How to Create Your Ideal Piece Of Wood Furniture
A guide for designing your own tables, countertops, desks, or anything else you can imagine, and how to communicate with the builders you trust to bring it to a reality!
We often get questions about the terminology and the methods we employ to
create the perfect centerpiece for your dining room, living spaces, and work
areas.
Furniture design and the incorporation of specific elements in order
to match interior aesthetic choices, achieve a specific functional purpose,
and to create a final product that is cohesive in all of these realms can
seem like a mystifying and complex task.
In the next few sections, we will try and break down the basic elements
and options we can provide so that you can empower yourself with the
general set of choices customers choose, how they are implemented, and
how that may change the particular piece we are making for you.
By answering some of the following prompts, you can be better prepared
making your order, understanding the terminology, and how options you
select will change the look, feel, and functionality of your custom build.
PURPOSE AND USE
The first question to ask yourself is: What is the primary function of your piece?
The most common builds we provide for customers are:
-Dining Tables
-Kitchen and Workspace Countertops
-Office Desks and Conference Tables
-Small tables and chairs with zero hard edges or sharp surfaces for children
-Custom purpose desks (Such as sit/stand, computer desks, keyboard/sound production desks, and drafting/drawing tables
-Shelving, cabinets, and built-in storage units
In addition to understanding your basic needs, ask yourself questions such as:
“How large do I need this piece to be? Does the size I desire fit within the confines of my current space? How many people will potentially be using the piece at one time?”
We can advise and work with you in order to incorporate any piece into your current space. You can send pictures, design drawings, even blueprints of your current or future living/workspace and we can work with you to find the best options. Expandable tables (such as multi-panel tables with removable “leaves”) and motorized/adjustable legs can provide a huge range of usability within a single piece.
“Do I need storage space included? Does the storage need a lock or other security incorporated into it?”
We can offer many options for storage and security in desks, dining furniture, or anything else you can imagine. Elements like locking drawers, shelves, sliding panels, and even hidden storage spaces in our desks are no problem at all. We are open to any type of customization, and the more info you can provide us about what specifically you may need to store we can work with you to find the perfect sizing and hardware for your purposes.
“Do I anticipate needing to take the piece apart at any time, for a potential move or simply in order to bring the piece into my workspace, house or apartment as there are issues with entry and egress such as elevators, narrow doorways, staircases, etc?”
We have many construction options that provide the ability to disassemble and reassemble our pieces in such a way that even someone with very little experience putting together furniture can
Woodworkers generally refer to the act of attaching elements of furniture together as “Joinery”. Joints can be created using permanent methods such as glue joints, screws or non-permanent joints like self tightening hardware, removable bolts, or even using gravity and the friction of wood that can be disassembled using just your hands (and maybe a friend or family member to help!).
We are happy to discuss all of these options and provide guidance both before and during assembly or disassembly at any point after your piece is delivered so that any issues may be anticipated and its an easy process for you should it be required.
WOOD CHOICES
We can source most common types of wood and many exotic species, but the most common and tried and true woods used in furniture are:
Walnut
A medium-density hardwood, after properly sanded and finished will produce a beautifully figured look with a dark brown color. Will produce a striking contrast when used with some of the other lighterwoods used in furniture. It's elegant, works in many different design concepts in a timeless way.
Ash
Another medium-density hardwood, ash has wide, open grain. Relatively light and easy to work with, ash looks gorgeous in a natural finish but also takes stain of any color very well. Great combination of strength, reliability, and reasonable weight.
White Oak
More dense and heavier than walnut or ash, white oak is an incredibly durable and resilient wood for furniture. It has a tight-grain look and feel, is less susceptible to movement and damage like dents or cracks. It does produce a much heavier panel or tabletop, so take that into consideration if you’ll need to move the piece on a regular basis.
Maple
In furniture applications, Maple serves a similar purpose to oak in terms of density and weight, maple is an excellent choice for a super sturdy table, desk, or countertop. It is often used in instrument making as well as it a very stable and aesthetically pleasing species. Similar in color to ash, it can also be stained to a variety of colors. An extremely durable wood, the stability and consistency of maple has made it one of the primary woods used in large furniture pieces that will last for generations.
Plywood
Although plywood is not generally recommended for tabletops and countertops, plywood is a great choice for elements of the furniture piece such as drawer boxes, cabinets, shelves, and the main body of a desk, vanity, or credenza. In addition to lowering the cost, plywood is not as susceptible to issues that can occur in hardwoods such as warping, splitting, and cupping. Plywood is normally covered in a “veneer”, which is a thin slice of hardwood that is glued to the main sheet of plywood and can be sanded and finished just like hardwood to create a seamless look when combined with a hardwood top.
LENGTH AND WIDTH
We always recommend our customers arm themselves with a reliable tape measure and take stock of the space they are looking to fill with a custom piece. Many times, measuring an existing piece or space between two other design elements will differ from a perception just based on looking at a space, knowing your square footage, and going on sight alone. Think about things like room to move around the piece, how much space for seating, pulling up chairs, and ability to serve food or create a good working environment.
The conventional wisdom around dining tables is allowing for a minimum of around 24 inches per person seated. Therefore, if you need to accommodate 10-12 people dining at one time, you’d be looking for something in the area of 8 Feet by 3-4 feet.
When we are building and designing as woodworkers, we normally express these dimensions by whole inches (for example, 8 feet by 4 feet would be expressed as 96”x48”) This makes it easier and more specific in order to make small adjustments in these dimensions for specific purposes.
THICKNESS
Thickness of your piece will change several aspects. Thicker dimensions can increase stability, but also increase the weight of the piece, which in turn can require specific kinds of legs or construction in order to accommodate the additional weight. For example, a 2” thick top will weigh around twice what a 1” thick top would, and the options for a stable, safe, and sturdy system of joinery and type of legs will differ. For thicker pieces, we have to start with thicker stock, which tends to increase cost, but also creates an extremely stable panel or top.
SHAPE
This will refer to the overall geometrical shape of your piece as viewed from above. Rectangular, square, round, and oval are standard shapes, but once again, if you have a specific need, almost any irregular shape can be achieved. We can work with you to figure out both aesthetically and mathematically how we will go about creating specific odd shapes should you need them.
EDGE PROFILE
“Edge profile” refers to the shape of the edge of the table, as described looking at the table horizontally. Edge profiles also exist in construction elements such as trim, paneling, wainscoting, and moulding.
There are several standard types of edge profiles we typically enlist, but once again, if you have something unique in mind, we will do our very best to find the best way to achieve it for you.
FEEL AND FINISH:
The final process for your custom piece that we apply is the finish. “Finish” is a catch-all term for a huge array of products, generally in a liquid or wax form that is applied to hardwood after a meticulous process of shaping and sanding all of the exposed surfaces of the piece.
The general purpose is to create a protective barrier on the piece, fending off superficial issues such as food and liquid stains, but incorporating methods of sanding, staining, and polishing will all affect the final aesthetic outcome of the piece.
Some finishes may be food-safe, while others are intended for floors, walls, and exterior millwork. This is important in terms of safety. For example, a piece like a butcher block or cutting board that will come in direct contact with food should be finished with a completely non-toxic finish such as mineral oil, but will need to be reapplied regularly.
Examples of some of the standard finishes and types of application:
High gloss: Buffed to a shiny reflective, and glasslike look similiar to a clearcoat automotive finish.
Medium Gloss: Similar to high gloss but buffed to a lesser degree, creating a more muted version of a shiny, glossy look.
Satin: A more “Matte” look, reflects less light, and any superficial wear blends in more easily
Open grain/Sandblasted: Smooth to the touch but textured due to the wood grains topographic qualities being exposed.
We are happy to take a look at any example photos or links you may have, even if you’re not sure what exactly the finish is you’re looking at, and we’ll come up with the best way to achieve the look and feel you have in mind.
Contact us at any time to discuss any ideas you have, no matter how simple complex, or impossible they may seem. We will work with you and advise on the best options and stick with you through the process from milling the raw boards until your ideal piece is in it’s perfect location in your home, workspace, or building project.
