Step inside The Curtain Call, where craftsmanship and creativity come together to transform spaces. Owned by Cade Smith, this Nashville-based workroom creates beautifully tailored draperies, textiles, and soft furnishings designed to elevate both homes and businesses. With a deep respect for the artistry of handmade design, Cade and his team bring thoughtful detail, timeless quality, and a personal touch to every project -- one stitch at a time.

Where did you grow up?
I was born in rural Northwest Florida, outside of Pensacola, in what we call Lower Alabama (LA). I am a 6th-generation Floridian. In 1999, my family moved to West Tennessee, becoming the first members of the family to leave Santa Rosa County. I jokingly say I grew up on I-65, between Nashville and Pensacola, spending all my school holidays on my family's property in Florida, where I played in the peanut fields and picked watermelons with my cousins in my grandpa's melon patch. Eventually, we settled in Cookeville, TN, where I attended high school and graduated a year early in 2010. 

How long have you lived in the area? 
In 2011, after graduating from high school, I moved to Nashville to attend Trevecca University, where I studied Classical Voice Performance and Business Administration. Since that time, I have considered Nashville my home, occasionally taking respite to be with family in Florida and to be with my horses in Cookeville, and for a year to enjoy the allure of New Orleans.

Tell us about your family:
I am truly honored to have an incredible support system within my family. From my mother, whose wisdom after 40 years in the car business is of novel proportions, to my dad, who consistently embarrasses me with his hunting tales, to my brother, who helps support vital healthcare work in Chattanooga as a hospitalist and academic, it's been a great life learning from, and learning with, these characters I call my family. Though much of their service to their communities and organizations is quiet, it is inspiring daily!

What is your business, and how/why did you start it?
The Curtain Call is a custom workroom specializing in hand-sewn window coverings and soft furnishings for homes and businesses.

In 2018, I decided to return to school at Tennessee Technological University’s Appalachian Center for Craft, where I studied Fiber Arts with a focus on weaving. I graduated in May 2020, and as we all remember, that was quite a time to be starting a new chapter. I moved closer to family in Florida… and then quickly moved farther from family to New Orleans (haha).

After my time in New Orleans, I took a position with the United States Postal Service in the Office of Statistical Programs, collecting data for transportation budgets -- not exactly the skill set I wanted to flex but I did it with great gusto, until…one day, I happened to pass by a shop called The Curtain Call. Assuming it was theater-related, I decided to step inside. To my surprise, it was a workroom and after some witty banter, the owner asked if I could sew. I replied, “Actually, I have a degree in weaving…” and that's the same day, I resigned from USPS and began my career as a drapery maker.

That was September 2022, and by May 2023, the owner and I had reached an agreement, and I became the Owner of The Curtain Call. At first, it was just me sewing, selling, installing, handling social media, and running on little sleep. One late night, I asked myself why I was doing all this. On a piece of scrap of paper, I quickly wrote:

That became my first “why” in business ownership.

But I soon realized I didn’t just want to own a job, I wanted to build a business. In January 2024, I hired my first seamstress and began teaching her my methods, standards, and vision for the future. That’s when I discovered my second “why”:

 “To create skilled labor jobs that empower people to earn equitable wages, build meaningful careers, and sustain the artistry and tradition of handmade custom goods.”

I came to see that my first ‘why’ was about serving the design industry, and my second ‘why’ grew from a desire to serve my own community.

Today, The Curtain Call has grown to a full-time staff of 14 and recently expanded with an additional 2,000 square feet to offer upholstery services.

What is unique about your business and sets you apart from the rest?
The uniqueness of The Curtain Call is our “Yes first” approach to service and quality. We partner with designers and homeowners every step of the way, from measure to maintenance, delivering craftsmanship that honors both tradition and innovation.

Given your business expertise and the nature of your work, what advice can you offer to the residents?
I don’t have any grand advice, really… just a few simple things: say yes, do the small things, take chances, and bring peace to the places that need it. Be kind, live well, and whenever possible, give as much as you can.

What else should we know about your business?
While most of our work is located in the Southeast, we also have projects in nine states, Canada, and Mexico. The Curtain Call has been such a huge gift to my life and the lives of our team! Since taking ownership, we’ve increased the company’s revenue eightfold and are excited for a bright 2026 ahead, thanks to the incredible support of the greater Nashville community.