Innovative Window Ware

Berkeley, United States

4.2

20 reviews

Accepts Credit Cards
By Appointment Only

Contacts

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Telephone:
+1 510-649-7335
Website:
www.innovativewindowware.com
Address:
2625 Alcatraz Ave, Berkeley, CA, 94705
at College Ave
Oakland Hills
Nearby public transportation stops & stations:
1 miCollege Av & Russell St
1 miCollege Av & Derby St
1 miCollege Av & Ashby Av
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Bussiness info

Accepts Credit Cards
Yes
By Appointment Only
Yes

Today

Today –
Local time (Berkeley) 6:55 PM Sunday, July 13, 2025

Business hours

Monday –
Tuesday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Wednesday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Thursday 9:00 am – 6:00 pm
Friday –
Saturday 10:00 am – 3:00 pm
Sunday –

Description

Specialties

I’m passionate about assisting people navigate the dizzying array of window fashions. There are literally thousands of different treatment options, not all of which may fit the décor of your home. My job is to take a look at your space, and your design sense, and recommend what will work best for your home, or office. Because I bring the window treatment store to you, we can see how a particular fabric will look in your lighting, or how a shade may or may not work for your situation. If you need to keep a sample over night, to see how it will look at different times of the day, I’m more than happy and actually encourage it.

Working with me is a collaboration. Working together, I can manifest exactly what you desire.

I look forward to assisting you with your window covering needs.

History

Established in 2007.

I’ve had a very strong design sense from an early age. Every remodeling job my parents (or friends) have undertaken have been supervised by me. What I discovered is that i was able to match the vision in my head into reality.

Window coverings are akin to the eyes; they are the window to the soul of the house. They can be a dramatic focal point, or reduced to a subdued functional item, but in both instances, make an impact on the world.

I began my window covering adventure in 2006, when I first heard about V2K. Since I began, I’ve place on the top 10 list for all 200+ V2K franchise owners in the US and Canada.

In a constant effort to keep abreast of new trends, I’m always on the hunt for better products, better pricing, and ‘what’s new’!

My motto is: «To provide the client with the necessary information to make an informed decision»

Meet the Business Owner

Terry L.

Business Owner

Terry is a wondrous blend of the technical and creative. For years, he worked as a technical consultant, assisting client resolve issues with Windows operating systems. Also, Terry has a keen eye for design, where he can look at a space and make recommedations based on how that space will be used.

Marrying those two mindsets, allows him to be a great window covering designer. What many may not realize, is that window coverings are very technical. Knowing what fabric to place where, or what type of shade will work best, is key to a successful design. Because of Terry’s background, he’s easily able to recommend the right product for the job.

Terry lives in Berkeley, with an elderly relative. His hobbies include, electronics, computers, reading, day trips, New Orleans, and is a professed ‘foodie’!

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20 reviews of Innovative Window Ware

No registration required
Place rating: 4
San Francisco, CA
I’m shocked to read these negative ratings here — they seem mean spirited. I think they say more about the reviewer than Terry and his work.
I had really good experiences with Terry and Sean; and I am not an easy client — I can be picky. All communications were consistent; no cost, inventory, or delivery time surprises. I found Terry to be responsive to emails and calls; if either Terry or Sean made an appt with me, they were reliable and punctual. Both have very friendly personalities and are easy to work with, very sweet with our pesky little dogs — bonus! Terry stood out among 2 other blinds/​shades people we had do estimates; one came and told me that what I wanted wouldn’t work for what he does (mostly drapes) and he was polite about recognizing we didn’t have a match; the other had an estimate almost 2x Terry’s estimate, and the products were not entirely what I wanted. Terry had a wide selection of shades and blinds to choose from, and he was helpful providing suggestions for styles and fabrics. Terry also really came through when we had one shade cord break — he went beyond expectations and got all the shades in that set of windows replaced (faulty cords). Our windows are a challenge for shades because of the architecture, and I think we ended up with the best option of something we wanted and something that was possible for the window structure. I don’t think a more expensive product or a different company would have given use something better. I would definitely recommend Terry, he knows his stuff!
Place rating: 5
El Sobrante, CA
Terry and Sean, his installer, each did a thorough and good job. His price is reasonable and he spelled out the steps and process in detail. Terry helped us select a color for our shades. He gave us a time frame for when the shades would arrive and called at that time to schedule installation. Both men were a delight to work with and I recommend them unconditionally.
Place rating: 1
Oakland, CA
Found IWW/​Terry because of such good Unilocal reviews but our experience was not stellar. Maybe just one of those flukes, but here’s the down-​low…
— All started ok; Terry showed up on-​time to appointment, made good suggestions, had good advise, emailed us when he found out when our order shipped from the manufacturer, etc.
— It took a long time to get my order completed after a few attempts to get the measurements right (shutters and cornices kept coming in at the wrong sizes)
— While still waiting for our order to be fulfilled, received numerous calls from Terry’s collection/​billing person trying to get us to pay the full amount
— Despite all the rigmarole, we never heard back from Terry… no apology, no nothing. His installer told us it was the manufacturer’s fault, but nothing official from Terry
— Installer had restrictive availability so we had to essentially take time off from work to be at home at inconvenient times… not a big deal if we only had to do it once, but got pretty old with the need to attempt install a few times
— In the end, we got everything and the treatments are good. Although one cornice that butts up against another was installed very off-​center of the window because the other cornice is too long… we just gave up and let it go
So…we’ve had far better and more professional experiences in the past with other window treatment companies and can’t recommend this one based on our experience.
Place rating: 5
New York, NY
These worked out quite well, including a tricky black-​out retractable blind for a skylight. Some light does sneak in on one side, perhaps due to uneven construction in the skylight.
Place rating: 5
Orinda, CA
We highly recommend Terry for his professionalism, fair prices, and outstanding follow-​through.
We hired Terry three years ago to install minimalist roller shades in our common areas and honeycomb shades in our bedrooms (total of 23 windows). He walked us through the different shade options, answered our many questions, and provided several helpful suggestions. His quote was in the ‘middle of the pack’ and actually quite competitive with the self-​install that I was (briefly) contemplating. The installer he sent out was equally professional, clean, and efficient. Terry’s measurements were accurate so the fit was excellent and the look was exactly what we expected.
Three years out from the initial installation, one chain cord and a cloth cord broke (by chance within a few weeks of each other) from what we consider normal «wear & tear.» One e-​mail to Terry and, within a few days, he was out here to personally fix both broken cords. We consider that really standing behind the product and couldn’t be happier.
Overall Terry definitely earned 5 stars from us and we recommend him without hesitation.
Place rating: 1
Oakland, CA
Back in March I checked Unilocal for window treatments and found Innovative Window Ware. It’s highly rated, so I made an appointment and Terry was at my home soon thereafter. My husband and I were scheduled to leave town shortly after our appointment, so we decided not to place an order until we returned. Terry said it was no problem and told me to contact him after we returned. I did just that and asked him to place our order in early April. He replied and said he would do just that. However, that’s been it. I haven’t heard from him after a few attempts to contact him. I used the online form on his website. I called the number on Unilocal.I emailed him back asking about my order. Nothing.
Terry was very friendly and professional but my interactions since then have been non-​existent. Not sure if he was waiting for a payment but then again, he hasn’t replied to any of my emails. Not sure what has been stalling my order.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Customer service was amazing. Responsive quick, friendly, knowledgeable, and trustworthy. Prices were reasonable. I was bracing of course for the price of custom blinds. So pleased that we went with this local business and not overpriced 3 day blinds. (we did the research). It was only 150 extra to have a contractor put the blinds in and worth every penny especially because Terry chose a good person to install.
Place rating: 5
San Francisco, CA
Terry, the owner is a honest man! He gave me advice like a true friend.
Place rating: 5
San Leandro, CA
Terry just completed an amazing project at our new home in Sunol, CA. This is a house that is pretty much lacking in any character — not only has Terry added architectural interest to the home, he has fulfilled our functionality requirements for light and energy control — now that takes TALENT!
Place rating: 5
Walnut Creek, CA
A very smooth, straightforward transaction. I called for an appointment, Terry returned my call immediately, and we talked about what I wanted. When he arrived for our appointment (right on time!), he brought out a sample that was exactly what I was looking for. He made a suggestion for the color — which was spot on.
He measured, ordered the blinds, and had them shipped to us (we had opted to install them ourselves). When he got word from the manufacturer that they had shipped, he sent us an email. They arrived on our doorstep the next day — one week after his visit.
The blinds are great, just what we wanted: top down bottom up. They look great, they work perfectly, they fit perfectly.
A good transaction, no drama, and Terry’s a really nice guy to work with.
Place rating: 1
Berkeley, CA
Terry Leake is the single most UN-​responsive salesman I have ever encountered in my life. On a number of occasions, he has failed to follow through with questions I posed with regard to a question regarding exterior solar shades. Most recently, he told me he would call on Saturday to answer my questions… It’s Tuesday, and he never called. That, to me, is unacceptable service.
Terry responded to an earlier negative review on Unilocal by claiming that the customer didn’t ask the right questions to clarify what the contract specified. Well, I was trying to ask those questions — and he never got back to me in a timely way to answer them.
Place rating: 1
Berkeley, CA
At our initial meeting Terry brought one sample for honeycomb shades– it was a top down/​bottom up shade. I said «I want them exactly like that, in X color and I want them to be cordless.» He said, «Great.» He wrote down the order. Later he sent me an email for with an estimate for «what we discussed.» The estimate included the order for «Graber crystal pleat shades, cordless» of various dimensions. Again, Terry only showed me a top down/​bottom shade at our meeting and I told him that was what I wanted– we in fact had a lengthy discussion about the benefits of this feature. The product he delivered is perfectly fine, it is just not what I ordered– it is a bottom up shade.
The written order for «what we discussed» was reviewed several times– had the written order specified «bottom up» I would have caught what he admitted to me was his mistake when he inspected the installation. The order he provided says nothing about the shades’ operation– when he gave me an estimate for” what we discussed” I had good reason to assume it was for the shades he showed me and that I said I wanted. I am disappointed that he is now backing away from taking responsibility on this.
Now he has charged me for a product that I never ordered and never wanted and says that $ 1500 more can get me what I initially requested. I told Terry that if he quoted me under the going rate for top/​down bottom up shades due to his error, I would not hold him to the price quoted to me. I just want to get the product I ordered and only pay for the product I ordered. He would not agree to that.
Terry is now refusing to «make it right» as he initially promised to do and is blaming me for not catching his mistake. I am not sure why he expected me to know his internal notation system for how he typically writes up his orders– I expected him to be the expert on that. I trusted Terry to «deliver what we discussed,» it seems that was my mistake.
Place rating: 5
Berkeley, CA
So here’s the scoop.
If you want gorgeous, classy, perfectly-​fitting, smoothly-​operating, decently-​priced top-​down bottom-​up shades that can be in your home in a few weeks or less, call Terry at IWW. He’s prompt, courteous, professional, and will probably read your mind – as he did mine – WRT your window predicaments (e.g. no privacy, too much/​too little light, not wanting to cover up nice woodwork, etc.)
(If, on the other hand, you wanna waste several hundred $$ & hours of frustration trying to install cheap plasticky blinds yourself b/​c you thought you could save a few bucks by going online, then go ahead. Not that I happen to [*cough*] know anyone who might have done such a thing…)
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
We found Terry on Unilocal about three years ago, and I am happy to post another 5 star review for him! Terry is professional, responsive, and creative. He is now our go-​to guy for all window coverings.
Place rating: 5
CA, CA
great pricing, great service, budget friendly. Terry does exactly what he says he will, when he says he will do it.
Place rating: 5
Rohnert Park, CA
Terry really seems to take pride in his work and seems willing to do whatever it takes to make his customers happy.
And our new window coverings make the room look so much better than before. Thanks!
Place rating: 5
Mill Valley, CA
It does NOT GET ANY BETTER THAN THIS. Price is good, ideas are GREAT. I’ve installed 3 different times and each time has been EXACTLY THE SAME as the prior one: professional, honest, efficient and UNBEATABLE. I would have made a BIG BIG EXPENSIVE mistake if I had not gone with Terry. DO NOT HESITATE. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME with anyone else. He’s the embodiment of hard work, takes pride in his job, and makes you feel like there are good reliable people making a good honest living in this world. Thanks Terry.
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
Terry’s glowing reviews are absolutely spot on. He is such a pleasure to work with, so professional, and knows how to harmonize practical, aesthetic, and economic concerns. I will never, ever order window coverings online again. I will just call Terry.
Place rating: 5
Oakland, CA
Terry has an amazing eye and a great feel for color and texture. He knows how to address a room and what the needs for that space are with the right window treatments. He transforms a space with his artistic eye and really enhances the space.
He is an awesome designer and will definitely have the right solution for you. I am so thankful to have found him!
Place rating: 5
Hayward, CA
I have worked with Terry Leake on numerous occasions over the last several years. He is a fun and easy person to work with, knowledgeable and very professional. He really takes the time necessary to determine what is the best solution for your situation.
I highly recommend him!
Sincerely,
Michele Molitor
Nectar Consulting, Inc.