How we work
The whole process, in the open.
Most workshops keep you guessing about timelines, drawings, and money. We don't. Here is exactly how a commission runs, from first conversation to the day it's installed.
Why we spell it out
We'd rather over-explain than have you guess.
We looked at how custom shops present themselves, and almost none of them say how they actually work. Prices are hidden, timelines are vague, and you don’t find out what happens after the deposit until you’ve already paid it.
We think that’s backwards. A commission is a real investment and a months-long relationship. You deserve to see the whole map before you take the first step. So here it is: six stages, real durations, and a payment schedule with no fine print.
Six stages
From first sketch to installation day.
Timelines below are typical for a single commission and shift with scope. A dining table moves faster than a full kitchen. We give you your dates in the consultation.
- 01
Consultation
Week 0Free · 45 minutesWe start with a real conversation, not a sales pitch. We want to understand the room, how you live in it, what you love, and what the budget actually is, so we can tell you honestly whether we're the right studio for the job.
What you’ll seeAn open discussion about your space, your budget, and the piece you're picturing. You leave knowing exactly where you stand, whether or not we go further together.
- 02
Sketch & rough estimate
Week 12–3 daysWe turn the conversation into concept sketches and a rough price range. This is the low-commitment checkpoint: enough to picture the piece and see the numbers before anyone invests real time in drawings.
What you’ll seeConcept sketches and an honest price range, so you can decide whether it's worth going further before a single board is bought.
- 03
Drawings & 3D preview
Weeks 2–3Every cabinetry job modeled in 3DOnce you're in, we produce dimensioned shop drawings and a full 3D model. Every cabinetry commission is built in software first, so you can walk around the piece and change your mind while it's still pixels, not lumber.
What you’ll seeDimensioned drawings and a 3D render you can view from every angle, plus wood and finish samples in hand. Nothing gets cut until this is exactly right.
- 04
Sign-off & deposit
Week 330% depositWhen the drawings are approved, we lock the design and you reserve your place in the build queue. The deposit covers your materials: the specific boards we'll set aside and mill for your piece.
What you’ll seeFinal drawings signed off and a clear build timeline. Your 30% deposit secures a slot on the bench and buys your materials.
- 05
The build
Weeks 4–9Photo updates at every milestoneYour piece is built by one pair of hands, start to finish. We don't disappear while it happens. You get progress photos at each milestone, so the work is never a black box between deposit and delivery.
What you’ll seeMilestone photos as it comes together: rough stock, dry-fit, glue-up, and the first coat of oil. You watch it take shape without leaving home.
- 06
Delivery & installation
On completionFinal balance dueWe deliver and install ourselves, carefully, and leave you with a care guide for the finish. The final balance settles once the piece is in place and you've seen it standing exactly where it belongs.
What you’ll seeWhite-glove delivery and installation, a finish care guide, and your piece set precisely where it should live. The final balance is due on completion.
Payments, in plain numbers
A 30 / 40 / 30 split.
No hidden fees, no balloon payment at the end. The cost is split across the life of the project so it’s never a surprise, and it’s all laid out in your written quote before you commit.
Due at sign-off. Reserves your place in the build queue and covers the materials milled specifically for your piece.
Due when your commission hits the bench and construction begins in earnest. It keeps the work moving without a lump sum at the end.
The final balance, due at delivery and installation, after you've seen the finished piece in place and are happy with it.
Ready-made shop pieces and digital plans are a separate, single checkout. This schedule applies only to custom commissions.
Ready when you are
Book the free consultation.
Stage one costs nothing and commits you to nothing. Tell us about your project and we'll set up a 45-minute conversation to see if we're the right fit.