©2016 Saratoga Photographer.com
By Jennifer Farnsworth
After years of being in the home decor business, Cathy Carollo said she knew it was time to find a space that could accommodate both her growing business and her growing dream.
Carollo has been helping clients with curtains, carpets, and home décor for 22 years. She bought the popular Curtain Exchange of Saratoga in 2002 in the former fire department building at 543 Broadway.
To account for expansion, she moved recently to larger space and created Curtain and Carpet Concepts at 46 Marion Ave., in the shopping area that has Fresh Markets, Smashburgers and other commercial ventures, behind the Hamlets housing project.
“I have been in business in Saratoga, in the oriental rug and carpet end, for 22 years, beginning with Jacobsen Orientals, then with Stockade Orientals as a third-generation rug dealer,” said Carollo.
On Broadway, Carollo ran a franchise, the Curtain Exchange, based in Dallas, specializing in window treatments and design. Carollo was finding herself facing an expiring lease and needing a bigger space. She said it was the perfect time to make a move.
The new location “offered a new modern approach for retail space. The trend for design is moving toward a clean, neat, more transitional type of look that you cannot display in a historic rust colored building,” said Carollo.
She said the space has a lot of natural light and an airy feeling that offers a casual and relaxed atmosphere, where she and three other staff members are able to offer product knowledge in window treatments and carpets.
On the carpet side, clients can choose from natural fiber products and imports from India. Carollo said all of their oriental-style carpets differ from typical rug dealers, offering the newest styles of carpets that are contemporary, modern and transitional. They specialize in carpets from Karastan and the Ralph Lauren collection, which includes a variety of hides, sisal and hemp area carpeting.
Carollo said after purchasing the Curtain Exchange franchise, she had many clients looking for more options in window treatments, bedding and upholstery that were not offered under the franchise.
“I decided to explore the various needs of my clients by leveraging out beyond the normal way window treatments and carpets are marketed. I have negotiated with all my vendors to get the very best pricing on rugs, fabrics and workroom rates. We work hand-in-hand with local designers and the builders in the Capital area, along with residential clients. The idea is to come up with a design concept that is unique and reflects each individual’s style in one location,” said Carollo.
“We offer window shades, shutters, top treatments, drapery, wall covering, upholstered beds, bedding and area carpets full one-stop shop for your interior needs,” she said.
Curtain and Carpet Concepts works with both residential and commercial owners from Albany to Lake Placid. Store hours are Monday thru Wednesday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Thursday through Saturday 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; closed Sundays.
Its website is www.curtaintocarpet.com. The phone is 886-1389.