Let’s get this out of the way and clear the air. Yes, a custom made piece of furniture is going to seem expensive. Yes, it will cost you more than a piece from a mass produced furniture retailer. Yes, you’re going to have sticker shock if you’ve never explored the wonderful world of custom made furniture.
White Oak Dining Table
Custom Made In 2017
But please don’t panic! Don’t let sticker shock get the best of you! Let me show you the value of custom furniture and you won’t go back to mass produced furniture.
First, the price. I can only speak for my own pieces but, one of my dining tables will start at no less than $3,000. Why so much? The price of the piece has a lot of moving parts. For starters, I use solid hardwood in the construction of my pieces. No particle board, plywood, or MDF it’s the real stuff. The reality here is that real wood costs more at a material level than the alternative. Solid wood has a strength, beauty, and character that can’t be found in other veneered MDF mass produced pieces. There is no substitute for real wood.
Second, the time. Each piece I make is made one at a time, by me and no one else. A typical dining table will take no less than 3-4 weeks to make. You can’t rush the process or you get a subpar finished piece and I’m not in the business of half-assing anything to make subpar pieces.
Third, the skill and knowledge. When you commission me to make a piece of furniture, you are trusting in my skill and abilities as a craftsman to make your piece. I have dedicated the last several years to learning and honing my craft, investing in the proper tools and shop space to make your piece. I love what I do, and nothing leaves my shop that I am unhappy with. I put in countless hours on a single piece to ensure that my quality standards are met in the final product. I have been known to refinish a piece after it is done because I can see sanding marks when the finish is applied.
Lastly, the piece itself. A custom made piece of furniture should stand the test of time. In my work, that is my one and only objective. I make pieces that are designed to outlive me. If I live to be 90 years old, then I want my furniture to be good for another 100 years. From my perspective, a custom piece of furniture, like a dining table, should be purchased as an investment. It’s not only an investment in a functional piece that will be used over and over, but ultimately an investment in your family’s story. I make heirloom quality pieces that I hope your kids will fight over when you’re gone (or maybe, even before then).
The only reason I feel you should ever need another one of my dining tables is if you’re buying it for someone else, your second home, or you need to downsize or upsize. I build things to last. As such, the price will reflect that. I don’t compete with any mass produced furniture pricing because that’s not what I do.
