For over a decade, Sonie Skogerson crisscrossed North America and the globe for some of the biggest names in luxury sportswear. A graduate of Parsons School of Design who studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology and the London College of Fashion, she was living her dream.
But when she started having kids, Skogerson’s priorities changed. “I realized I couldn’t be on a plane flying to Italy every month,” she says.
In 2013, she purchased Budget Blinds franchises in Paramus and Westwood. A decade later, in 2023, she added a third in Ridgewood. “I joke that I used to dress people and now I dress windows. I used to be the fashionista, but now I am the window fashionista,” she says. “I love the idea that I’m back to working with fabrics again.”
The national company is known for its custom window coverings, providing homeowners and businesses with personalized, stylish and affordable window treatment solutions. “We provide everything from shades, shutters and blinds to automation and custom drapery,” she says. “I work with high-end designers and new homeowners. There is a budget for every style.”
Projects begin with an in-home consultation done by Skogerson or one of her designers. “I walk in and look at everything like the paint color and décor, then I started designing, which goes back to my fashion background and training,” she says. “I talk to the client and get a feel for what they're looking for. I ask them to walk me around their house to see what windows they’re interested in covering and make suggestions.”
After the walk-through, Skogerson will show a curated selection of samples based on the discussion. “This is when we start playing, layering it all. I used to help merchandise fabrics and collections, so I have a good eye of what goes together. We make decisions and measure. The process takes about an hour to an hour-and-a-half. The installation happens three to five weeks later,” she says.
Skogerson says design is one part, function is the other consideration. “I look at their windows: Is it a privacy issue or a sun issue? Or do they just want to keep the window open and add décor?” she says.
For kids’ rooms she recommends room-darkening shades and always looks to see if existing window treatments have cords. In June of 2024, the window covering industry implemented a voluntary phase-out of corded window treatments as the cords posed a safety hazard to children. “I see window treatments that have been up for 10 years by kids’ beds and tell the homeowner to get rid of them because they are dangerous,” she says. “Now, everything is cordless or has a special cord that is secured to the wall so there is nothing dangling.”
Skogerson tracks trends. “Gray and white are definitely out. Color drenching is back in a big way, which is fabulous,” she says. “For example, we just did a room that was dark green. We installed dark green velvet drapery with antique bronze hardware. Bringing that rich luxury color back is really fun.”
Skogerson, who grew up on a ranch in Ottawa, Canada, moved to New Jersey in 2012 and currently lives in Harrington Park, notes that many customers are moving from the city to buy their first house. “It’s a fantastic area with great schools and nice, small towns,” she says. “I offer them a referral list: painter, handyman, wallpaper hanger, landscaper…”
She is especially proud of her team who are from the area and most of whom have been with her for more than a decade. “My team of installers are local. I joke that they know everyone,” she says. That team includes her son, Duncan, 16, who is a junior at Bergen Catholic High School. “He is a competitive swimmer year-round but on his days off he works as an installer,” she says. Her daughter Nora, 14 is a freshman at Northern Valley Regional High School at Old Tappan and Livia, 10, is in the fifth grade at Harrington Park School.
When she is not hanging out with her kids or hanging window treatments, Skogerson, can be found with friends supporting local restaurants, like Dimora in Norwood, or golfing. “It’s a fantastic community,” she says.
Check out the latest looks at budgetblinds.com/paramus.
“I offer them a referral list: painter, handyman, wallpaper hanger, landscaper…” - Sonie Skogerson
"There is a budget for every style.” - Sonie Skogerson