Bespoke furniture and decor The rise of the Artisan BY DAVE NEMETH

A trend taking the world by storm at the moment is the increase in and demand for handmade and artisanal products available in all categories – from food and beer to furniture and decor. It is no longer a one-size-fits-all economy; and with an extreme backlash to mass production, consumers are appreciating and searching for uniqueness and customisation. Even top-end exclusive brands, which over the last 20 years would never have entertained the thought of customising their already expensive product offering to a customer’s taste, are now adjusting their business models and entering the age of customisation.

It is no wonder that this paradigm shift in the way we purchase is becoming highly popular in the furniture and decor sectors. Not only are our living spaces all different, but we are also finding fewer built-in units and cupboards going into new homes to allow for more flexibility; and technological advances have made it possible for bespoke and “once-off” products to be manufactured more economically, resulting in better prices. However, this kind of buying is still a mystery to most consumers, and purchasing artisanal pieces can be quite an overwhelming experience to first-time buyers.

 There is generally little room for error, so seek out the professionals who will actually come to your home and advise you on the measurements, as doing this yourself can be very risky. It is always a good idea to do your homework and have a good understanding of what the final product will look like, preferably through a detailed drawing. The biggest appeal that comes with purchasing bespoke or once-off pieces is the irregularity of certain rougher products, and due to the handcrafted process, no two products will ever be exactly the same. In timber products, the grains and colouring – even from the same species – will almost always be a slightly different colour, and this aesthetic holds the “appeal factor” to most. This kind of furniture is often manufactured from reclaimed materials, and the industrial and “crafty” look that it has may not necessarily suit every home.

Currently one of the most popular items being customised to a person’s individual taste are sofas – you can choose the fabric or leather colour that you want; select the exact size and configuration; and even specify the type of feet for the bottom of the sofa. There is nothing worse for a short person to sit on a very deep sofa or for a very tall person to sit on a sofa that has a very low back, which jabs into the spine. But customisation prevents issues of this nature from occurring, and normally takes between four to six weeks for manufacture and delivery, which is the same length of time that you would generally wait for an “off-the-shelf” piece. Although you will generally pay a little more for a handcrafted or artisanal product, it will last for many years, making it possible to hand it down to future generations – especially when it comes to case goods. Couches that are made really well will still need to be reupholstered in time, but the frame should last a lifetime.

With individualism currently trending throughout almost all parts of our lives, customisation of furniture is the way of the future. It is also more rewarding to purchase products, which have had real human intervention rather than items that have come off a foreign production line.

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