Running commissions
How to commission custom furniture: process, timing and questions
Updated · 7 min read
Commissioning a piece of furniture is one of the few times you get to work directly with the person who will make something you use every day. It is also a process with real steps, real lead times and real decisions. Knowing what to expect makes it more enjoyable for you and easier for the maker.
This guide is written so a maker can send it to a prospective client, and so a client can read it before the first conversation. It covers the usual stages, how long each one takes according to makers' own published pages, what drives the price, and the questions worth asking.
Every studio works a little differently. Treat this as a map, and let your maker's written quote set the actual terms.
Key takeaways
- Most commissions follow the same order: brief, design and drawings, written quote, deposit, build, and delivery.
- Sebastian Cox quotes a standard lead time of 12 weeks from receipt of the deposit, with a separate design stage of days to weeks before that.
- Other makers' published production times range from 6–10 weeks (Smithers of Stamford) to 12–14 weeks (Matthew Burt).
- A deposit of up to 50% is common, with the balance usually due when the piece is ready to leave the workshop or on delivery.
- The DesignerMakers.Org.UK guide says price depends mainly on design complexity, making time and finish, with materials a smaller factor.
- A good written proposal states dimensions, materials, a firm price, payment terms, expected dates and delivery cost.
The usual process, step by step
1. The brief
You describe what you need. The DesignerMakers.Org.UK guide suggests the maker will want a clear picture of size, function and colour. Useful things to share:
- the room, with measurements and photos;
- how the piece will be used, and by whom;
- pieces you already own that it should sit with;
- any fixed date, such as a house move or a family event.
Sebastian Cox asks clients to state a required delivery date clearly at the point of enquiry. Mention it early. It shapes everything that follows.
2. Design and drawings
The maker produces sketches or drawings and a likely cost. Expect a round or two of changes. Sebastian Cox supplies initial drawings and one revision free of charge, and charges for further drawings if the commission does not go ahead. Its freestanding commission page also lists a design fee for bespoke work, so check the terms for your project. Other studios charge a design fee from the start. The DesignerMakers.Org.UK guide says this can cover visits, research and preparing the design.
3. The written quote or proposal
Once the design is settled, you should receive a written proposal. See the checklist further down for what it should contain.
4. Deposit
Paying the deposit books your piece into the workshop schedule. Sebastian Cox asks for 50% to secure a production slot, with the rest due when the piece is ready to leave the workshop. The DesignerMakers.Org.UK guide says deposits are normally up to 50%, with stage payments sometimes agreed for larger projects.
5. The build
This is the longest stage. Some makers invite you to the workshop. Sebastian Cox encourages clients to visit, meet the makers and help choose the wood.
6. Delivery and handover
Delivery varies widely. Sebastian Cox offers a white-glove service with installation, or a kerbside courier option, and its prices exclude delivery. Ask which you are getting and what it costs.
How long does custom furniture take?
Makers' own pages give these production times. Most count from the deposit, and design time comes before that.
| Studio | Published lead time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sebastian Cox | 12 weeks from receipt of deposit | Separate design lead time of "days and weeks", depending on size and scale |
| Matthew Burt | 12–14 weeks to deliver | Depends on the workshop schedule |
| Smithers of Stamford | 6–10 weeks for most commissions | Depends on design complexity and material availability |
A realistic plan is design time, plus the production time on your quote, plus a little slack. Sebastian Cox states that its lead times are quoted in good faith on the best information at the point of enquiry, and that it will tell clients about any delays at the earliest opportunity. That is an honest description of how small workshops run. Timber deliveries, finishing in cold weather and earlier jobs can all move dates.
What drives the cost
There is no meaningful "average price" for a commission, because every piece differs. The drivers are more useful than any number.
- Design complexity. Curves, drawers, extending mechanisms and complex joints all take more time. The DesignerMakers.Org.UK guide names complexity as a main driver.
- Making time. A one-person studio's time is its main cost. More hours means a higher price.
- Finish. The same guide lists finish alongside design and making time. Multi-coat finishes take days of application and drying.
- Materials. Timber species, board width and figure matter, but the guide puts materials behind the factors above.
- Design work. A design fee may be separate or built into the price.
- Delivery and installation. Often priced separately, as at Sebastian Cox.
For a sense of scale, Matthew Burt lists its bespoke Fonthill table and bench set at £7,150 on its website at the time of writing. A single published price says little about your project, so ask your maker for an estimate early.
Questions to ask a furniture maker
Ask these in the first or second conversation. A good maker will be glad you did.
Materials
- Which timber do you suggest, and why?
- Where does the timber come from? Sebastian Cox, for example, names its suppliers as two family-run timber yards in the south of England.
- Will it be solid wood throughout, or are any parts veneered or sheet material?
- Can I see or choose the boards?
Construction
- What joinery will you use, and where?
- How have you allowed for the wood moving with the seasons?
Finish and care
- Which finish will you use, and which product?
- What will day-to-day care involve, and how often will it need refreshing? Our guide to caring for an oiled wood table explains why this varies between finishes.
Timing and updates
- When would you start, and when do you expect to finish?
- How will you keep me updated during the build: photos, visits, or both?
- What happens if the date slips? How and when will you tell me?
Money and paperwork
- How much is the deposit, and when is the balance due?
- Is the deposit refundable if I cancel, and at what point?
- Is delivery included? Is installation?
- Do you offer a guarantee or warranty, and what does it cover?
Handover
- What will I receive with the piece? For example, care instructions, a record of the materials, or a certificate. Our guide to certificates of authenticity for furniture covers what a good one includes.
What a good quote or agreement includes
The DesignerMakers.Org.UK guide lists the core contents of a written proposal. A clear quote should cover:
- a description of the piece, with drawings and dimensions;
- materials, including timber species and finish;
- a firm final price, and whether it includes VAT;
- payment terms: deposit, balance and any stage payments;
- expected start, completion and delivery dates;
- delivery cost and whether installation is included.
It is also worth agreeing in writing what happens if dates slip on either side, the cancellation and deposit terms, and any guarantee. If anything in the quote is unclear, ask before you pay the deposit.
How to be a good client
Small studios plan their weeks around each commission. You can help the project run on time:
- Give a full brief early. Changes after drawings are agreed cost time, and sometimes money.
- Make decisions on time. If the maker needs you to approve drawings, choose boards or confirm a finish sample, reply within the time you agreed.
- Approve in writing. A short email saying "approved" saves confusion later.
- Mention fixed dates up front. A late request to bring a date forward is hard to meet.
- Be ready for delivery. Measure doorways, stairs and lifts. Clear the space.
- Ask questions. Makers would rather explain wood movement or a finish now than deal with a surprise later.
If you are a maker sending this guide to a client, add your own terms, lead time and deposit policy alongside it. For more on handling deposits and keeping clients informed, see custom furniture deposits and client updates during a build.
Sources
- How to commission, Sebastian Cox: 12-week lead time from deposit, 50% deposit, stating fixed dates at enquiry, choosing wood in the workshop, good-faith lead times
- Freestanding furniture commission, Sebastian Cox: separate design and production lead times, design stage of days to weeks, design fee for bespoke commissions
- FAQs, Sebastian Cox: free initial drawings and one revision, delivery options, timber suppliers, notification of delays
- Bespoke Fonthill set, Matthew Burt: 12–14 weeks to deliver, published price
- Why choose Smithers bespoke furniture, Smithers of Stamford: 6–10 weeks for most commissions, process steps
- Commissioning guide, DesignerMakers.Org.UK: process steps, design fees, deposits up to 50%, written proposal contents, price drivers
Questions this guide gets asked
Can I commission just one chair or a small side table?
Many studios take small commissions, but some set a minimum or steer small requests towards their existing designs. Ask at the first contact. A maker may suggest adapting a piece they already make, which can be quicker.
Do I have to pay for drawings if I decide not to go ahead?
It depends on the studio. Sebastian Cox supplies initial drawings and one revision free of charge, and charges for further drawings if the commission does not go ahead. The DesignerMakers.Org.UK guide says a design fee may be payable to cover visits, research and design work. Ask before the design stage begins.
Is it normal to pay half up front?
Yes, it is common. Sebastian Cox asks for a 50% deposit to secure a production slot, and the DesignerMakers.Org.UK guide says deposits are normally up to 50%. Larger projects sometimes use stage payments instead.
Can I visit the workshop during the build?
Often, by appointment. Sebastian Cox invites clients to visit the workshop and help choose the wood, and the DesignerMakers.Org.UK guide mentions workshop visits by arrangement. Ask whether the maker will also send photos or updates.
What if the finished piece looks different from the drawings?
Solid wood varies in colour and grain from board to board, so small differences are normal. Agree what the drawings fix, such as dimensions, joinery and finish, and which choices you will approve in person, such as the boards for a tabletop. Raise anything that differs from the agreed specification with the maker promptly.