Designer Chronicles

From Concept to Finished Product...Designing Custom Furniture

2012-01-25T09:11:00.002-06:00

In our endeavor to find the perfect design solution for our clients, we aspire to combine high quality materials with good design. Often, the project requirements do not allow the standard “off the shelf” selection. Specific dimensions, finish details and custom accessories are often required to meet the client’s needs. So, the design process starts with a check list of questions (or interview) with the client. The design concept is developed from interpreting and translating the requirements through research and selection of options. Conceptual Drawings assist the designer in communicating a furniture solution to the client.

Brunswick Construction Drawing

After the conceptual drawings are client approved, they are sent to the furniture manufacturer for refinement. Shop Drawings are produced and then often “tweaked” for final changes before manufacturing begins. Selecting a custom manufacturer is a critical part of the process for the designer and client. The manufacturer is vetted for their use of high quality materials, sound manufacturing techniques, timely production and careful packaging and shipment of the furniture.

Brunswick Construction Progress

In some cases, mock-ups are requested to confirm the scale, quality, comfort and aesthetics of the piece. After the shop drawings are approved, the manufacturing begins. Custom finishes are confirmed with sign offs while the product is being cut and assembled. Ship times vary with furniture manufacturers from an average of 6-14 weeks. The time frame is dependent on the complexity of the furniture design, availability of veneers and other materials. Some manufacturers send photos of the product before and after packaging to protect against shipper damage and aid in the process of claims, in the event the shipping company damages the product enroute. This procedure helps ensure that the shipper will be careful in handling the furniture. Selecting an established receiving and delivery company is very important for a successful furniture installation. The installer warehouse should determine building hours of operation, load dock, elevator and other accessibility information, and usually coordinates your installation with other trades on the project.

Brunswick Custom Conference Table

A successful custom furniture project is a culmination of the designer’s thoughtful interpretation of the client’s requirements and implementation of a great design solution using the best resources available in custom furniture manufacturing. Please visit www.kcrepsource.com

Furniture that is Beautiful, Comfortable and Durable for a Home Away from Home.

2011-12-09T12:05:00.004-06:00

There are hundreds of rooms just like this one.

In the hospitality industry, size matters. Quantity is everything. When the average hotel sports 200 rooms, material costs can quickly rise while choosing furniture and finishes for the interior design. If one room gets a table, all of the rooms will likely get the same table, and so on with all of the finishes and furniture. The itemized price of each item may be reasonable, however, when multiplied by 200, the total could become rather exorbitant. Even in the most luxurious hotels, price is always an important factor to consider because it can easily get out of control.

Charles Alan "Melrose" Side Table

In addition to price, maintenance is an extremely important consideration in selecting furniture and finishes for hospitality spaces. Although often designed to look like a home, a hotel must withstand abuse far beyond that which the average family can dish out. A chair, for example, in this type of application, is prone to daily, excessive abuse from long hours of sitting (both heavyweights and lightweights), to children jumping, climbing and chewing (yes, chewing). Really, the chair must be prepared for nearly anything. In order to maintain its original beauty for years to come while enduring these abuses, everything from the springs to the fabric must be very well constructed of the most durable materials.

Charles Alan "Ventura" Lounge Chair

The first place to look for a chair with these characteristics (high quality at a good price) is with a company that produces commercial-grade items. These pieces are designed to withstand the abuse of high traffic and to meet appropriate building and fire codes. They are durable beyond belief and will blow the average residential piece out of the water, in terms of withstanding abuse. This is tough stuff. Which, unfortunately, may have people thinking that it is ugly stuff, too. This is a misconception that must come to an end. Granted, there may have been truth to that sentiment 40 years ago, but today's manufacturers are extremely cognizant of design aesthetics. It is time to update antiquated visions of durable, commercial furniture because it rarely equates to unattractiveness.

Charles Alan "Aubrey" Chair

Manufacturers of commercial furniture are crafting pieces of such beauty that they could even be seamlessly paired with a residential design scheme. Often times designed by architects, industrial designers, and interior designers, the furniture essentially becomes works of art in which every inch is considered with painstaking detail. This is the perfect type of furniture for your home away from home...and maybe even your home sweet home. It offers everything that furniture should: beauty, comfort and durability at a great price. I hope you find time to enjoy the beauty and comfort of one of these chairs, sofas and the like, at your next hotel visit.

Growing Older? Get Comfortable

2011-10-28T16:15:00.018-05:00

Ah, to be forever young. It is such a simple dream, yet not such a simple accomplishment. Growing old is an inevitable part of life. Try as we may, no one can avoid it. While we await the discovery of the Fountain of Youth, our wrinkles and aches are mounting. Why do we dread age? Likely it is because the elderly seem to be in such an uncomfortable state. Think of your grandparents...they were always in pain. It was their knees, and their backs, and their feet, and, oh the list went on. They could never do cartwheels or ride bikes with us. They were bound by their ailments to stay very still and slow moving. No fun!

Is there a remedy (nearer than the Fountain of Youth) to these imminent aches and pains we all must face one day? Something that could help us move a little faster and hurt a little less? The suggestion may surprise you: invest in interior design.

Charles Alan "Rawlins" Chair

Many Americans spend a good part of their lives on their favorite sofa or chair as a way to relax. The problem is that the average sofas and chairs are often poorly constructed, with low quality foam, joints, and mechanisms. The support they offer is so minimal that we may as well be sitting on a backless stool or the floor. Yes, they make our pocket books happy, but purchasing bargain furniture may be more costly than we think. If our value-priced chair is really a ticket to a back specialist in a few years, what is it really saving us? The initial cost of a high-quality piece may seem imposing, but the life-cycle cost cannot be beat. High-quality pieces will exponentially outlast their in-expensive counterparts, and the physical comfort you will receive is priceless. If it can save you even one trip to the doctor, the piece has paid for itself.

Charles Alan "Winston" Glider

Think about healthcare facilities. It is not a coincidence that the treatment chairs in the top-tier hospitals feel like clouds of air. They are thoughtfully designed and constructed with the best foams and under-structures. When you sit down you immediately feel lighter, and fully supported. The importance of comfort and support to a suffering, broken body is paramount to healing. Many would argue it is also paramount to prevention. Just as a good night of sleep depends upon a good mattress, your sensitive joints depend upon a good chair. Keep this in mind as you age…which you inevitably will… and find yourselves shopping for a set of matching recliners. It’s time to get comfortable. Your body will thank you for it. Visit www.kcrepsource.com.

Charles Alan "Sovereign" Recliner

The Timeless Tub Chair

2011-09-21T07:52:00.002-05:00

Charles Alan, "Carmel" Chair

Originally built for Louis XV, the elegance of the tub chair is inherent in its design. Whether placed in a regal hotel lounge or a small family living room, the smooth curves of this chair will bring a touch of sophistication to any space. Its deep, curvilinear backrest is both beautiful and comfortable. Though suitable for royalty, it is welcoming to even the most casual visitors.

Tub chairs are not only versatile in their placement, they are able to sport a wide variety of materials from sleek leathers and vinyls to warm, woven textiles. The precise lines and curves of this chair vary from model to model, making it suitable for many different design schemes and periods. Depending upon the exact chair model and material specified, the tub chair can compliment both traditional and modern interiors. It is a timeless addition to any design. Visit http://www.kcrepsource.com/

Charles Alan, "Childress II" Chair