How to Use a Luxury Furniture Catalogue in a Project: From Product Codes to Custom Specifications
A luxury furniture catalogue is best used as a library of proven starting points. Designers and procurement teams pick a code for its form and construction, then adjust size, materials and finishes to the project and confirm everything on a specification sheet before ordering. Treating catalogue pages as fixed products, or as loose inspiration, both lead to problems later.
This guide sets out a five-step method for working from a catalogue, explains how catalogues fit into tenders, lists the mistakes that cause most specification disputes and gives an overview of the six catalogues Sagist Group publishes.
Key takeaways
A catalogue code identifies a design and its construction, not the final product.
Record every change to size, material and finish against the original code.
Ask for specification sheets before putting codes in a schedule or tender.
In tenders, name the code as a reference standard, not only a picture.
Choose the catalogue that matches the project type and its compliance needs.
Why a catalogue code is a starting point
Each code in a manufacturer's catalogue stands for a design whose frame, joints, proportions and comfort have already been resolved. That is valuable: the designer does not have to engineer a chair from nothing, and the client benefits from a piece that has been made before. But a luxury project rarely uses a piece exactly as photographed. A hotel lobby needs a larger sofa; a villa dining room needs a different timber; a restaurant needs a contract fabric that meets local fire-safety rules.
So the code carries the design DNA, and the project specification records how that DNA is adapted.
A five-step method from page to purchase order
Following these steps in order keeps a clear line between the catalogue reference and the final, approved product.
Step 1, shortlist: select codes by form, scale and style for each room or area
Step 2, adapt: note required changes to dimensions, timber, metal finish, fabric or leather and stone
Step 3, request specification sheets: overall and seat dimensions, materials, construction, finish codes, fire-safety compliance, weight and packing size
Step 4, sample: approve finishes and, for repeated or critical pieces, a prototype
Step 5, schedule: enter each item in the FF&E schedule with its code, modifications, quantity and location
Naming modified items
A simple suffix convention avoids confusion: the original catalogue code followed by a project modifier, for example the base code plus a short project tag and revision letter. Everyone, from designer to installer, can trace what changed and why.
What to ask for in a specification sheet
A good specification sheet answers the questions that photographs cannot:
Overall dimensions and, for seating, seat height, depth and arm height
Frame material and joint construction
Upholstery build-up: foam densities, springs, fabric or leather reference and abrasion rating
Finish codes for timber, lacquer, metal and stone
Fire-safety standard met, according to the project's requirement
Weight, packed volume and assembly requirements
Warranty and maintenance notes
Using catalogues in tenders
When a tender package references items from a manufacturer's furniture catalogues, include the code, the specification sheet and the approved modifications, not just an image. This tells competing bidders the standard of construction and finish expected and makes proposals comparable. If alternatives are acceptable, say so and state the performance criteria any equal must meet: dimensions, materials, abrasion rating, fire-safety standard and warranty.
For large hospitality tenders, the catalogue code also helps value engineering. A manufacturer can propose a modification of an existing design rather than a new one, which often saves development time while keeping the look.
Common catalogue mistakes
Most specification disputes at delivery trace back to an assumption made months earlier, when a page was marked up and the detail never reached the schedule. The usual culprits are predictable:
Ordering from a photograph without checking dimensions against the room
Changing fabric or foam without re-checking fire-safety compliance
Mixing pieces from different catalogue years without confirming current finishes
Assuming a residential piece is suitable for contract use
Leaving modifications in emails instead of the specification and schedule
The six Sagist Group catalogues
Sagist Group publishes its collections as PDF catalogues, available together on the luxury furniture catalogue page. Each one serves a different type of project:
Hotel catalogue: guest rooms, suites, lobby, restaurant and public-area furniture for hotel and resort FF&E projects
Home & Villa catalogue: living, dining, bedroom and fitted pieces for private residences and multi-villa estates
Restaurant catalogue: chairs, tables, banquettes and bar seating for commercial dining
Office catalogue: executive desks, boardroom tables, reception desks and lounge seating
Classic catalogue: hand-carved, gilded and marquetry pieces in traditional styles, linked to the classic furniture collection
Company Profile: the company's turnkey process, production facilities and reference project locations
Beyond the pages
Every catalogue item can be adapted, and many projects combine catalogue pieces with fully bespoke designs. Sagist Group produces both in its own Istanbul factories, so a modified catalogue chair and a custom reception desk share the same finishes and quality control.
Frequently asked questions
Can I change the size of a piece in a luxury furniture catalogue?
In most cases, yes. Luxury manufacturers treat catalogue designs as starting points and can adjust dimensions, materials and finishes. Larger changes may need new shop drawings or a prototype, and proportions should be checked so the design still looks right. Record every change against the original code on the specification sheet.
What is a furniture specification sheet?
A specification sheet is the technical record of a furniture item: dimensions, frame material and construction, upholstery build-up, finish codes, fabric or leather references with abrasion rating, fire-safety compliance, weight, packing and warranty. It turns a catalogue picture into a precise, orderable product and is essential for FF&E schedules and tenders.
How should catalogue items be specified in a tender?
Include the catalogue code, the specification sheet and any approved modifications, not just an image. If you accept alternatives, define the performance criteria an equal must meet, such as dimensions, materials, abrasion rating, fire-safety standard and warranty. This makes competing bids comparable and protects the design intent.
Are residential catalogue pieces suitable for hotels?
Not automatically. Hotel and restaurant use demands stronger frames, contract-grade fabrics, durable finishes and compliance with the fire-safety standard at the project location. A residential design can often be re-engineered for contract use, but confirm construction, upholstery and certification with the manufacturer first.
Should I mix catalogue furniture with bespoke pieces in one project?
Yes, this is common and often the most efficient approach. Proven catalogue designs cover repeated items such as guest-room chairs or dining seating, while bespoke pieces handle signature elements like reception desks, bars or fitted joinery. Ordering both from one manufacturer keeps timber tones, lacquer sheen and metal finishes consistent across the interior.
How do I download the Sagist Group catalogues?
All Sagist Group catalogues are available as PDFs on the catalogue page of hotelmobilya.com: Hotel, Home & Villa, Restaurant, Office and Classic, plus the Company Profile. For specification sheets, finishes or adaptations of a particular item, contact the team with the catalogue code and your project details.
Turn catalogue codes into a project specification
Download the collections from the Sagist Group catalogues, shortlist the codes that suit your project and send them with your drawings through the contact page. The team will return specification sheets and adaptation options, or you can share your shortlist on WhatsApp.
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