When Neil Paparella speaks about fitting out entire homes with window furnishings, his voice resonates with a particular ‘buzz’ he gets from guiding clients from concept to completion. His enthusiasm, still healthy eight years after purchasing Shades of Australia, helps him effectively transform a new set of window furnishings into a potential artform.

“When we make blinds or curtains, they really light up a home. It’s such a buzz,” he says. “You’re creating something. It would be a hard industry if you didn’t do it for that buzz because there’s no room for error if you don’t put the right number of drops or take the measurements accurately. It’s not like picking something off-the-shelf, it all has to work and you become quite skillful.”

Distance no barrier With head office based in Mornington, Shades of Australia services clients across Victoria, determined that distance will provide no barrier to catering for city, suburban or country customers. Just two years ago, Neil and Ann-Marie purchased yet another firm, Jean Louise Interiors in Moorabbin, determined to brand the stores in a way that better suggested window furnishings.

With a laugh, Neil explains that he’s convinced Shades of Australia helped to create opportunities for a local shade sail business. Over the years he has often referred customers elsewhere if they turn up convinced that the business produces shade sails rather than window furnishings.

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