When Teresa Dowd renovated her Ambler home in 2022, it was difficult to find a dining table to fit her unusually shaped room. She wanted a white oak farmhouse-style table as the centerpiece of her home, but she found it impossible to find a 14-foot-by-38-inch ready-made table.
“I wanted a table that was simple but had a French country feel, with a touch of subtle elegance, charm and personality,” she said.
She also wanted a continuous top with no cuts or leaves, a fluted apron along the long sides of the table, and legs with subtle details. She contacted Philadelphia Her Table Inc. with her own vision, and in less than three months, she had her dream table for about $7,900.
Custom handcrafted elements (also known as bespoke) such as furniture, tile, kitchen cabinets, vanities, window treatments, and murals are incorporated into home designs. Homeowners appreciate owning something high quality and one of a kind.
“Many homeowners on Houzz are looking for more traditional details and materials that create a timeless style and provide sustainable options during renovations,” says Senior Editor at home design site Houzz. said Mitchell Parker. “It creates a feeling that the homeowner has something truly unique and special.”
Over the past six months, searches for handmade tile items on online marketplace Etsy have increased by 95% compared to the same period last year, and searches for handmade tile tables have increased by 4,000%.
“Shoppers are looking to add a pop of personality to their homes. Adding handmade elements or custom-made pieces that no one else has can bring a 'wow' factor to your space. , it's a great way to really let your style shine,” says Etsy trend expert Dana Isom Johnson.
meet specific needs
When Bobbi Brightman downsized to an Elkins Park condo in February 2023, her kitchen needed a bit of a refresh. Her first priority was to replace the previous owner's stick-on backsplash, but she couldn't find one she liked.
She reached out to her friend, artist Karen Singer, who handcrafts custom tiles. Together they designed a colorful floral-themed backsplash and surrounded the custom Tile Her design with store-bought Subway Her tiles. It took about two months from design to installation.
“I wanted to bring more color into the space, and I wanted something beautiful,” Brightman said.
Singer, who owns Karen Singer Tileworks and has been designing tiles for more than 30 years, said adding personal touches helps a person's home reflect their personality and adds meaning. .
Costs vary widely depending on the job, but Brightman's work on the kitchen backsplash cost about $2,000 for design and tile. Mr. Brightman spent another $250 on subway tile.
Singer has noticed a recent spike in requests for backsplashes, flooring, fireplaces, commercial spaces, and personalized house numbers starting at $60 per digit. Although she often includes texture in her custom styles, she avoids using textured tiles behind the stove, where oil splatters are difficult to clean. Outdoor tiles must be able to withstand heat and cold.
Older rowhouses often require a custom design because tight spaces or steep stairs may prevent stock items from fitting.
“Maybe the kitchen was in the basement, or maybe 100 years ago it was just a hearth, but now they have a new kitchen on the second floor,” said Kenny Grono, president of Kensington-based custom home remodeling company Buckminster Green. I guess there are.” “But sometimes there are no standard dimensions and you want to make the most of a small space.”
cost of time and money
When choosing custom, handmade items, consider the cost in time and money. Time must be considered when designing, planning, and creating a product. The advantage is that you get exactly what you want with high-quality materials. Most custom items are things you keep for years and are akin to works of art.
“People care about where it comes from, who makes it and whether it's high quality,” said Paul Mensel, owner of Philadelphia Table Co. in Old Town. The company's handmade custom furniture ranges in price from about $6,000 to $25,000 for four months. lead time. “We use all locally sourced, sustainable hardwoods, and all of our finishes are eco-friendly.”
Grono added: “And now we're putting more money into our local economy instead of sourcing cabinets from China or Alabama.”
Supply chain issues can extend delivery times for ready-made products from traditional stores by several months, and even faster for locally made items.
Homemade items also have added value. At Philadelphia Table Co., one craftsman creates each product, from wood milling to finishing.
“We were able to customize it to exactly what we needed,” Dowd said of the dining table. “It's so beautiful.”
Have you solved a home decorating, redecorating, or renovating challenge? Email us your story (and send us a few digital photos). property@inquirer.com.
