CustomMade’s adventure-hungry Biz Dev. Team presents their custom favorites

Last week the Development Team shared their favorite custom finds of the season. From gourd lamps to bejeweled swords, these computer guys highlighted quite a range of funky, functional custom stuff. This week we’re taking it across the hall to “the other side” of CustomMade’s headquarters, the sunny side where lilting reggae jams keep the beat of the buzzing CustomMade Business Development team.

Eric Toczko heads the Biz Dev. team.

Eric Tozco's favorite custom finds this season are Out of the Blue Design Studio's psychedelic blown glass knobs

You’ll spot him around the office sporting bright colors and cowboy boots, his motorcycle waiting outside in the warm weather, so it’s not surprising that his favorite custom item this season is both colorful and beachy:

Eric loves this Beach Door Nob by Alex Matheson of Out of the Blue Design Studio - it's made hand-blown glass, and it's available on CustomMade

“I’ve always been very fond of Alex Mattheson’s work—especially this Beach Doorknob. The reason I like it so much is because it’s a marvel to look at. And I’ve never seen an artisan turn blown glass into a functional piece the way he does. Maybe I’ll get one for my new pad…”

Melanie Quinn, Biz Dev. rep extraordinaire, also likes custom pieces that pay homage to nature.

The marvelous Melanie Quinn digs Chrysalis Woodworks amazing carvings - and Maker Sabiha Mujtaba shows some real girl power!

Her favorite project is a Carved Wall Art Sculpture by Chrysalis Woodworks.

Mel loves this carved wall art sculpture of a tree by Chrysalis Woodworks, available on CustomMade.com

“I have always loved this piece, but I only recently read about the process. Seeing as Sabiha had never done a project like this one before, there was a lot of trial and error. She finally decided to carve a tree out of buckeye wood, local to the region. She had to layer the wood and add branches in her shop, and then take 2 days to install. The final result is seamless. I think the placement by the window is key, and I love how some branches disappear into the wall.”

Mel’s favorite custom sculpture of a tree is realistic down to the knots in the wood; rep Loic Lamb’s favorite custom find is also all about knots, but to a very different effect!

Loic Lamb favors Maker Kino Guerin - his sweeping designs will throw anyone for a loop!

The Why Knot bench by Kino Guerin is a bent laminated piece with a real knot in the middle. Loic likes it because “… it’s contemporary and different than most benches on the site. Plus the guys french.” There’s no question that there’s something cool about working with a Maker who you have things in common with…

This custom bent laminated "Why Knot" bench by Kino Guerin is available through CustomMade.com

Steve Bears worked in the music industry for many years before joining CustomMade’s Business Development team, so his taste in custom guitars is truly expert.

Steve Bears, known affectionately around CustomMade as "The Bear Claw" - is a former music store owner and a custom guitar aficionado

His favorite custom guitar on the site right now is the China Guitar by Larry Robinson.

This museum-worthy custom inlaid China Guitar by Larry Robinson is available on CustomMade.com

“This guitar is a stunning piece of artwork yet is still a functional guitar. I think the inlay work on this instrument is jaw dropping. While I don’t think you would ever use this for a smoky bar room gig it could be a center piece in a fabulous guitar collection. This is a great example of “future vintage” or heirloom art piece. I was recently looking at the musical instrument collection at the Museum of Fine Arts Boston. There were some very ornate and wonderful guitars, lutes and harpsichords that were 100 to 300 years old. I could easily imagine this guitar in the museum’s collection. It would easily hold its own in that amazing room of musical instruments that were commissioned long ago by the rich, royal, and famous of their time.”

Last but not least, rep. Brian Toczko rounds out the Business Development Team’s favorite custom finds with another Asian-inspired eye-catching creation.

Brian Tozco, or "B-Tozc", brings us home with a fire-breathing custom finale...

“Liam Tower makes one heck of a copper dragon,” says Brian, “it always catches my eye. Four-hundred hours of work, using only copper sheet metal. And it’s reasonably priced so I think we should get one for the office!” Brian adds that the benefits of a custom copper dragon pet in our office include keeping common folk away, scaring medieval crows away (Cambridge, MA is full of those this time of year ) and that last but not least, it’s fire resistant!

This Copper Statue of a dragon by Liam Tower show the fierce possibilities that await you when you start shopping custom...

Well, the Biz Dev. Team certainly has an eclectic and wild style palette…their attitude is, “if you’re gonna buy custom, let it be an adventure!”

…Stay tuned next week to hear the consensus on show-stopping custom finds from other CustomMade departments!