An Inspired Pursuit: Crystal Le re-envisions the look of luxury

“I have a problem,” confessed Crystal Le as we sat down to enjoy an afternoon pick-me-up at the local coffee shop. “I like to learn,” she announced sheepishly. “No, really, I get bored very easily. I need to constantly explore everything around me and understand how those things work,” she continued. “I crave the challenge.” Le’s self-proclaimed addiction to learning inevitably led her to enroll in Cheryl Strickland’s Custom Home Furnishing School where she mastered the art of custom drapery. Now, having relocated to Louisiana from California in early 2008, Le has successfully positioned herself as one of south Louisiana’s most sought after custom drapery professionals. “My family thought I was crazy to move here after witnessing the devastation of Katrina, but I knew there was an opportunity to use my skills to help with the rebuilding process. Thankfully, my husband is very supportive,” noted Le. “So here we are.”

Ever since Le was a child, she enjoyed sewing. She even had a brief stint as a seamstress at a blue jean factory near Morgan City where she learned how to operate and repair a range of industrial sewing machines and equipment. Today, this skill gives her an advantage over the competition. If a machine breaks mid project, Le fixes it and gets right back to work. It’s as simple as that.

Within an industry that typically requires a variety of different professionals to complete a project, Le prides herself on being self-sufficient from start to finish. Working with the client, Le assists in selecting the right window treatments to fit and function in each particular area of the home. From wood blinds to vertical blinds, cellular shades to natural shades, and roller shades to shutters, Crystal’s Draperies has a range of options to choose from to dress any shape or size window. And for those who have been blessed to live with high ceilings, the standard 84” curtain simply does not satisfy the necessary vertical thrust that tall spaces desire and deserve. No one knows this better than Le.

“Clients are surprised to find out that I do the installation of the drapes myself, even if the ceiling is 20’ high. But the truth is that I love to do it,” explained Le. “I am not scared of heights, and the joy I get from putting the final touch on a home or a room by installing the drapes is just irresistible!” she exclaimed.

Yet, Le’s creativity and ingenuity is not limited to custom curtains and blinds. As a former nail technician and esthetician, careers she explored as part of her quest to know, see, learn, and do all, Le recognized something missing in the industry. While working at the Hilton Hotel spa in Palm Springs, Le listened carefully to her clients as they discussed the pros and cons of patronizing her cheaper competitors. Time after time, clients noted that the lack of privacy and personal attention at lower end nail salons ruined their experience. To address this problem, Le has a patent pending on 36 different rod styles for privacy curtains that will be available to purchase online in the fall of 2009. The custom rod and curtain system can also be used in restaurants, churches, temples, and outdoor gazebos to add visual texture and enhance the overall personal experience for the customer.

“For me, my journey has always been about the quest for beauty on a number of different levels. And if I can use what I have learned and experienced along the way to provide a solution to a common problem, then that is exactly what I’ll do,” Le concluded. ✦

Crystal Khanh Le
504-232-9609
225-275-6995