Comission Process
Commissioning a piece of custom furniture is a fun and rewarding experience. You aren’t just buying a piece of furniture, you are helping to create something new and unique in the world.
Tapered Grain’s mission is to produce handcrafted custom furniture which is designed and built to last generations. When we design a piece together, the top priority is to come up with a design which elegantly meets your immediate needs and preferences, while also being timeless enough in design and construction to endure and continue to provide joy and utility as needs and preferences shift over time.
Initial Consultation
Every project starts with a conversation. Since this will be a piece designed for you, it is important that I take the time to get to know you. What do you like? What will you use the piece for? Where will the piece live, and what other pieces will be nearby? Ideally, I would be able to come to your location, look at, measure, and photograph the space you have, as well as existing pieces you want the new piece to fit in with.
This conversation is the start of the creative process, and will include my creation a couple of quick sketches to get some general feedback on the design direction you want to go. This is also a good time to discuss materials and finishes.
Proposal
After the initial consultation, I will email you a proposal for the piece, which includes some of the details we discussed at the consultation. If we are on the same page, this is when we would jointly commit to the project.
That commitment is important, as it allows the project to proceed into the next phase of detailed design, as well as getting ready for construction by hand selecting the wood for your project and giving it time to acclimatize to the workshop environment, a time consuming process which is critical to produce stable and trouble-free furniture.
Detailed Design
Once we are agreed on a proposal, I will create a complete design for your piece in 3D, and share that design with you to get your approval. I will be able to show you what the piece will look like from various angles, discuss the fine details of the design (joinery, edge treatments, dimensions). This is a collaborative process, so we will work together on the details until you are happy with the design.
Construction and Delivery
I will create your new piece of furniture in accordance with the design and specifications we have agreed on. I build each piece myself, using time honored tools and techniques to create a finished product which is truly one of a kind.
Upon completion, I will arrange for the piece to be delivered to you, and you will be able to enjoy your brand new furniture.
