About

Our Story

From humble beginnings in owner Shelley Asquith’s garage back in 1997, the Essential Living showroom was officially opened in 2005 due to rising demand for Shelley’s quality, custom-made curtains and blinds. The business has continued to grow, and is now a team of qualified, friendly people dedicated to helping you furnish your home or workplace with elegant, energy-efficient blinds, curtains and homewares.

Our showroom is built on the premise that customers should be able to visualise a range of fabrics and styles for their home. More than just being a practical household necessity, blinds add to the comfort and aesthetic of a home, which is why we have plenty of products on display. We’re dedicated to finding the perfect fit for your home or workplace.

Personalised Service You Can Trust

Our owner Shelley has always had a passion for interior decorating, and she understands how to help you make the right choices. We offer a personalised measure and quote service, so we can check your space and provide the best advice possible for your new curtains or blinds.

Our products are all custom-made, using only the highest quality materials. We don’t just want our curtains and blinds to look great, but we want them to last. It’s the personalised service we offer at Essential Living that makes us different, and we’ve provided customised solutions for every type of building, from single rooms in retirement homes to office spaces and large penthouse apartments.

Adding a Touch of Elegance to Every Home

Our range is diverse, featuring Modern and Contemporary styles to more Traditional and Classic. It’s incredible how a room can be enhanced with the right window furnishings, and our boutique service provides exactly that. Every room deserves a touch of elegance, and with our skills, experience, and unique range, we can help you make the best choice.

Our Team

Shelley Asquith

Director

Shelley first popped on the scene over 2 decades ago. Working from her home garage creating drapes on her sewing machine. Now fast forward through raising a family, opening a shop front, building the business into two showrooms and evolving from not only internal and external window furnishings but to now having a huge range of home décor, modern Manchester and the most on-trend giftware in the region.
Shelley built her showroom as a showcase of how a home can look because she believes that your home is a visual story of your style. Shelley loves nothing more than finishing off rooms with the best in quality and installation. She is the expert in creating window furnishings that tick all the boxes of style, insulation and practicality. Her attention to detail and customer service along with cutting edge insider knowledge has set her as a leader in her field.

Katherine Gervasoni

Manager

Our Manager, expert in Curtains and Blinds and lover of all things home décor!

Katherine is the smiling face always at the ready helping customers make the tough decisions on style of curtains, blind options and pairing with home furnishings.

Matched with her beautiful personality and passion for creating our clients dream designs, Katherine is a shining light!

Chelsea Mackinnon

Sales Assistant

Darren Asquith

Installer

Daz installs all our curtains and blinds. He’s pretty amazing at getting it all really. He fixes all the things, is a whizz at projects and keeps us entertained when he pops into the shop. No job is too big and he loves a finished install just like us all. He’s the man in the van you see driving all over the region.

But there’s so much more that we love. Daz loves adventures- off road, somewhere on the water…wherever the wanderer takes him. He is always up for a laugh, helps at anytime for any reason, works harder than anyone we know and he builds great relationships with all our clients. Being married to the boss has its perks too.