Brandon Smith: The Fear of Bespoke

It’s an interesting road really. The trials and tribulations of decorating one’s own home. To some it instills a sense of fear. To others, excitement. As an interior designer, the idea of putting together a schematic for myself gives me heartburn. I’m too young to have heartburn. 

It might surprise you that even we, the seasoned professionals with access to the amazing, the awesome, have heart palpitations when it comes to our own homes. Believe me, we understand. Finding the perfect, special, absolutely perfect piece that will, in the end, not only make the design but will become the cornerstone of all great designs from there on out. It’s that one objet d’art that personifies the end result. The knick-knack that ensures a design’s front-page coverage. It’s the trophy wife. 

And it keeps us up at night. 

Searching endlessly for our clients. Haunting antique stores, flea markets, backwoods barns in the middle of some place that even the locals can’t pronounce. I’ve said too much already and now I may have to hand in my badge and tape measure.

The reality is that there is one thing that seems to instill an even greater fear in the hearts of our clients. More so, the mere mention of it makes pocketbooks snap shut faster than the watertight doors on a sinking ship. You’re scared that I may say the word BUDGET. And yes, although that too seems to frighten everyone (especially designers) that which I reference is BESPOKE. 

Custom. Commissioned. Hand-crafted to an exacting set of specifications set forth only by the client. Call it what you will but pass the Champagne because the mere mention scares the living…you fill in the blank…out of even the most fearless design aficionado. 

But the truth is, my dear ladies and fine gents, that it shouldn’t be. It hit me several weeks ago while visiting the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance I happened across a Rolls Royce Ghost convertible with sisal floor mats. This wasn’t cashmere or plush carpet but sisal. The stuff of beach homes and Pottery Barn catalogs was here, matting the floor of a $501,000 vehicle. I heard it again when being regaled of tales about a particular client who wanted an all Hermes interior in his Bugatti. Neither vehicle was particularly inexpensive (that’s sarcasm by the way) but it all came down to two very important points–getting exactly what one wanted and the sense of exclusivity that came with proclaiming “I have something you don’t.”

It’s a fabulous concept that can apply to even the smallest of designs. Whether it’s a specially mixed paint color, a small piece of art commissioned by the homeowner’s favorite artist, or my favorite, the chair made with a special depth seat for the homeowner’s abnormally short leg to torso ratio (I’m speaking of myself here).  It’s monogrammed pillow shams. It’s a sofa crafted to a specific width to fit within a special alcove. It’s a dining table with the perfect marquetry top. I don’t mean wavering “I like it but I’m not necessarily in love with it” perfect but “OMG THIS IS THE LOVE OF MY LIFE!!” double exclamation point perfect. 

And one shouldn’t be afraid of perfection.  Even if it does involve two bottles of champagne and a designer’s sanity.

-Brandon Smith

Brandon Smith, LEED AP is an interior designer turned Founder and Principal Editor of DCoopMedia, a San Diego based luxury media firm centered around the best of structural, automotive, nautical and aeronautical interior design. DCoopMedia can be found on Twitter @dcoopsd , via the blog D’Scoop or the recently launched Twitter chat #DesignLux, Thursdays at 4pm ET.