Yearly Archives: 2010

Custom Made Outdoor Lounge Furniture – Your Passport to Spring

Buddha Lounge Chair by Ethan Hagenbuch Furniture at CustomMade.com

New Year.  Same winter.  Can’t wait for spring?  Start planning for the afternoon and weekends you will be spending in the sun.  Pick your style and your favorite decade (or century), and a CustomMade artisan near you can soon have … Continue reading

Functional Custom Wall Art

"Metamorphosis" Jewelry Cabinet by Alison McLennan Furniture at CustomMade.com

Did you know that custom wall art can be beautiful, decorative, and functional?  Custom mirrors are objects of beauty in themselves that can help visually extend and lighten any room.  Custom frames can create a dramatic focus for a work … Continue reading

Custom Liturgical Furniture for Your Places of Worship

Altar for Wall or Table Top by Susie Monday, El Cielo Studio, at CustomMade.com

Places of worship, for a community or an individual, deserve the same custom consideration you would give your home or workspace when the time comes for physical improvements and furniture selection.  Do you need custom liturgical furniture to match the … Continue reading

Custom Made Display Cases – It’s Time to Show Off Your Buried Collections

Buffet or Display Case by Third Street Studios at CustomMade.com

Custom Made Display Cases – It’s Time to Show Off Your Buried Collections Most people who have a collection of some kind would rather keep their collection in a hidden box or in a locked room because in this way, … Continue reading

More Custom Outdoor Products for Your Outdoor Living Spaces

Birdhouses, Bird Feeders, and Bird Baths by Lakeside Pottery Ceramic Studio at CustomMade.com

“The birds are chirping, the breeze is warm” … not so much right now. Even though the weather outside is, as they say, frightful, remind yourself that summer days will return.  Start thinking about your outdoor living spaces and how … Continue reading

Custom Wall Art – Custom Frames for Art and Life

Droplet Frame by genuine at CustomMade.com

A room’s walls are its physical boundaries, but with custom wall art you can bend those boundaries however you wish.  We’ve already seen how custom mirrors and custom mosaic tiles for your walls can add depth, light, and intrigue to … Continue reading

A Range Hood That’s Seamlessly Part of the Kitchen

Hand Carved Kitchen Vent Hoods by Chateau Designs at CustomMade.com

Often, the range hood is a forgotten aspect of the kitchen. However, this extremely important kitchen feature must be given importance just as well as the other kitchen furniture. Range hoods provide a vital use as they provide ventilation for … Continue reading

Collecting Custom Knives – Some Online Resources for Beginners

"Baron Sidekick" by Johnny Stout Custom Made Knives at CustomMade.com

CustomMade has been fortunate to add outstanding specialists in custom knives to our family of artisans.  Knife making is an ancient art with an amazing history that touches all our lives, from the cutlery in our kitchens to the tool … Continue reading

Creating Custom Home Office Furniture: Designing Your Desk

Australian Lacewood Piano Desk by Eidos Design Studio at CustomMade.com

If you are working from a home office, either in your occupation or on personal projects, your desk is probably the piece of furniture you use the most.  Why not create a desk that conforms to your needs? A custom … Continue reading

Spice Up Your Living Room with Custom Home Entertainment Centers

Custom Entertainment Centers by Manhattan Cabinetry at CustomMade.com

If a man’s home was once his castle, then today your home should be a place to relax in after a long day. Whether you furnished your home yourself, or did so with hand-me-downs, updating your home decor every few … Continue reading

Custom Made Boats for All Voyages and Abilities

"Pirate Ship" by Best of All Times, LTD., at CustomMade.com

“There is nothing that enhances the out-of-doors experience like a wooden craft.  Few things are more evocative of freedom than a boat.  The beauty that is in the wood and the form that is shaped by water stimulate a primal desire to … Continue reading

Create a Custom Living Room Design with Your Family in Mind

"Modern" Living Room 4 by Vogue Furniture at CustomMade.com

Are you a family of huggers, or does your bunch like to take separate vacations? No matter the dynamics in your family, your living room should accommodate and reflect the personalities of the people that make it a special gathering … Continue reading

Great Meals Deserve a Great Custom Table

Solid Wood Refectory Table by Turner Custom Furniture at CustomMade.com

The perfect dinner gathering is when everyone enjoys mouth-watering dishes and great conversation over a personalized table. Everyone would agree that great food makes a great meal but the setting has a huge impact too. Nothing focuses your attention on … Continue reading

Handmade Rustic Furniture – Back to Nature

Elk Antler Chandeliers by Southwest Style Decor at CustomMade.com

Your home decor should reflect your lifestyle, your interests, and your passion. By carefully selecting your furniture, accessories and decor items, you can lead visitors to your home through a visual experience comparable to the words on the pages of … Continue reading

Does a Handmade Bed Make for a Better Night’s Rest?

BD 138B Bed by Antoine Poulx, LLC., at CustomMade.com

As a human being, you spend over half your lives in your bedroom. It is there that you sleep, dress, meditate, read, pray, or talk to your loved ones. How your bedroom is decorated can have a huge impact on … Continue reading

Why a Custom Tub Can Save You From Deep Trouble

Custom Japanese Ofuro by Bath in Wood of Maine, LLC, at CustomMade.com

Any remodeling project is a difficult undertaking.  Julia Angwin, senior technology editor for the WSJ.com, has been documenting her renovation of her Harlem brownstone in her “Brownstone Diary” column in the Wall Street Journal’s online Home and Garden section.  Her recent … Continue reading

Ten Ways to Add Custom Built-In Bookcases to Your Home

Maple Built-in Library by Sketch N Build at CustomMade.com

Have you decided to invest in custom built-in bookcases for your home?  Built-in shelving will give you versatile storage space and add a note of distinction to any room in your home.  However, if you thought built-in bookcases were just … Continue reading

Dolphins in the kitchen? Lynne Meade Porcelain can do anything

A client's inspiration...dolphins for a kitchen backsplash!

Lynne Meade of Lynne Meade Porcelain in Oakland, CA was recently contacted by a client who hoped to bring her favorite ocean creature into her kitchen. Lynne shares the client’s request and walks us through the one-on-one process of ordering … Continue reading

Custom Closet Design

Dressing Room by Hudson Cabinetmaking, Inc. at CustomMade.com

Don’t your clothes deserve a custom closet design as fashionable as your clothing sense? A custom closet will not only keep your wardrobe organized and help you pick the perfect look for any occasion but also make a great complement … Continue reading

Light Up Your Life with Custom Lighting

Mule Deer Antler Chandelier Twin Althea by Gone Wild Creations at CustomMade.com

Lighting can be so much more than simply illuminating a darkened room. Some home owners fail to take advantage of this design opportunity but those who do enhance their home’s decor and atmosphere. Going for custom lighting doesn’t have to … Continue reading

FeaturedBiz Inteviews CustomMade CEO and Co-Founder Mike Salguero

Check out the December 16, 2010, interview with CustomMade CEO and Co-Founder Mike Salguero in the U.S. companies section of FeaturedBiz.com. Some of the topics covered are: The acquisition of the CustomMade.com website and domain name What buyers and artisans … Continue reading

Custom Front Door: Your Home’s First Impression

Mahogany Entry Door by Mendocino Doors at CustomMade.com

Your home is an extension of who you and your family are –which means that your front door is especially important in conveying your unique personality and taste. A custom front door provides your family with the opportunity to bring … Continue reading

Get the PERFECT holiday gift for your man: Jocelyn did!

She knew exactly what she wanted to get him for Christmas: They were at a fair the other weekend, and they both spotted this extraordinary animal-shaped cutting board…it was one of those stop-you-in-your-tracks-and-make-you-look-twice things, definitely not your typical kitchenware. Jocelyn … Continue reading

Modern Greene & Greene Style: Six CustomMade Artisans

Stained Glass Greene & Greene Wall Sconce by Hamm Glass Studios at CustomMade.com

CustomMade is very fortunate to include in our galleries the works of talented artisans who create Greene & Greene style furniture.  CustomMade friend David Mathias has recently written a book, Greene & Greene Furniture: Poems of Wood & Light, a … Continue reading

Custom Outdoor Products for Your Outdoor Living Spaces

Mahogany Porch Swing by Louchheim Design Furniture at CustomMade.com

Just like every room in your home can benefit from the custom treatment, every outdoor area of your home can have some custom furniture or accessories built to accent its beauty and increase your enjoyment.  Here are some ideas for … Continue reading

John Herbert and the Boston Furniture Collaborative: WOW

Contemporary Tall Clock by John Herbert, Boston Furniture Collective, at CustomMade.com

What’s the first word that comes to mind when you look at this clock? At a recent juried furniture show, maker John Herbert of the Boston Furniture Collaborative found that the crowd had a pretty unanimous reaction: “I would stand … Continue reading

Choosing Custom Built-in or Freestanding Bookcases

Bookshelf with Ladder by Hudson River Woodworks, LLC, at CustomMade.com

If you’re having difficulty choosing between custom built-in and freestanding bookcases for a room in your home, here are two fundamental questions to ask yourself: Do you want to take your bookcases with you should you move or treat them … Continue reading

Custom Home Bar Furniture for Your Leisure Time

Art Deco Club Chair by Kevin Mack Fine Furniture at CustomMade.com

There is something exciting about having your own bar in your home. It could be the thrill of having a spot in the house that is dedicated to leisure alone or the prospect of having a corner in your home … Continue reading

On space-saving, murphy beds, and metamorphosis

Erik Wolken's Murphy Bed Fully Extended

Erik Wolken of Works in Wood specializes in the “funky and functional”; the Chapel Hill, North Carolina-based furniture maker joins us again to share his latest foray into the realm of adjustable furniture: the Murphy Bed. . William Murphy had … Continue reading

Custom Storage Solutions: A Place for Everything and Everything in Its Place

"We Come in Peace" by Ray Jones Woodcrafts

Whether you are an avid collector of rare items or have just accumulated a lot of stuff, you need to find a place for your things.  Is your chief concern preserving your items’ monetary value or their sentimental value?  Do … Continue reading

Custom Made Mirrors and Visual Effects

"The Gate to the Other Side" by CR Washburn Fine Woodworking at CustomMade.com

Do you want to add a sense of depth and space to a room?  A custom made mirror can do just that, and a CustomMade artisan can create exactly what you desire, from a mirrored wall to an intimate mirror … Continue reading

Custom Home Decor and Accessories

Sphere Box By Bruce Edrman Joiner of Fine Furniture at CustomMade.com

Finding the perfect style that will make your home stand out is difficult.  You can carefully select your furniture and home décor accents at retail stores, but you won’t find truly unique pieces there.  For accents and accessories that will … Continue reading

Consoles and Pop-ups: More Flat-Screen TV Options for your Custom Home Entertainment Centers

Flat-Screen TV Lift System by Hardwood Artisans at CustomMade.com

Back in February 2010, CustomMade artisan Tony O’Malley of Tony O’Malley Custom Woodworking wrote a guest blog about custom built-in cabinetry for your flat-screen TV.  When you have to choose between built-in or free-standing cabinetry, Mr. O’Malley reminds us of … Continue reading

Add Vertical Dimensions to your Rooms with Custom Shelves

Floating Desk by Alexander Woodworking at CustomMade.com

If you need room for storage and you’re running out of floor space, custom made shelves can help you turn the walls of cramped rooms and narrow hallways into floating solutions.  If you have collectibles that you’d like to take … Continue reading

Custom Remodeling and Design: Living in a Room Before it Exists

Finished Basement by Working Designs and Installations LLC at CustomMade.com

Remodeling your home is an exciting opportunity for customizing your home to fit your individual lifestyle and design preferences instead of conforming to the existing structure.  Before embarking on your custom home remodeling project, think ahead and plan carefully.  Fix … Continue reading

Independent We Stand’s Custom Holiday Lookout List

Wine Rack by Marrs Woodworking at CustomMade.com

Bill Brunelle of Independent We Stand, an organization that empowers independently-owned businesses and seeks to give local businesses a louder voice in their communities, highlights some independent CustomMade affiliated businesses to look out for this holiday season… If you really … Continue reading

Touching the Hand, Mind, and Heart: Give a Unique Custom Pen as a Gift

Claddagh Engraved Pen Set by Wooden Pen Works at CustomMade.com

The words you write embody your voice, and with a custom made pen in hand, the writing tool is as much a part of the process as the words themselves. Custom pens are traditional gifts for marking milestones such as … Continue reading

Brian Brace’s custom dining set is right at home

Check out that upholstery job!

A few weeks back we heard from happy custom-customer Susan who absolutely loves her new custom dining chairs. Being the curious custom connoisseurs that we are, we decided to follow up with maker Brian Brace of Black Mountain, North Carolina … Continue reading

Concrete: Hot Trend in Custom Contemporary Kitchen and Bath Design

Vanity with Rustic Base and Integral Concrete Sink by Elements Concrete at CustomMade.com

Remember The Beverly Hillbillies mansion with the “cement pond?” Maybe Granny could not appreciate the beauty of cement, but it’s the hot new trend in creating high-end custom kitchens and baths.  For years those who wanted an upscale look for … Continue reading

Display Your Unique Wine Collection with a Custom Wine Rack or Wine Cabinet

"The Gloucester Cannon" Wine Bottle Holder by E.S. Designs-The Menage Gallery, available at CustomMade.com

Your wine collection reflects not only your knowledge of wine but also your personal tastes and the time and effort you’ve dedicated to finding each piece.  Like any collection, your wines deserve to be displayed proudly and securely. Keep in … Continue reading

Teak Wood for Your Custom Outdoor Products

Outdoor Teak Table by Jacks Woodworks at CustomMade.com

Originally native to South East Asia but now also grown in Latin America, teak is a strong and durable hardwood. Its natural oil makes it resistant to water, insects, and weather extremes.  Not surprisingly, teak is in great demand for … Continue reading

Custom Bedroom Furniture: The Hope Chest

Hope Chest by Kens Woodcraft at CustomMade.com

Although the practice of passing hope chests from mother to daughter has waxed and waned in popularity in America, these intriguing items may merit a reassessment.  A custom built hope chest could be, in its own right, a beautiful, heirloom … Continue reading

Custom Made Furniture for Kids

Curved Chest of Drawers by Schmitt Custom Furniture at CustomMade.com

When children are interested in something, really interested in something, they will play with it, read about it, watch it on TV, play video games about it, and if it exists in cereal form they will eat it, too.  When … Continue reading

Unique Handcrafted Office Furniture

Traditional Custom Home Office Cabinetry by Artisan Custom Bookcases at CustomMade.com

No type of furniture is too practical for the custom treatment.  Not even custom home office furniture.  Don’t let yourself think that you should save your custom dollars for more rarefied objects and just settle for the most functional retail … Continue reading

The First Annual Moustache Day at CustomMade

“Unique” is one of the operative words here at CustomMade – unique custom home furnishings are lovingly discovered, researched, developed, displayed, written about, sold, and broadcasted across the internet by a motley team of, shall we say, unique individuals… Our … Continue reading

Custom Settees and Loveseats

Cherry Settee by Alison McLennan Furniture at CustomMade.com

Although the intimate, two-seater settee or loveseat is often associated with images of Victorian times, a custom settee created in wood, leather, and upholstered fabrics can fit within a range of styles, from traditional to contemporary.  Take a look at … Continue reading

What’s YOUR custom dream project?

Fireplace Mantels and Surrounds by Montana Cabinet and Canoe at CustomMade.com

It’s starting to get chilly out there! This time of year, it feels so good just to stay at home – to curl up by the fireplace with a good book and a warm cup of tea; to spend Sunday … Continue reading

Custom Living Room Design: Function, Form, and Your Custom Made Sofa

Custom Couch by Best Custom Furniture and Millwork at CustomMade.com

When you’re formulating your custom living room design, you will need to pay special attention to two key considerations: function and form.  That is, what purpose will each element of your living room serve, and how do you want each … Continue reading

Custom Windsor Accent Chairs

Continuous Arm Windsor Chair by D. C. Nauman, Chairmaker & Cabinetmaker, available at CustomMade.com

A well-decorated room needs a focal point.  Custom accent chairs demand attention when people enter a room and make both a design and personal statement with style.  Accent chairs can be custom made in an ultra modern mode or in … Continue reading

Calling Cards of Light: Custom Stained Glass for Your Windows and Doors

Stained Glass Door Unit by The Looking Glass at CustomMade.com

We’ve said before that every custom made item has a unique story behind the piece that will involve the artisan, the style, the materials, the craftsmanship, and the generations who will treasure an heirloom.  A custom made item will have … Continue reading

Handmade Wooden Butcher Blocks

Vintage Style Butcher Block Table by Lonestar Woodworks at CustomMade.com

Have you considered custom made butcher blocks? If you have nicer knives (as Lisa and I do), and you like to cook, you know quite well that cutting on a glass cutting board on top of your kitchen counter is … Continue reading

Handmade vs. Store Bought Cutting Boards

State of Connecticut Cutting Board by Woodwright Innovations, available at CustomMade.com

Is there really a difference between that wooden cutting board at your local big box store and one handmade by a CustomMade artisan?  Is there a difference between the cheap plastic cutting board that “does the same job” and a handmade … Continue reading

Custom Knife Makers and Handmade Knives

Damascus "Birdie" Knife with Mammoth Ivory Handles by Knives & More, available at CustomMade.com

Custom Knives and Cutlery – help me find a custom engagement gift! I’ve always been particularly impressed at the skill and prowess of the metal workers and craftsmen who forge custom knives and cutlery.   So I was looking through … Continue reading

Custom Copper Range Hoods

Copper Range Hood and Frieze by CK Valenti Designs, Inc, at CustomMade.com

One of the most prominent yet most commonly neglected elements in every kitchen is the range hood. A custom made range hood won’t perch atop your stove like a misshapen hat, nor will it recede into the shadows as an … Continue reading

Custom Metal Gates, Fences, and Railings

Lollipop Fence by Amaral Industries

You’re not an “average consumer.” You’re an individual one. When an item is manufactured for the masses, the company’s marketing department decides which features to include according to their profile of a “typical consumer.” Alternatively, custom made items are made … Continue reading

What Can Be Custom Made from Koa Wood?

"Pahoehoe I" by Fogelvik Furniture at CustomMade.com

If you are considering a custom sculpture, custom musical instrument, or perhaps a custom furniture piece that needs a wood that seems to glow and pulse with depth, Hawaiian native koa wood is an exciting, exotic hardwood that could be … Continue reading

Custom Made Style Guide – Country Style Furniture and Home Decor

French Provincial Kitchen by Wood Works Fine Custom Cabinetry at CustomMade.com

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I started feeling nostalgic about where I grew up, and wanted to write a post that bore some relationship to my hometown of Titusville, Pennsylvania.  I grew up in Northwestern Pennsylvania, where Country Style decorating, … Continue reading

Custom Upholstery for Your Custom Furniture

Weston Sectional by Ashley Cunningham & Co. at CustomMade.com

Inspiration sometimes strikes out of order.  If you are searching for furniture ideas, you might find the perfect look, visual, or fabric long before you decide what actual furniture pieces you would like.  Or, you might be on the verge … Continue reading

Appreciating “Tuscan” Style Custom Furniture

Tuscan Style Custom Dining Table by Red Lead Design LLC at CustomMade.com

What exactly is “Tuscan” Style Furniture? Tuscan style furniture is typically made of wood, of the rustic or natural kind, like cypress, fir, chestnut and poplar, and it incorporates the use of leather and iron or metal in the accessories … Continue reading

Weekend Review: What did you think of Paradise City, Marlborough?

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Welcome back. How was your weekend? Did anyone make it out to Paradise City, Marlborough on Saturday? We’d love to hear what you thought of the show this year… Nader, Eric and Ben all came back with some cool custom … Continue reading

Creating a Custom Pantry

Built-in Pantry Unit by Salmon Falls Woodworks, Inc, at CustomMade.com

Are you simply out of space in your existing kitchen pantry?  If you are tired of screwing and gluing every shelf you can find to the walls of your existing pantry, a custom made pantry may be just the solution … Continue reading

Custom Furniture in the Art Deco Style

Blues Box Deco Armoire by Louis Fry Craftsman in Wood at CustomMade.com

Art Deco was a popular international design movement lasting from 1925 until 1939.  The movement was, in a sense, an amalgam of many different styles and movements of the early 20th century, including Neoclassical, Constructivism, Cubism, Modernism, Art Nouveau, and … Continue reading

Custom Made Style Guide – Eco-Friendly Custom Furnishings

Bow Tie Pedestal Table by Wiggers Custom Furniture Ltd. at CustomMade.com

As “green” merchandising becomes increasingly more in vogue, the time has come to add Eco-Friendly to the Contemporary style lexicon. The former style stigma surrounding the term Eco-Friendly is insinuated in eco designer Beth Whitfield’s personal statement: “I love trees but I don’t … Continue reading

Having Your Kitchen Island Custom Made

Arts-n-Craft Kitchen Island by Chesapeake Cabinet and Woodworks at CustomMade.com

A custom kitchen island can be a very versatile feature and offers unique opportunities to solve many storage, use, and traffic problems for your kitchen space.  If you are thinking of remodeling your kitchen or just adding some new touches, … Continue reading

Custom Made Gazebos and Pergolas

Copper Gazebos by Classic Copper Works at CustomMade.com

If you are looking for ways to use your outdoor space more effectively, whether you’ve just bought a home or are trying to reconfigure your old backyard, a custom made gazebo or pergola could help you create the outdoor space … Continue reading

CustomMade.com Volunteer Day at East End House!

Mike reading to his new friend!

On Friday, November 19th, the CustomMade crew took some time out from chasing website bugs, implementing new features, and helping our Artisan subscribers get signed up – we decided to volunteer at the East End House near our office in Cambridge, MA. … Continue reading

Custom in the Community: Paradise City Arts Festival

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Greetings custom comrades! It’s Friday afternoon. The weekend is nearly upon us. We’ll be taking this time every week to give you a glance at some cool custom-friendly community happenings to check out this weekend… If you’re in the greater … Continue reading

Countdown to Small Business Saturday: 5 days!

Small Business Saturday

Here at CustomMade.com we’ve got a soft spot for custom makers of all stripes, and part of our aim in promoting custom commerce is to give small businesses a bigger voice on the internet. Thankfully, there are a burgeoning number … Continue reading

Investing in a Handmade Rocking Chair, Part 2

Classic Crown Rocker by William Kappel at CustomMade.com

How do you decide what type of handmade rocking chair to invest in, and what are the different styles available to you?  To help you decide, here is Part 2 of a two-part blog featuring some of the different styles … Continue reading

Investing in a Handmade Rocking Chair, Part 1

Ricercar Rocking Chair by Brooke M Davis Design at CustomMade.com

In my time at CustomMade.com, I’ve seen some amazing examples of custom chairs.  But when I think about investing in handmade seating for my home, one of the first items that pops into my mind is a handmade rocking chair. … Continue reading

Custom Made vs. Factory Made Chairs

Safari Campaign Chair by Fine Ideas Furniture, available at CustomMade.com

Mike and I think there is a common idea that threads through every artist and art enthusiast; quality will forever reign over quantity. This idea is the back bone of why the custom made chair is far superior to those … Continue reading

Custom Works in Multiple Media

Bela Lugosi's Dracula by The Glass Kats at CustomMade.com

Although artisans are usually categorized in terms of a single medium – wood, metal, stained glass, etc – you will find that CustomMade artisans make items of exceptional beauty that expertly combine many different materials.  There are few limits to … Continue reading

Hot Off the Press – Celilo Sofa by the Joinery

Isn't she a beauty? The Celilo Sofa by The Joinery is available at CustomMade.com

Welcome to the first ever edition of Hot off the Press! Stay tuned every Wednesday afternoon to catch the latest NEW custom finds and features: new artisans, new items  - the freshest and finest additions to the custom community. Feast … Continue reading

Custom Made Stuff for the Kitchen Besides Cabinets!

Custom Made Salt and Pepper Mills by Carolina Wood Designs at CustomMade.com

When you consider having something custom made for the kitchen, usually your first instinct is to look at beautiful handcrafted cabinetry.  That is a solid investment in the enjoyment you will receive from the most popular room in your home. … Continue reading

What can be custom made from Zebrawood?

Zebrawood Center Piece by Carolina Wood Designs at CustomMade.com

Today I wanted to shed a little light on some of the amazing projects on CustomMade that are created using Zebrawood, a particularly interesting figured wood that makes for some amazing custom creations.    The name zebrawood is used for wood … Continue reading

And the Winner is…

Jory Brigham won a Gold CustomMade membership for this outstanding piece!

The winner of the CustomMade Artosam contest was announced last night.   This was our first contest EVER and we received an incredible number of responses from custom makers of all stripes.  It was a close competition. The submissions spanned a … Continue reading

Newest Artisans of the Week

La Palmera Shopping Mall Sign by Working Designs and Installations LLC at CustomMade.com

Help me welcome to some of the newest CustomMade members for this week! David Iepson of Working Designs and Installations LLC “This hand carved and very dimensional sign was carved from foam and hard coated. Vacuumed formed leafs and air … Continue reading

A Visit to a Local Shop

Man at the Wheel, Fisherman's Memorial Cenotaph. Photo by Paul Keleher

This past Thursday we put on our jackets and set out to meet our Maker. Well, at least one of them! Where better to head out to on a chilly autumn morning, than the town of Gloucester, MA? Gloucester, among … Continue reading

What does “custom” mean to you?

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We’re here to bring you YOUR custom: we’re here to bring you the goods and services that result from your individual choices.

So what do you want to see? Tell us. We’ll listen. Continue reading

From Custom Ant Farms to Custom Built Homes: The Story of a Designer’s Beginnings

Steve "the tree" Trevathan, CustomMade.com lead front end designer

Did you ever experience custom-making as a kid? Steve Trevathan, our senior Design and Front-end Developer shares his childhood memory of concocting custom creations with his siblings – and how a custom ant farm led to a lasting family landmark. Continue reading

Vintage Industrial Furniture

Vintage Brooklyn Coffee Table, image courtesy of shop.retro.net

This excerpt is from the blog of Greg Hankerson, builder of vintage industrial furniture. Greg’s blog is a great resource for anyone looking for furniture in this style. If you have, or are considering acquiring a piece in the vintage … Continue reading

Tracking your site using Google Analytics

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I sometimes moonlight over at FineWoodworking.com sharing my marketing advice with the readers of our ProShop blog. It occurred to me that our CustomMade viewers might like to hear some of the same marketing tips, so here we are! Let me know … Continue reading

Melanie on Why You Should Join CustomMade.com

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Happy Friday! For the weekend, we’d like to share with you a few words from Mel, a business development representative here at CustomMade. Leave Mel some love! Here’s the link so you can share with your friends!

Newest Artisans of the Week

Figured Bubinga and Ebony Bench by Louis Fry Craftsman in Wood at CustomMade.com

Help me welcome to some of the newest CustomMade members for this week! Louis Fry of Louis Fry Craftsman in Wood “…Made of solid figured bubinga and macassar ebony. Attention has been paid to every detail. It is sturdy, elegant, and … Continue reading

Custom-Made for Non-Celebrities

Arielle's hand made custom necklace.

At CustomMade, we believe that the whole idea of custom embodies higher quality and reliability in addition to a higher level of uniqueness than is typically found in todays goods. We recently came across a collection of articles on Forbes … Continue reading

CustomMade gets a Custom Stereo!

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Behold! At CustomMade, we are constantly growing our subscriber base, but better yet frequently making good friends. Every once in a while we are fortunate enough to have a maker share some of their work with us at the CustomMade … Continue reading

Election Day – Tuesday November 2nd 2010

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This article is brought to you by CustomMade‘s own Patrick Kennedy of Superior Woodcraft, Inc. Craftsmen as country-builders What does this coming election day have to do with craftsmen?  Well, many of our famous founding fathers were craftsmen.  Paul Revere … Continue reading

The Photos We Promised from the Providence Fine Furnishings Show

Everyone loved the customizable dog portrait

Here they are! If you missed the coverage on the show, check out Arielle’s recap here. Let us know what you think!

Content categorization help

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So we at  CustomMade have a little problem! In the past 22 months, we have gone from a website with 1,200 photos to a site with over 10,500 individual listings and around 25,000 individual photos. This increase in content in … Continue reading

CustomMade at the Providence Fine Furnishings Show

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It was a blustery, leaf-crunchy autumn day when Ben from Sales and I set out to Providence to set up the CustomMade booth for the 15th Annual Fine Furnishings Show at the Rhode Island Convention Center. I work showcasing hundreds … Continue reading

A Word of Thanks

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The CustomMade community is founded on the belief that the things we need to create a home can be made better by a human being than by a robot and an assembly line. We are keeping this belief alive through … Continue reading

New Artisans of the Week

Claro Walnut Slab Table by Dorset Custom Furniture at CustomMade.com

Help me welcome to some of the newest CustomMade members for this week! Dan Mosheim of Dorset Custom Furniture “…They always seem to have this mysterious sense of substance to them when they are completed. The wood is dark and … Continue reading

Photo Contest 2010! $1,000 grand prize!

Simply Beautiful Secretary by Hardwood Artisans at CustomMade.com

As seen on CustomMade subscriber Hardwood Artisans‘ site. Hardwood Artisans is hosting its first photo contest. We love our customers and we love great photography. We know that you are creative and talented people. Interior and furniture photography is hard to … Continue reading

Every Newton Gets Hit by a Proverbial Apple

Detailed Carving Featured on the Antique Morris Chair Reproduction by Virginia Mountain Woodworks, LLC, at CustomMade.com

We all know the apocryphal tale that surrounds the discovery of gravity. One fateful day, Isaac Newton was perched innocently underneath an apple tree, when all of a sudden a piece of fruit came crashing down onto his head. As … Continue reading

New Artisans of the Week

Main Staircase for a Nashville Home by Maynard Studios at CustomMade.com

Help me welcome to some of the newest CustomMade members for this week! Matthew & Karine Maynard of Maynard Studios “Mild steel, Bronze, Brass, Brazilian Cherry, Burled Maple, Copper & Marble. Wire-brushed with clear enamel finish. Forged, welded and lathe … Continue reading

15 Reasons To Attend The 15TH Annual Providence Fine Furnishings & Fine Craft Show

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PROVIDENCE, RI (October 12, 2010) – The 15th Annual Providence Fine Furnishings & Fine Craft Show is just around the corner and there are 15 reasons to celebrate this milestone year with us at the Rhode Island Convention Center October … Continue reading

Building a Shed under a Deck – Allan Lilly

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Today while chatting at Wood Talk Online, I came across the Panofish Blog. There were so many awesome projects and videos, I had to pick one and share it with you. Enjoy! I used 3dsmax to model my deck and … Continue reading

New Artisans of the Week

Cabinet Inlay Close

Help me welcome to some of the newest CustomMade members for this week! Dan Mosheim of Dorset Custom Furniture “This macassar ebony case piece with mother of pearl inlay is one of a number of pieces we have made over … Continue reading

Intarsia with Mike Mathieu

The finished piece

This blog was contributed by our own Mike Mathieu of Woodworking Plus in Midlothian, Virginia.  Mike makes amazing works of Intarsia art. Please feel free to leave any questions or comments in the comments field below! Intarsia - the experience of merging … Continue reading

The custom stand-up desk and drafting table craze!

Custom Stand Up Desk with Brass Foot Rest by Hardwood Artisans at CustomMade.com

One of the trends in custom furniture that I’ve been interested in writing about for quite a while is the “stand-up desk” or “stand-up drafting table”.   These seem to be cropping up more and more often in various styles, … Continue reading

Custom in Hollywood

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If you aren’t a celebrity, or someone with near-limitless expendable income, I’m sure you’ve imagined what it would be like to be so.  Interestingly enough, even the most famous and affluent people recognize the difference between mass production and custom. … Continue reading

New artisans of the week

Whimsical Treehouse by Wooden Hammer LLC at CustomMade.com

Help me welcome to some of the newest CustomMade members for this week! Ben Raphael of Wooden Hammer LLC‎ “This treehouse, located in Dover, Massachusetts, is nestled 15 feet up in a large old oak tree. The tree house was … Continue reading

Fabric Swatches and Paint samples – Building Blocks of Custom Furniture Orders

Rumba II End Table by Susan Goldstick, Inc., at CustomMade.com

CustomMade member Susan Goldstick shares a great publication with us about custom furniture taking its cue from fabric swatches and paint samples and becoming bold colorful and coordinated pieces of furniture. The original article was posted  04/30/2010 on Susans blog. … Continue reading

Spanish vs Colonial

Carved Master Bedroom Cabinet, based on a 17th Century Armoire from Old Castile, Spain, by Mediterrania at CustomMade.com

The following post was contributed by CustomMade’s own Marc Galante! Due to the proximity of Mexico to the United States, the common history that we have shared with our neighbor to the south, and the great influx of immigrants from … Continue reading

CustomMade Offers More Online Exposure for Custom Artisans

Business Wire

As seen on Business Wire BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–CustomMade, the world’s largest online marketplace for custom services, today announced a series of strategic partnerships with Dornob, one of the most popular design blogs in the world, as well as Scripps Networks’ HGTV.com and … Continue reading

Why I am so passionate about Custom.

Hay! Mike on a hay chair outside the Furniture Society conference.

There appears to be a revival in the market for creators.  In the past week, I have talked with one person who bought a custom belt, another was thinking about purchasing a custom motorcycle, and still another was looking to get … Continue reading

Can You Legally Make a Copy of this Piece of Furniture or Home Décor Item for Me?

Bow Arm Morris Chair by MM Wood Studio at CustomMade.com

How do intellectual property protections apply to furniture designs and other custom made items? CustomMade Ventures (which owns CustomMade.com) has created a cyber-marketplace that connects customers seeking (you guessed it) custom made furniture and other custom items to the artisans … Continue reading

Mini Golf, Martha and Makers…Oh My!! – Maker Faire: A Designer’s Play Land. by Cassie Hamel

Our CustomMade "I

There was blood, sweat and spray mount fingers last weekend as seven of us from the CustomMade team piled into cars and drove our way over to Queens, NY for our first ever Maker Faire. Under a tent surrounded by boundless … Continue reading

Welcome to some of our newest CustomMade artisans

Blue Water Glazed Lamp by Canyon Creek Pottery at CustomMade.com

Lets give a warm welcome to some of the newest CustomMade members! Here they are! Brian Cullen Furniture “At Brian Cullen Furniture we design and build one-of-a-kind and limited-edition furniture and custom cabinetry. Whether you are interested in an existing … Continue reading

Help us spread the word on Facebook! Win a CM Tee shirt!

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At CustomMade we believe in supporting the quality and craftsmanship behind the custom industry. Whether you are a painter, glass worker, ceramist, sculptor, woodworker, metalworker, or just a person who enjoys the arts, we ask you, in honor of National … Continue reading

2010 World Maker Faire big hit with CustomMade!

Arielle showing off some lovely CustomMade merch at our booth!

Though I was unable to make it this year, my colleagues from CustomMade were sending me texts and picture messages with highlights from their weekend at the 2010 World Maker Faire! Arielle expressed her interest in sharing some of her … Continue reading

Finally! An honest mattress company!

Traditional Coil Mattress with Memory Foam and Silk Cover by Create-A-Mattress at CustomMade.com

For decades mattress shoppers have complained about a lack of honesty in the mattress industry.  And anyone who reads this blog knows I have been at the front of that line. Especially in this tough economy, mattress stores are stretching … Continue reading

Custom Bubinga Bedroom Furniture

Yamayoshi Bed by Hardwood Artisans at CustomMade.com

I thought it might be nice for me to take a few minutes this morning to share some of my favorite custom bedroom projects made of Bubinga, one of my favorite materials.  Enjoy!  -Seth Custom Made Bubinga Gustavian Bed This … Continue reading

Gearing up for World Maker Faire NY

You know you want one... Go see the crew and get your very own!

There is some serious excitement going on at the CustomMade.com headquarters today, as we’ve been gearing up to head over to New York for the 2010 World Maker Faire! CustomMade.com will have a booth at the fair supplying you all … Continue reading

Some new and exciting faces at CustomMade.com

Mother Mary and Child by Copper Art by Sooriya at CustomMade.com

CustomMade exists because a lot of other folks believe in the importance of custom goods, just like we do. The artisans who make up CustomMade.com are joining in bigger numbers and from a larger array of mediums.  Here are some … Continue reading

More Photos of Seth’s CustomMade Bubinga Coffee Table

Seth's Finished Bubinga and Wenge Coffee Table by Chesapeake Cabinet and Woodworks at CustomMade.com

If you missed the original articles, please check out how Co-Founder Seth Rosen went about having his own custom coffee table made by Chesapeake Cabinet and Woodworks here and here! This story also outlines the very beginnings of how CustomMade … Continue reading

Transforming Furniture Part 2: A whole new level

Transforming Furniture

As a follow up to the post Transforming Furniture Part 1, this time we take a look at some amazing videos that show multi functional furniture at its best. Break out the popcorn, its showtime! First, I stumbled upon these … Continue reading

Transforming Furniture Part 1: A designer’s journey

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Lately I’ve been noticing the popularity around transforming furniture more and more. Ahh yes, cue the Transformer theme song; however, I’m thinking less about robots in disguise and more about multifunctional, innovative furniture. This concept is not a new one, but … Continue reading

Allen of Mackinaw Watercraft Shares his Labor of Love

The Charlevoix Cedar Strip Kayak by Mackinaw Watercraft at CustomMade.com

Some of the coolest items on CustomMade are also the items which require very specific know-how. Custom boats fall into this category. When I first saw the custom boats being made by  Mackinaw Watercraft, I knew I just had to … Continue reading

The coffee table that started it all (part 2)

Frame and Panel Live Edge Bubinga Desk by Chesapeake Cabinet and Woodworks at CustomMade.com

Below is the dramatic conclusion to our post yesterday about Seth Rosen and his search for the perfect coffee table for his apartment. If you missed part 1, check it out here. So I set out to find a maker, … Continue reading

The coffee table that started it all (part 1)

CustomMade CFO and Co-Founder Seth Rosen

Before Mike and Seth took over, CustomMade was still in its youngest stages. The site was originally discovered by Seth when he was actually looking to find a piece of custom furniture. This put in motion a series of events … Continue reading

Hardwood Artisans hit the nail on the head with the mathematical desk

The Retro Mathematical Desk by Hardwood Artisans at CustomMade.com

One of the coolest parts about my job is being able to peruse our own website and find interesting pieces and find the stories behind them. With the retro mathematical desk by Hardwood Artisans in VA, I didn’t need to … Continue reading

Latest Additions to CustomMade’s Galleries

Martin "History of Flight" Guitar by Robinson Custom Inlays at CustomMade.com

Sometime’s my co-worker Reid, who works in the same room as me will tap me on the shoulder and say “Hey, check this thing out!”. He will usually then proceed to show me something on CustomMade that A. I have … Continue reading

What Makes An Antique, “Antique”?

Antique Reproduction Leather Friar's Chair by Mediterrania, available at CustomMade.com

I recently received this article from CustomMade member Marc Galante, that based on the added interest in restoration and antique pieces, I thought I might share it with you all! Marc’s company, Mediterrania, is highly specialized in handcrafting antique reproductions. … Continue reading

Whale Tail Desk – The Story Behind its Creation

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At CustomMade.com, we are all about unique, custom items. I was just able to read about the story behind how one such item came to be created.  The famous Whale Tail Desk, created by John Wiggers of  Wiggers Custom Furniture … Continue reading

Life around the CustomMade.com headquarters

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I often find myself  wondering who and where the faces and places behind an organization are. I am lucky enough to love what I do for work every day and enjoy the people I work with, so I wanted to … Continue reading

Stick to your guns

A Custom Rifle Display by Ken's Woodcraft at CustomMade.com

Over the long weekend, I had the opportunity to bring my fiancee’ to the firing range for her first target shooting experience. This reminded me of some information sent to me by our co-founder Seth about custom holsters and leather … Continue reading

Pretty Handy Girl shows us how she goes custom in her Kitchen!!

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The following article was written and published on the DIY blog by Brittany (AKA Pretty Handy Girl) Check out her blog for frequent updates on some more awesome DIY tips, stories, photos, and explanations! Chalk it up…to a busy day. … Continue reading

CustomMade.com – Getting Beyond “Good Enough”

Co-Founders Mike Salguero and Seth Rosen sporting some custom made shirts

The much awaited blog post! Hi everyone, for some time now we have been asked to write a Founders’ Blog.  We want to use our time on this blog as a way to discuss the world of Custom with our … Continue reading

An Interview with CustomMade.com’s Chris Cioffi

The newlywed! Alison Heath of Workbench Marketing

The following article was posted on Workbench Marketing on September 1st, 2010. Workbench marketing is the blog of online marketing guru Alison Heath. Alison’s blog covers everything from blog optimization to marketing and pricing your work. Check out Workbench Marketing … Continue reading

CustomMade member Erik Wolken shares some insight about green woodworking!

Erik Wolken of Works in Wood at CustomMade.com

More Thoughts on Sustainability – by Erik Wolken When last I visited the issue of “am I green enough“, I was reluctant at best to take on the moniker of a green maker, but considered myself at least on the … Continue reading

Asa Christiana of Fine Woodworking with Mike and Matt from CustomMade!

Matt Goldstein and Mike Salguero with Asa Christiana of Fine Woodworking

The following video can be found on a publication by Fine Woodworking editor Asa Christiana. Thank you to Asa for hanging out with us and chatting about CustomMade at IWF Atlanta 2010!! Please check out the original article here. Mike … Continue reading

CustomMade.com mention MediaPost News article.

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The following article appeared on MediaPost Publications on August 26, 2010. Please visit the original article here. “Sarah E. Needleman reports on the growth of companies that create customized goods — from mattresses to pet foods to toilet paper –for … Continue reading

CustomMade at IWF Atlanta 2010

Mike with a collapsible floor lamp by Lumiere

If you are now or ever were into woodworking, the chances are pretty good that you’ve heard of or even attended the International Woodworking Fair. The “IWF is the largest showcase of machinery, materials, supplies and services in the Western Hemisphere … Continue reading

CustomMade and Fine Woodworking Join Forces!

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The following is a press release reported on by Enhanced Online News , Business Wire, and Forbes. You can see the original articles respectively here, here and here. August 25, 2010 08:00 AM Eastern Daylight Time CustomMade and Fine Woodworking Announce … Continue reading

These guys are cleaning up and sticking it to mass production!!

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The following is and excerpt from a post was published on the Wall Street Journal Digital Network by Amir Efrati on August 26, 2101.  Please check out the original article here. Business Plans That Rest on Imitation By AMIR EFRATI … Continue reading

Award winning “Ripple” box with Jeff Baenen

"Ripple" by Jeff Baenen Boxes, available at CustomMade.com

I recently got to make friends with someone I definitely consider both a master craftsman and an artist.  When I saw the winners of the Summer 2010 LumberJocks Woodworking Awards, I was obviously impressed at all of the incredible work … Continue reading

Custom made all the way down to the floor!!

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The following publication was coordinated by our friend Tanya and written by Irina Zhorov over at BarefootFloor.  BarefootFloor has their own blog, featuring home ideas, remodeling advice, DIY tips, and more. Special thanks to Tanya and the rest of Barefootfloor … Continue reading

The New and Improved CustomMade.com!

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In case you haven’t gotten a chance to look around, CustomMade has just rolled out the newest version of the site. We are constantly trying to better our site for artisans and consumers alike. Our new organization system allows consumers … Continue reading

Custom Porcelain with Lynne Meade!

"Blue Bird of Big Happiness and Little Houses" by Lynne Meade Porcelain, available at CustomMade.com

The following publication was written by Renee Blackwell and published on July 21st, 2010. You can see the original article at the Adornments of the Soul blog here . I have a real love of good pottery, potters and ceramic … Continue reading

Charge Your Electronics in Style!

The Charging Shelf by Peter S. Turner Furnituremaker, available at CustomMade.com

Our good friend, and CustomMade subscriber Peter Turner has yet another creation to share with us! At his most recent show, one particular piece generated quite a bit of buzz.  A project which aims to simplify and organize electronics which need … Continue reading

The new rules of marketing for woodworkers with Alison Heath!

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In my journeys as the resident blogger for CustomMade, I have come across an enormous amount of fellow bloggers. Some are completely irrelevant, some are written by woodworkers, some are interior designers, craftspeople, etc. This time, I got to touch … Continue reading

Open Runway finds new home.

Open Runway

Our friends from Open Runway have moved to a new location, but still wanted to show their good faith in us and in the custom revolution! Check out their blog about where they are, where they’re going, and a little farewell … Continue reading

Lyndon Furniture’s Designers Corner on Custom Made Blog

The Newbury Bed by Lyndon Furniture at CustomMade.com

Our friends over at Lyndon Furniture are constantly coming up with new designs and more ways to go custom. Every so often they will release a new “Designers Corner” entry in the Lyndon Furniture blog explaining what the newest projects … Continue reading

Rob Bois joins us on the CustomMade.com mini site on Rockler.com!

Rob Bois of "The Bois Shop" and Mike Salguero, CEO of CustomMade.com

As seen on The Bois Shop. Published by Rob Bois, Aug 12, 2010 “We interrupt your regularly scheduled woodworking content to draw your attention to some of the business aspects of the craft.  I recently connected with Mike Salguero, the … Continue reading

An Amazing Rose of Wood

Engagement Ring/Anniversary Ring Carved Rose Bouquet by Gallivan's Art Furniture at CustomMade.com

The following blog was written by CustomMade artisan Mark Gallivan about his amazing hand carved rose bouquet. You can see the original article on his site here. Enjoy! Touching her heart with the hand carved rose bouquet When I first … Continue reading

The Visual Vamp

Valorie Hart - The Visual Vamp

Here at CustomMade, we get by with a little help from our friends. One of those being fellow blogger Valorie Hart, a self proclaimed bon vivant hailing from New York, transplanted to her now home in New Orleans.  As a … Continue reading

CustomMade Mentioned Among Boston Entrepreneurs who Play Well with Others

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The following is an excerpt from an article on Bostinnovation.com published August 12th, 2010 “Startup life is exciting, sure, but it’s also fairly precarious and challenging. One thing that makes the whole process easier—and undoubtedly contributes to a startup’s ultimate … Continue reading

Orca Table: Final update!!

Completed piece!

Well we’ve been keeping in touch with Bryce Vandyke and Bill Amaya, designer and builder of the Orca Table, and I wanted to share with you some final images of the Orca Table‘s construction, and of course, the finished piece! … Continue reading

CustomMade and IndiCustom!

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We’ve been chatting with up and coming custom clothing company indi Custom Clothing parent company to indiDenim and indiTailored. That being said, I’ve decided to do something a little different today.  In the spirit of custom, we want to share a … Continue reading

Custom Made items for the Custom Made House

Built in bookcase complimenting cathedral ceiling and providing a perfect space for the piano.

Here at CustomMade, we don’t just sell it, we live it. We are all people who prefer to customize our world rather than taking it as it’s given. The following blog post is written by the mother of our own … Continue reading

Internet Economics by David Getts

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The following is a guest publication from our own David Getts. David’s work has been featured in CabinetMaker, Fine Homebuilding, Seattle Homes & Lifestyles magazines, along with various feature articles. His book, “Making Mantels”, published by Linden Publishing, was released … Continue reading

The Stone Sculptor: Jason Nelson!

Carved from jade, "Baloo the Bear" by The Stone Sculptor at CustomMade.com

As an intro to CustomMade‘s first stone sculptor and newest member, I want to show you all some of the incredible work of Jason Nelson of The Stone Sculptor.  Please visit Jason’s CustomMade.com profile and we’d love if you could leave … Continue reading

CustomMade shout out in StarTribune article!

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As seen on StarTribune.com Front door: Art fair weekned By KIM PALMER, LYNN UNDERWOOD and CONNIE NELSON, Star Tribune Last update: August 3, 2010 – 3:51 PM ART FAIR TRIFECTA The first weekend in August is one of the best … Continue reading

Superior Woodcraft and 60 Bragg Hill

Award winning Stately European Bar And Wine Room by Superior Woodcraft at CustomMade.com

I’ve been chatting with Patrick Kennedy of Superior Woodcraft, and I must say, there is so much to share with you about their company that I wont possibly be able to fit it into one post. From their environmental awareness … Continue reading

Peter Turner speaks at Pecha Kucha night!!

FW Blanket Chest by Peter S. Turner Furnituremaker at CustomMade.com

CustomMade‘s own Peter Turner is invited to speak at Pecha Kucha night in Portland, Maine about the challenges of finding the right parts. He highlights a blanket chest he created which ended up in/on the cover of Fine Woodworking Magazine. … Continue reading

First Light Woodworking with Rick Lasita

Rick's chess board with drawers! Overall size is 16" x 16" x 3 1/2"

Often times, I jump from blog to blog to blog and ride a blogroll wave, partially out of curiosity, but most times because I love seeing what kind of custom work comes out of woodshops all over the country. Recently, … Continue reading

CustomMade announced as a July finalist on Discovering Startups!

CustomMade.com

Excerpt from DiscoveringStartups.com “…These companies however have received exceptionally significant responses – garnering thousands of votes from our readers combined. Those achievements are by no means insignificant and deserve to be showcased here accordingly.” CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL … Continue reading

What “custom made” means to me – visiting a local luthier

This example is purely about aesthetics. This rosette was made for a classical guitarist in celebration of surviving a triple heart by-pass. The hearts are all individually cut out of an exotic wood, pink ivory, and inlaid into an ebony ring.

Gary Nava is a luthier – or maker of stringed instruments – who handcrafts bespoke custom guitars mandolins and ukuleles in the UK. He blogs regularly about his work and here shares some thoughts on what really makes a custom … Continue reading

Straight Line Designs!

"Little Black Dresser"

I’ve been chatting a bit with the guys from Straight Line Designs, creators of some sometimes surreal, sometimes funny, yet always unique and custom furniture.  There is a much more comprehensive publication in the works for everyone to enjoy, but … Continue reading

Introducing Cassie!!

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If you’ve read any of our blogs about our interior designer, or seen our new “Design it!“ section of CustomMade.com, you must now be aware that our ranks have grown by one to make way for someone who knows a … Continue reading

“Design It!” by Custom Made featured on Design-Milk.com!!

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In May 2010, we at CustomMade realized that we were on the right track, and wanted to think of what we could do to take things a step further and make the process behind custom design that much easier for … Continue reading

5 ways to use a belt sander! (other than as directed..)

Belt sander drag racing!

We had a great response to a Twitter post the other day that had to do with some woodworking techniques, and I am all about giving the people what they want!  Today I thought I would show you all a … Continue reading

Monika Desai on Opening the Runway

Monika with a few of her creations

Custom is a mindset, and great minds think alike. Perhaps this is why up and coming fashion company, Open Runway has found itself using the same building as the CustomMade offices as its base of operations. Open Runway is a … Continue reading

Audio Nouveau : a treat for the ears and the eyes.

The Art Deco Design Speakers by Audio Nouveau at CustomMade.com

I was just informed by Keith Brandman of Audio Nouveau that one of one of the most crucial components which sets him aside from the rest of the speaker business is that he has a very high WAF ; the … Continue reading

MaineFurniture.org with Mark McKelvey

Arts & Crafts Cabinet by John Wagner Custom Furniture at CustomMade.com

“MaineFurniture.org’s mission is to promote the fine, timeless art of Maine made furniture.” They say “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.”  While life didn’t exactly give him lemons, CEO and Founder of Maine Furniture Mark McKelvey decided to take … Continue reading

Cherry blanket chest with Peter Turner!

The FW Blanket Chest by Peter S. Turner Furnituremaker at CustomMade.com

When I’m not trying to keep our blog full of interesting and helpful information for consumers and subscribers alike, I am tweeting, digging, stumbling, and facebooking trying to get the custom word out there to the masses.  One facebook page … Continue reading

CustomMade.com in the Huffington Post!

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As seen in the Huffington Post What Shoppers Have Been Waiting For by Danny Wong Big fashion houses like Burberry are finally innovating, and that’s exciting for haute couture shoppers. For the style-conscious consumer, the accessibility of sample-sales from flash-sales sites like Gilt … Continue reading

Netted.net by WEBBY’S highlights CustomMade!

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As seen on Netted.net “Netted is a free daily email publication that harnesses the collective wisdom of the WebbyAwards (“the leading international award honoring excellence on the internet”) to uncover the online tools that make life better, easier, and more productive.” … Continue reading

CustomMade Announces Newly Opened Glass and Metal Categories!

Stained Glass Bathroom Windows by Chuck Franklin Glass Studio at CustomMade.com

CustomMade Launches Glass and Metal Galleries to Online Marketplace Glass Makers and Metal Workers Can Now Reach New Online Consumer Audience BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–CustomMade, the world’s largest online marketplace for custom services, today announced it has launched glass and metal galleries … Continue reading

Puzzle boxes with Jay Rogers

Homage to M. C. Escher Box by Jay Rogers Unique Boxes at CustomMade.com

Every lock has a key, right? Not necessarily. Jay Rogers of Cambridge, Massachusetts has found a passion in making “locks” where the only key is your mind. Have a look at Jay’s custom made puzzle boxes at his website.  As a … Continue reading

CustomMade in Chris Baylor’s About.com guide to Woodworking

Chris Baylor, About.com

As seen on Chris Baylor’s blog, “Woodworking,” on About.com. “Are you a commercial furniture builder or are you thinking of selling a piece or two? Perhaps you have some unique designs that you think would sell online? Here’s a site you … Continue reading

A Cabinetmaker’s Kitchen Remodel by David Getts

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CustomMade artisan David Getts of David Getts Designer Builder Inc., as featured in the May/June issue of Fine Homebuilding magazine (#210) “When a pro is set loose in his own kitchen, the results are functional and furniture grade” After spending … Continue reading

“Poems of Wood & Light” with David Mathias

The Thorsen Living-Room Table by Charles and Henry Greene

The following is a contribution from our friend David Mathias.  David is the author of the up and coming book book “Greene & Greene Furniture – Poems of Wood & Light.” David is a photographer with a computer science background, and … Continue reading

The Boggs Collective

The Logan Bar Stool by The Boggs Collective at CustomMade.com

Right after our last green blog was published, and with impeccable timing, I was able to sit down with a truly green-oriented and moreover community oriented group of folks and learned a little bit about them as people and about … Continue reading

“Why custom?” contest comes to a close!

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As our contest has come to a close, we would like to send out a special thank you to everyone who submitted ideas for CustomMade’s “Why custom?” contest!! Also, a special thanks to our blog owner friends who helped us … Continue reading

Custom Re-Made

Tall Cymbidium in Redwood Vase by R. Allen Woodworking at CustomMade.com

Without systems for manufacturing our ancestors were notorious for finding an object and creating something useful. Shells became currency and shark teeth became the heads of spears. And now with the resurgence of both recycled and sustainable materials another hot … Continue reading

3 days left to submit your ideas!!

Why Custom

What a response!! Thank you to everyone who has participated in our “Why Custom?” contest thus far! In case you hadn’t heard about our contest, CustomMade.com is asking YOU to tell us why going custom is so much better.  The … Continue reading

Chase the “Artisan Muse”

Zen Sake Table by Go Figured Fine Furniture at CustomMade.com

Guest blogger Randall Bowling, wood artisan, of Go Figured Fine Furniture. Has the Artisan Muse ever toyed with your emotions? You become distracted and feel driven with a passion to create something useful, but it must have that certain, special … Continue reading

whyrHymer’s “Big Break”

whyrHymer's "Big Break"

CustomMade artisan Brandon Morrison of whyrHymer writes about a magazine shot opportunity gone awry and the chair that survived it all. whyrHymer’s “Big Break” by Brandon Morrison As seen on whyrhymer.wordpress.com, 11/17/2009 The importance of not being attached to an … Continue reading

A Historic Custom Made Moment!

Reid and Alexander go over some CustomMade.com basics

As you may remember from last week, our president Mike was in attendance at the 2010 Furniture Society Conference, where he presented Alexander Krutsky of AK Woodworks with a free Premier subscription plan on CustomMade.com for a full year.  Today, … Continue reading

Meet David Little: CustomMade.com’s first metal worker

Metal arch top fireplace screen with oak leaf and bronze acorn detail by Winnipesaukee Forge at CustomMade.com

“My work is all about a reinterpretation of nature… says David Little of  Winnipesaukee Forge. It was inevitable that forged metal and the natural world would blend seamlessly for Dave. Exposed early on to beautiful antique metal work in his … Continue reading

Steve Williams Bow Front Vanity Step-by-Step

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Guest blogger and artisan Steve Williams of John Samuel Custom Cabinetry takes us through the process of creating his latest project, a contemporary bow front vanity. My latest project is a contemporary bow front vanity for a client in Manhattan. It’s … Continue reading

Antler Chandeliers with Dave Sheppard

Elk Antler Chandeliers by Southwest Style Decor at CustomMade.com

Dave Sheppard has found a way to incorporate nature into his art in an environmentally friendly way.  His shop Southwest Style Decor is THE place to go if you are looking for southern style, southwestern style, or lodge style furnishings. … Continue reading

Happy 4th of July weekend!

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Happy fourth of July to all of our subscribers and readers!  We want to extend a special fourth of July thank you to our subscribers and consumers as well for realizing the importance of, and supporting hand-crafted American made goods.

Puzzle complete!!

Take a look at more puzzles by J C Ayer & Company available through CustomMade.com.

After long nights of red bull’s and sleeplessness, hard days of focus and concentration, and a whole tub of Jack3d, the incredible puzzle that Jim Ayer sent to us is complete. The puzzle is of a photo Jim took at … Continue reading

Meet Brandon Morrison

Brandon Morrison of whyrHymer at CustomMade.com

Brandon Morrison of whyrHymer.com is a fabricator of all kinds of custom furniture , custom lighting , and custom cabinetry . The following publication appears on his blog and focuses on the fabrication of a piece of custom lighting he … Continue reading

Going custom and going green!

Contour Bar Stools by Infusion Furniture at CustomMade.com

Thankfully, the inhabitants of our world have started to realize the impact that our day to day routine is having on our planet. The last decade has brought an enormous amount of environmental awareness, and more and more people are … Continue reading

We get by with a little help from our friends!

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CustomMade.com has been fortunate enough to have made some great friends in the last few weeks.  We wanted to take a moment to give them all a shout out and say thank you for helping us out with our “Why … Continue reading

Jeremy Schoemaker rocking the CustomMade.com Tee!

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Jeremy Schoemaker of Shoemoney.com featured our company in his “Free Shirt Friday” section of his blog. Visit Jeremy’s blog for the whole article and to see a picture of him proudly representing the CustomMade.com brand!

CustomMade.com’s “Why Custom?” Contest!!

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Here at CustomMade.com, we own custom made furniture, we wear custom threads, and we are all about promoting the custom way of life.  Of course, we have our own angle on why custom is so much better, but we want to … Continue reading

President Mike Salguero’s presentation at the 2010 Furniture Society Conference

Mike Salguero - 2010 Furniture Society Conference

The video below is of CustomMade.com president Mike Salguero’s presentation to an audience at the 2010 Furniture Society conference.  His hour long lecture included tips on being ranked higher with Google as well as effective strategies for marketing yourself online. … Continue reading

Puzzle Update!!

"Marrakech" by J C Ayer & Company Hardwood Jigsaw Puzzles at CustomMade.com

Last week, I was writing about our friend Jim Ayer of J.C. Ayer & Co Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles and the custom made puzzle he was gracious enough to send to us. We have definitely enjoyed working on it and I … Continue reading

Lumberjocks.com announces Summer 2010 Woodworking Awards!

Lumberjocks.com Summer 2010 Woodworking Awards

Our friends over at LumberJocks.com have just announced their Summer 2010 Woodworking Awards!  This is a contest (sponsored by CustomMade.com, Rockler, Woodcraft, Dremel, and Fine Woodworking) is by woodworkers and for woodworkers.  You can only enter one project, and the only … Continue reading

2010 Furniture Society Conference

2010 Furniture Society Conference

Last week, we attended the 2010 Furniture Society Conference, Fusions: Minds & Hands Shaping Our Future at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in Cambridge.  The conference, held inside the Kresge Auditorium, considered to be an architectural work of art in itself, focused … Continue reading

CustomMade gets a puzzle!!

One of Jim's puzzles, based on "Landscape" by American painter Leon Kroll

I had the good fortune to have a chat with our own Jim Ayer of J.C. Ayer & Co. Wooden Jigsaw Puzzles.  Jim makes some of the most intricate, durable, professional, and most importantly custom jigsaw puzzles around. Though Jim has … Continue reading

CustomMade.com goes out on the town

Our view from the suite at Fenway Park

Some of us are Boston natives, others of us have migrated over to beantown a bit later in life, but one thing remains the same; we love us a great night out at Fenway Park to watch our very own … Continue reading

Orca Table Update!

Orca table design complete

If you’ve been following the CustomMade Blog,  you probably remember our design contest from back in march. If not, you could catch up on the winner here and see the first design process update here. But this wouldn’t be a … Continue reading

Abe Abbas sits down with president Mike Salguero for a chat!

about.com

Our president Mike Salguero sat down with About.com blog writer Abe Abbas for a chat about CustomMade.com and what we can give to our subscribers as well as our consumers.   Mike and Abe spoke about the advantage we offer … Continue reading

CustomMade.com on UrbanDaddy

urbandaddy.com

Published June 14, 2010 Inside Job Your Online Guy Who Knows a Guy Sometimes you have to go to strange places to get what you want. Like to the French Quarter to get a Bellini. To Fargo to hear a great … Continue reading

Tony O’Malley in the “Built-In Build Off”

Tony O'Malley Custom Cabinetry at CustomMade.com

CustomMade followers may have noticed someone familiar on the cover of the latest Fine Woodworking magazine, issue 213, July/August 2010.  That’s CustomMade artisan Tony O’Malley of Tony O’Malley Custom Woodworking.  Readers may recall that in February, Tony faced off with … Continue reading

Something Old, Something New, Something Custom

Elegant Aquamarine Diamond Ring at CustomMade.com

Fashions come and go … and come back again.  A recent post in the Los Angeles Times blog, “All the Rage,” offered suggestions for anyone looking for custom-made vintage/retro wedding dresses. The appeal of the traditional (or vintage, or retro) … Continue reading

Congrats to Quentin Kelley!

CustomMade.com Co-Founder Mike Salguero, and CustomMade.com artisan Quentin Kelley

Last night, members of the CustomMade.com team went to the 5 Under 40;  “New England Home‘s“. The 5 Under 40 awards spotlight the hottest emerging talent in residential design in New England, including architecture, interiors, furniture, and home-design products and … Continue reading

Custom Threads

Seth Rosen and Mike Salguero in custom-made shirts by Rajawongse Clothier

Furniture is not the only thing you can have custom made.  Custom-made clothing offers superior craftsmanship, style, and comfort at a price that reflects the quality of clothing made especially for you.  For men, there are few articles of clothing … Continue reading

CustomMade Receives Additional Funding!

marketwire.com

CustomMade, the world’s largest online marketplace for custom services, today announced it has secured an angel round of funding for $1.15 million. The funding will be used to expand consumer-based marketing, branch out into other custom verticals and increase staff … Continue reading

CustomMade.com on BostInnovation!

Bostinnovation-sq

CustomMade Raises $1.15M in Angel Funding from Three Boston Investors June 9th, 2010 by Kyle Psaty Some people just know what they want. Cambridge-based CustomMade.com announced this morning that they’ve secured $1.1M in funding from a set of unnamed investors. … Continue reading

CustomMade.com on Venturebeat!

venturebeat.com

CustomMade raises $1.2M for its directory of woodworkers and more June 9, 2010 by Anthony Ha as seen on venturebeat.com CustomMade, a site where visitors can connect with woodworkers and other custom goods-makers, announced today that it has raised just … Continue reading

CustomMade.com on TechCrunch!

techcrunch.com

CustomMade Connects Custom Goods Buyers With Artisans, Raises $1.15M by Robin Wauters on Jun 9, 2010 CustomMade, which operates an online marketplace designed to connect buyers of custom made furniture, cabinetry, and other products with artisans, today announced it has secured … Continue reading

CustomMade Founder Buys a Mattress AGAIN

Replacing one of these!

I’ve decided to do a two-part Blog post discussing our not-so-positive experience buying a mattress this past weekend.  While I have my custom cherry bed (a custom metal bed as well), and custom cherry nightstands, my fiancée and I are in somewhat … Continue reading

NYC’s Handmade Steel Basketball Rims

“In small things forgotten” © Trish Featherston 2010

With the NBA Finals upon us, basketball is at the center of national media attention.  However, you normally don’t have to look too far to see how popular and ubiquitous basketball is.  Everyday I see a lonely basketball hoop, erected … Continue reading

The Baulines Craft Guild

"Jonah" by Carol Wedemeyer

“Learning in the fine crafts is an adventure that can lead to new ideas and fresh approaches in artisanry, not to mention new friends and contacts,” writes guest contributor Jan Moore, Executive Director of the Baulines Craft Guild.  The workshops … Continue reading

Summer is Here: Need a Tiki Bar?

Island Tiki Stained Glass by The Glass Kats at CustomMade.com

What could you add to your home that would epitomize summer, sunshine, beaches, a tropical island paradise, and an exotic vacation? A tiki bar! Although influenced by Polynesian tiki figure carvings and commonly associated with Polynesian cultures, the “tiki bar” … Continue reading

“Furniture Secrets”

Kaya's Secretary Desk by Kaya Design Corporation at CustomMade.com

If you are in the market for furniture and are wondering if a custom-made piece is truly a better value when inexpensive mass-produced furniture is so readily available in retail stores, make sure you are getting all the facts.  This … Continue reading

From the Desk of Rhiannon

See more examples of Piggy's handmade, knitted bags at her Etsy store

My sister Piggy knits.  A lot.  One might even say she knits compulsively.  I blame myself: I taught her to knit when she was trying to give up smoking.  Now she chain knits. Having saturated the family market in personalized … Continue reading

Traditional Craftsmanship Unswerving in Economic Downtime

Bird's Eye Maple and Cherry Shaker Dresser by Laughing Loon Custom Furniture, Inc., at CustomMade.com

Solid wood furniture, guest blogger Erik Braunitzer of Harden Furniture writes, “we have made it through some of the worst of the current economic decline and downtime, and he would like to take a moment to discuss with the readers … Continue reading

An Invitation from Gallivan’s Art Furniture

Detail, Hand Carved Rosewood Inlaid Chair by Gallivan's Art Furniture at CustomMade.com

CustomMade’s galleries are full of photographs and detailed descriptions of beautiful works by our artisans.  Every item comes with “the story behind the piece,” a brief discussion by the artisan of the inspiration, materials, and methods involved in the work.  … Continue reading

Custom Guitars

1000-Year-Old Pepperwood Flamenco Guitar by guitarmasterworks at CustomMade.com

Guest blogger Chris Cioffi is “Part stained glass maker, part business development for CustomMade, part rock n’ roll musician, 100% about CustomMade.com.”  You can read his CustomMade profile to learn more. As guitar music styles evolve, so do guitar-making methods.  Player preferences … Continue reading

Check Out the New Website!

Clicker "Stretch" Pen in Masur Birch with 10kt Gold Metal by Spirit Wood Turning

I am so excited about CustomMade’s revamped website.  It’s extremely user friendly.  I love the section at the bottom of the main page that shows “Artisans Serving Your Area,” making it even easier to buy locally. The “Newest Artisans” tab … Continue reading

We’re giving away $250 so you can have something Custom Made for Mom!

Custom Made Mirror by Eidos Design Studio at CustomMade.com

Enter to win our Custom Made for Mom giveaway this week, and you could win one of two $125 gift certificates for your Mom towards a custom made commission from one of our artisans. Now’s your chance to thank her … Continue reading

Desks on the Mind…

Walnut Writing Desk by H&M WoodWorks at CustomMade.com

While searching for the perfect desk for a client, I was smitten with this walnut writing desk by H&M WoodWorks.  Look at the beautiful graining of the walnut…stunning….  Some of the features you can customize are the type of wood, … Continue reading

Customizing CustomMade.com

blog-website-preview

The mission of CustomMade goes beyond connecting those looking for custom works with those artisans who create them. We believe it is to teach people that buying custom items is a better value: higher-quality product that is tailored to the … Continue reading

Celebrate Earth Day with CustomMade

Rustic Round Dining Table by Bumble Bee Woodworks at CustomMade.com

CustomMade would like to wish everyone a Happy Earth Day! Earth Day celebrations around the world today will remind us of the importance of promoting and maintaining a healthy, sustainable environment.  However, being environmentally friendly isn’t just about caring for … Continue reading

Furniture: Custom-Made or Retail?

Sack Back Windsor Chair by The Wooden Knot at CustomMade.com

Buying a new piece of furniture is a perfect chance to add beauty to your home.  Custom-made furniture is your best choice for creating a unique look.  You might be surprised to learn, however, that buying custom-made furniture can also … Continue reading

Orca Coffee Table Update

Orca Table Option A

Bryce Van Dyke, our 2010 CustomMade Design Challenge winner, has chosen CustomMade artisan Bill Amaya of Cimarron Lofting, Inc., to build his winning project, the Orca Coffee Table.  They’ve graciously agreed to give us a behind the scenes look at … Continue reading

The Appeal of Custom Made Curtains

Curtains by Meg Braff

Since I can remember, I have always adored curtains.  They are not only pleasing to the eye but practical.  They serve as insulation and, if interlined with blackout lining, can keep the light out in the morning for a bit … Continue reading

Eight More Things You Never Knew Could be Custom Made

Classic Steel Spiral Stair by Salter Spiral Stair at CustomMade.com

We’ve previously looked at eight things you may not have realized could be custom made.  Items like billiard tables and carved signs, custom or not, aren’t things you normally see everyday in the typical home.  It’s not surprising that you … Continue reading

Eight Things You Never Knew Could be Custom Made

The Standard Madison by Drawknife Custom Billiard Tables at CustomMade.com

Everyone knows you can have furniture like cabinets and dining tables custom made.  Here are eight things you may not have realized can also be custom made. 1. Jewelry boxes Large storage spaces like cabinets and drawers are often customized, … Continue reading

Introducing Lonny…

powder room

Every week, interior designer Sally Henninger shares her thoughts on design, furniture and the custom made world. Those of you who follow design have surely heard about Lonny, a relatively new interior design magazine available online.   It is a great … Continue reading

Andrew Pitts – FurnitureMaker and Murphy’s Fine Woodworking take Honorable Mentions in Design Portfolio Contest

2009 Residential Furnishings, Mission Living Room and Dining Room by Murphy's Fine Woodworking at CustomMade.com

CustomMade has been well represented in Custom Woodworking Business Magazine’s long running Design Portfolio Contest.  In February, we congratulated CustomMade subscribers Culin & Colella, Inc., for winning the 2010 Design Portfolio Award for the Residential Furniture Built-In Category.  We have … Continue reading

“Free Form” Rustic Furniture

Rustic Madrona Occasional Chair by Rustic Wood Creations at CustomMade.com

Guest blogger Keith Keyser of Rustic Wood Creations reflects on his development as a rustic furniture maker and how an appreciation for the character of wood and attention to balance and harmony in each piece define his style. I guess … Continue reading

Five Reasons to Buy Custom

Spiral Staircase by Artisan Woodworking at CustomMade.com

Are you trying to decide if buying custom is right for you?    CustomMade.com subscriber Robert Sproll of Artisan Woodworking notes that most people who buy custom have projects with one or more of the following requirements. 1.  Special Size Requirements … Continue reading

Handmade Art Deco Furniture

South Beach Miami Art Deco Bed by Joel Liebman Furniture at CustomMade.com

Every week, interior designer Sally Henninger shares her thoughts on design, furniture and the custom made world. Having just returned from a fabulous trip to Miami, a city renowned for its art deco architecture, I thought it fitting to write … Continue reading

Woodworking Tip: Finishing a Root Ball or Tree Stump

Pine Table and Stools by Greater Yellowstone Furniture and Designs at CustomMade.com

Guest contributor Gene Nellis of Greater Yellowstone Furniture and Designs writes that after people find a root ball or tree stump they know will make a beautiful table or lamp he is often asked how to finish it.  Here is … Continue reading

Welcome Spring…

Outdoor Teak Table by Westchester Wood at CustomMade.com

Every week, interior designer Sally Henninger shares her thoughts on design, furniture and the custom made world. With winter ending and the weather warming comes the anticipation of being outdoors, and I believe everyone with a yard needs some nice … Continue reading

Dynamic Design With 3-D

Anvil Conference Table

For custom furniture clients, seeing their idea for a piece of furniture come to life is an important part of the appeal of having it custom made.  Guest blogger Jason Andrew Hernandez of Jason Andrew Designs shares his experience with … Continue reading

Am I Green Enough?

Table for My Tribe by Works in Wood at CustomMade.com

A recent project inspired guest blogger Erik Wolken of Works in Wood to consider what it means to be a green builder of custom benches and custom “green” furniture.  Rather than following an abstract – or expensive – definition, he … Continue reading

One of the CustomMade.com Founders visits the Paradise City Fair of Fine and Functional Art

Seth Rosen with Rob Porcaro, Designer-Craftsman in Wood. Check out Rob's portfolio on CustomMade.com

Today my fiancee Lisa and I had the pleasure of visiting with several custom metal workers, furniture makers, and custom glass and ceramic artists at the Paradise City Fairs of Fine and Functional Art in Marlborough, Massachusetts. The show was … Continue reading

Going Green: Using reclaimed boards and barn beams in your home renovation

Reclaimed barn beams from Boards & Beams Co. at CustomMade.com

Every week, interior designer Sally Henninger shares her thoughts on design, furniture and the custom made world. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, I thought it’d be fun this week to write about “green” design.  From paint to flooring, there … Continue reading

Tool Making for Restoration Work

making a scraper plane

“Antique restoration can sometimes require a little ingenuity,” writes guest blogger David Merrill of Creative Wood Work.  Especially when you need to make the right tool for the job yourself. When repairing the edge molding on an old dresser drawer, … Continue reading

Mass High Tech Features CustomMade.com in “The Pitch”

masshightech.com

Today’s article by Brendan Lynch at Mass High Tech discusses  CustomMade.com and our purchase of the website from the former owner last year.  The article mentions that we are interested in moving into custom metal work, custom textiles, and custom glass, … Continue reading

VentureBeat article on CustomMade moving artisans to the web

venturebeat.com

Anthony Ha of VentureBeat also got a chance to speak to president Mike Salguero about CustomMade.com.  His article focuses on the difference between CustomMade and sites like Etsy, Zazzle or Blue Nile.  Mike goes on to describe what CustomMade has … Continue reading

VentureBeat Article

venturebeat-developer1

Today’s article by Anthony Ha at VentureBeat discusses our mission here at CustomMade.com and how we differ from other marketplaces for hand-crafted and/or customized products. We’ve said it before and we say it again in the article – we believe custom is a service, … Continue reading

For North Bennet Street: A Benefit Exhibition of Studio Furniture

Richard Oedel, North Bennet Street School alumnus and CustomMade artisan

The North Bennet Street School in Boston’s North End, one of the oldest crafts training programs in the country, has announced that Boston’s Gallery NAGA will host the exhibition, “For North Bennet Street: A Benefit Exhibition of Studio Furniture,” featuring handmade … Continue reading

Where Art Thou Custom Breakfast Table?!

Mahogany Sheraton Elliptical Breakfast Table by William Thomas, Cabinetmaker, at CustomMade.com

Every Thursday, interior designer Sally Henninger shares her thoughts on design, furniture and the custom made world. Am I the only one left completely in love with breakfast tables?! Think Sunday morning, the New York Times, and a cup of … Continue reading

What Types of Wood Are Best for my Custom Furniture or Custom Cabinets?

Spiral Staircase by Artisan Woodworking at CustomMade.com

Selecting the type of wood you want for your custom furniture or cabinets is exciting, but how do you pick the wood best suited for your needs?  Guest contributor Robert Sproll of Artisan Woodworking offers some specific questions to consider … Continue reading

Why You Cannot Find What You Want at the Furniture Store

City Shaker Hall Table by Accolade Furniture at CustomMade.com

Guest contributor Randy Maxey explains why finding a special piece of furniture can be difficult in a typical furniture store and how using CustomMade.com can help you find what you’re looking for. “If you’ve spent a lot of time looking … Continue reading

A girl and her dollhouse (my early love affair with custom made)

Louis Chairs by J Rivers Furniture & Millwork at CustomMade.com

Every Thursday, interior designer Sally Henninger shares her thoughts on design, furniture and the custom made world. Like many passions, my love of interior design began at an early age.  After receiving a dollhouse from an older cousin, I remember … Continue reading

And the winner is

Orca Coffee Table

Congratulations to Bryce Van Dyke, winner of the 2010 CustomMade.com Design Challenge! His Orca Coffee Table is amazing and he has won the opportunity to work with one of our woodworkers to have it custom made for him using Rockler … Continue reading

Custom Made with Exotic Wood from Africa

A Live Edge Frame and Panel Bubinga Desk by Chesapeake Cabinet and Woodworks at CustomMade.com

Exotic Wood Furniture.  Consider having your next custom furniture project custom made with exotic wood from Africa.  “When people hear the word exotic they first think expensive, but that is not always the case.  There are some that are absolutely … Continue reading

The Olympics Show World-Class Athletes With World-Class Custom Items

Olympic Rings

The Vancouver 2010 Olympics in Whistler, British Columbia, are in their 3rd week.  Just a few days of hair-raising moments and inspiring feats by athletes from around the world remain.  Despite the early tragic death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, … Continue reading

It’s All in the Details

Detail from the Gamble House Dining Table by Darrell Peart Furnituremaker at CustomMade.com

We asked subscriber Darrell Peart of Darrell Peart Furnituremaker to write about how he executes the features of Greene & Greene style.  Mr. Peart delves into the details and reveals the importance of order, hierarchy, and time in the Greene … Continue reading

Design Challenge 2010 – Vote Now!

CustomMade Design Challenge

Cast your vote now for the best original design in the 2010 CustomMade Design Challenge! We asked you to design a piece of furniture that you’d like to have custom made by one of our woodworkers and you sent us … Continue reading

Why I’m a Custom Made Guy

Mike Salguero, President of CustomMade.com

When my partner Seth and I tell people about the company we are building, they often say, “Custom woodworking – that’s an odd business for two guys from Boston…are you guys woodworkers?” Our answer is, of course, no.  We are … Continue reading

See Tony O’Malley tomorrow in the Buildoff!

Home Library with Window Seat by Tony O'Malley Custom Cabinetry at CustomMade.com

Starting tomorrow, February 17, 2010, Fine Woodworking author and CustomMade.com subscriber, Tony O’Malley will be taking part in a 3-day building competition – the Buildoff.  He’ll compete with Gary Striegler at Fine Homebuilding to make a mudroom built-in.  (Apartment Therapy readers might remember … Continue reading

Custom Artisans Bring Out the Beauty of Nature Within Wood

Figured 3-D Cherry

What is the relationship of the artisan to nature? What is the artisan’s responsibility to nature? Guest blogger John P. Rose of Custom Furniture Creations discusses the philosophy that guides his craft. The main philosophy of Custom Furniture Creations is … Continue reading

Built-in Cabinetry for Your Flat-Screen TV

A 52" flat screen surrounded by books. Widescreen TV Cabinet and Library by Tony O'Malley Custom Woodworking at CustomMade.com

“Now that you’ve bought that new flat-screen TV you face the problem: where am I going to put it?”  If you’re facing this dilemma, guest blogger Tony O’Malley of Tony O’Malley Custom Woodworking has some suggestions for your consideration. Your … Continue reading

Eco-Friendly Custom Furniture – How to be Green with your furniture

Find bathroom vanities made from reclaimed wood and other recycled materials on CustomMade.com

Commissioning eco-friendly custom furniture can be a wonderful way to help the environment and decorate your home beautifully all at the same time. But what does “eco-friendly” mean when you are commissioning custom furniture?  Guest blogger Douglas Bialor, owner of … Continue reading

Design Challenge 2010 – Deadline Extended!

CustomMade Design Challenge

We’ve been truly amazed by the incredible entries received so far for the CustomMade.com Design Challenge sponsored by Rockler Woodworking and Hardware. In fact, we’ve enjoyed seeing these designs so much, we’ve decided to extend the challenge one more week – … Continue reading

Culin & Colella, Inc. win 2010 Design Portfolio Award for Residential Furniture Built-In!

Residential Furniture Built-In Winner: Butternut Entertainment Center by Culin & Colella, Inc., at CustomMade.com

Congratulations are in order to CustomMade.com subscribers Culin & Colella, Inc., winners of the 2010 Design Portfolio Award for Residential Furniture Built-In! Winning Project: Entertainment Center This entertainment center features butternut solids and veneers and carved elements.  The size of … Continue reading

Design Challenge 2010 – Sneak Peek!

CustomMade Design Challenge

There are two weeks left to enter the CustomMade.com 2010 Design Challenge (sponsored by Rockler Woodworking and Hardware) but already we’ve been amazed by the entries.  We can tell that a lot of thought went into the unique and creative … Continue reading

Woodworkers and other Custom Providers Get their Due

Wired Magazine - Feb 2010

Wired Magazine says we’re “The New Industrial Revolution” This weekend I received my Feb 2010 Wired Magazine in the mail and was thrilled to see the cover story, “The New Industrial Revolution” written by editor-in-chief Chris Anderson.  Informative and inspiring, it portrayed … Continue reading

CustomMade.com Design Challenge 2010 – Official Rules and Regulations

CustomMade Design Challenge

OFFICIAL RULES AND REGULATIONS No Purchase Necessary The following are the official rules for the CustomMade.com Design Challenge 2010 (“Challenge”): 1. Sponsors: The Challenge is sponsored by CustomMade Ventures Corporation, located at 99 First Street, Cambridge, MA 02141 and Rockler Woodworking … Continue reading

InternetRetailer.com announces our alliance with Rockler.

Rockler Woodworking and Hardware

Rockler Woodworking forms an alliance with CustomMade Ventures Jan 20, 2010 by Mark Brohan Retailer Rockler Woodworking has announced an alliance with Hardware and CustomMade Ventures, an online marketplace for woodworkers, designed to generate more sales for Rockler while providing … Continue reading

Design and Win Custom Made Furniture

CustomMade Design Challenge

THE ENTRIES ARE IN!  VOTE NOW FOR YOUR FAVORITE. Have you been looking for the perfect piece of furniture for your home or office but can’t seem to find what you need? Think you could design it better than the … Continue reading

Custom Furniture in Art Nouveau Style

Art Nouveau Bed Carving by William Doub Custom Furniture at CustomMade.com

William Doub Custom Furniture designs and builds exquisite Art Nouveau style furniture and architectural interiors.  We asked them to give us a bit of history on the Art Nouveau style and its impact on furniture design. DEFINITION AND HISTORY OF … Continue reading

How to Commission Furniture Built For You

Monogram and Anniversary Date

You need a display cabinet for your prized art-work?  Or you want the same desk that your brother inherited?  An elegant bed or a one of a kind music stand?  It’s possible to have furniture built to meet your specific needs. Guest blogger … Continue reading