Commissioning Bespoke Furniture: A Buyer's Guide to Success
Introduction
As we’ve written elsewhere, the benefits and joys of commissioning your own piece of furniture are significant and numerous.
But what’s exactly involved in the commissioning process? And how do you ensure you end up with furniture that fulfils its intended purpose and you enjoy for years to come?
In this article we look at the main stages in the process and how to get the most from each.
At Glencairn Furniture we break the journey into six broad parts:
Brief
Design
Approve
Make
Deliver
Enjoy
We will look at each in turn.
1. Brief
Arguably this stage is the most important. It’s what the whole process is built upon.
One of the joys of bespoke furniture is that the choice available to you is almost limitless. But this can be overwhelming.
The clearer you are about what you want, the easier and quicker the design process will be. Provide the furniture maker with as much detail as possible. Considerations should include some or all of the following:
Furniture type - e.g. bookcase
Function – to showcase 19th Century first edition novels
Location – drawing room
Position in the room – opposite the large south-facing bay window
Neighbouring furniture, furnishings and decor
Style – traditional Victorian
Dimensions – approx. 1800mm tall x 800mm wide x 300mm deep
Materials – Sapele wood
Budget - £2,500
Some of these can be harder to answer than others. When it comes to the style of the furniture, try to pull together a few images of things you like. Magazines and the internet are great resources, particularly Pinterest.
Don’t worry too much at this stage if you can’t provide a full brief. A good furniture maker should be questioning you about all aspects of the commission.
Crucially, the brief stage is all about ensuring you get what you actually want and not just what you asked for.
A note on budget
In comparison to mass produced, factory made furniture, bespoke furniture can seem expensive. There are many reasons for this – its uniqueness, quality, craftmanship, etc – so be clear on budget from the very start.
If you approach a bespoke furniture maker expecting to pay high street prices you will be opening yourself up to disappointment, as well as wasting your own time and theirs.
It’s unrealistic to pay fast food prices and expect to eat Michelin-starred food.
Even if you are prepared for higher prices, still be clear about your exact budget. This will help enormously in the design process and will avoid frustrating design or material compromises further down the line.
2. Design
A talented furniture designer and maker should be able to take your brief and translate it into a visual concept. At the very start of the design process this may be in the form of hand drawn sketches or watercolours.
At this stage it’s important to highlight any issues you have and discuss ways to resolve them. Doing so now will save a lot of time and (potentially) money further down the line.
As the design process develops make sure the furniture maker provides you with samples of the woods and finishes he or she intends using. Although you should make allowances for grain variation in the completed furniture, you should not be surprised by material used or the finish applied.
By the end of the design stage you should expect to be presented with technical drawings and ideally 3D computer renders.
At Glencairn Furniture we use Fusion 360 to create three-dimensional, ultra-realistic furniture designs for our clients. This approach enables you to be confident in what the finished item will look like. It also provides a great platform for refining designs.
3. Approve
Before your bespoke piece of furniture can be brought into the world, you need to sign off the design.
It cannot be overemphasised that if you are unhappy or unsure about any aspect of the design or commission, now is the time to speak up.
Making changes when the furniture is being made can be extremely costly and time consuming.
Approval should involve much more than simply a verbal agreement based on rough drawing. Ensure you have sight of technical drawings outlining the main elevations, joinery used, dimensions and ideally 3D renderings.
You should also have agreed on the wood to be used, hardware (hinges, catches), and fabrics and finishes involved. Request samples rather than relying on photographs.
Makes sure you get the price, payment structure and delivery timescales confirmed in writing.
At this stage most independent furniture makers ask for a 50% deposit, with the balance paid on delivery. If the project is of a larger scale – say, a fully-fitted kitchen or study – three stages of payment is common.
4. Make
Now that the designs for your bespoke furniture have been signed off, the really exciting bit begins – the creation of your creation!
If you live in travelling distance of the furniture maker, ask to visit the workshop. Most makers will be delighted to provide a guided tour, demonstrating the main stages of construction and how your item will come alive.
Depending on the timing of your visit, the maker may even involve you in the process – picking out timber, hand planning an edge or helping apply a finish.
If you are unable to visit the workshop, ask the maker to send the occasional photograph in a text or email to update you on progress.
This kind of insight and involvement simply isn’t possible with mass produced, off-the-shelf furniture.
Watching custom-made furniture being built and understanding the workmanship that goes into its creation is a joy which is unique to commissioning bespoke furniture.
This experience can create a powerful emotional connection between you, the maker and the furniture. It really does make the final result special.
It will be felt for years to come.
5. Deliver
Depending on the scale of the project, your furniture should be ready for delivery anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
Many bespoke furniture makers will offer a ‘white glove’ delivery service. This is where the piece is delivered to your room of choice and, if required part-constructed or installed on site.
At this stage it’s important you check over the furniture and confirm you are happy with the finished product. It may require physical sign off.
Your designer-maker should talk you through how to care for the furniture properly and advise on the dangers of direct heat, excessive central heating and abrupt changes in temperature. If not, ask.
Ultimately, a conscientious furniture maker will want to know you are entirely happy with the commissioning process and the end result.
6. Enjoy
Congratulate yourself on helping create an original, joyful and enduring piece of custom-made furniture that will be cherished for generations.
You are now officially a patron of the arts and can take satisfaction in helping sustain the rich tradition of furniture design and craftsmanship in Britain.
Sit back and enjoy.