When furnishing a home, money and time can often feel like impossible obstacles between having a home that's unique and having one that feels like it's furnished with the same pieces you see everywhere. To save on both, it's Ikea or a big box retailer. The possibility of another option is what excites me about Made.com, a new kind of furniture company I discovered in London.

Founded by Ning Li, Julien Callede and Chloe MacIntosh, it straddles the line between custom-made and straight-off-the-floor furniture, bringing on-trend, yet timeless designs to you at competitive prices.

The idea is simple: the company recruits both new and established designers to create unique pieces exclusively for Made.com. Customers vote for their favorites and the most popular are put into production with the customers receiving a deep direct-from-the-manufacturer discount as a thank you. You can be part of the process by adding your vote to new designs or you can order one of the existing favorites which go into production as soon as there are enough orders, often within a few days. You get the benefits of custom-made -- a unique piece you won't see in every home -- without the custom-made price or wait time. And their offerings aren't limited to a few pieces or a few styles. There's furniture -- tables, sofas, desks and beds -- but there's also lighting, rugs, pillows, coatracks, even a garbage can!

Working with designers from the conception of a piece gives Made.com a leg up on the competition. It allows them to look at all the components that go into the construction of a piece to bring you something that doesn't sacrifice quality because it's manufactured in quantity. While some items comes flat-packed, savings which is reflected both in the cost of the piece and shpping, they're not flimsy. Handles and legs are sturdy and solid, veneers are strong, paints won't chip and the fabrics are quality.

The UK based company, which is always looking for new designers to pair up with, is hoping to expand to the US within the next year. In the meantime, check out their offerings and vote for your favorites at Made.com.

Shown above:
Bouji Chair, available in poppy red and black
Fonteyn Dressing Table, in walnut with red accents
Jonah 2 Seater Sofa, available in berry red or warm grey

Images: Made.com