Working with a Custom Woodworker in Milwaukee
What's the process like to work with a custom woodworker or furniture maker? Here's a guide to the process at Goldthorne Studio, and how we can make your dream custom woodworking project come to life
Written by
Trey Thorne, Goldthorne Studio
Custom Furniture Maker, Woodworking Teacher, Owner, Milwaukee
Working with a Custom Woodworker or Furniture Maker
In many cases, if you've ever hired someone to do a job there isn't much back and forth, and the process is rather straight forward. This isn't to say it's simple, but it's not open ended, with endless possibilities.
Commissioning a piece with a custom woodworker, or a custom furniture maker, can be quite different from that. The possibilities are plentiful, and can range for each and every project. As such, we at Goldthorne Studio rely on a clear-cut process to guide you along the way, and so that we have detailed plans on what to make you.
The Process of Custom Woodworking
In general, our process at Goldthorne Studio is as follows:
- Inquiry - You reach out to us and bring your ideas
- Design - We put together detailed drawing and model the project in 3D
- Quote - We send a formalized quote
- Sign off and Materials Deposit
- Build - We bring your vision to life
- Delivery and Final Payment
Let's dive into each process to see what that's like!
Requesting Custom Woodwork or Custom Furniture
It all starts with an inbound request from you! You can always send us an email , or give us a call. But once you reach out, we'll discuss what you want, talk about any ideas, share photos for inspriation, and talk about your budget and timeline. These items inform the design phase!
Design
The design phase can be the most fun, but it also comes with plenty of decisions to make. What hardwood do you want to use? Do you have a preference on the finishing materials? We at Goldthorne Studio default to a non-toxic, zero-VOC oil-based finish that's safe for us, and safe for your family. But we can work with different finishes, stains, and paints if your project calls for it.
Because there are so many decisions, and things need to look right, we generally go through a few iterations. We use 3D modeling software to get the designs in front of you. Below is an example of a few iterations I went through with a client looking for an interesting, but comfortable dining room table.
This part of the process can take a little while sometimes. That's okay. We're working together to get the exact project you want. When hire Goldthorne Studio as a custom woodworker, we want you to get exactly what you want.
The result of the design phase is twofold: you get your ideas heard, designed, and agreed on. We get detailed drawings that we use to build.
Quote
After we have a design, we'll send you a quote for your custom woodworking project or furniture piece. By this point we'll have discussed your preference on hardwoods and price, and we can offer options here to meet your budget. A great example of this is wanting the Walnut look without the Walnut price tag.
Sign off and Materials Deposit
If you're satisfied with design and price, you can sign off on the quote, and we'll collect a materials deposit. This ranges from 50% to 60% of the total project cost. This allows us to purchase materials and solidify your spot in our queue. This deposit can be refunded up until the point we acquire the materials. We're happy to work with you; we understand that life can throw us curveballs, but once we've made purchases, we won't be able to offer a refund.
Build
This is the fun part for us. We'll notify you that we're working on your project. We take those detailed drawings, finish or stain choices, and bring your project to life. You can always follow along on our Instagram to see your project during the build.
Sometimes things come up during the build. For example, if we found a really interesting grain pattern in the wood we think you may want to highlight, or a defect in the lumber that needs to be patched. We communicate the whole way. An example of this is the custom walnut table we built. The client helped us choose the layout of the top. It was a tree from their backyard, so it was sentimental. And such a special piece requires special consideration. We're happy to give all of our pieces that consideration.
Delivery, Acceptance & Final Payment
Once the build is done, we'll schedule a time and place to deliver the piece. We provide white-glove service, and we're happy to bring it to your home, and set it up. Final payment is due upon receipt.
Trust the Process
Our process has been honed through years of building custom furniture and providing custom woodworking in Milwaukee. While the individual steps may differ, the overall process looks the same.
The following is an example of the 3D rendered design, and the final result in our client's dining room!
If you're looking for custom woodworking or custom furniture in the Milwaukee area, reach out! We'd love to hear from you, see your inspiration, and bring your dream project to life!