custom built furniture

What are the pros and cons of buying custom furniture?

by KnowledgePricing & Costs

Want to design your next piece of furniture, but aren’t sure if it’s right for you? Designing your own couch is the equivalent of going to Build-A-Bear as a child (or adult – we won’t judge). Read below as we uncover the pros and cons to buying custom furniture, as well as answer some of your top questions about the process.

Pros

  • Design your custom furniture piece to fit perfectly in the space required.
  • Choose the color and material of the fabric. No more compromising over style VS color & material!
  • Choose the type of fill you want for your cushions - foam or feather?
  • Choose the seating depth of your custom sofa. If you are on the taller side, you may want something that has a deeper seat so you can be nice & comfortable!
  • Mix & match fabric colors! No need to stick with just 1 color for your main sofa & the toss pillows.
  • Your custom furniture will be handmade from scratch and completely for you.
  • You will be supporting Canadian companies and jobs!

Cons

  • Custom furniture can be on the pricier side, depending on what you design
  • Custom furniture can take time to arrive. After all it does have to be made from scratch
  • Typically, custom furniture cannot be returned once purchased as it is made to suit your home and style.
  • It can be more of a time commitment to select the components for your custom furniture piece ... although going from store to store trying to find something that "will do" can be even more time consuming...
  • If you move homes, your custom designed furniture piece may not fit in your new space

Now that you have a good idea of the pros and cons of buying custom furniture, let’s go over some of our clients top questions they have when thinking about designing custom furniture.

What Types of Custom Furniture Can I Design?

The answer to this question really depends on how much you are willing to spend on custom furniture. Anything can be custom – for a price! For this article, let’s focus on more ‘mainstream’ custom furniture. The most common types of custom furniture are sofa’s, sectionals, and beds. 

These categories of furniture allow you to choose what size, shape, fabric you want plus you can add in decorative accents like nail heads or piping if you wish! 

custom furniture
Custom Sofa
Photo: Ellerston Showhome by Pacesetter Homes
area rug sizes
Custom Sectional
Photo: Cypress Showhome by Pacesetter Homes
home furnishings
Custom Bed
Photo: Calypso Showhome by Pacesetter Homes

How Much Does Custom Furniture Cost?

The answer to this question is… it depends! When you are looking at designing your own couch or bed, there are a ton of different options to choose from, all of which can effect the cost quite dramatically. 

The prices shown here are based on standard sizes and a base fabric selection. 

What Types of Things Can I Custom?

Pretty much anything and everything! Below are the top 3 items our customers and designers have added to their custom furniture in the past. 

custom furniture

The Fabric

This goes without saying really. Probably one of the top advantages of designing your own furniture is that you can pick exactly what color and material you want it to be. There are literally hundreds of options from neutral tones of white, beige and grey to brighter and bolder shades of pink, purple and blue. 

Don’t forget about the material as well. Have kids or animals? Choose a material that will be durable and long lasting. Don’t have kids or animals? Why not opt for something more luxurious like leather or velvet. 

The Dimensions

No matter the type of custom furniture you are purchasing, you can always make it fit into any space you have. 

Let’s use a sectional sofa for example. When it comes to building a custom sectional, you choose each ‘section’ of the couch, of which there are many. Think of it like building a puzzle. Choose a left arm section, add 2 middle sections plus a corner, maybe another single section and then pop a chaise on the end. Boom – instant Netflix and chill spot. 

custom furniture

The Finishing Details

Ok so you’ve found the perfect style. You’ve chosen the fabric best suited to your lifestyle. It will fit into your space like a glove. But, there is just something not quite right still… 

Buttons! Add a row of simple buttons to the back of the sofa, and now it’s perfect. 

If buttons aren’t your thing how about adding horizontal or vertical channels, or maybe some subtle tufting or piping or even change the color of the legs! 

Can I Return Custom Furniture?

Unfortunately, the answer to this will typically be no. It does depend on the store you’ve purchased from however, like most custom products, it has been specifically designed to suite you. This is why it’s important to ensure the selections you’ve made for your custom piece can transition with you throughout the different phases of your life. Most importantly though – triple measure the space before purchasing! 

How Can I Get Started Designing My Custom Furniture?

Most stores that sell custom furniture will allow you to build, price and purchase it online, however for this type of purchase it’s always best to meet with a designer. 

By meeting with a designer or consultant, they will be able to best select & layout the piece of furniture to your space. They will also have fabric swatches on hand, allowing you to touch and feel the fabric and see the colors in person. 

Most furniture stores will have a design consultation, allowing you to book an appointment with a designer to go over your options! 

custom sofas edmonton custom sofas edmonton
pacesetter homes secretariat showhome

How to Improve the Resale Value of Your Home

by KnowledgePricing & Costs

When buying a new home, the last thing on your mind is selling it! But it’s still a good idea to consider how the items you add to your home now will effect the resale value of it later. So how do you improve the resale value of your home? We asked top Edmonton Real Estate agent, Ron Dickson – Senior Vice President of Sales for Sotheby’s Realty, and here is what he had to say. 
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Q: What is the perceived value to a home buyer if the home has professionally selected and installed design features, such as blinds, drapery or feature walls?

Savvy home buyers have a high level of expectation. Comparing the value of having these features as opposed to not having them could be the difference if perhaps the potential buyer was leaning one way or the other.  Any opportunity to invest in a “showhome” feel is always money well spent.

Most buyers in today’s busy lifestyle are looking to eliminate decisions from their everyday life. In other words , if you can invest in “on trend” design elements and features, you are protecting your investment. Buyers want to see it as though it was featured in a magazine , and within a certain range , are definitely willing to pay for it.  The key to protecting your asset is to keep it current and on trend. Window treatments and feature walls are a cost effective way to keep your property “in the Game”. 

Q: Would having wall features (not selected by the new buyer) already installed in the home hinder the resale value of a home?

Today’s busy buyer doesn’t necessarily want to pick out features. The smart home owners leave that decision making process to the professional designers. Especially in a home 5yrs or older. Trends and design elements change so rapidly that buyers and consumers can barley keep up. It is in my experience that the consumer appreciates these things completed and decided in advance. 

Q: For those looking to rent a home, how would having designer features in a rental property be beneficial?

As like everything in the consumer world , the end user desires the best return on their money. In the example of investors appealing to a potential tenant , this is a highly competitive pool to draw from. All of the above mentioned features and design elements are exactly what a discerning renter insists upon. Good tenants are hard to find , but they are out there. 

Some people choose to rent vs owning for various reasons. Nonetheless of what that reason may be , they are willing to pay top dollar for personal preference and high quality properties. 

Q: So – will adding window coverings, wall features or other designer elements to your home increase the homes resale value?

To attract the most amount of money as either a homeowner who wishes to sell , a buyer who wishes to protect their future asset or an investor who wishes to command top rents , all of the design elements mentioned here including window treatments, feature walls etc , are all very crucial and more so when done by an expert interior design professional. It all adds up to greater net dollars in your pocket in each scenario. 

About Ron Dickson

A REALTORS® in Edmonton for over 20 years, Ron is regarded by his peers both locally and nationally, as a pioneer in marketing and sales in the real estate industry. He continues to think bigger, always innovating and improving in order to achieve better results for his clients. The results speak for themselves.

Ron is passionate about real estate and is a passionate Edmontonian. When not working, Ron spends his time with his 5 children and 3 grandchildren. 

In the company, Ron is the thought leader, the collaborator and the head of our builder division.  Ron was instrumental in bringing the team and brand together in Edmonton and uniting each in a spirit of innovation and client-centric collaboration. 

rdickson@sothebysrealty.ca

To learn more about designer selected features that you can add to your home, check out our other blogs below. 

wallpaper interior design

Wallpaper: The Good, The Bad & The Pretty

by Design TipsPricing & Costs

Want to know the truth behind one of the biggest interior design trend for 2022? That’s right – wallpaper is back. But this isn’t your Grandma’s wallpaper. The current styles of wallpaper range from simple, to large florals, geometric patterns and even grasscloth and highly textured papers. 

Adding wallpaper to any room in your home can make a huge impact – even if the room is tiny. 

But what about all of the bad things you think you know about wallpaper. Is it really impossible to remove once it’s on? Is it a pain to install? Is it really hugely expensive?

Well, read on to find out all there is to know about wallpaper, including the best locations in your home to put it that will make the biggest interior design impact. 

The Good

Versatility

Most feature wall products are very direct in the look they offer. And that’s not necessarily a bad thing if the look you are trying to achieve has a very specific style – like adding a barn wood product in a farmhouse nook, or concrete panels in an industrial loft. 

However if you aren’t really sure what interior design style you are going for, or maybe want something a bit softer and less “in your face”, than wallpaper can give you that. 

With literally thousands of different styles, textures and types of wallpaper you are sure to find a wallpaper that will suit whatever you are looking for. 

Now keep in mind you can still find some pretty bold patterns within the wallpaper world that will knock the socks off barn wood any day. 

And let’s not forget that wallpaper can be installed pretty much anywhere without any safety concerns (think barn wood with babies?). Try installing it in family rooms, kitchens, powder rooms, nurserys, mudrooms and even on a ceiling! 

wallpaper interior design
Photo: Pacesetter Homes Secord Showhome (closed)

Ease of Use

When it comes to hanging artwork or wall décor on top of a feature wall, depending on the material of the wall product, it can be a bit trickier. But with wallpaper, you can easily hang just about anything on the wall as if there isn’t even wallpaper there. 

Depending on the style of wallpaper chosen, it is also easier to switch out the art or wall décor to a different style or shape. Especially if you’ve selected a paper on the more transitional side of the interior design spectrum. 

 

dining room furniture
Photo: Pacesetter Homes Willow Showhome 

Price

If you are looking at doing a feature wall in your home, wallpaper can certainly be one of the more price conscious options. When compared to other feature wall products such as barn wood, tile, thin brick or even a custom painted mural, wallpaper is the way to go if you are looking for a big impact at low cost. 

bohemian wallpaper
Photo: Sterling Homes Milan Showhome (closed)

The Bad (ish)

wallpaper interior design
Photo: Pacesetter Homes Secord Showhome (closed)

Install

It’s no secret that wallpaper can be difficult to install. Lining up patterns is hard enough but when it comes to a wall with many things on it – such as a powder room – that can be the trickiest. Cutting around a toilet and sink and making it look good isn’t for the faint of heart.

So why not hire a professional wallpaper installer. Having someone install your wallpaper for you will ensure 3 things:

  1. Your new feature wall will look amazing when installation is complete.
  2. You will feel peach of mind, and not all sweaty and upset.
  3. There will not be the added expense of a professional mediator after the job is done (ok so maybe that’s a bit extreme, but have you ever had to build IKEA furniture with your partner? Same thing applies here)
wallpaper interior design
Photo: Pacesetter Homes College Woods Showhome (closed)

Removal

Yes it’s true. Wallpaper can be arduous to remove. 

However the type of backing on the wallpaper will determine the difficulty level for removal. 

Traditional wallpapers are just that – paper. Meaning when removed it could (and probably will) rip easily which means taking it off in tiny pieces over a long period of time. 

Vinyl based wallpaper is a great alternative option as it is easier to remove because of the addition of the vinyl. Bonus – it’s also more durable and easy to clean! 

If you are wanting something a bit more environmentally friendly though, consider non-woven wallpaper. Non-Woven wallpapers contain synthetic fibers – more like a fabric. They are completely vinyl free and still super easy to remove. They do not tear easily and will come off in one long strip! 

wallpaper interior design
Photo: Pacesetter Homes Desrochers Showhome

Price… wait, again?

I know we grouped ‘price’ into the good category, but it also can be considered to be in the bad (ish) category as well. 

When looking to invest in a wallpaper for your home price can be a huge determining factor in your selection. 

Wallpaper prices can range from $50 / double roll to $400 / double roll. Which is a huge price range, and can be on the pricey side depending on what style of paper you choose.

But consider this. You get what you pay for. 

I cannot stress this enough. If you want a wallpaper that is durable, long lasting, environmentally friendly, feels and looks great (yes feels – there is a difference, trust me) and is easy to install and remove then spending a bit more at the start is 100% worth it.

The Pretty

This category is really just about showing all the pretty looks you can get with the wide range of wallpaper patterns & styles available.

Check out our inspiration gallery below to see how our designers have used wallpaper for interior design in our showhomes, and then head over to our wallpaper gallery to see a sample of what is available with designQ Shop, and how you can view our entire collection. 
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What Can You Purchase with designQ Shop?

by with 2 Comments Pricing & Costs

And how much will it cost?!

This question is probably on everyone’s mind right now, and rightfully so! Take a look below as I explore a few of the more custom items you can purchase with designQ shop, and how the price can differ between homes. 

Blinds and Shades

furniture financing edmonton

Click below to view all of the different blind and shade options we offer at designQ. 

View Blinds & Shades

Does your home have windows? 

I’m hoping you said yes. If it does have windows, then you will for sure need something to cover them up. Winter is coming, and not only do blinds help to keep the cold out and warmth in, they also provide a visual “warmth” to your space. 

At designQ, we offer numerous varieties of blinds and shades. Each come with their own pro’s and con’s, and of course their own price point. 

So how much do they cost? Well that depends. Here are a few factors that would affect the price of blinds for your home:

  • Type of Blind – Do you want a wood, a shade, a cellular, a  shutter…
  • How many windows does your home have?
  • What sizes are those windows? 
  • What style of header would you like?
  • What type of operating system do you prefer – manual, or something more snazzy? 
  • Would you like a standard fabric, or an upgraded fabric?
  • And the list goes on… 

To give you an idea of an approximate cost —–

For a roller shade, with a standard header & operating system and starter fabric selections, based on an average 10 window home, with installation they would start at $4,200 pre-gst. 

For a dual shade, with a standard header & operating system and starter fabric selections, based on an average 10 window home, with installation they would start at $5,000 pre-gst

For a faux wood blind, with a standard header & operating system, and based on an average 10 window home, with installation they would start at $6,100 pre-gst. .

Want a more accurate quote? Contact us here and we would be happy to help!

 

Custom Drapery

keswick landing

Click below to view all of the different blind and shade options we offer at designQ.

View Custom Drapery

Drapery is like the lipstick to your windows. It’s the cherry on top of the cake. It’s the sprinkles on the doughnut. It’s…. you get what I’m saying. 

Is drapery needed to effectively block out the light, or give you privacy? No. Blinds or shades can do that no problem. 

But is drapery wanted? Oh yeah. A beautiful drapery panel that coordinates effortlessly with your interior adds that finishing touch to any room. It just kicks your interior up a notch, and will get people asking (or at least thinking) – is this a showhome?

The options for drapery are endless. Which again makes giving a price without seeing your home or home plans very difficult. 

A few things to consider when selecting drapery:

  • What material, style, color, feel of fabric would you like?
  • What type of header style?
  • Don’t forget about the rod and finials (those little end caps to keep the fabric in place) – there are as many options of those as there are fabric colors!
  • How many windows does your home have?
  • What size are the windows?
  • And on and on… 

To give you an idea of an approximate cost —

To complete drapery in an average 10 window home with a starter fabric panel in a standard height, with a standard header and traditional rods & finials, with installation they would start at $6,100 pre-gst. 

But would you really want the neutral, beige lipstick? 

Wall Paper and Wall Features

Imagine if you were a fish. Not a big scary fish, but a little goldfish in a bowl on a console table in someone’s home. And what do fish do all day long? They swim around, and check out their surroundings. Wouldn’t it be nice if you could give that fish something cool to look at? Because who wants a boring wall? 

Enter – wall paper and wall features. 

The growing trend for this year, and into next year as well is wallpaper, But this isn’t your Grandma’s wallpaper. Oh no. This new wallpaper has texture, character, color, soul. It has everything you want to spice up your… room… and create a stunning backdrop. 

Just like drapery, there are a million choices of wallpaper. But it really boils down to what look you are trying to achieve. There are wallpapers that have a strong bohemian vibe to them, or a geometric style, even full on murals. But there are also very calm, soothing natural papers that add just a touch of shine to your room without being overbearing. 

And let’s not forget about wall features. When I say features, I mean a statement piece for your wall that is more than just paper. Think rustic barn wood with knots and cracks, stunning shiplap panels, faux brick or even concrete panels. If you can think it, chances are it’s out there somewhere (maybe not at designQ – but we will try our best). Feature walls are in line with wallpaper trend wise. Everyone is doing it. It’s all the rage on Pinterest and HGTV – and so you might as well add it to your home because we don’t think it’s going away anytime soon. 

To give you an idea of an approximate cost —

For wallpaper, on a 8′ x 14′ flat, basic wall for a starter (but still excellent quality from the UK) Geometric paper, with install it would be $1,100 pre-gst. 

For rustic barn wood panels, on a 8′ x 14′ flat, basic wall it would be, with installation, $2,100 pre-gst. 

Something to think about isn’t it?

 

Click below to view all of the different wallpaper options we offer at designQ.

View Wallpaper Options
desrochers edmonton

Click below to view all of the different wall feature options we offer at designQ

View Wall Feature Options

Furniture & Decor

pacesetter homes cy becker

Click below to view the entire furniture & decor product catalogue from designQ Shop.

View Product Catalogue

The final piece, and maybe even the most important piece to a room, is where you can put your butt down. 

The newest addition to our designQ family is furniture & decor. Our amazing team of talented interior designers have been conceptualizing and staging the showhomes for Qualico builders for years. They select every detail from the grout colors all the way to the pillow shams. They know their stuff. And they want you to know it too. Or at least have it. 

Starting in August of 2020, designQ started offering furniture & decor sales to anyone and everyone. Now when you wander through a Qualico showhome, and you fall in love with a bed or a couch or a table – chances are you can get it! 

Which furniture items do we sell? 

  •  Area Rugs
  • Art, Mirrors & Wall Decor
  • Beds & Mattresses
  • Lighting
  • Seating & Custom Sofas
  • Storage
  • Tables
  • Custom Upholstery Items
All the prices of our furniture and decor items can be found on our e-commerce website – shop.designqedmonton.com. You can purchase items online, or book a free design consultation and have one of our designers help you select pieces for your home! 

Thank you!

Have a question? Fill out the form below and we will happily get back to you within 2 business days. 
Want to book an appointment? Click here!