Meet Dawn McLaughlin

Name of Business:  The Window Scene

Owner: Dawn McLaughlin, interior designer

Address: 584 Main St.

Website: www.TheWindowScene.com

Facebook or Twitter: Visit their Facebook and Twitter pages.

Hobbies: “I really love to do anything creative.”

Words to live by: “Go big or go home.”

Favorite book or author: “I’m actually more of a design blog/design magazine reader. I like staying up-to-date on the most recent design trends. Magazines and blogs, which are more up to the minute, are a great way to do that.”

What she likes best about her job: “I feel like I am providing a service for people that just don’t know how to do this on their own. I help them get through this process simply.”

Dawn McLaughlin is an interior designer as well as a master seamstress. She melded both of her talents together to create .

She has been in business for 25 years. McLaughlin saw a lack of quality custom design stores in the industry and knew she could fill that niche. The business took off immediately and has been successful ever since.

McLaughlin’s husband, Tom, does a lot of the installations and upholstery work. He also heads the custom workroom, all on his days off from the Worcester Fire Department where he works full time as a firefighter.

“He’s definitely the ‘go to guy’ when we need something really creative or something that is difficult to construct. He figures out a way to get it done,” McLaughlin said.

In her boutique, McLaughlin has a talent for displaying her gorgeous fabrics, upholstery, window treatments and home accessories. She makes it a point to continuously change her inventory and “wow” her customers with her stocked items and custom work.

She also recently participated in a Designer Show House in Windsor, VT, called The New England Living Show House. Her rooms were impeccably designed and executed and were photographed in a recent publication.  

The Window Scene specializes in custom design but also has a “quick-ship” program that is unlike anyone else’s. They have great price points and are willing to work with any budget. They offer in-home consultations to help take the confusion out of decorating. Their typical turn-around time for custom work is four to six weeks.

“Besides window treatments, we do upholstery, slip covers, custom-made headboards and bedding. You name it and we can do it if it involves fabric or design as a whole. We also sell wallpaper, custom furnishings, custom carpets and area rugs. We really run the gamut on anything related to interior design,” McLaughlin said.

As a full-service design company, the Window Scene does a lot of commercial build-outs and redesigns as well.

“I designed Niva Boutique in Northborough as well as the JCSI Corporation in Westborough where we did an entire company redesign for them,” McLaughlin said.

One of the misconceptions in the industry that McLaughlin shared is the fact that people feel that custom design is too expensive. She prides herself on being able to work with realistic budgets.

She is constantly trying to be cutting edge and attends seminars to keep abreast on what is going on in the design industry. She recently implemented a quarterly online magazine named after her store that she hopes will give people inspiration for different aesthetics and show people what’s new in design. She said it’s like fashion for the home. Once again, McLaughlin is tapping into a niche.

“We have an exceptional workroom, and we do fantastic work. Everything is done professionally, timely and ends up being just beautiful when it’s done. I wouldn’t settle for anything less. My personal stamp is on every piece that leaves this store,” McLaughlin said.