About Us

Robin Prior

 

Robin’s design philosophy is rooted in her life experiences.  After years of studying design and working with designers in places such as Carmel, Albuquerque, Japan and Washington, DC, she began to focus on the skill of simplifying and editing a room.  She started her first company, Transformations Today, where she offered re-design services as well as traditional design.  As the company grew, Robin found virtually every client in need of window treatments.  She saw there was a niche between custom designer treatments and ready-made curtains available through retail stores.  In late 2003, Robin opened The Curtain Exchange of Fairfax, and shortly afterward, The Curtain Exchange of Bethesda, offering a beautiful variety of ready-made, custom quality window treatments and hardware.  The Washington Post lauded the store as the premier shop for dressing the window.  Robin later changed the name of the store to Gilded Manor and expanded the offerings in order to claim a larger part of the retail design market.  As the housing and interior design market continued to evolve in 2008, Robin decided that she could better serve her clients from studio setting.  In April, 2009, she opened the Gilded Manor studio where she and her team continue to create beautiful spaces for their clients.