No Job is Too Large For This Custom Decorator

Claremont and La Verne residents looking to spruce up their homes have a new resource.

Custom decorator Kristin Schneider specializes in window treatments and bedding, and serves the entire area, from Ontario to Pomona. With a degree in interior design from the Art Institute, Schneider has been interested in the creative arts since high school.

“I felt like I wanted to get involved in interior design somehow,” she said. “When I went to school, I got more serious about it, and started understanding the architectural side of design.”

It wasn’t until she began working with window treatments that she realized how neglected most are in homes.

“Windows are really a focal point that people forget about,” she said. “They are always overlooked. Look at any design magazine, and there’s usually nothing on the windows. I didn’t notice until I started looking for inspiration, and I couldn’t find anything. That’s really a big oomph that you can add.”

Schneider is based out of the J.C. Penney at the Montclair Plaza, where she has 9,000 fabrics to choose from. Because everything is made-to-order, she can take on any task, whether it’s residential or business.

“When a customer says they have an off-size window or an odd shape, we’re their go-to for stuff like that,” she said. “You can’t really find anything like that ready made, so we can help with their needs.”

Clients can set up appointments by coming into the store or calling, and they undergo a pre-interview so Schneider can get a feel for what they’re looking for. 

“I ask if they’re going through construction, if there are any changes in the home, what the color scheme is, if there is a theme going on,” she said. “I go to all my fabrics, and narrow things down a little bit. If the client says they’d like earth tones but blue accents, I go through the fabrics and pick out the best ones to suit their needs. That’s what I bring to their home, and they have options to choose from.”

It’s full service, so if a client is unsure about measuring, Schneider comes to the home and does it for them. She works with the clients as much - or as little - as they’d like.

“If they have no idea what they’re doing and need someone to do it all, that’s fine,” she said. “Or, if they have ideas and want to collaborate and have the ideas verified, I can back them up or say, ‘No, that’s not going to work.’ I have a lot of ideas, so we don’t have to go with standard treatments. We can get really creative.”

Depending on how many appointments she has, Schneider tries to see clients as soon as the day after initial contact. From there, it can take anywhere from a few weeks to two or three months for the final product to arrive.

“It does take a little time, but it’s the whole experience,” she said. “It’s me coming to the house, choosing fabrics, doing custom things.”

Schneider can be reach at 909-621-3811, ext. 287, or kschne11@jcpenney.com.