The Boathouse Home: The custom design process

We are talking all things custom interiors at The Boathouse Home this month!

Pip and Suzie from our design team talk us through the design process for custom interiors, and how a room can be brought to life with bold and colourful custom prints.

How do you come up with an idea for a custom piece?

We are always inspired by the fabrics first! We visit a range of fabric wholesalers across Sydney, to find a mix of classic and designer fabrics.

Are there particular patterns that you look for when sourcing fabrics?

We are drawn to bold prints, bright colours, and fabrics with signature Boathouse novelties such as palms, fruits and sea creatures. We love unique patterns that are a bit fun!

After deciding on fabrics, how do they come together?

If we are designing a cushion for example, we will firstly match the fabrics. We love pairing a fun fabric with a coloured stripe backing for cushions, as it provides the option to flip it over for a slightly different look! We also love to use the same fabric on different custom pieces to create a theme throughout the home. For the final touch, we add piping around the edge to either bring out one of the colours in the fabric pattern or add a pop of colour with a contrasting colour. We then send our fabric and measurements to our local upholsterer.

How do you style custom pieces in the home?

We love to mix different fabrics and textures to create a welcoming space, with custom pieces as a talking point. Styling in a fun and unexpected way is our go-to!