.
• Note what you like and dislike about any existing window treatments.
• Consider whether motorized or cordless options matter to you, especially with young children or pets.

You do not need to measure your windows yourself. The specialist handles precise measuring during the visit.

Product Categories You Can Expect to See

Consultations for custom window treatments in Streeterville, IL, typically cover a wide range of product types. A good specialist brings samples and explains which category suits your specific window profile and lifestyle.

Blinds and Shades

Roller shades, honeycomb shades, and wood or faux-wood blinds are popular choices for Streeterville condos. Honeycomb shades offer layered insulation that helps manage temperature swings in east-facing, lake-exposure units. Roller shades work well on large modern window openings and come in opacities from sheer to blackout.

Shutters and Drapery

Plantation shutters suit traditional or transitional interiors found in buildings closer to the Gold Coast. Custom drapery and Roman shades add texture and softness to sleek, contemporary spaces. For buildings along East Lake Shore Drive with historic architectural details, fabric treatments can complement the character of the space without competing with it.

Motorized Window Treatments

High-rise living often means windows that are difficult to reach manually. Motorized options control multiple shades from a single remote or integrate with a smart home system. Specialists can demonstrate how motorization works and whether your windows are a good candidate.

What the Timeline Looks Like From Consultation to Installation

The process moves in three phases: consultation, production, and installation.

After the visit, your measurements and selections go into production. Custom products are built to your exact window dimensions, and timelines vary by manufacturer and product type. Your specialist will provide a realistic estimate during the consultation.

Once your treatments are ready, trained installers handle everything. For Streeterville high-rises, this may involve coordinating with building management for elevator access and freight scheduling. A reliable provider accounts for those logistics in advance.

After installation, you can expect a walkthrough to confirm everything operates correctly and looks exactly as intended.

What Questions Should I Ask During the Consultation?

• How are treatments measured, and does that account for inside versus outside mount?
• What is the lead time for production once I place an order?
• What warranty or repair support is available after installation?
• Are there options that work with my building's HOA or window restrictions?
• What maintenance does each treatment type require?

  Do I Need to Be Available for the Entire Consultation?

Most consultations run 45 to 90 minutes depending on how many rooms you cover. Plan to be present throughout so you can ask questions and review samples in real time. Having a co-owner or spouse present can also help avoid a second visit before placing an order.

Ready to Schedule Your Free Consultation Serving Streeterville?

Getting the right custom window treatments in Streeterville, IL, for your condo or apartment starts with a single conversation. Blinds Gallery has been serving the Chicago area since 1994, bringing decades of experience to high-rise homes and lakefront residences throughout the neighborhood. Their hands-on owners and trained on-staff installers are involved in every job from first visit to final installation.

Browse the full range of options on the products page, or contact the team to schedule your free in-home consultation. You can also call (773) 525-1800 to speak with a specialist directly. If you're exploring options nearby, the River North window treatment page covers products and insights specific to that community as well.