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Have you ever wondered how interior designers bring a touch of magic to homes? The harmony and beauty of a well-designed space come down to detailed space planning, proper proportions, and the meticulous selection of furniture and decor that fits the aesthetic and functional requirements of the residence.
As an award-winning interior design and building resource firm based in North Atlanta, we provide custom home design services for clients in Georgia and throughout the United States. Custom furniture design is one of the many services we provide to deliver a tailored result that truly cannot be replicated.
In this article, we’re peeling back the curtain on how we source custom furniture in Atlanta, typically below retail price. We reveal where designers shop for furniture, as well as our favorite retail stores if you’re interested in creating your own design magic. However, keep in mind that there are many advantages to partnering with local interior designers, including access to hundreds of vendors and more customization freedom.
Your dream interior is within reach, and we’re here to help turn your vision into a reality.
Where Do Interior Designers Shop for Furniture?
Z & Co. Design Group is registered with 100s of trade-only* vendors, which allows us to provide the best variety of high-quality furnishings and decor at the best cost to our clients. A lot of retail stores directly purchase from these same vendors, but we cut out the middleman and aim to reduce the markup for our clients.
Some of our favorite custom trade-only sources include Rowe, Vanguard, Phillips Scott, CR Laine, Lee Industries, and Bernhardt. These vendors enable us to create truly bespoke pieces to achieve a modern Southern style or any design vision our clients may have.
*A trade-only furniture store sells exclusively to interior designers or tradespeople, but not to the general public. These stores typically require membership or verification of professional status for access.
Where to Buy Furniture in Atlanta
Z & Co. also has several go-to retail places that are accessible to the general public. We typically only buy at these places if we are in a time crunch or need last-minute accessories (you can purchase off-the-floor) because the costs are higher. Many of these places offer pieces that are customizable to a certain degree if you’re looking to purchase a piece without the help of a designer.
The following are local furniture boutiques or chains with physical locations in Atlanta. We’ve added details about custom offerings for each, if any.
Custom Furniture: Yes
Type: Sofas, Chairs
Highlights: Good variety of materials and designs
Custom Furniture: Yes
Type: Leather Furniture, Rugs, Custom-Fit Furniture
Highlights: Made-to-order (delivers in 4-6 weeks) leather furniture *according to website
Custom Furniture: Yes
Type: Beds, Sectionals, Curtains, Rugs
Highlights: Can select headboard height on certain bedframes; build-your-own sectionals
Custom Furniture: Yes
Type: Variety
Highlights: Many items are customizable by size, color, and finish
Custom Furniture: Yes
Type: Color, Materials, Sizes
Highlights: Unique metal pieces, high-end vegan leather
Custom Furniture: Limited
Custom Furniture: Limited
Custom Furniture: Limited
How to Save on Custom Furniture in Atlanta
While it may make sense in some cases to order your own custom furniture in Atlanta, there are several reasons why partnering with an interior designer is one of the most cost-effective options. As we mentioned, our cost is typically going to be below retail price because we order directly from vendors.
Secondly, going through an interior designer will help you avoid costly mistakes, such as getting the measurements wrong or choosing a fabric that isn’t as durable as you thought when furnishing an Airbnb. Trade-only vendors also allow designers more creative freedom than retail stores, so they are able to request exact measurements or additional features to craft perfectly aesthetic and functional furniture.
Lastly, Atlanta interior designers have a much wider range of options to choose from than the consumer, which means they can find the perfect piece for your space and needs, instead of settling for “close enough”. This can be the difference between cherishing a piece of furniture for years to come or wanting to replace it after only a few.
How Ordering Custom Furniture Works
Generally, every project we take on will have some sort of custom or semi-custom pieces of furniture included. We select the vendors and pieces to present to the client based on their budget and style. Once we select the pieces, we invoice the client and then take care of the ordering, tracking, installation, etc. Custom furniture takes anywhere from 3-6 months to be manufactured and received, depending on the vendor and lead times at the time of purchase.
Whether custom furniture can be returned depends on the specific policies of the manufacturer or craftsman you’re working with. In many cases, custom-made furniture is not returnable or refundable, especially if it was made to your exact specifications, as it may not be suitable for resale to another customer. However, some sellers may offer a return or exchange policy if there are issues with the quality or craftsmanship, or if the product arrives damaged.
Custom Pieces We’ve Designed for Our Clients
Project: The Brookhaven Modern
Piece(s): Twin Sofas
Maker: Rowe
Customized: Fabric & wood trim frame
Specifications: Sofas that were sophisticated enough for an adult dinner party but also family-friendly for family movie and popcorn night.
“We were able to select a performance fabric that suited their toddler while still elevating the overall appearance of the sofas by opting for a deep, moody wood trim stain.”
-Harlie Beddome, Interior Designer, Z & Co. Design Group
Project: Project Lake Shore
Piece(s): Living Room Accent Chair & Sectional
Maker: Rowe / CR Laine
Customized: Oak detail on chair; Size of sectional
Specifications: A sectional that would allow our clients to fully recline for weekend afternoon naps, and a unique chair that was still comfortable enough to curl up and read a book in.
“A larger sectional was also needed to ensure the room had properly scaled upholstery. The touches of stained oak give the chair a personality of its own so that it doesn’t just simply disappear into a corner.”
-Harlie Beddome, Interior Designer, Z & Co. Design Group
Project: Project Carmain
Piece(s): Dining Chairs & Window Panels
Maker: Lee Industries for chairs; window panels through Fabricut
Customized: Fabric, casters, and skirt for chairs; Color and size of window panels
“We knew we wanted to use a performance fabric and add casters to the chairs. We chose a creamy, woven fabric and skirted the chairs to add a slight formal flare. We were able to select the perfect teal-esque linen for the window panels that played beautifully with the Thibaut wallcovering at the exact height and width we needed.”
-Tyler Bernson, Interior Designer, Z & Co. Design Group
Contact Z & Co. for Custom Furniture Design in Atlanta
The key to crafting your dream interior lies in the skillful hands of an interior designer. Beyond our years of experience and keen eyes for detail, our Atlanta design group offers access to an extensive network of custom furniture vendors that will deliver the perfect pieces at less than retail.
Collaborating with a designer means that your living space becomes a canvas for their artistry, and it also alleviates you from the burdens of browsing, measuring, ordering, and more.
Ready to see your vision for a uniquely tailored space take shape? Z & Co. Design Group is a full-service company that has been providing custom furniture design in Atlanta for over a decade. Your perfect space is just a call away.