GOING CUSTOM
When designing a space with specific goals in mind, going custom is often the go to solution. There are so many beautiful, functional options in the retail market, but sometimes its difficult to hit the mark when searching for the right piece. You might find the look, but the size is wrong. Or the function is there, but the color is just not right.
Textiles are one of the most commonly made custom items. From draperies to pillows and beyond, going custom for your textile needs just opens up a whole world of possibilities. For some this can seem stressful, but its easier than you think.
One of my favorite online companies that offers custom textiles is Tonic Living. They have a curated collection of gorgeous fabrics and are always updating their inventory with the newest pattern or weave.
Tonic Living Austin Fabric in Putty and Bridgewater Fabric in Navy
Unlike ordering ready made textiles online, where you won’t see the true color until it arrives, Tonic Living has a sample program that allows you to order squares of your favorite fabrics to check the color, weight and feel of the fabric.
Tonic Living Toulouse in Onyx and Reflect in Sea Grass
Tonic Living creates custom pillows, draperies, roman blinds, and bench seat cushions. They also do custom shower curtains, like the one I had made for my bathroom renovation.
I didn’t want to go with glass in this bathroom. It felt too cold for the space, and it’s a family bathroom, so a curtain offers a little bit of privacy when a kid comes skipping in to brush their teeth while you’re in the shower.
It was very easy as well. I ordered some fabric samples for a small fee and they arrived at my door in a week or so. I picked the one I liked, which was not without difficulty! I could have gone with several options and loved it just as much. Then I took my measurements.
For shower curtains Tonic Living has a standard size of 72″x72″ so if that works for your shower order it up! Otherwise you can request a longer length for that full floor grazing look, or even a custom width if you have a larger area to cover. I have a standard 60″ tub/shower so the 72″ width is perfect for that, you want the fabric to still have a ruffle when fully closed. I did want a longer length, so I measured from where I wanted the top of the curtain to stop, to just a touch above the floor. We don’t have too much splashing here anymore, so the floor length isn’t in any danger of sitting in pools of water.
Using the custom request form on their website, simply fill in the required information and the lovely staff at Tonic Living help you out from there. They send you a quote for the item, ask you about any further customizations (for example the grommet color for a shower curtain) and voila! You’ve got a custom made piece, coming your way!
The softness this curtain adds to the bathroom is just what I was looking for. The modern stripe with the warm wood tones creates a balance between the black and white tiles, offsetting what could be a cold feeling space, and transforming it into a mini spa.
