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Custom furniture is more attainable than you think

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No longer is custom furniture reserved for folks in the big cities. That’s right, there are plenty of fellow Rhode Islanders right in our neighborhoods that are talented, passionate and just darn good at everything from furniture restoration to custom pieces.

If you have a piece of furniture that you absolutely love, except for the fact that the upholstery is so 1985, then Drew Wheelan of The Seating Arrangement in Peace Dale is your man. He reupholsters structurally sound pieces of furniture, which in turn are kept out of landfills. This also gives you the ability to continue passing down heirloom pieces generation after generation. In addition to these reupholstered pieces, he also makes custom handbags and furniture. With a variety of fabrics available in his shop, you’re sure to find just the right print to make a statement on any piece you choose. 1181 Kingstown Road, Peace Dale. 789-4455

Know all of those gorgeous one-of-a-kind tables you see on HGTV Property Brothers? Well, that kind of luxury is absolutely attainable, and at a reasonable price. David Ellison of the Lorimer Workshop has been making custom tables since 2007 after leaving a 30-year corporate career. Since then he’s created everything from farm, contemporary and industrial tables to ones with a living edge. You can customize anything you would want from the stain and cut to metal and wood leg options.

Need another reason to have this designed and made local? David strives for zero waste in his shop and uses reclaimed wood. He even donates the sawdust to a no-kill horse sanctuary in Scituate. So, you get a one-ofa-kind piece with the knowledge that part of your table is going to a good cause. Guess it’s time to decide which room needs a new table. 610 Manton Avenue, Providence. 714-0014

Imagine if opulence and history had a love child. That is what you get when you step into The Ball & Claw of Newport. It is the exclusive showroom for furniture maker Jeffrey Greene, who specializes in building period pieces in the style of legendary local cabinetmakers from the Townsend and Goddard families. His furniture creations are 18th century American and are historically accurate replicas.

Jeffrey has been making this gorgeous furniture for over 30 years and even occasionally lectures on the historicity of the pieces. While the pieces do take some time to create, the attention to detail will make the final product well worth the wait. 29 America’s Cup Avenue, Newport. 848-5650

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