Photo on left: Custom chaise in the living room. Photo by Jules Lee. Photo on right: In the workshop
This curvy custom chaise was made to fit into a narrow living room. We had it done in a beautiful, ribbed velvet fabric with a sleek metal base in a brass finish. Ooh la la!
Have you ever flipped through a home decor magazine and wondered where you can find that gorgeous piece of furniture only to realize that it’s not available at any stores? Or maybe you have friends who have had furniture custom-made and you envy that piece that is oh-so-unique or fits ever-so-perfectly into their space, but you think to yourself “Oh I could never do that! What if I don’t like it? And I wouldn’t even know where to begin?” So instead of exploring the idea, you go back to scouring the same stores you’ve already looked at eighteen times. Or maybe you found an item you love but it’s too large or too small for your space and it doesn’t come in the right colour! Ugh! Sound familiar? Don’t let the fear of the unknown prevent you from creating a truly unique and tailored home. This is when an Interior Designer can answer your questions, ease your concerns, and guide you through the process. Here, I’ve listed my TOP 3 REASONS why I love having furniture custom-made! Plus I’ve included some examples of gorgeous custom furniture from some recent projects!
Let me start by saying that retail store items or other ready-made pieces can most certainly be the exact right furniture for your space. But when you can’t find that “just right” piece, or you want something a little bit different, you may want to give custom furniture a try. Here are my top 3 reasons why I love having furniture custom-made.
Reason No. 1: FLEXIBILITY
When designing custom furnishings, you have the freedom and flexibility to make pretty much whatever your heart desires (and your wallet can handle)! You can let your imagination run wild (just check with your furniture-maker to make sure it’s feasible) or simply design the piece around a specific need in your home. You can choose from a vast array of fabrics, finishes, materials, and styles. Not to mention there is no restriction on size other than what the space dictates. Need an extra-wide dining table or a super deep sofa? Sure, no prob. Need a wall-mounted cabinet that is exactly 10 feet 3 inches long and 18 inches deep? Go for it! If your furniture-maker doesn’t have the wood finish sample you’re looking for on hand, ask them to make you a custom sample in the colour and finish you desire.
Reason No. 2: TAILORED TO YOUR NEEDS
If you are working with a custom upholsterer, they will often have seating examples with multiple cushion options for sofas that you can try out. This is a great way to ensure that your seating will be comfortable for you. Ask if you can “sit test” their sofa cushions and choose which fill feels best for you. This is also a good time to determine how deep you want the sofa seat to be. This way they can make the sofa exactly the way YOU like it.
Pictured above on the left, is a super cozy charcoal gray sectional that we had made to fit the space to our exact specifications. Selecting all of the fabrics and finishes ahead of time meant that we could design a beautiful colour palette in advance. The matching ottoman was made with a custom waterfall coffee table providing the ultimate in flexibility. The coordinating side table tucks under the base of the sofa in a space-saving solution.
For the sectional sofa above on the right, creating the right back support was of the utmost importance. The client visited the workroom and discussed her specific needs with the furniture-maker while testing out cushion insert options and seat depths. To maximize seating and accommodate the door swing on the custom built-in wall cabinet, we designed one end to be armless. Now, you may be looking at this white sofa and thinking who in their right mind would risk a white sofa in a family room? Life can get messy, especially if you have kids or pets, so be sure to choose a fibre-guarded fabric, as we did here, to make cleaning up a breeze.
Reason No. 3: UNIQUE DETAILS
When designing furniture, whether it is a dining table, a bench, a sofa, or a pillow that you have put your own twist on, that personal touch will make it something you can feel proud of and feel excited knowing that it is one-of-a-kind. Creating custom designs is an opportunity to let your creative juices flow and have a lot of fun with the details! Wouldn’t you love the feeling of having something made, just for you? The formal black oak dining table shown here was built with extension leaves to accommodate large dinner parties. The gorgeous brass panels on the inside of the fluted legs upped the glam factor and gave it a customized twist. This luxe bench was built in the exact size needed for a small entryway. The T-shaped base in black wood with soft blue velvet upholstery and a removable cushion for ease of cleaning makes for the perfect welcome into the home.
Convinced yet? You may still have some questions about where to begin with having furniture custom-made, so if the process feels a tad overwhelming, you may want to consider using an Interior Designer to handle it all for you. 😉 Give me a call, I’d love to hear from you!
Mirelle Goren Interiors offers full-service interior design in the GTA. If you or someone you know is looking for home remodeling or decorating services, click on the Let’s Connect button below to find out more about our services. I’d love to hear from you!
xx Mirelle