You’ve seen it a hundred times.. a client falls in love with a piece of furniture but the manufacturer doesn’t offer COM or you need it in a special size or there’s something about it that’s just not quite perfect. As a design professional your first thought is, “I’ll just have it custom built!” and that can be a great solution.. IF you are prepared. Before you dive into the world of ordering custom furniture, consider the following:
Nobody Can Duplicate an Existing Style
I don’t care how good they are, no custom factory can duplicate another company’s style. A typical manufacturer will build a piece 2 – 3 times before it makes it to the showroom. Each iteration improves little things whether it be the look, the feel or the constructibility. When you order a custom piece, you are asking the custom folks to do what the original manufacturer could not do – make it perfect the first time around. I think we can all agree that’s not highly likely. Be sure to set those expectations with your client from the onset.
Custom is Expensive
On average it takes a factory about 15 labor hours to build a standard sofa for which they have a pattern. And much of that work happens concurrently. However when a custom item is being built, each step of the process depends on the step before as there are no patterns or other reference materials to use. For example, on a style from our catalog we can build the frame, make the cushions and cut the fabric all at the same time. In a custom piece, we have to wait for the frame to be built before we can measure for the fabric to be cut then we have to wait for the inside upholstery to be done before we can measure for cushions. All in all it takes at least 50% longer to build a custom piece and that results in a price tag that is at least 50% higher than a similar “in line” style.
Know What’s Important
Before considering a custom order you need to really understand what’s important. Are the dimensions the winning ticket or is there some style element that is driving the decision? If the custom folks are going to focus on one thing – what should that one thing be? Keep in mind, many times those decorative elements are the things that drive the long production initially so you need to really be keen on what, exactly, is going to define success in this custom build. Provide your custom builder with drawings, photos and illustrations to clearly show your intent and need. While we all wish that terminology was universal across the industry, it is anything but. The old adage of a picture is worth a thousand words has never rung so true.
Start with a Known
The very best thing you can do is to start with a manufacturer’s existing style then amend it to your custom design. For example, you may want to start with the arm from our Chelsea sofa but want it combined with the leg on the Ava or maybe you want the back rail from the Candice Chair but want it applied to a settee. Using elements that the factory has already developed will greatly assist in achieving your desired results.
Dimensions Should Always Win
Back to knowing what’s important – you need to understand how this piece is going to be used. If this is going to be a “sit there and look pretty” piece, be sure to convey that message and the builder’s will not focus on comfort. However if you simply order a custom chair or sofa, builder’s are going to naturally want to make it as comfortable as possible and that means focusing on the dimensions. The minute you dictate dimensions you are taking responsibility for the comfort of that piece so unless you have a long history in designing furniture, don’t try and be one now. If the custom piece is being designed to fit into a specific space – give those dimensions requirements and let the builder’s do their best within those parameters. And please keep in mind – all dimensions work together to create not only the overall size but the comfort and usability. Reduce the back height and that’s going to reduce your overall depth. Reduce the depth and that reduces your seat depth. Decrease the seat height and you need to increase seat depth to achieve a standard comfort ratio. When it comes to dimensions, the old expression, “be careful what you ask for” is tantamount. Before you start the conversation, know what you’re willing to give up and what is a “must have”, especially when it comes to dimensions.
Lead Times are NOT Predictable
When you place your order we are going to do our best to guesstimate how long it will take to build that custom piece. We suggest that you DOUBLE that timeline. in most plants, custom is handled by a dedicated team (there aren’t many people that know how to do custom work.). Not only is the timeline to build your piece dependent on the complexity of your design, but it is also dependent on the work that is line before it. For example if the order in front of yours is scheduled to take 8 hours to frame but the frame guys run into a problem and that frame takes 16 hours, then your order is pushed back by those 8 additional hours. And there is no way to make up time in custom. That same thing happens across every step in the production process. Frame could go great but patterning can go sideways. Patterning may be great but the way the fabric lays isn’t working which requires a new pattern. You get the picture. Any step in the process can slow down or stop the production line and, unfortunately, your order has to simply wait its turn.
Single piece custom furniture can be the perfect answer for a design plan. It can also be the one thing that ruins an otherwise perfect room. The most important element is to choose a custom builder that you can talk to and that is not afraid to ask the hard questions and deliver the hard realities. Start the relationship by inviting input and advice and you may just find a great solution to your design challenges. Looking at your custom builder as a collaborator instead of as a service provider will bring you greater success and hopefully greater joy to your client.
Happy Customizing!