the commission process

To commission a piece of furniture is, in so many ways, a collaborative effort involving both the person wanting it made and the person making it. This synthesis allows both the buyer and the maker to express themselves through the creation of an entirely unique piece of furniture.

Important considerations include function, dimensions, stylistic features, and the type of materials to be used. After reviewing all this, a ballpark price is prepared. Sometimes this can be offered on the spot. Most often, however, an estimate will require somewhere between a few days and a week.

Draft drawings are the next step, both rough pencil sketches and also CAD drafts in scale. At this point it may also be beneficial to make scale models to better assess proportions and other design details. There may be a fee for these, depending on the difficulty of the project. This would be due once the ballpark figure is accepted.

Once the drawings are okayed and signed off on, a finalized price is provided. At that point, and before actual construction can begin, a fifty percent deposit is required. Timelines are clarified at this point as well.

Studio visits can be scheduled once construction begins. Indeed, there are often stylistic considerations that arise during the building of the piece where input from the client is necessary. For out-of-town clients, digital photos of work in progress can be electronically transferred.

Once the piece is finished, the final payment, including any shipping costs, is due prior to pickup, delivery, or shipment.