How To Value Custom Furniture | Think Differently | Context Matters
Is it possible that most people think about custom furniture in the wrong way?
Are you comparing the cost to the cost of a big box store or online retailer?
Do you find that a dining room table is just a dining table? Well, it is until you have the whole family over and it is inadequate.
In no way should everyone have a custom hand built dining room table, however for those who cherish the moments at that table for special occasions and day to day use, it really does matter. Time spend with loved ones is what all of us crave. Choose wisely.
Here’s a way to think about a custom furniture investment differently, perhaps more wisely:
Many people come to the great State of Colorado for a ski vacation. Let’s look at some costs for a family of 4 for a week of skiing. All costs are conservative:
How do you value?
Airfare: $1200
Car rental: $1000
Lodging: $4000
Food: $1000
Lift tickets: $3500
Time: 168 hours total, including sleeping time (1 week)
That’s around $10,000 for a week’s vacation. It’s a great experience for that week. Memories will be made. And if you want to enjoy skiing again next year it will cost at least as much. Lift ticket prices never go down. But all in all, a great way to spend a week.
Now let’s look at a dining table. Let’s say it’s for an eat-in kitchen that you use for family dinner nightly.
Design fees for a unique piece that represents your vision: $1200
Build costs for an involved, one of a kind work of art: $8000
Time used (per year): 1 hour per night for family dinner, not including other meals, homework time, etc, for 250 nights per year: 250 hours
Cost to use the table next year, and the year after and on and on: $0
From a purely financial standpoint the vacation is a total bust. Way too much money for the time spent.
Change the context, reap the rewards
Why do we spend money on vacations? For the emotional experience. Because we’re raised to work hard and treat ourselves with a small break. To see other places. To create meaningful memories.
From a financial standpoint the kitchen table makes much more sense. The hourly cost to have a good experience (depending on your cooking) eventually drops to pennies. But many will view $9200 as ridiculous or unaffordable. Why? Because of context. You can go to Ikea and get a dining table for a few hundred dollars. Or to a box furniture store for a couple of thousand. You’re still eating on a table.
And that’s ok. But from our family experiences and years of crafting hand built furniture, it is important to look deeper and realize what you may be missing. Change the context.
Why not take that ski vacation to a midwest hill and save a lot of money? Because the experience is not the same. It’s not as impactful. The mountains don’t have as much meaning. It’s not the best you can get.
The willingness to invest in your lifestyle and in your home is a conscious decision that is not for everyone. It’s about thinking differently and looking at the context in ways that compliment your lifestyle choices.
You’ll see that kitchen table every day. You’ll use it every day. For years. Or generations. (See a previous post on generational furniture) How many jack o’lanterns will be carved at that table? How many birthday candles will be blown out? How will you feel having a family center tailored exactly to you?
And the best part, since you will be immersed in the design and creativity of that work of art, it is a personal statement for how much you plan on utilizing that with your loved ones. Something to ponder…..