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The commissioning process Why? There are many reasons to consider commissioning a piece of furniture. At its simplest it involves wanting a piece of a specific size or to fit precisely in a certain location. It can be a need to perform a specific function, such as to house a specific collection. Alternatively it can be the desire for a unique work of art or a statement piece to form the focal point of a room. Often it is a combination of all three. Commissioning a piece of furniture allows the client to get as involved in the design process as he or she wishes. How? It is usually preferable to have at least one face to face meeting with the maker and clients are always welcome at the workshop. Visiting the site where the piece is to be placed is often beneficial especially in the case of larger pieces. This is not always possible and digital photography and e-mails have made the process easier. Initial discussions will involve establishing a design brief and this can be as restrictive or as open as required. The possibilities of different timbers can also be looked at at this early stage. If possible, it is usually better if an approximate budget can be established prior to design and I will usually present a series of designs which range from below to just above the agreed budget. The usual process is that some initial sketches are provided with rough costings and suggested materials. This is refined as necessary until a final design is agreed when a finished drawing is produced together with details of materials, costs etc. How long will it take? Once the final drawings have been agreed upon, the time to completion will be advised and this will depend on the scale of the work involved as well as our existing workload. How much will it cost? Because each piece of furniture is made to order and therefore unique, prices are quoted on an individual basis. Usually there is no charge for initial consultations or design sketches although we do reserve the right to charge expenses for site visits and for final drawings where the commission does not proceed. |
Specialist makers of fine furniture
Traditional craftsmanship
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