One of one.
Have you ever conjured up an exact piece of furniture in your mind that you just cannot find anywhere to purchase? It is certainly a challenge and almost impossible to find exactly what it is that you are looking for off of the shelf. The perfect colour; the exact texture; a specific measurement and configuration that lives rent free in your mind day in and day out. What many people on the hunt for that special item don’t realise is that it’s a better long term investment to have something made especially for you and to your exact requirements. Special one off pieces are made with love and good old traditional craftsmanship, meaning that you are creating pieces that will last a lot longer and not inevitably end up in landfill with all of the other “make do” purchases made. As I look over at my grandmothers coffee table whilst writing this, I do wonder - what design treasures are we passing down to the next generation?
Storage -
Something that more and more of us are becoming aware of is maximising all and any minute bit of space. A bit of a life skill when looking at the average sized houses in London. Take the kitchen cupboards to the full height of the room; build in underseat storage in a banquette seating unit and implement that entrance hallway storage that will save you storing your shoes and bags right by the door. If you work with a clever joiner they can even make your bespoke piece so that it can be dismantled and taken with you should you move to another space/property. This is a particularly sensible approach when you are looking at more temporary abodes like an office, studio or workshop.
Joinery provided by West London Carpentry. Image by Kasia Fiszer Photography
Seating -
Why not have some drawers built into a banquette unit? An especially good idea if you are short on space to store non-everyday items in the kitchen (Bulk buy Kitchen roll anyone?). We are big fans of banquette seating units over here at Consult by FD. The benefits include an elevated feeling of high end restaurant luxury at home; they can act as a divider within large open plan layouts and as metioned before the additional storage opportunity is invaluable. Banquette seating works well for both large open spaces as well as smaller spaces with awkward nooks. Pair the fixed seating with more flexible freestanding furniture and you can set the mood for a variety of dining scenarios. For the tech savvy amongst us - don’t forget to build power sockets into the base so that you can easily charge devices from those comfy seats and not have to faff around with extension wires navigating their way around the seating to wherever you chose to sit.
Banquette seating at the Badu Cafe. Image by Frank Designs.
Kitchen -
Another great tip for the kitchen? A bespoke kitchen island concealing additional seating for larger groups is a great example of clever design and joinery. This concept below acts as additional counter/worktop space when pushed up against the wall but as and when needed, the island can be wheeled out to reveal additional seats and also – on the theme of maximising storage – there is a shelved cupboard behind two discreet sliding doors. As it is bespoke, this could be adapted to your exact size requirements and spec. This could be the real kitchen showstopper and be adorned with textural surfaces like a random tile pattern; a brushed brass cladding or even a mirror surface.
Consult by FD Kitchen CAD: bespoke breakfast bar with storage
And lastly…
Our very own Vanessa, has a furniture design and manufacture background and has a plethora of knowledge when it comes to that special one off chair or sofa of your dreams. Check her out on a trip at a furniture factory in Italy finalising the ergonomics and comfort levels on this great model. Her designs can be found at Interior Design brand, Designers Guild and she has worked with Russell Pinch of Pinch on several furniture ranges. If you’re interested in investing in your perfect piece, then she is your gal!
