Posts in customfurniture

We like to live by the motto that what you surround yourself with brings you joy. Color can be the vehicle to joy. Color can also be applied with a tiny brush or with a board stroke. We often need a special place to can go and escape. You can enlist color is just one room, rather than the whole house.

One of our favorite spaces we designed was bright, happy sunroom for a client in Upstate New York. This is a space with tons of natural sunlight and no television to promote creativity. We used a deep, bold pattern for the seat cushion and bright, graphic pattern for the main structure of the custom sectional. It is an awkwardly long thin space, so we wanted the space to be all about the a big design moment in the sectional. We used light weight tables that could flexible and easily be moved around, along with a game table to ground the corner of the room.

customfurniture, Door Color, Jen Talbot DesignJennifer TalbotMarch 9, 2023Colorful Apartment, Color

What You Need to Know When Designing For a Showhouse- Adler on the Park 2022

I wanted to share with you a few things we have learned by participating in a showhouse, I wish someone would have shared with us.

Showhouse are an incredible opportunity to showcase your work without a clients tastes to consider. 100% creative freedom.
Go all in. This is a chance to showcase your style and is amongst other designer. Other designers will be closely scrutinizing your work.
If you do it right, it will be expensive. For a bedroom, expect to spend between 20-30K. You can get many pieces donated or on loan from vendors, but you still have to consider costs for custom pieces, labor for paint and wallpaper install, etc. Consider a small space your first showhouse, rather than requesting a large living room you will have to furnish. The designer pay all the expenses of everything that goes into designing the space. Often there are sales from the pieces in the showhouse that help offset the cost upfront, but to do count on it. Part of the proceeds go to the charity.
Do not expect to get press or new clients from this experience. Think of this as a great portfolio piece.
It’s an honor to be asked to participate, great chance to network and give back to the selected charity.

We will be participating in our second showhouse. The Adler on the Park Chicago Showhouse 2022, opening on April 30th and open all the weekends in May. Check out a little preview of our Bedroom 2 in the second residence. Custom bed we did with layered side detail and Dedar Tiger fabric. For tickets link to here.

Master Head Board, Bedroom Design, Custom Headboard, Chicago Interior Designer

Jen Talbot Design, Master Bedroom Design

LA Interior Designer, New York Interior Designer

Bold Ceiling, Chicago Interior Designer, customfurniture, Furniture, Jen Talbot DesignJennifer TalbotApril 25, 2022Jen Talbot Design, masterbedroom, Customfurniture

CUSTOM FURNITURE 101

In the last 4 years we have moved to creating more custom furniture because there are better lead times, we can control the quality and creativity of a piece. The success of custom furniture is finding the right upholster or vendor that will listen and willing work with you ideas and ability to execute the craftsmanship.

The first thing we do is figure out the high impact areas that make the most sense for investing in a custom piece. i.e. Does the space create challenging that would be best addresses with a custom piece?

The concepting and drawing is one of the most critical parts of the process. Ensuring the proportions are correct with seat heights, depth. It is important to listen to the guidance of the pros to know about proper seat fill and structure for the achieved comfort level for the needs of the client. We learned a ton by listening to our upholster and reworking with his guidance.

The sit test if one of the most critical parts of the process to make sure all the dimensions on paper translated to the right sit feel and and comfort. Any changes to the framing and seat cushion shape or construction need to be made at this point. We have learned from experience the slight angles needed in either the back slop of the sofa or the back cushion needs to be slight sloped for optimal comfort. We have had to had framing reworked, which cost us additional because we had no slope in the drawing. At this stage the the frame will be finished, but not much else. After the sit test the rest of the cushions will get completed.

The most rewarding parts is the finished product and delivering it to the client!!

Chicago Interior Designer, customfurniture, Furniture, Jen Talbot DesignJennifer TalbotJanuary 30, 2022Customfurniture, jentalbotdesign, Modernlivingroom, modernliving, Drawings, upholstery

Trend Spotlight: Fluted Wood- Cabinet Detail

A style that was born in antiquity is being revitalized once again. The fluted pattern is historically found on structural columns of Greek and Roman architecture, like the Pantheon in Athens. During the Neoclassical era of the 18th century, woodworkers reduced the design to human-scale by carving the pattern on chair legs, table aprons, and decorative spindles. Today designers are extracting the design and applying fluted wood to wall panels, fireplace surrounds, and furniture bases. The style retains a rhythmic form, but it's less restrained. Instead the linear detail commands the design as a focal point. Soon our studio will document a vanity with fluted drawers and an installation of fluted ebonized oak as a living room feature. Stay tuned for those reveals, and until then, enjoy some of our favorite inspirations.

Chicago Interior Designer, customfurniture, Furniture, Doors, Kitchen DesignJennifer TalbotJune 8, 2020custom cabinets, kitchen cabinets, Woodworkers, furniture, Fireplace Design

Loft Living — Adams St Install

We are so excited about our recent install- we can barely contain ourselves. The space previously was a dated space stuck in 90's, with rounded walls and random suspension cable tracks lights. We gutted the loft, including every bathroom, ripped out the old gym style railing with a fresh clean modern version and replaced a curved wall leading into the master bedroom with a open concept steel and glass wall- punctuated by a dramatic white curtain.

We still have yet to professionally shoot the space. Stay tuned that is slated for end of August!

Chicago Interior Designer, Custom Doors, customfurniture, Dining Room Design Ideas, Jen Talbot Design, lighting, living room, residentialJennifer TalbotJuly 3, 2018chicagodesign, Chicagointeriordesigner, jentalbotdesign, loft, rehab, renovation

Color Palette Inspiration — Camel and Blush Pink

We love starting a new project with fabric and wallpaper selection. Opening a package of freshly sent samples is the best mail at the office. We love sourcing fresh prints and colors from new lines that are typically a small business run by an artist putting their ideas into print and paper.

A couple of our new favorites are St. Frank, Skinny Laminx, Imogen Heath, Adelene- Simple Cloth. Check out a couple inspiration boards we are working on for upcoming projects.

artist, Chicago Interior Designer, customfurniture, Jen Talbot Design, Kitchen Mood Board, Pink Bathroom, residentialJennifer TalbotMay 30, 2018chicagodesign, Chicagointeriordesigner, fabric, inspiration, interiordesign, interiors, jentalbotdesign, moderninterior, wallpaper

Deep Colored Walls — Powder Room, Family Room, Library... Oh My!

California can have it's light, breezy SoCal vibe with all white walls and boho splashed in. Fresh exciting, bold things are happening with deep, dark colored walls. Paint or wallpaper are all in.

Think of London library vibe.

Shake of the norm. No wall is permanent. Be brave and go for it.

xo, Jen