Meet Darya Mizrachi, of Huntingdon Valley’s Drapery Palace
by Linda Herman

Visit Huntingdon Valley's Drapery Palace and you'll see showroom walls covered with a multitude of sample window treatments... some in highly designed fabric, some along the lines of simple blinds, shades, etc. You'll also see a busy workroom filled with seamstresses and designers fabricating the most beautiful of window embellishments.

I recently met with Darya Mizrachi, the exuberent owner of Drapery Palace. I just sat back and listened as she shared her enthusiasm for the work she does. She's been making area homes more beautiful for many years. She started as a designer at Royal Window Covering on Torresdale and Orthodox Streets in Philadelphia. It's a showroom geared to working solely with third party decorators and not with consumers directly. Not so the Drapery Palace.

Darya's Drapery Palace, located on Philmont Avenue, is a full service window treatment salon. Choose your fabric, choose your decoration, your hardware... whatever you want can be had with Darya's expert assistance. And you're dealing direct with the "manufacturer" so there's no middleman with regards to production time or costs! You save both time and money.
Go to her shop and you can witness her designers working in the showroom. From simple curtains to the most elaborate headboards or re-upholstery, Drapery Palace can do magic with any fabric for any space. We talked about current trends and Darya commented "The traditional, swags, etc. are still the most popular treatments requested. The more modern, hardwood blinds are popular, but not as homey or soft as a curtain. The latest trends in window fashions appear in the metal hardware. And we're working a lot more with fabric panels with metal grommets. We are constantly turning over our inventory, both fabric and embellishments. So about every six months or so customers can choose from new selections."

I suggested how different it must have been working with a third party. "Oh yes. We still do work with interior decorators, helping them help their clients. But, today we are above all a retail source... with the added convenience of a privately held showroom. It makes our job of giving the customer exactly what they want so much easier. From design to production to installation, they don't have to go anywhere else for the window treatment of their dreams!"

Darya gets a lot of support from her husband Jack. A native of Israel, he and his brothers had long been in the industry, fabricating and installing drapes throughout the greater Philadelphia area. Today he helps Darya when called upon. At times, you may find him in the showroom answering the phone or welcoming new clients. He may assist with measuring jobs or estimating, but make no mistake –­ this is Darya's palace, the Drapery Palace!

Darya and Jack have three children; Benji is 10, Debbi is 7 and Jonathan is 3. It's clear Darya has her hands full with three young children. In fact, if the occasion requires it, you might find one or two "supporting" their mother at the showroom. It's a real family affair. But you could also see the family at a soccer game or at any one of a multitude of activites that kids are all involved in. It would seem that Darya does it all! And she does it with a smile and a certain calmness that is a prerequisite when working with the public.

As we sat, Darya answered the phone... I never like these "interviews" to interfere with business. Her demeanor was warm, gentle and firm, and I'm certain the customers at the other end of line could feel her smile as she responded to their remarks. These are the traits that grow her successful business.

So if you're thinking about dressing up your windows and wondering what your options might be, stop into Drapery Palace. Darya Mizrachi just might have the right option for you... at the very least she can show you what all your choices might be!