Custom vs Yuppy furniture
September 6, 2009 12:16 AM Subscribe
I'm thinking about commissioning some custom furniture and don't have a clue how to go about it.
So I'm a big fan of asian, modern and arts & crafts style furniture. Basically thick chunks of wood with very clean lines and few adornments. Luckily, this sort of furniture can be found pretty easily at stores like Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware and Design Within Reach. Sadly, these stores charge upwards of two grand for a piece of furniture made out of veneered MDF which has a half-life of one move.
I'm beginning to think that I should check out the local custom furniture options. Most of the local craftsman don't have web sites and the ones that do have little information. Before I start searching out these cats I was hoping to get a reality check.
1) Is it reasonable to think that I could get custom furniture at a similar price to the yuppy furniture stores?
2) Most of the custom furniture I've seen online looks like it belongs in a log cabin or a Federal-style house. Very Ethan Allen. How do I find someone who can build what I like?
3) Is it gauche to give a craftsman a page out of a catalog and say "basically, I want that, but built better"?
So I'm a big fan of asian, modern and arts & crafts style furniture. Basically thick chunks of wood with very clean lines and few adornments. Luckily, this sort of furniture can be found pretty easily at stores like Pottery Barn, Restoration Hardware and Design Within Reach. Sadly, these stores charge upwards of two grand for a piece of furniture made out of veneered MDF which has a half-life of one move.
I'm beginning to think that I should check out the local custom furniture options. Most of the local craftsman don't have web sites and the ones that do have little information. Before I start searching out these cats I was hoping to get a reality check.
1) Is it reasonable to think that I could get custom furniture at a similar price to the yuppy furniture stores?
2) Most of the custom furniture I've seen online looks like it belongs in a log cabin or a Federal-style house. Very Ethan Allen. How do I find someone who can build what I like?
3) Is it gauche to give a craftsman a page out of a catalog and say "basically, I want that, but built better"?
Best answer: Oh, if only you lived on my continent. This is exactly the type of furniture my fella makes, milled onsite from hardwood we salvage from our own property.
Just asked the fella and he says:
3. No, not at all, Makes it easier from his end, really. However it is worth noting that solid timber furniture is going to be a lot heavier - you may curse this if you move often.
1. Maybe, Yes, No. You may pay a little more. But as your grandchildren's grandchildren could be using the furniture one day, the little extra you pay won't matter. That said, if you can buy direct from the maker you won't be paying the mark up of a retail store. So you may pay the same for a much better piece direct from the maker as there is no middleman to finance.
2. This is a little harder to answer. People find my fella through word of mouth. "OMG, I just had dinner at Juanita's place and I loved her 12 seater buffet table. Could you make me one?!" Because we mill timber from our own property and don't have to buy in timber we can make unique items more economically. One way someone could find us (or our doppelganger within driving distance of SF) would be to find out who mills their own timber for furniture making. Google 'portable mills' 'handmade furniture' or some other keyword combination and see if you can find self-milling furniture makers in the Sierra's or somewhere. Or go into your local newsagent and read the classifieds of a home woodworkers magazine, they might have ads, leads etc for the furniture maker you want.
3 redux. It's best if the timber you choose for your furniture is close to the colour you want in furniture. The labour and cost involved in staining etc can add a lot to the final price. Perhaps if you asked for it sanded but raw and did that finishing work yourself you could save dollars. We always recommend just oiling and waxing, not staining.
posted by Kerasia at 1:52 AM on September 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
Just asked the fella and he says:
3. No, not at all, Makes it easier from his end, really. However it is worth noting that solid timber furniture is going to be a lot heavier - you may curse this if you move often.
1. Maybe, Yes, No. You may pay a little more. But as your grandchildren's grandchildren could be using the furniture one day, the little extra you pay won't matter. That said, if you can buy direct from the maker you won't be paying the mark up of a retail store. So you may pay the same for a much better piece direct from the maker as there is no middleman to finance.
2. This is a little harder to answer. People find my fella through word of mouth. "OMG, I just had dinner at Juanita's place and I loved her 12 seater buffet table. Could you make me one?!" Because we mill timber from our own property and don't have to buy in timber we can make unique items more economically. One way someone could find us (or our doppelganger within driving distance of SF) would be to find out who mills their own timber for furniture making. Google 'portable mills' 'handmade furniture' or some other keyword combination and see if you can find self-milling furniture makers in the Sierra's or somewhere. Or go into your local newsagent and read the classifieds of a home woodworkers magazine, they might have ads, leads etc for the furniture maker you want.
3 redux. It's best if the timber you choose for your furniture is close to the colour you want in furniture. The labour and cost involved in staining etc can add a lot to the final price. Perhaps if you asked for it sanded but raw and did that finishing work yourself you could save dollars. We always recommend just oiling and waxing, not staining.
posted by Kerasia at 1:52 AM on September 6, 2009 [1 favorite]
Best answer: I build such stuff, but I'm in Ohio.
You're actually in a great part of the country for small-shop, custom-built furniture. The College of the Redwoods Fine Woodworking Program (my Alma mater) is in Fort Bragg, just a few hours north of you. You might give the school a call, talk to David and ask him for a name or two.
You might also browse the directory of The Furniture Society, a sort of trade association for studio furniture makers.
In any case, I would guess that prices might lean towards the high side of the stores you mentioned, but they shouldn't be astronomical. If you're shopping at DWR then you're already spending real money. It's people who expect Lowes-like pricing that are shocked by the cost of real furniture.
posted by jon1270 at 3:29 AM on September 6, 2009
You're actually in a great part of the country for small-shop, custom-built furniture. The College of the Redwoods Fine Woodworking Program (my Alma mater) is in Fort Bragg, just a few hours north of you. You might give the school a call, talk to David and ask him for a name or two.
You might also browse the directory of The Furniture Society, a sort of trade association for studio furniture makers.
In any case, I would guess that prices might lean towards the high side of the stores you mentioned, but they shouldn't be astronomical. If you're shopping at DWR then you're already spending real money. It's people who expect Lowes-like pricing that are shocked by the cost of real furniture.
posted by jon1270 at 3:29 AM on September 6, 2009
I see you're in the Bay Area. You should check out Berkeley Mills- very nice stuff, custom-made and they are super nice. You might also like Sens Furniture, but I don't know if they really do commissioned pieces. There are a few other places in the East Bay that are worth looking into. You will pay more than you would at Pottery Barn and the like.
posted by picklebird at 7:04 AM on September 6, 2009
posted by picklebird at 7:04 AM on September 6, 2009
Best answer: My friend in Southern California makes furniture. But you're bound to find lots of good furniture makers up in the Bay Area.
For leads on local craftspeople, visit your local Woodcraft or Rockler store. Woodcraft carries a little newsprint magazine -- its name escapes me at the moment -- with woodworking articles, tool vendor ads and classified ads that may include local craftspeople.
Visit the gallery at finewoodworking.com. Some quality stuff there, by amateurs and pros. Maybe a few are local to the Bay Area.
As far as price -- think Room and Board and up depending on material, design, and the furniture-maker's level of mastery.
Finally -- good for you for considering this route. You'll wind up with a piece of furniture designed for your space and for your uses and to your taste and you'll be supporting a local, independent craftsperson.
posted by notyou at 7:45 AM on September 6, 2009
For leads on local craftspeople, visit your local Woodcraft or Rockler store. Woodcraft carries a little newsprint magazine -- its name escapes me at the moment -- with woodworking articles, tool vendor ads and classified ads that may include local craftspeople.
Visit the gallery at finewoodworking.com. Some quality stuff there, by amateurs and pros. Maybe a few are local to the Bay Area.
As far as price -- think Room and Board and up depending on material, design, and the furniture-maker's level of mastery.
Finally -- good for you for considering this route. You'll wind up with a piece of furniture designed for your space and for your uses and to your taste and you'll be supporting a local, independent craftsperson.
posted by notyou at 7:45 AM on September 6, 2009
Response by poster: Crap. Just updated my profile -- I moved to Boulder late last year. Thanks for the SF tips; any in Boulder? Crap.
posted by bpm140 at 8:46 AM on September 6, 2009
posted by bpm140 at 8:46 AM on September 6, 2009
There are a few CR grads in your neighborhood. The school ought to have contact info for at least some of them. Feel free to mefi-mail me if you have questions.
posted by jon1270 at 11:14 AM on September 6, 2009
posted by jon1270 at 11:14 AM on September 6, 2009
This thread is closed to new comments.
Our table cost about the same as what you'd find in a high-end but not ultra expensive place. Certainly more expensive than the ones found in your average strip mall furniture store.
It's built _far_ better and will likely last for generations. Even if it's a bit more expensive than what you planned, for good furniture it is worth it.
We actually sent our guy to the various stores that had tables with features we liked. He sketched, took measurements, and modified them to something attractive and unique. I wouldn't think it at all gauche to use a catalog for inspiration.
posted by madajb at 1:29 AM on September 6, 2009