Custom Furniture Ordering Mistakes Part3

We’re not trying to beat a dead horse here, having already shared three of the common custom furniture ordering mistakes in a couple of earlier posts, here and here. However, according to ArchitecturalDigest.com, there are a few more you should be wary of. (Of which you should be wary?)

We’ve covered the tendency of some to mistake personalized solutions for custom furnishings, as well as using the right vendor for the customization job and ensuring that, no matter how cool the form, it does not overwhelm the intended function. “What could be left?”, you clearly ask. Well, pay heed dear ones for we have the answers.

Custom Ordering Mistake #4: Messing up the measurements

OK, now, this one’s on you. Especially if it’s your idea to go custom (as opposed to your client’s, for example), you simply cannot afford to fumble the tape measure. Getting the dimensions right is totally up to you – as is the cost of any mistakes. Yep, those are your responsibility if you blow the measurements.

“Designers have to triple-check all dimensions and specifications when working on custom furniture and make sure that everything is very clearly outlined in the contract,” says San Francisco–based designer Maria Khouri. “In addition to a written scope, they should also confirm the details verbally, as some people don’t read proposals all the way through.”

“Not only is it important to confirm all dimensions down to the millimeter,” the author suggests, “but Khouri also recommends double-checking the unit of measurement.” (You know, metric versus the right ones! Imperial.)

Common Custom Furniture Mistake #5: Underestimating the lead time

Just because the recent pandemic appears to be a thing of the past does not mean long lead times are as well. This is particularly true when you order custom furniture and other furnishings. After all, you not only have to give your vendor time to create the piece(s), but they may need to order components or hardware that is not readily available to realize your vision.

“Good things come to those who wait,” opines the author, “and custom furniture is no exception. From sourcing the right materials to putting the piece together, the entire process can take months – and that’s before you factor in shipping delays or supply chain hiccups.

“As a rule of thumb, I often double the amount of time I’m given by furniture vendors,” designer Isy Runsewe says. “[It’s] far better for an item to surprisingly arrive early than having to go back to your clients repeatedly to explain delays.”

This is commonly known as “Underpromising and over-delivering”, which is a great tactic for building customer loyalty.

Custom Furniture Ordering Mistake #6: Charging your client for mistakes

This is a tough one, all right. In fact, assigning blame for mistakes of any kind may be the most contentious issue dealers, designers, vendors, and clients can experience. Why? Because with mistakes comes increased costs – for one or all.

“Despite your best efforts, mistakes still happen. So, who should pay for them? Well, it depends on what went wrong. ‘The client should never pay for a mistake,’ says designer Khouri. ‘It is usually between the designer and the manufacturer depending on the nature of the error that was made.’”

While a particular situation may not be quite that cut-and-dried, it seems wise to consider whether the fault belongs to the vendor or the designer. In fact, as long as your contract was comprehensive, it is a rare case indeed where a client is at fault.

Clearly, “a vendor should foot the bill if they accidentally ordered the wrong wood species. But if the mishap happened on your watch, you’ll [ultimately] be financially responsible for the piece.”

And, for help avoiding either of these custom furniture ordering mistakes, feel free to… Contact TD Fall today.

Common Custom Furniture Mistakes Part2

As we shared in a previous post, ordering custom furniture for a client (or any custom furnishings) can lead to issues for interior designers and furnishing dealers. Having clarified the difference between “personalized” and custom furnishings, Part Two in this series will focus on choosing the right vendor and ensuring that function is as important as form in your choices.

Choose the Right Custom Furniture Vendor

It goes without saying that TD Fall is the right vendor for your custom furnishing needs because we only work with the finest lines and furniture builders. We’ve done the research and found some of the most creative craftsmen and luxury furnishing companies available.

“It doesn’t matter how much it costs or how gorgeous the sketches [are], custom furniture will always fall short if it’s not in the hands of a qualified, reliable vendor.” (ArchitecturalDigest.com)

Of course, this does not mean that one manufacturer will always be the perfect choice for every situation or for every interior design client. Whether you choose a custom build from the frame to the finished product like we might suggest from Michael Trent Coates and MTC Studio Designs to beautiful handcrafted furniture from Leathercraft or perhaps from the Donghia Furniture line of the Kravett family of brands, we have you covered.

Do Not Mistake Form For Function

Just as a cool-looking sofa that sits like concrete won’t cut it, a gorgeous, unique-looking desk lamp that does not light a custom-designed home office properly is basically an expensive paperweight. In other words, the function is as important as the form of any custom furnishings you may recommend to a client.

“It’s quite easy to get carried away with a particular design, simply focusing on the ‘look’ of an item,” says Brooklyn-based designer Isy Runsewe. “Designing anything custom without considering its intended use and context can result in a piece that just doesn't help the space function as desired, let alone as needed.”

To strike the right balance of beauty and brains, Runsewe encourages pros to ask vendors for photo and video updates to track a piece’s progress. “You may think it drives some vendors mad, but many understand,” she shares. “They also want to be sure they’ve created something the clients will truly love.”

As you reimagine any space for your clients, always be sure that the “latest iteration still serves its proposed function.”

And, for help avoiding either of these custom furniture mistakes, feel free to… Contact TD Fall today.

6 Common Designer Mistakes Made With Custom Furnishings

We all make mistakes. Regardless of our training and experience, we may get lazy or feel indifferent to a client’s needs. It’s just human nature to “take a day off” when working now and then. And, as Architectural Digest writer Kelsey Mulvey reminds us as his lead-in to the 6 Common Designer Mistakes To Avoid With Custom Furnishings.

“There’s more to furnishing a room than picking out fabric swatches or conducting a sit test: It’s a careful mix of palettes, proportions, and materials—and finding the right balance can be easier said than done.”

He goes on to suggest, “If you’re struggling to find items that are at home in your client’s space, a custom design may be your best option. Admittedly, enlisting a vendor to build a banquette or dining room table from scratch can be a timely and costly endeavor; however, the result is often well worth the investment.”

Personalized Furniture versus Custom Furnishings

Is there a difference between “personalized” and “custom” furnishings? We believe there is. For example, changing the stain and/or finish on a client’s Chiffonier makes it a personalized piece of furniture. However, ordering that elegant chest of drawers with a unique design, and having it built to your client's specifications will make it a custom furnishing.

In an effort to make the difference clearer, you might be choosing between a store-bought sofa with personalized fabric for example. On the other hand, custom furniture takes a piece that does not exist except in someone’s imagination and must be built by a craftsman who can take it from concept to reality.

A great example of the difference between the two is the high-quality, custom designs, and artisanal craftsmanship of the luxury furniture from Michael Trent Coates, perhaps better known as MTC Studio Designs.

Below we’d like to offer a few examples of where MTC Studio Designs has grasped an abstract concept that has been realized and built to order.

Whether you choose to label this piece a Chiffonier or simply a chest of drawers, you have to agree with us when we say the craftsmanship is obvious, the hardware is unique, and a statement is made for the owner.

Is it possible for dining in to be as elegant as dining out? We think this image speaks for itself, declaring an emphatic “Yes” with this customized design from MTC Studio Designs.

If this image doesn’t grab your attention and make you go, “Aah”, we may not be able to help you. This room is a combination of dramatic, uncommon, and extraordinary. It’s almost like this space is saying, “Come in. Or else.”

MTC Studio Designs from TD Fall & Company

We are very proud to represent the MTC Studio Designs line of truly unique, compelling, luxury custom furnishings. We are also happy to help you design truly custom furniture for your clients and use MTC Studio Designs to have it realized.

Stay tuned for more of our takes on designer mistakes made with custom furnishings in future posts.

Now, designing a piece and taking it from abstraction to reality is not easy. But, if you can see it clearly in your mind, we can help you realize your vision. Simply… Contact TD Fall today.