Custom Furniture for Hospitality - Q+A with EoA

Malcolm Berg, is the founder of EoA, a Miami based hospitality design firm. His company focuses on properties within the upper end of the industry, putting him and his team into a unique position to constantly develop ‘wow’ worthy concepts.

For furnishings, Berg said nearly everything his firm creates is custom. That complicates the process, while increasing the need for a strong partner who can execute custom furniture for hospitality. “Everything we do is customized and bespoke, but it is very difficult to do. Samuelson is critical to bringing those designs to life,” says Berg.

 We recently spoke with Berg about why the company is so fixated on custom work and how they can handle so many custom projects. We also learned how Samuelson works with EoA to create finished products that not only impress the guests, but are stylish and durable, while providing a strong ROI for the hotel owner.

Be warned: Secrets revealed below.

Why is there such an emphasis on custom furniture for hotels?

“Everyone wants something original. The world is flat these days, a customer can see a project in Helsinki on a smartphone as fast as looking at a Marriott down the street. That has forced everyone to up the ante with hotel design. Plus, a plethora of lifestyle brands keep coming online because every company has a lifestyle version under their umbrella.

 The last thing they want for those properties is to create cookie cutter designs over and over. Consumers are looking for the latest and greatest in design, graphics, fashion, and every other element they interact with.”

How do you negotiate this new reality?

“We provide architecture and interior design that’s ahead of the curve. We think about where things will go, because if you follow current trends you wind up awash in a sea of sameness.”

“Samuelson is a company that also likes to stay ahead of the curve. The brunt of the work is concepting, having a holistic concept that drills down. It’s not just about the style of the furniture, it’s about look, feel and durability.  They must ensure the wood grain and the finish is the same consistently from one piece of furniture to the next, for example. “

What is the customized product development process like with Samuelson?