Cellular shades, pictured here, are a popular product sold by Made in the Shade Napa/Solano. The shades feature a unique pleated honeycomb construction to provide both fashion and superior energy efficiency.

Kelli Wellhausen (left), Owner of Made in the Shade Napa/Solano, inspects a project with Lisa Bautista, Franchise Owner, The Blue Book Network (center) and Aaron Kerrigan, Director of Commercial Sales, Made in the Shade.

Made in the Shade Napa/Solano (Made in the Shade) is the brainchild of Kelli Wellhausen, a real estate agent who saw an opportunity and took it. “I opened Made in the Shade because I was tired of seeing bad window treatments,” says Kelli. “My real estate clients and the entire region deserved beautiful, functional and long-lasting window treatments.”

So in March 2019, Made in the Shade opened for business. The company offers blinds, shades, shutters, soft treatments and window motorization for both commercial and residential projects throughout the Napa and Solano region.

Already, the company has built a reputation based on speed, quality and creativity. In fact, the company has already built a relationship with the University of California. “We focus on quality, time and price,” Kelli says. “I don’t believe the adage that you have to choose two—you can have it all! It just takes organization and energy.”

The Tie that Binds

Made in the Shade is a family-owned and -operated company. Her partner, Aaron Kerrigan, handles the engineering and construction; his son, Cole, is the company’s installer; and her two sons—15-year old Cody and 13-year old Cooper—do the “grunt work” like sweeping and vacuuming.

“It’s how I grew up, and I know doing the boring and monotonous work is invaluable,” says Kelli. “It’s good for the boys.”

Indeed, Kelli grew up doing the “boring” work in a very entrepreneurial family. Her mother and father, Eddi and Vicki Sandoval, owned many grocery stores throughout the Central Valley, including Shop-N-Bag in Clovis.

“We did everything for my parents,” Kelli says. “I started paying into Social Security when I was 7 years old. We would walk groceries to the older people in the neighborhood, and they would make us cookies and lemonade. They were a second family.”

And as her biological family became more successful, they branched out into different businesses. “Eventually, they began to flip houses,” Kelli says. “One of my favorite memories is sweeping up construction debris with my grandfather, Margarito. He was my best friend.” In fact, Margarito is the reason she is so comfortable working with contractors. “He taught me so many invaluable lessons,” says Kelli. “But the most important was that hard work is the key to success. And when we had contractors at our houses, they worked really hard. It’s why I respect them so much.”

Eventually, Kelli made her way into retail, which she calls “her first love.” But, real estate and home decor beckoned. She grew up touring open houses and helping her family flip their investment houses. “It’s how I got into real estate,” she explains.

Kelli thrived in real estate and spent the next decade growing her real estate business. But, she couldn’t get rid of the “entrepreneurial itch.” She says, “I am always looking at opportunities in the market.”

She had the idea while working as a real estate agent. “This home was beautiful, but the window treatments didn’t do it justice,” Kelli says. “I thought that opening a window treatment business would be a good idea.”

Process Makes Perfect

Made in the Shade follows a process that allows each family member’s expertise to shine.

The process begins with a walk-through conducted by Kelli. “I have an artistic eye and do the first walk of the project with the client, whether that’s a homeowner or a general contractor.” After talking to the client and touring the space, she makes drawings and recommends products to meet the client’s goals. “I can bring out the beauty of any location in an efficient and economical way,” she explains. “But, I think we are making our name in the commercial space specifically.”

Then, she enlists Aaron to help with construction. “He’s worked for decades in construction. And because he has so much experience, I can show him my designs and say ‘What do you think?’ “ says Kelli. “His insights are invaluable.”

Once the client agrees to the design, the company orders the products. And then Cole, Aaron’s son, does the install. “We are focused on working fast,” says Kelli, who explains that they will stop at nothing to meet the deadline for a client. “We don’t want to interrupt our client’s project or lives in any way. So, we plan our projects to be completed with a focus on efficiency.

“We go above and beyond to make sure the work is done on time,” Kelli says. “One time, a project had to be completed by 1:00 p.m. because there was a party. However, the materials were located in Elk Grove, an almost two-hour drive away.” Instead of rescheduling the installation, they woke up in the early morning and drove to pick up the items. “We drove out there, picked it up, drove back and completed the install. We had a half-hour to spare, but we made it!”

The party went off without a hitch.

Doing the right thing is a key focus for Kelli and her family. “Doing the right thing is our mantra,” Kelli says. “Just last week, we saw firsthand what differentiates us.”

She explains that they received a call from a client who was in dire need. “The homeowner had purchased window treatments from another company, and then the company suddenly went out of business. In the meantime, the client had realized that the shutter panels were installed incorrectly. So he called some of our competitors to help. But, everyone was trying to upsell him.”

Then he called Made in the Shade. “We realized that all he needed was a new panel. He was willing to purchase an entire shutter, but we told him not to worry about it. We called the manufacturer and were able to get the new panel for free. It will be delivered in two weeks.”

In the meantime, the client—a prominent local businessman—put in additional orders for his business and his home. “We always want to do what’s best for the client,” Kelli says. “And it pays off in the end.”

And, the company’s reputation is growing. “For a new company, we have won a lot of work,” Kelli says. The company has signed contracts with University of California campuses, elementary schools and others. “Our favorite thus far has been the Bay Area Builders Exchange in San Leandro,” Kelli says. “We are working on their new office buildings and, wow, I am excited.”

She explains that while building permits and deliveries are slower than usual, she and her team are working around-the-clock to get the work done. “We are nimble and driven,” says Kelli. “We will go the distance for you.”