April 27, 2023

Commissioning Bespoke Furnishings

How to work with an Interior Designer

Lewis Knox shortlisted for prestigious British Institute of Interior Design award

Your home should be as unique as you are. It’s a reflection of you, your passions, and your style. So how can you create a truly distinctive space? One way is to commission bespoke furnishings.

As a full-service interior design practice, we help clients understand how bespoke furnishings can elevate their projects. Combined with off-the-shelf pieces and antique objects, they are a great way to create a really personal space.

It’s a multi-layered approach that we often use as a foundation for entire home redesigns. It allows our interior architects to flex their creative muscles while reflecting the individuality of the client.

Cozy built-in daybed with a mustard tufted mattress and colourful striped and teal cushions against a bold botanical mural, flanked by navy-blue storage drawers with multicoloured knobs and wooden open shelves holding children's books.

Beige textured sofa with patterned blue and tan throw cushions beside a glass side table topped with a potted white orchid, a small framed black-and-white baby photo and a decorative round ornament.

Neutral-toned bouclé armchair with a black-and-white houndstooth cushion beside a round side table holding a slim black-and-brass lamp, set against light wood panelling and a grey stone fireplace.

The Bespoke Fundamentals

Whether it’s window treatments, upholstery, furnishings or lampshades, there are a few essentials you’ll need to consider before commissioning a bespoke piece.

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If bespoke furnishings are for an everyday room wearability needs to be a big consideration.

Function of the room

With a bespoke piece it’s easy to get caught up in the aesthetics, but your dream space has to work practically too. We take time to get to know each client then we can deliver an interior that works for how they live their life. If bespoke furnishings are for an everyday room wearability needs to be a big consideration. We’d suggest materials that get a high score for durability on the Martindale abrasion rub test or even Easyclean and washable fabrics for rooms like these. If the bespoke piece is for an occasional room, durability can take more of back seat.

Budget

Cards on the (elegantly upholstered) coffee table, bespoke isn’t the cheapest option. But factor in quality and longevity, and it’s likely to offer enduring value. A custom-crafted sofa will last 30 years – so if it’s a timeless style or one you know you’re going to love forever it’s definitely worth the investment. And bespoke could actually save you money – a well-made pair of curtains with thick lining will do wonders for your heating bills.

Style

The great thing about bespoke is the opportunity it gives you to express your unique style. Not sure where to find inspiration? Take pictures of things you see on your travels – hotels have always great solutions for blackout window treatments for example. Pinterest is an instant source of everything from glossy professional interiors to DIY ideas, as are print and digital magazines. We love exploring initial ideas with our clients and using these as a basis for concept exploration. We then use our experience and contacts to propose creative ideas that fit your vision.

Lead time

Beautiful things come to those who wait. When you’re commissioning a one-off piece the lead time can be 4-8 weeks depending on the fabric and material availability. Some of the fabrics we use are printed to order and others are in permanent stock so we can advise on the right choice for your project. Bespoke might not be a quick solution, but we think hand-crafted and unique is worth waiting for to deliver a stand-out space.

Cosy modern living room with a wood‑panelled feature wall holding a flat-screen TV above a stone fireplace with visible flames, flanked by two grey upholstered armchairs with patterned cushions, a low coffee table with books, a black looped chandelier and a vaulted ceiling with exposed beam and concealed strip lighting.

Top tips for maximising your bespoke furnishings

Our experienced interior designers have taken on plenty of bespoke projects. Here are some tips for making the most of the opportunities they offer.

Close-up of a textured beige curtain with a braided edge beside a carved wooden side table holding a grey ceramic lamp with a beige fabric shade and three small pink decorative bowls with gold interiors.

Window treatments

Window treatments can play a key role in room redesigns and different types of windows call for different dressing techniques. Small cottage windows can work really well with roman blinds outside the recess to allow as much light into the room as possible.

If you’ve got a large expanse of glazing, full-length curtains are a great option. They can make a real statement and there are lots of ways to tailor them to your style. We always recommend considering window treatments early in the design process, it makes sure they are carefully curated, and with weighty curtains allows us to add an electrical feed for automatic controls.

Budget is always a consideration with large windows. We often suggest a plain fabric which can be double width (most fabric is 130-150cm wide) allowing less joins and less labour costs. To add decorative embellishment a wide border trim can be added onto the leading edge – a simple way to make an impact.

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For large windows, we often suggest a plain fabric which can be double width, allowing less joins and labour costs.

For a smart and streamlined look we like to hide the curtain tracks and heading behind a bulkhead. A plastered bulkhead works well for contemporary home design and in period properties we run the decorative room cornice in front to give the illusion of hidden curtains. It’s a lovely way to integrate large curtains into your space without taking up the whole room.

Elegant neutral-toned living room with a lit marble-surround fireplace flanked by built-in shelves and a large mirror, two upholstered armchairs and matching ottomans around a glass side table, French doors opening to a garden and a decorative corniced ceiling with a brass chandelier.

Open-plan living area featuring a large grey sectional with pale blue cushions, striped ottomans with wooden trays, a fireplace with framed art, adjoining dining table and kitchen island with bar stools beneath a crystal chandelier, floor-to-ceiling windows and light hardwood floors.

As interior architects we consider how all the features in a house can best be integrated into a redesign. In this Welsh country house, there were lovely traditional elements and refined architectural features that we couldn’t ignore. So we designed window treatments to match. Slightly shaping these bespoke pelmet boards and covering them in the same fabric as the curtains created a cohesive scheme – we even designed the bed with a corona bed dressing and valance to create a tailored classical scheme.

Bright, elegant bedroom in pale blue and cream with a draped canopy bed and upholstered headboard, quilted blue bedspread, carved wooden settee and patterned ottoman, tall sash windows with matching curtains, a crystal chandelier and bedside lamp.

Bespoke window treatments are a fantastic way to get a truly cohesive space. It’s always best to get expert insight from an interior designer who has dressed different sizes, shapes, and orientation of windows then you know your investment will deliver perfect results.

We’d usually suggest a 4-6 week turnaround time from survey to installation of final window treatments. Our specialist team can manage the whole process from survey and measurements to design and installation.

Commissioning furniture

Whether it’s a brand-new commission or breathing fresh life into an existing item, bespoke furniture can give your dream home a unique style. Here are some tricks of the trade to create a personal piece.

Looking to make a statement in your bedroom? Custom headboards are a simple way to mix things up.

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The current trend for shapely oversized headboards is heavily influenced by designer Kit Kemp and as you can see from her Firmdale Hotel rooms left, they make a striking centerpiece.

Colourful child's bedroom with a single bed centred beneath a tall upholstered headboard, chevron-patterned blanket and matching pillows, gradient purple-brown striped wallpaper, dark floating shelves with toys and framed prints (including zebras), a built-in desk with a transparent chair to the left, bedside tables and a white door to the right, and a wire pendant light with decorative birds overhead.

If you want to make a more subtle statement, adding embellished details like studding or contrast piping can elevate a headboard too.

Neutral bedroom bedside with a wooden nightstand holding a cream ceramic lamp and small potted plant, framed beige upholstered headboard with a brass reading sconce, and layered decorative pillows on textured cream bedding.

Close-up of a bed with a scalloped upholstered headboard framed by embroidered canopy curtains, two beige striped pillows, a pale blue patterned bolster and a quilted blue bedspread.

Bedside scene with a tufted upholstered headboard, layered neutral and patterned cushions, and a curved black lamp casting warm light onto a wooden nightstand holding a small potted succulent and a book.

Bedside scene with a beige upholstered headboard, patterned cushion and white linens beside a black tripod table lamp with a cream shade on a round side table against pale shiplap wall and light curtains.

Bedside scene with a twisted-rope lamp and linen shade on a wooden nightstand beside a textured upholstered headboard and layered white and grey pillows with pink-trimmed bedding.

Doubling up as coffee tables, stools, and emergency chairs, Ottomans are so versatile and perfect for customisation.

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If they are for a high-use space, cubes like these that we created in a tough hard-wearing leather will stand the test of time – in style.

Adding castors to an Ottoman for a more formal and traditional look works well too, with the added bonus of ease of movement.

Cushions

Don’t dismiss the humble cushion as a last-minute flourish. The right material, shape, and combination can add accents and depth that cleverly tie your scheme together.

Got a plain item of furniture? Introducing pattered cushions can instantly add interest and texture to a functional piece. It’s important to consider the scale and the size of the fabric in relation to the cushion size. Anything smaller than an 18-inch cushion and you’ll lose the impact of many patterns.

We love the power of a trim. Whether it’s playing with contrasting texture and colour, like leather piping on a relaxed linen cushion, or a large brush fringe that complements a bold pattern, combining trim and fabric is an art and we can help you find the right balance.

Two decorative white pillows with multicoloured embroidered chevron patterns and gold piping layered in front of dark plum cushions on a bed with a textured houndstooth headboard, gradient wall art and a small stack of books with a rainbow slinky on the bedside table.

Rectangular pale pink and grey patterned cushion propped in the corner of a light-filled window recess on a textured upholstered window seat above white built-in drawers.

Close-up of a neutral bedroom corner showing a textured upholstered headboard with decorative nailhead trim, layered grey and patterned cushions, a wall sconce above, and a bedside table with a vase of white roses and stacked books.

Got a specific bespoke project in mind? Want to talk interior styling with one of our team? We’d love to hear about your vision. Call us at the studio on 01829 271585 or drop us an email: contact@lewisknox.co.uk.