Your Specification
The following is a brief, step by step guide on how to commission a piece of bespoke furniture – whether it be through us or someone else (of course, we’d love it to be us!). People approach us for help at different stages of the design process – either they already have a design in mind, or are completely open to suggestions.
These points are just to start you thinking on the kind of specification you’d like for your furniture – once we have established these points we can start on the more creative side:
- Position and Dimensions: Where would you like your fitted furniture: where in the room will it be fitted? What are the rough dimensions?
- Timescale: What is your timescale for the installation of this furniture? Are there any significant factors a cabinet-maker will need to know with regard to the installation time period, for instance, are you having electrical work or decoration carried out? Has the room been decorated or are you about to commence on any redecoration / construction work? If so, should we factor this into our time-line.
- Function: What needs to be stored or displayed and will you be combining storage and display? Are you considering any other function to the units, for example, seating or desk space, or housing for audio visual or ICT equipment?
- Shelving, drawers and cupboards: what will be the maximum height and depth of the items housed? Will it be used for CDs, records or books or anything else? Incorporating a range of height and depth into a shelving design can become a key feature of the design.
- Budget: where you do have a budget in mind, we recommend letting the cabinet-maker know. They will be able to give you a steer on what will be possible in terms of materials, complexity and finish for your budget – even if it is a rough budget at this stage. It is advisable to let the cabinet-maker know this information prior to the design stage so they can focus on creating a design that fits your budget, spatial and aesthetic requirements.
Here are some points to consider regarding the aesthetics of your commission:
- Inspiration and visual references: Have you seen any cabinet or furniture styles that you like that you would like your design to reflect? You could have a look at our portfolio section for inspiration, or search a number of media sources such as Wallpaper or World of Interiors. There are numerous websites and blogs with a focus on furniture. Having something as a visual starting point really helps. It doesn’t need to be a cabinet or piece of furniture – in the past we have created furniture to complement a particular wallpaper design – just something to help us understand the kind of style and finish you are after. We have a small library of books in our workshop – if you would like to come visit us, talk through your designs and have a browse through some books then let us know.
- Materials: Here are a few links with information on the different kinds of materials available:
- SL Hardwood – a great selection of hardwood’s which also includes the prices of timber making choosing materials according to your look and budget a little bit easier;
- Veeners can be used where an expensive rare timber is required which would cost to much to use or simply would be unethical to use a lot of on a piece where large elements would be obscured or never seen at all. Sometimes also with veneers you can acheive a look or effect not possible through using simply solid wood alone. Here is a selection of the different veneers available from H. Shawer and Sons Ltd;
- We attempt to use timber that is Forest Commission Sustainable Forestry compliant. Friends of the Earth have published a guide to sustainable woods.
We will often build the cabinet carcass from mdf or ply – these are dimensionally stable materials which are cost effective. It costs dramatically more to build a bookcase purely from solid wood than to use pre-veneered panels and incorporate solid wood where it matters to give a unique natural look.
- Finish: Finishes available are dependent on the materials you choose. A good starting point is to think about how the piece will be used – does it need to be very durable, do you want a gloss, matt or satin effect? Do you want the wood texture to be visible and what colour would you like. If requiring a timber finish an oil finish can darken or yellow the wood whilst waterbased varnishes can be obtained to give a matt unfinished natural appearance- . This is a fairly in-depth area so click here to read more, or simply ask me any questions in a meeting or over the phone..
- Fittings: We will be able to guide you on fixtures and fittings for your piece that are appropriate for the style and budget. Do keep any visual references to handles / hinges that you like as these will be a good starting point. It is also good to specify whether you’d like any space saving features inside cupboards, or specific storage uses such as racking or hanging space. For a minimal finish, people often choose push catches where no handles are visible. Soft-close drawers are also popular.