Decorator has an Eye for functional Style

HANSVILLE — While the term “duck blind” often refers to a shelter used by hunters in pursuit of waterfowl, Michelle Coddington’s window treatment business of the same name doesn’t have anything to do with hunting, but it represents the same idea — providing a type of shading.

HANSVILLE — While the term “duck blind” often refers to a shelter used by hunters in pursuit of waterfowl, Michelle Coddington’s window treatment business of the same name doesn’t have anything to do with hunting, but it represents the same idea — providing a type of shading.

But with Coddington, it’s for windows. And with all the new residential developments on this side of the Cascades, her business is certainly keeping her feet wet.

Coddington, who operates Duck Blind out of her home in Hansville, purchased the business eight years ago from its founder, Bambi Burrus, who had owned it for 10 years.

Coddington’s not sure how to explain her fascination of working with window treatments, even with a degree in interior design from Washington State University and having worked in the interior industry for about 15 years, other than she really enjoys putting together window treatments.

“I love blinds and I love people,” she said.

While the business’ number of clients has grown considerably since Coddington purchased it, her coverage area is still the same — from Port Ludlow to Bainbridge Island, with occasional clients in Bremerton and Silverdale. About 90 percent of her work is done in residential homes while 10 percent is in commercial locations, such as offices in Kingston and Poulsbo. About 50-70 percent of her jobs are repeat customers or are from referrals.

When Coddington first started, the business specialized primarily in blinds, but now she’s expanded her selection to include cellular shades, draperies, valances, shutters and more fabric-based window treatments than ever before. Lately, she has been concentrating on draperies as they seem to be coming back in style, she said. Aside from doing windows, she can also work with the client to coordinate an entire room, such as with tablecloths, pillows and bedspreads. About the only thing she doesn’t do is upholstery, she said.

Coddington’s products range from simple custom-made mini-blinds to elaborate shades with a gold or silver sheer material that filters and softens natural light entering a room. She can do a one-shade project for a client or create treatments for an entire house.

“It’s nice that I can offer a little different product,” she said about the variety of the high-quality products she provides. “(Customers) get the beauty of a fabric window treatment with functionality.”

In working with a client, Coddington first talks with them over the phone to discuss what they want. They then make an appointment to walk through the house and talk further about their needs, then narrow it down to several potential possibilities. She has about 150 sample books, in which she is able to take a handful to a client’s home and show them first-hand what colors and types of window treatments could work.

She does free on-site consultation and estimation and depending on which product is ordered, she can have it ready for the client in two to eight weeks.

While Coddington said she doesn’t push her interior design degree, she feels very confident about working with color on a project. She also does most of her own installations of the window treatments or has a part time employee do the installation.

The difference between working with Coddington and going through a retail shop is that Coddington can give personal one-on-one experience, she said.

“I’m able to give them the best product for their needs,” she said, adding that she always works with a client’s budget. “I’m very conscious about that.”

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