Even if you aren’t particularly aesthetically inclined, there will be parts of the home that you wish you could tweak – that gap between the store-bought shelves, the empty sloping space could just about fit fitted wardrobes – not in an Architectural Digest-like quest for perfection but just to make things …well… tidier. This quest to optimise space is especially true in urban life, where you know only too well the value of your home’s square footage.
Bespoke Schmidt bedrooms (images above and below):
Perhaps surprisingly, despite potential threat from the impending exit of the UK from the European Union, made to measure furniture is more popular than ever. According to official figures published by in the Office of National Statistics, the second quarter of 2018 saw UK manufacturers produce 4.7% more furniture than in that quarter a year ago, the main driver of which is contract or bespoke furniture for new builds, according to a survey by the organisation of British Furniture Manufacturers.
Even more telling is a recent OnBuy survey of of homeowners, which showed an impressive 53% of respondents would prefer buying ‘bespoke’, rather than shop-bought furniture. When asked why the homeowners would buy bespoke furnishings, the main reason was due to the made to measure service companies provide (51.25%). This was followed by build quality (22.50%), furniture is unique (13.75%), the various guarantee and aftercare services (8.75%) and to have a piece of furniture that is different and to create a statement (3.75%).
A Schmidt living room with custom TV:
One of the leading providers of bespoke furniture solutions is Schmidt, a 60 year old veteran of the custom kitchen and interiors industry and one of the most popular in Europe, chiefly due to its excellent personalised customer service and its range of precision, made-to-measure furniture with over 25 showrooms in the UK alone. A Schmidt spokesperson explains their appeal: “Imagine one more drawer in every unit, without changing the amount of space it takes up on the floor. Imagine furniture that can be adapted to your height, to the height of your ceiling and the depth of your room. One of our key innovations is looking at the 3-D fit in your home; height – worktops adapted to your height reducing backaches and physical strain, width – units that can be adapted to the nearest millimetre at no extra cost and importantly depth for optimising storage space. We also pride themselves on a decade long warranty on units and a 25 year guarantee on hinges and metal parts”.
A style-led Schmidt men’s fitted wardrobe :
Add to this their prize-winning design lab of stylists, engineers and interior architects, a highly rated, reliable delivery and logistics platform (so often underestimated when building a home) and a strong commitment to sustainability (it is the first manufacturer to obtain all four ISO certifications) and it is clear why it is a leader in an industry filled with competitors. “At Schmidt, sustainable development is a reality: processes and materials that respect the environment and health, community spirit and individual well-being. This philosophy has now been rewarded with several accolades and certificates, ” explains the Schmidt spokesperson. But is it affordable? “Our prices are attractive and competitive. Whatever your budget, and at no extra cost, we want you to enjoy Schmidt quality at its very best. Factory-assembled units, thick panels, high-end pan drawers and internal drawers with glass sides, silent buffers, non-slip mats, 24 carcass colours, reliable mechanisms – we have the most exacting quality demands and our units are designed to last.”
An elegant compact Schmidt fitted wardrobe unit :
