Custom Furniture Guide | How To Start

As a custom furniture maker, what are the things I want to know from the first inquiry about a project?

Many times a question comes through the website sounding something like, “I would like to have a thing made, what’s the price range, options and timeline?”

For some people this is a new endeavor, that’s ok, ask away and be prepared to learn about the process and what is necessary for an excellent build that will last years.

For the previous question, none of those questions can be answered until more information is exchanged. Here are some of the initial questions I’ll be asking.

Have you decided on a custom furniture artisan yet? If not, what criteria will you use to decide?

What is the mark of a Craftsman?

While not a common one, this is usually the first question I ask. I don’t want to waste a potential client’s time, nor do I want to waste mine if we’re not going to be a good fit. With a solid website, and potentially word of mouth referrals, you should be able to get a pretty good idea if a particular craftsman will be a good fit for what you’re looking for. Look at their work - does it resonate with you? Read their blogs. Blogs are a good way to understand what is important to a maker and how they go about their craft. Will they get you?

How you’ll decide on a shop is equally important. If price is a priority then you might not be a fit for some shops. These kind of shops know they provide quality work and won’t compromise that to achieve a certain budget. They focus on the long-term value of their craftsmanship and doing what it takes to ensure their clients get what they’re aiming for. If price is not the priority, then what is? Quality? Communication? Timeliness?

Are you looking for a one time transaction? Or will you have future projects as well?

Again, an uncommon question, but one that helps frame the upcoming relationship. There’s no right or wrong here, but a step towards understanding each other. Remember, creating custom furniture that fits you properly is an investment in time, energy and resources for both you and the maker. Starting off on the right foot helps ensure the process works well.

Show me some of your inspiration, what you’re looking for, and what resonates with you.

Starting off with some broad ideas also helps set the groundwork for what’s to come. Some makers don’t do well with curves. Others might not have metalwork in their arsenal. Doing a little homework and starting a scrapbook of photos before you connect with a shop will not only help streamline the process, but will also help you start to narrow down on what will truly fit your goals.

Do you have a design?

In my experience, folks often overlook the time and resources that go into custom furniture design.

If you go into a store, the work has been done already. The piece is in the showroom for you to touch and feel. If you’re picking out wood species or various dimensions of an item online the design work has already been done and the manufacturer has figured out how to make it and usually automate a lot of the manufacture.

What is your inspiration?

But if you’re looking for a truly unique design, keep in mind that it takes time to create the ideas, draw them up, figure out how to make them and so forth.

Design adds to the price of custom furniture, yet it is also what makes it special.

Do you have a general budget range? | Expectations lead to budget

Although firm prices, or even close prices, aren’t possible at this stage, making sure that we’re both in the same financial ballpark is critical at this point. Again, we don’t want to be wasting each others’ time.

I was once asked if I could create an epoxy river table for around $500, as that’s what the potential client had seen something for on Etsy. The slab and epoxy would cost more than $500 for materials alone. Obviously, we weren’t in the same ballpark. In that case we weren’t even in the same sport.

This is not my first question, but it’s important to make sure at the outset that there’s a clear understanding of finances. It reflects a sense of respect for both client and maker. Communication is paramount to a quality outcome or as I’ve heard an equitable exchange of value.

Thinking about these questions ahead of your inquiry with a furniture craftsman will help you hone your process. They set the stage for dealing with the details. And, as we often say, details matter.