Good Neighbor Podcast: Orange County

Why Custom Window Treatments Beat Big Box Solutions And Transform Your Space

• Rachel Fyffe & Rose Mendoza

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Ever look at a bare window and feel like the room is unfinished? We brought on Rose Mendoza, co-founder of Opening Act Window Fashions, to show how the right shades, shutters, and drapery can turn a space from exposed and echoey to calm, private, and beautifully lit. Rose’s two decades serving Orange County shine through as she breaks down what most homeowners miss when they default to quick, cheap fixes—and why a thoughtful, custom approach pays off in daily comfort and long-term value.

We dig into the practical questions that guide smart choices: Do you need glare control for screens or true blackout for sleep? Is privacy more important than the view, or can you finesse both with layered solutions? Rose explains how accurate measuring, proper hardware, and professional installation make the difference between “good enough” and “this feels right.” She shares when to consider shutters for permanence, how to scale drapery to ceiling height, and why motorized options solve access and safety issues in tricky spots.

This is a story about service as much as style. Rose’s background in healthcare informs a no-pressure, in-home process where clients see materials in their own light and talk through real life: pets, kids, street sightlines, and budget. Most of their work comes from referrals and five-star reviews, sustained by local networking and family-owned accountability. If you’re weighing custom vs big box, you’ll come away with a clear checklist and the confidence to invest once and get it right.

If this conversation helped you think differently about your windows, follow the show, share it with a neighbor, and leave a quick review. Want to nominate a standout local business? Visit gnporangecounty.com or call 714 941 8862.

SPEAKER_00:

This is the Good Neighbor Podcast, the place where local businesses and neighbors come together. Here's your host, Rachel Fife.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, welcome to the Good Neighbor Podcast. Now, if you're looking to update or refresh the window treatments in your home or place of business, well, that resource is closer than you think. Today I have the pleasure of introducing your good neighbor, Rose Mendoza, with opening act window fashions. Rose, how is it going? It's going great. Happy holidays, Rachel. Well, thanks. Same to you. Well, we are really excited to learn about you and your business. So tell us all about it. Okay. Well, basically what we do is we dress naked windows.

SPEAKER_02:

So I love saying that because it's so true. Nothing's worse than a naked window in your home. It's just a cold open space that does nothing for the environment or your decor. So our clients get the opportunity to have an in-home consultation experience with opening Act Window Fashions where we bring everything to you and you get to shop at home. Wonderful. Well, how did you get into this business? Well, we um I have a long history in the medical field, and I love that. I loved helping and serving others, and uh it came to an end. It was a God thing, I'm sure. You know, it's just not meant to be my forever. And my husband's a general contractor. We had a home improvements business, and so we wanted to um build another company that would have a lot of synergy with the other business. So opening AC Windows Fashions came to be in 2006, so we're going on 20 years of serving Orange County and beyond. Um, so it's I just love doing what I'm doing. I love being around people, I love design, I love serving and um helping people make their homes even more beautiful with their custom window treatments.

SPEAKER_01:

I love that. Now, what are some myths or misconceptions do you think in your industry?

SPEAKER_02:

Um, I think a lot of people, uh it's several maybe, but one thing that stands out is they people want to go the quick, easy, cheap route. Um, window treatments are an investment in your home. There's no doubt about it. Sure, we have bow wood blinds and things like that, but a lot of people tend to go to the big box stores and order online, and it's such a different experience. So have something custom made for your window, draperies at the right height, shutters that fit, and have a warranty that you know people will stand behind, I think is huge. So that's one thing that I come across. Oh, I went to Home Depot, I went, I shouldn't say the names, big box stores, pardon me. Um, and so that's really I think a really important fact to know that when it's custom made and you're designing it in your own home with your own lighting and your own decor and having someone assist you, measuring and installing it to perfection, I think it's it's makes all the difference.

SPEAKER_01:

Wow. Well, um now we know marketing is really the heart of every business. So how are you finding your clients?

SPEAKER_02:

Mostly word of mouth. Um, repeat customers, referrals, um, people see my van driving all over the cities, um, opening act window fashions all across. So um, and we do have a really nice robust website as well for people that are shopping online, um, looking for a resource in the area. And since we're family-owned, um, my husband and I started this business, like I said, almost 20 years ago. Um, people love that, and they also love the five-star reviews that we have, rated five stars all across the board on all the different platforms. So I think that's a testament to itself is that we do a great job when we care about your project.

SPEAKER_01:

Wonderful. Now, have you have you ever thought about doing your own podcast? Um, haven't thought about that.

SPEAKER_02:

No, I think what you're doing is great. You do so so well at it. Um, I'm more person to person. I love to do networking, the Chamber of Commerce and Mission Vieho and and other um professional networking groups to build those relationships and referral partners too. So um you never know what the future holds.

SPEAKER_01:

I'm open to it. Okay. Well, now outside of work, Rose, what do you like to do for fun?

SPEAKER_02:

Oh gosh, I have six beautiful granddaughters and aging from 23 to two months old. And I just spending time with them is like lightens, it's just it's the light in my life, truly. And um, taking my dog for long walks, my husband and I love to go listen to live music and garden and all those kind of things, just making our home a pleasant place for us too. So um, but yeah, the grandbabies is it's all about them.

SPEAKER_01:

Wonderful. That's that's sweet and special. Um now, Rose, please tell our listeners one thing they should remember about opening act window fashions.

SPEAKER_02:

Well, um, one thing, hmm. Well, you it doesn't cost anything to have us out there. So if you want to call and just you know have someone chat about your project on the phone, that's great too. If you want us to come to your home, then I'm all about that coming out to see you, give you a quote, no pressure. I'm gonna be honest with you, I'm gonna find the best product for you. When we come out to the home, we'll have you show me around and we um we'll ask you about each space. So, like, how is this space used? Is there children involved? Do you have pets? Is it a privacy issue? Um, do you need light control? Do you want to maintain your view? So, those are all the things that we take into consideration finding the perfect window covering for you in your budget and um making it beautiful, but also it's gonna serve its purpose.

SPEAKER_01:

Wonderful. So, yeah, we have you at the front of center stage for it. Wonderful. Now, how can our listeners learn more about uh opening act window fashions?

SPEAKER_02:

We like I mentioned earlier, we have a very robust website. You can go on there and visit it, it has a lot of testimonials, reviews, or some videos. Um, there's a lot of photographs and talks all about our family business and our experience in the home improvement industry. And of course, you can always give us a call, find us on the web and give us a call and we'll chat over the phone and I'll introduce myself to you.

SPEAKER_01:

Well, wonderful. Well, Rose, I really appreciate you being on the show, and we wish you and your business the very, very best and much success moving forward.

SPEAKER_02:

Oh, thank you so much. And likewise to you, Rachel. I really appreciate you having me on and getting to introduce myself to the community. Wonderful.

SPEAKER_00:

Thank you for listening to the Good Neighbor Podcast. To nominate your favorite local businesses to be featured on the show, go to gnpoangecounty.com. That's gnporangecounty.com or call 714 941 862.