Creating a functional yet beautiful family home is no small feat, but oversized custom furniture can make all the difference. When thoughtfully designed, these pieces not only suit the scale of a home but also enhance day-to-day life. They support everything from casual family gatherings to formal entertaining. In this post, we’ll explore why crafting custom oversized furniture alongside your designer is such a powerful design choice. To do so, we will reference two of our LUDC projects: the oversized living room furniture in our Lakeside Transitional project and the dining room furniture in our Braeswood Place project.
How Custom Furniture Surpasses Anything You Could Purchase in a Shop
In homes with unique architecture and floor plans, the standard furnishings on display at your local store typically will not do. Whether a console table or a breakfast nook bench, these pieces rarely match the size, scale, and shape that your specific space requires.
Oversized furnishings have risen in popularity over the last few years—especially as they made debuts in celebrity interiors. However, the furnishings you select should have a greater purpose than just filling a room; they should not be reduced to this! Your primary goal (and your designer’s) should be to create or select pieces that enhance the way you live. Let’s explore why larger, bespoke designs are worth the investment within this context.
They Are Optimized for Family Life
Large families (especially multigenerational homes and those with frequent houseguests) need large furniture. Oversized custom pieces ensure everyone has a seat at the table (or on the sofa), thereby creating comfortable, connected living spaces where families can come together in meaningful ways. In our Lakeside Transitional project, a pair of custom Vanguard sectionals define two distinct zones — one for lounging, one for gathering — while keeping the space cohesive and serene.
They Seamlessly Integrate the Space
Custom furniture — especially when designed to suit a specific space — anchors a room by establishing clear zones without the need for walls. It helps define the flow of open-concept spaces to ensure that even the largest rooms feel purposeful and well-organized.
This is especially true in projects like Braeswood Place, where a custom El Dorado Wood live-edge dining table and House + Town dining chairs define the dining area without interrupting the visual flow from the kitchen and other living spaces.
They Are Durable and Designed to Last
Crafted from high-quality materials that withstand the wear and tear of family life, custom furniture is designed to last. This makes it a much more sustainable choice than an item you might purchase from the stock room of a store. Custom pieces are designed to age gracefully and can even become cherished family heirlooms.
They Suit Unique Spaces
As noted above, if you worked with an architect to design a custom home, few ready-to-buy products plopped in your online cart will fit alcoves, dining spaces, or entryways perfectly. Oversized pieces can be tailored to fit challenging layouts, awkward corners, or expansive open areas. This flexibility is a major advantage in custom design as it allows homeowners to fully utilize every part of their living space.
They Have Visual Presence
Oversized custom furniture commands attention and can transform everyday rooms into stunning, memorable spaces. These pieces are both functional furniture and sculptural statements that reflect the personality and style of a home.
For example, the live-edge slab at Braeswood Place is a dining table, certainly, but it is also a work of art that celebrates the natural beauty of wood and the craftsmanship of its maker. Framed by views of the garden just beyond, it is an instant focal point and conversation starter. With its bold proportions and organic form, it anchors the dining room and defines the wide, open space without the need for walls.
Taking a Closer Look at Lakeside Transitional: Defining Zones with Custom Sectionals
Our Lakeside Transitional living room posed a fun design challenge: how to take full advantage of the lake views, accommodate a TV, and create plenty of seating for a large, close-knit family. Our solution was to create a pair of custom Vanguard sectionals that define two distinct zones — one for lounging, one for gathering — while keeping the space cohesive and serene. These oversized sofas not only provide ample seating but also create a clear division of space without the need for walls to maintain an open, airy feel that showcases the lake views.
Our Favorite Elements of This Project
Deep seats and plush cushions make the sectionals perfect for family movie nights.
The fabric, finish, and overall form were selected to complement the home’s lakeside location, with tones that reflect the water and sky.
Each sectional helps define a different functional area while maintaining a cohesive design.
Taking a Closer Look at Braeswood Place: Bringing the Dining Room to Life
This entire dining room at Braeswood Place is bespoke. To anchor this expansive space, we selected a custom El Dorado Wood live-edge tabletop paired with a brass ModShop base. This substantial piece is both a functional dining surface and a natural work of art. Our team adores how its organic edges and rich grain patterns add warmth and character to the room.
Custom furniture does not always mean hand-crafted frames; sometimes it simply means unique upholstery and accents. Here, the dining chairs are equally considered with rift sawn oak frames crafted by House + Town and upholstered in channel-tufted Theo performance leather in Smoke by Allan Knight. These chairs strike the perfect balance between comfort and durability, which them ideal for formal fundraising dinners and daily use alike. Their deep, smoky tones complement the warm hues of the live-edge table to reinforce the organic, grounded aesthetic of the space.
Maintaining cohesion throughout this open-concept area meant positioning a blue console from Lawson Fenning opposite the staircase. Its oak-finished legs and antique brass hardware echo the tones of the dining table base, while the adjacent Johnathan Browning Studio Rameau Linear Chandelier adds an architectural element.
Our Favorite Elements of This Project
The live-edge table is both functional and artistic; it adds both dimension and glamor to this space.
Our selection of high-performance leather ensures the chairs remain beautiful and resilient despite daily use.
The careful pairing of materials and finishes throughout this space creates a cohesive, harmonious aesthetic that feels balanced despite the room’s size.
Understanding the Custom Process: From Concept to Craftsmanship
Creating custom oversized furniture is a deeply collaborative process that blends the creative vision of designers with the skilled craftsmanship of furniture makers like House + Town. As Shannon Smith from Laura U Design Collective explains, this process starts with a celebration of the home. This philosophy at heart, our team designs each piece with intent and care to reflect the unique needs and tastes of each family. Let’s take a closer look at how this process unfolds.
Discovery and Inspiration
The process begins with an exploration of the client’s lifestyle, design preferences, and practical needs. During this phase, designers like Shannon meet with clients to explore inspiration images, fabric swatches, and material samples.
These inspirations might come from a client’s travels, a beloved heirloom, or even a particular view from their home. The goal is to capture the spirit of the space and the family’s personality. We want to be on the same page as the family; to ensure promotion of their unique aesthetics is essential.
Tailoring for Function and Comfort
Once the initial design direction is set, the focus shifts to crafting pieces that fit the scale and function of the home. This is where the flexibility of custom furniture truly shines. Whether it’s creating oversized sectionals for large families, integrating dog beds for beloved pets, or adding hidden storage for busy households, every detail is carefully considered.
Engineering and Prototyping
Once the design is finalized, the build phase begins. This stage includes precise engineering to ensure each piece is not only beautiful but also structurally sound. At House + Town, this means using high-quality materials and traditional techniques like eight-way hand-tied springs for heirloom-quality durability. As Fabian Segura, CEO of House + Town, notes, this level of craftsmanship ensures that each piece can withstand the demands of family life, providing comfort and support for years to come.
The Test Sit
An important part of this process is the “test sit,” where clients have the chance to experience their furniture in its unfinished form. This step lets us fine-tune the firmness of cushions, adjust the height of arms, or even change the depth of a seat to ensure the final piece is perfectly suited to the client’s comfort preferences.
Final Installation
Once the piece is completed, it is carefully delivered and installed in the client’s home, where it evolves into a lasting part of their daily life. These pieces are functional works of art that reflect the family’s aesthetic, lifestyle, and history.
Creating Spaces for Connection with Laura U Design Collective
Ready to transform your home with custom oversized furniture? Contact our team to learn more about our design process and learn how we can help you create the perfect living space.
