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How to Plan a Custom Woodwork Project

There are many types of custom woodworking projects, including kitchen cabinets, wall units, media centres, and home offices, to name a few. Having been in the custom woodworking business for over 30 years, I feel the following information is very valuable to you if you are planning such a project. I’ve seen countless home owners and shop owners make serious mistakes in their planning and/or communication, resulting in a project that no one is happy about. The important points in a successful project are as follows: function, style, materials, and the right person and/or shop. Yes in that order! You will need some help from your custom builder to get the first three points right, and this may also eliminate some shops from doing your project.

Function
I always discuss the function of the project with my client first. For a project to be successful, it must work for its intended use. What’s the point of having a media centre that will not fit all of your components, or a desk that is left handed when you are right handed? How about a kitchen where the fridge is too far from the sink or storage spaces that are difficult to access? Maybe you have a 50 kg. TV and the hanging hardware is rated for only 25 kg. Custom woodworking jobs can be small and simple like a bookshelf or large and complex, costing tens of thousands of dollars. Try to do some preliminary planning before approaching a shop. Even if you just do a simple sketch, it will help your potential contractor understand what you want.

Style
Many of my clients come to me with no idea of what general style they want; Modern, Classic, Arts & Crafts, Traditional, etc. They want it to look great but that’s as much as they know. I will look at the style of the home and the existing millwork and furnishings to come up with a style that will blend in, and look like it belongs. Whether you’re looking for the “wow factor” or an invisible look, make sure your woodworker knows this. Color is another obvious important part of style. I will not get too deep into this as it is very subjective, but here are a couple of general guidelines. Don’t match your woodwork to your wood floors. Use a lighter or darker shade that is complimentary. Some contrast is good. If your cabinets are dark, use a lighter counter top and vise versa.

Materials
Use the best material you can afford. Most woodworking projects are made with solid wood and some form of plywood or veneer covered substrate. Try to use real wood plywood as opposed to particle board core products. Plywood is more expensive but will last much longer. Choosing a species of wood can be confusing. Exotic woods can be extremely expensive. Domestic hardwoods are usually the best choice as they are durable and reasonably priced. Hardware is another important part of a good woodworking project. Many people never think of this, but nobody wants drawers that rattle or doors that don’t fit properly. Demand hardware that is lifetime guaranteed. Virtually all brand name hardware has this.

Shop
Not all shops do custom work. Make sure any shop you are considering, is experienced in custom work and with projects similar to yours. They should be able to provide you with pictures and references. I always do computer drawings for my clients, but hand sketches are often sufficient. If your project requires onsite work and/or installation, make sure the business has the proper liability insurance. An installer could easily drive a screw through a water pipe, wire, or infloor heating and cause considerable damage. Insist on having the scope of the work in writing and expect to pay a deposit.

If you follow these basic guidelines, you should be able to get a quality project completed that’s functional, beautiful, and within your budget.

Laurence Walker