|
by
Alica Garcia Photos by
Tim Talley Photography
|
|
 Whenever
two individuals are looking to form a business
partnership, it is important for them to find a common
thread. Luckily, for Amy Gilbert and Amy Meinecke, that
common thread was just that---a thread, or rather
several threads.
Recently, Gilbert, formerly of
Refining Design and Meinecke of The Elegant Window,
decided that two heads were better than one, and as a
result, Window Works Studio, Inc. was born.
Six
years ago, about the time that Gilbert was opening up
her shop on Piedmont Parkway, Meinecke was the acting
president of the Window Coverings Association of America
(WCAA). As president, Meinecke was busy recruiting Triad
designers and custom window treatment workrooms for the
WCAA’s local chapter, and as such, she made a call to
Gilbert. The two met and remained in contact until they
reached a point in their careers where they were looking
for a business partner. Both Amy’s wanted someone to
help carry the burden of running a successful business.
They wanted to find someone who had similar goals, the
same sense of responsibility and equal dedication to
client and project. In other words, they were looking
for that common thread.
Gilbert had already
established herself in the design community where she
had worked in various capacities for over twenty years.
She had a formal education in clothing and textiles,
experience working with historical homes in South
Carolina; she was known for her technique and for her
ability to work with proportion and color. Also, her
clothing alteration business, Sew4U, was enjoying a
great amount of success as well.
Meinecke took
the road into design and window treatments by way of
nursing. However, like Gilbert, sewing had been a
passion of hers for quite sometime. For ten of her
sixteen years as a critical care nurse, Meinecke
balanced sutures with backstitches and slipstitches. She
took any sewing, design or related technique class that
was available to her, though at the time, not many were.
 This
is actually what led her to start a local WCAA chapter.
Eventually, she began to pull in enough business that
she was able to leave nursing.
When the two Amy’s
decided to combine their businesses, they were actually
combining a lot more than just locations or names. In
actuality, they were combining decades of experience and
training. Their individual contributions, whether they
were in the form of creativity, perspective or
ingenuity, complimented one another. The two shared a
similar philosophy: to help clients make their house a
home.
In order to do so, Gilbert and Meinecke
offer their clients a very hands-on approach to design.
The initial meeting with a client usually takes place at
his/ her house. This enables the Amy’s to get a good
feel of the room or rooms that are to be designed, and
to get to know the personality of their clients.
Meinecke says, “Design is very personal,” and as such,
it is important for them to know as much as they can
about what the client wants, and also how much he/she
wants done.
The two ladies and their team are
used to working with a very large range of budgets, and
they have had experience with all aspects of a room’s
design. Sherry Sumner has been providing alterations for
over 30 years, specializing in formal and bridal ware.
Her expertise in the clothing area carries over to the
details needed in the custom interiors. Dawn Russell has
been a vital part of Refining Design and has developed
long lasting relationships with clients. Christine Ravel
has worked the past few years developing her workroom
skills to assist in the fabrication in-house workroom,
access to a wide network of design related
professionals, and of course, mastery of fabric and
thread, gives the Amy’s flexibility to meet a client’s
needs. They frequent the High Point Furniture Market in
order to keep up with industry trends and to find the
best deals on home accessories. In all cases, whether a
client simply wants custom designed window treatments,
help with furniture placement, furniture shopping, or a
complete design overhaul, these ladies can get the job
done.
Then, of course, there are those clients who don’t
know exactly what they want, and that’s fine. This is
why the two Amy’s keep books of fabrics, catalogues of
trims and so much more. Oftentimes, the second meeting
is done at their studio and it is there that they are
able to present clients with design options. In
addition, the ladies at Window Works Studio, use a
software program called Minutes Matter Studio to show a
very realistic preview of a room. Usually, at this
meeting, things can be ordered and scheduled for
installation once a decision is made, thus bringing the
client even closer to the end product.
With this
new venture, clients will continue to enjoy the
specialized attention that they have received from each
woman individually. As an added benefit, Gilbert and
Meinecke will be able to organize more events such as
“trunk” shows. This is when one, or both Amy’s, come out
to a client’s home with a trunk full of samples,
catalogues, etc. . . in order to show unique design
ideas for the client and any invited guests. One of
their first joint “trunk” shows will be offered during
their upcoming Open House on Friday, September 11 from
10:00-6:00.
Check out their website for upcoming
events such as workshops, seminars and for future trunk
shows.
http://www.windowworksstudio.com
|
|
|
|
|
GUILFORD
WOMAN