Hunter Douglas vs. Smith Noble vs. Graber

[Anonymous]

Does anyone have any experience with Hunter Douglas or Smith Noble or Graber for window treatment? HD is very pricey and a quick search on Houzz showed many many complaints about that poor quality (which is shocking to me consider how $$$ HD is). I have SN product in my current home, they are fine but doesn't look high end and they are indeed much cheaper. Graber has been showing up on my Pintrest feed, I don't know anything about them.

Could you please please please share your insight on those companies? Or recommend another window treatment company. TIA!!!

[Anonymous]

I used Shade Store and liked them

[Anonymous]

We bought HD for our family room (7 windows) before I knew any better. It was pricey, and they look great. However, I cannot tell the difference between them and the ones purchased online from Steve's Blinds and Wallpaper that my husband installed in the kids bedrooms, our home office, and basement movie theatre room. And we saved thousands of dollars.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:We bought HD for our family room (7 windows) before I knew any better. It was pricey, and they look great. However, I cannot tell the difference between them and the ones purchased online from Steve's Blinds and Wallpaper that my husband installed in the kids bedrooms, our home office, and basement movie theatre room. And we saved thousands of dollars.

OP here, I like HD products (at least the look of them, can't speak for its quality since I never had them in my home), but they don't look THAT much better than Smith and Noble to me, I am just wondering if it's worth that much $$$ for slightly better looking product. In my case I think the price difference is tens of thousands (lots of windows to do!)

[Anonymous]

Who you buy from matters in terms of cost. Different companies have different arrangements with HD or others. For our automated blinds, HD with the discount was about the same price as other options and MUCH nicer looking

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Who you buy from matters in terms of cost. Different companies have different arrangements with HD or others. For our automated blinds, HD with the discount was about the same price as other options and MUCH nicer looking

OP again, I've heard that different vendors charge different price for the same Hunter Douglas stuff, ugh, does this mean I now need to go get several quotes from different stores?

[Anonymous]

Most window coverings are all manufactured at the place, then these companies slap their names on them and up charge.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know about Smith Noble or Graber but I find any window treatment vendor including Home Depot has a wide range of qualities and prices and you really have to immerse yourself to find what you want at the price you like. I spent a year researching shades for example, including ordering samples from several online vendors, and ended up with a very high end looking solution from Home Depot that was much cheaper than going to Shade Store or Hunter Douglas.

[Anonymous]

I like Hunter Douglas and they’ve held up well over the 10 years we’ve had the home

[Anonymous]

I went thru Costco, who uses Graber, 7/2020. I purchased 33 shades for 5 different size window. They look great and are still in good working order. Also, Costco usually has a promotion going, so you not only get your reward for using Costco Card, but whatever their discount is. Mine was 25%, I think today, 7/2022, it is 15%.

[Anonymous]

We went with the more expensive options for wood blinds and shutters from Smith and Noble and have been happy. This is our third time ordering blinds from them.

[Anonymous]

Smith and Noble blinds started to fall apart on me after several years. Disappointed with that. But they cost less.

[Anonymous]

If you start scoping them out you will see. I went to a HD store and was very unimpressed by the product and service. It seems like where they do set themselves apart is technology if you like elaborate types of shades with unique functionality they’re your guys. If you just want a nice fabric for a Roman shade, I found shade stores options much better. Never used smith and noble so can’t comment there

[Anonymous]

After much research, We have used Smith & Noble in two of our homes and are very happy with their products and especially customer service. Our youngest broke a shutter in her room (jumping the bed!) I called Smith & Noble and a replacement shutter panel was sent! In our current home we did motorized drapes and I love it! Very happy overall.

[Anonymous]

I got cord-pull drapes for my sliding glass door from S&N. Failed just after warranty. Lot of plastic parts, one just snapped. Also their design is not light-tight at the top or sides (no return to the wall). So I got new drape hardware from JCPenney which has a lot of window drape hardware with better construction and returns to the wall for complete blackout when closed. I am happier with the sun-filtering roller shade by S&N behind the drapes.