Our company was established in 2004 from the humble beginnings of two sewing machines in a basement.
Trained as a designer, not a seamstress, Dao Zhou subcontracted most of the work that came her way. In 2006, two seamstresses were hired to begin the company workroom. Determined to succeed and given hope with a loyal clientele, Dao moved the showroom to the second floor of a commercial space. Beginning with retail clients and slowly transitioning to wholesale designers as well, Drapery Designs grew by excellent reputation alone. With a growing business and constant requests for our services, Dao could see the advantages of having the workroom nearby.
In 2007, Drapery Designs moved the showroom and newly updated workroom to the center of Kentlands. Today we are still in the heart of Kentlands with multiple designers, workroom fabricators and other staff needed to keep our business running efficiently. From basement beginnings to a multi-level showroom and workroom, we have upheld our standards of excellence and customer satisfaction for over ten years.
Designer – Dao Zhou
Dao Zhou studied at the Fine Art Institute of Zhe Jiang in China from 1989-1993. After receiving her BFA, Dao began teaching textile design at the University of Zhe Jiang until 1999. After working from 2001-2004 as an in-home designer for Expo Design Center in Bethesda, Maryland, Dao began her own drapery business in 2004. Today she is the master designer and proprietor of Drapery Designs, located in the heart of Kentlands, and has even bigger plans for the future of her company. “My favorite part of the whole process is installation day, to reveal the grand transformation of the room with just a few changes is so gratifying and I am very proud of our work.”
Designer – Mary Ellen Sullivan
Mary Ellen holds a Master’s of Arts in Interior Design from Marymount University and is an Allied Member of the American Society of Interior Designers. She enjoys all aspects of interior design and space planning, but believes that custom drapery and bedding provide the finishing touches in a room, both through form and function. Whether the style is contemporary, transitional or traditional, Mary Ellen enjoys using her creativity to make every project unique. “I enjoy getting to know each of my clients as individuals in order to understand their needs. Most people know what they like, and it’s my goal to help them define their preferences and translate them into a design that fulfills their vision. Good design results from good listening!”