Having trouble finding the right product that perfectly suits your needs? Good news, our Bay Area Made community includes skilled makers and artisans who can create made-to-order goods such as furniture, lighting, decor, kitchen & tabletop, clothing, jewelry, bags, accessories, food, beverages, and body products. Whether you need a custom or customized solution for aesthetic or functional reasons, or both, we got you covered. In this series we’re calling “Have it Your Way” we highlight some outstanding bespoke projects from our members. Here is the first installment.
Bespoke Watch Projects
John McConnico recently added a natural extension to his custom offerings called “From Track to Wrist: Automotive Editions from Bespoke Watch Projects”. It’s a celebration of cars and their owners, incorporating materials & processes unique to each commission. In addition to his existing made-to-order options, he now creates timepieces tailored to a client’s automobile.
One custom design was commissioned by an Oakland-based car collector, wishing to complement his ’90’s-vintage Acura NSX and its unique “Midnight Pearl” color. The vibrant metallic enamel was applied directly onto the dial—implementing high-contrast engraving to expose the polished brass substrate. Inspired by the instrument cluster itself, the dial layout utilized motifs and custom typography that feels both familiar and unique to the driver. Also fitted with a handmade bridle leather strap (with red edging to match the details of the interior livery) the timepiece is a distinctive heirloom that honors a time, place, and its owner.
This collaborative and “handmade” approach are what John has always loved about doing bespoke commissions, capturing the needs & qualities of each client while creating timepieces that balance old & new, celebrating both a heritage and the unconventional.
SKINNY
SKINNY is a modern craft and design studio specializing in uniquely woven ceramics. Founder Susan McKinney’s mission is to connect people to the wonders of the natural world. Her work is known for its organic style that is at once airy and structural. Objects range from baskets, lighting, jewelry to wall hangings.
For the group exhibit “Friendly Tides” earlier this year at the Frank Lloyd Wright designed Marin County Civic Center, Susan created a wall hanging tapestry inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright’s approach to designing buildings in harmony with their surrounding landscape. The colors, shapes and patterns are designed to weave into the architecture and details of the building.
The tapestry was invited to permanently reside in the place that inspired its inception. It’s hanging on the second floor near the cafeteria – you can visit it Monday-Friday from 9am-5pm. Marin County Civic Center, 3501 Civic Center Drive, San Rafael.
Medium Small
Medium Small is a San Francisco-based creative studio operating at a variety of scales. Their work is focused on furniture, lighting, and specialty fabrication. They realize their collections, custom commissions, and in-situ buildouts through modern methodologies, employing a combination of handcrafted techniques, industrial tooling, and CAD and CAM software.
All their designs are “semi-customizable” and are capable of being scaled and adapted to fit a desired need. They do this by working within a design motif that is established early in the design process.
One example of this is their Tres Collection of tables which has long been offered in two sizes – an 18″ diameter circle, and a 20″x46″ racetrack oval shape – both with steel bases and feet that thread into the underside. The threaded foot can be adjusted to any length, meaning that these table sizes can be made in almost any height specification.
They have created numerous custom iterations of the Tres Collection, notably a pair of elegantly functional waste bins with towel holders on the top surface for this stunning bathroom.
Are you looking to have something custom made? Check out our directory of makers that can create a bespoke product for you here.
