I'd suggest checking the yellow pages under Window Coverings and choose a supplier that will make house calls. If she's wanting woven blinds, let them know so they can bring out all their samples.
This approach will save her $$ in the long run, plus she'll get to view several samples in her home. The other advantage is they'll leave the samples for a few days so the client isn't rushed in their decision.

We've moved several times and each home always needed coverings for all the windows. Having someone come to the home made the job much easier. I think your friend will also find that their installation charges are cheap compared to a 3rd party installer.

Thanks, annz. I think that's probably good advice and I think I even know who to call. I guess S and N window treatments are better for small projects.

Stay away from Smith and Noble. Stay far, far away.

I ordered 6 shades. I paid Smith and Noble to come measure. When the shades arrived, 5 of the 6 were about 1/4 to 1/2 inch too wide for the windows. I asked to return the shades to get my money back. Turns out their "satisfaction guarantee pledge" means that they won't give you your money back, no matter what.

They insist on coming back to re-measure, but a) I can't take time off from work again for this, and b) why would I want to run the risk of further screw ups and hassle?

Their customer service staff come across as Soviet-style bureaucrats. Evidently, Smith and Noble could care less about disappointing their customers and engendering ill will.

I guess my next steps are to file complaints with the BBB and my state's attorney general, as well as dispute the original charge with my credit card company. I'll probably send the shades back to the company's president for good measure.

Keep in mind that Smith and Noble's "partner sites" (i.e. sister companies) include Ballard Designs, Grandin Road, Garnet Hill, TravelSmith, Frontgate, and others. You can rest assured that I won't be giving any of them my business in the future either.

I have been using Smith and Noble on and off for 10 years. I love their products. The quality of the materials and the mechanisms in particular are excellent. Anything I've ever bought from them is still in use in my home, working and looking good. I cannot speak to their measuring and installation services--my jobs have never been huge so I've always done my own measuring and installation and the shades and blinds I've bought have always been true to my measurements. It's disappointing to think that their installing and measuring service (for which you'd pay a premium) is as bad as yoyodyne's experience...yikes.

I had an S&N person out to measure etc. I was disappointed to find that they have an entirely different pricing structure and "specials" than the catalog says. I liked her and she seemed competent, but the prices were so much higher than Levelor at Lowes, I've tabled the idea for the time being.

I just got a S&N roller shade in linen. It's not a night shade. I did the measuring and it fits perfectly. I recommend them.

We bought shades from blinds.com. They were very reasonable, easy to install and look nice. Jaymie