5 One-of-a-Kind Reider + Co Design Pieces (and the Partners who Helped Bring Them to Life)
Innovation is at the heart of what we do and how we transform a traditional and expected design into one-of-a-kind elements that inspire connections and unique experiences. Whether it’s a jaw-dropping statement lighting piece or a sofa shaped to fit a challenging space, every piece is designed and fabricated to ensure the space is both original and functional. In this month’s Journal, we’re rounding up some of our favorite custom-made design elements.
Finding the right piece for your living room, bedroom, or foyer space can sometimes be a daunting task. It’s why many of our clients decide to meet their goals with a custom-made design element. There are many reasons to go custom. Perhaps you have a clear vision but can’t find the right piece, have specific storage needs and a small footprint, or just want to go bold with a statement piece that gets your guests (and neighbors) talking.
Designing something custom can make a big difference when it comes to enhancing the style and functionality of the space. It gives us lots of freedom and flexibility regarding color, finish, and scale, allowing us to achieve all our clients’ requirements. The result is an entirely one-of-a-kind piece that fits the needs of our clients while adding value. But, like anything in design, a vision requires support to create. And so we lean on our incredible industry partners who are experts in their craft to consult and collaborate with on the fabrication of every piece.
We have done a lot of innovative modern custom design pieces in our almost 20 years of work! Here are five of our favorite one-of-a-kind pieces we designed for our client’s home and the partners who helped us to bring them to life:
bUILT TO ENTERTAIN.
When our Weston client wanted to design a basement space for family fun and entertaining equipped with all the bells and whistles, we knew we needed to create an exciting piece central to the activity's flurry. Working closely with Platt Builders, we custom-designed a bar that included a reclaimed walnut bar top, leather paneling, and built-in storage, and then the team at Makkas Workroom fabricated the base of the design. The result was a one-of-a-kind bar that was both practical and intriguing.
the perfect cover-up.
In an urban home, every inch of space is precious. So, creating a custom piece is often the best solution to meet the homeowner's form and functional needs. Our Back Bay client was looking for a solution for hiding their television when not in use without taking up any more of their home’s valuable footprint. To meet this need, we worked with John Del Greco (carpentry) and Larkin Painting (wallpaper install) to create a fabulous panel wall featuring our favorite Phillip Jeffries wallpaper. This custom sliding panel gave the homeowner much flexibility while offering an unexpectedly chic way to conceal their television.
curved to fit.
We like the idea of breaking up a more structured urban space with softer lines and curves. At another Back Bay property project, the floor plan had jogs in the wall, making a traditional floor plan more challenging, especially regarding where to place a large sofa. The idea of a curved sofa maximized that and lent softness and a little femininity to the space. We worked with Crimson Upholstery to custom-design the sofa to fit perfectly within the space. The sofa’s sleek modern design was perfect for comfortable TV watching, gathering, and entertaining.
answering the need for more storage.
In many newly built urban homes, you start with 4 very plain walls without much detail and interest. This was the situation at our Fashion-Forward Loft Living Project. Their primary bedroom needed a redesign to flow more seamlessly with the hip, sophisticated design we completed in the rest of the home. And the big ask was for more storage. We worked with The Holland Companies to build a beautiful slatted panel wall offering tons of storage while creating softness and visual interest. Ffabb and Salon Design created a bed to fit in the center of the wall. We added scones for reading in bed, and switches and outlets were put into the bedside tables for charging phones. It was completely customized to meet all of their needs.
a showstopping statement piece.
The architecture of our Wellesley client’s home was very traditional, but their taste was a lot more modern. So, we took advantage of the home’s double foyer and a substantial amount of space to create a showstopping light fixture. We loved a light fixture from Tom Dixon Studio but needed to customize it to a grand scale to fit the space. To do so, we made our custom canopy attachment to hold all the lighting needed and blend seamlessly with the original architecture. Installing was a multiple-day project. And its unveiling was nothing short of amazing. This dramatic piece presents more like modern art than just a light fixture.
We hope this round-up of innovative design elements inspires you to consider a custom design piece for your next project.
Want to learn more about how to create an innovative destination home design? Download Rachel’s exclusive Destination Home Guide today and turn your dreams of a family retreat into reality.
Live well,
