Fashion-focused furniture manufacturer just launched a customizable upholstery program

TRUMBULL, Conn. – At the recent High Point Market, Interlude Home debuted Curate: Design You Own, a customizable upholstery program that allows buyers to create sofas and sectionals with numerous size, arm, leg and configuration options.

The website for Interlude Home includes a quote by fashion designer Tom Ford that reads, “Style is very different from fashion; once you find something that works, keep it,” and Interlude’s new program underscores the sentiment.

Through Curate: Design Your Own, buyers can select between two sofa sizes with four arm options, three leg options and wood plinth, as well as sectionals with 28 components, four arm options, three leg options and wood plinth. Additionally, buyers can customize their upholstery with 78 fabric options and eight wood finishes, along with tight or loose back cushions. Each upholstery piece is handcrafted in the company’s Virginia workshop, noted officials.

The introduction of the Curate: Design Your Own program is available to retailers and designers and represents the philosophy of the company’s partners, Carl Philips, CEO, and Wendy King Philips, creative director. The duo say they pair Carl’s business acumen and global network with Wendy’s fashion background to create a unique resource for buyers, adding that their global travels lend inspiration from other cultures. With Curate, they are expanding the company’s customization capabilities to buyers and ultimately end consumers.

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“Curate: Design Your Own is something I’ve envisioned for a long time,” said Carl Philips. “We had the design ideas and skilled craftsmen in our Virginia workshop, so all the tools were in the toolbox. The timing really came down to ensuring customization would be a seamless process. This program broadens our reach by opening Interlude Home to projects with customization as a priority.”

To launch the program, Philips said the company added website tools to simplify customization and build on the Virginia workshop’s strengths. The opportunity to reach new clients with one versatile program supported by existing production capabilities was the key focus, enhanced by the company’s competitive lead times that allow choice without the overhead of stocking every combination.

Wendy Phillips said that while the program was designed to be seamless for buyers, there were challenges prior to rollout.

“The biggest challenge was making every combination feel distinctly Interlude Home, maintaining our elevated modern aesthetic alongside consistent comfort and tailoring,” she said. “Behind the scenes, the program is incredibly complex, but we focused on making the client experience feel simple. Six clear design steps, an intuitive digital tool and hands-on training help make that possible.”

The response at High Point Market was “tremendously encouraging,” said the duo.

“We dedicated our entire front room to Curate: Design Your Own so visitors could experience its comfort, tailoring and versatility firsthand,” said the Philips. “Now we’re helping designers bring it into their projects and listening to their feedback. We already have new components in development and are excited to see the program grow.”