CUSTOM VS BESPOKE... WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE?
‘Custom’ and ‘bespoke’, two buzzwords that are often used interchangeably in reference to creating something that has been made just for you. While both are similar in terms of being designed and manufactured according to your specifications, when it comes to furniture they each have their own ways of enhancing your home.
WHAT IS CUSTOM FURNITURE?
Custom furniture takes an existing design and uses it as a framework, altering small elements here and there to make each piece it’s own. For example selecting a darker wood stain, brighter fabrics, or even finer details such as contrast piping or beaded trims to bring hints of your personality to a piece of furniture, making it uniquely yours. Similar to when you order a meal and request for the vegetarian variation, the meal you receive is made to order with little modifications to the original recipe specifically to suit your preferences. The custom furniture process is a great choice if the vision for your space can be achieved from a customised range without compromise.
If you are looking to furnish your home with pieces that have a more personal touch, custom furniture is an option that leaves a little more in your wallet, drawing off existing designs and processes. Custom furniture recognises the expertise of design craftsmen, utilising their depth of skills, knowledge and experience. All our designs have been carefully drawn, measured, handcrafted and tested to ensure the highest level of quality with the perfect proportions. The addition of smaller personalised details to an existing design also prevents back and forth iterations, keeping costs and turnaround times to a minimum. We handcraft all our custom furniture in our local WA workshop, and estimate around 4-6 weeks from initial consultation for your piece to be delivered to your home.
A sneak peak into our local Perth workshop, where all of our custom and bespoke furniture pieces is handcrafted.
Often when shopping around for a new piece of furniture, it can be hard to find the perfect piece that flows with the rest of your space. Maybe you have a few pieces of cabinetry with unique hardware that you would like to continue through the rest of the house, or maybe a unique colour palette that is hard to tone with other pieces. By simply making small modifications to the materials, finishes or finer details of our designs you can create a special piece that fits seamlessly into your space, complimenting your existing furniture and enhancing the interior design aesthetic.
Two different variations for two different spaces. Our Sebastian Dining Chairs, in dark ebony with sabred legs and dark leather upholstery on the left. French walnut with tapered legs and light linen upholstery to the right.
WHAT IS BESPOKE FURNITURE?
Bespoke furniture starts the whole process from scratch with a blank empty canvas. Each piece is drawn, developed and manufactured with it’s own intention and design concept. They stand alone, unmatched by previous designs and are a reflection of your personal style and story.
Similar to ordering a build-your-own salad bowl, you select the size, base, and all the special toppings to make this meal your own. From initial design concepts to final finishing touches, the bespoke design process allows you to hand select all the ingredients that form a design. Your voice plays a huge role in bringing the piece to life. This design journey is perfect for both those who already have an idea in mind, or those who are feeling overwhelmed with selecting the perfect piece for their space. It allows you to follow your own creative vision, rather than following a trend.
A special commissioned piece for The Ritz Carlton Hotel, Perth. A sculptural and functional concierge desk, designed and handcrafted to greet guests with the history, culture and natural beauty of Western Australia.
The main benefit of bespoke furniture is that it is specifically designed and made to fit the exact proportions of your space, unlike custom made furniture which has its set measurements. This is great for those quirky elements in your home such as slanted walls, floors or beams that never quite fit with the ready made pieces you find in stores. This allows you to create a truly cohesive look. A more personalised design adds to the comfort of your home, creating familiarity and breathing life into a space. Whether your style is more eclectic or more minimal, a piece that you have been involved in the creation of is one that will be cherished for years.
Bespoke built-in nook seating with hidden storage to overlook a beautiful pool for our Draper Project.
Additionally, the bespoke furniture design process has a unique approach which allows you to work collaboratively with skilled design craftsmen, who are experts in their field. From the initial concept all the way through to production, we work with you to bring your dreamiest ideas to life, resulting in complete originality that cannot be found anywhere else. You dream it, we craft it.
Sherwood Designs has been designing and handcrafting a huge range of beautiful pieces for over 30 years. We take pride in our ability to identify unique styles and beautiful features and make them easily accessible to our clients in a form of ranges, offering both custom and bespoke furniture.
WE HAVE A CAREFULLY CONSIDERED CURATION OF CUSTOMISABLE DESIGNS THAT CAN BE VIEWED HERE, OR ALTERNATIVELY GET IN TOUCH TO SEE HOW WE CAN HELP YOU CREATE A BESPOKE PIECE THAT TRULY COMPLIMENTS YOU AND YOUR SPACE!