As part of Falmouth Finds, our series celebrating the independent businesses and people that make the town what it is, this week we're visiting Cornish Curtains, where owner Caroline Ingram has returned with a new shop, years of expertise and a passion for helping people make their houses feel like home.
Caroline's story began in 2018, when Cooks on Killigrew Street closed its doors.
Having always loved interiors and furnishings, she spotted an opportunity to turn that passion into her own business, taking on the shop's collection of fabric and wallpaper books and establishing Cornish Curtains on Falmouth's High Street.
After five years, with her lease coming to an end and the building going on the market, Caroline faced a decision.
She briefly considered retirement, but her customers had other ideas.
"I kept getting calls from people wanting help with their projects, so I carried on working from home," she explains.
"But I really missed having a shop and being part of the town."
Then, while walking along Arwenack Street, she spotted an available premises and knew it was time to return.
Opening in early September, Cornish Curtains has already welcomed familiar faces through the door, many arriving with new projects for Caroline to get her teeth into.
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For Caroline, the joy of having a physical shop is being able to offer something the internet simply cannot replicate: good, old-fashioned personal service.
Customers can browse hundreds of fabric and wallpaper samples, feel the different textures and see how colours work together.
From beautiful curtains and bespoke blinds to upholstery, cushions, headboards and bedcovers, Caroline helps customers bring their ideas to life, whether they're refreshing a single room or starting with an entirely blank canvas.
She works with leading fabric houses including Sanderson, Morris & Co, Harlequin, Designers Guild and Clarke & Clarke, offering everything from traditional patterns to contemporary designs.
But it's her attention to the little details that makes the difference.
Caroline takes time to understand how a room is used, how much sunlight it receives and, importantly, what her customers want to spend.
"It's about listening to people and finding what's right for them," she says.
"I never want to oversell. I want people to be genuinely happy with the finished result."
Supporting her is a trusted team of specialist fitters and upholsterers, all with decades of experience.
Together, they've worked on everything from individual homes to hotels, businesses and even superyachts.
And Caroline's expertise hasn't gone unnoticed, with Cornish Curtains receiving a Prestige award for three consecutive years.
For Caroline, though, returning to Falmouth's high street has been a reward in itself.
After introducing herself to neighbouring businesses on Arwenack Street, she says the welcome was immediate.
It's that sense of community, combined with the opportunity to help customers transform their homes, that makes being back in business so special.
Whether it's choosing the perfect fabric for a favourite chair or planning an entire room makeover, Caroline's approach remains the same: personal service from the first conversation to the final fitting.
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