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The Design Process

Design your bespoke masterpiece with us by exploring our Signature Styles or creating a custom piece to bring your vision to life.

Design Your Unique Masterpiece

The design process can seem overwhelming, but it is actually much more simple than you may think. Here is our step-by-step guide. Keep in mind we can also help you meticulously design your perfect piece of furniture! 

Step 1: Decide What Kind of Piece You Are Looking For

You have a space in your home that is in need of a unique piece of furniture. Does it need a dining set, a cabinet, an accent piece, shelving, a desk or something different? Choose from one of our Signature Styles, base a design off of an inspiration picture, or we can help you create a design that is completely unique!

Step 2: Envision the Wood(s) That Will Elevate Your Space

When designing a fully custom piece, we can use any wood available on the market. This creates limitless possibilities! Here are a few of the more common (but still unique) woods available:

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Maple 

Our most popular wood. The wood itself is almost white, so we can stain it almost any color. The flowy grain pattern and color variations of maple make it the perfect way to add a coastal or refined rustic touch to your space. Color variations in the grain give maple a look of aged driftwood.

Mahogany Sample Square

Mahogany

Our sustainably harvested mahogany features a straight grain for a more sleek, contemporary look. The medium natural coloring of mahogany leaves us with less flexibility in staining, but the grain is so interesting you will want to preserve its natural color.

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Oak

Oak is one of the most classically used woods in furniture. It offers tremendous durability and can be stained in many colors. Oak comes in red oak and white oak. White oak can be stained any color and can withstand some outdoor use. Red oak has a slightly reddish hue, so it is limited in lighter colors. Both types of oak are known for their tight, textured grain pattern.

Walnut Square

Walnut

Walnut is one of the most naturally beautiful woods we use. It is naturally medium dark and features truly breathtaking grain. We love to use a natural finish and "Let Walnut be Walnut". The incredible grain can feature light streaks, purple and reddish hues, and wild figuring. If you love the look of it but want a little more control of the color, our Warm Walnut creates a more consistent color.

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Ambrosia Maple

Ambrosia Maple is caused by the female Ambrosia Beetle drilling into the tree to lay its eggs. It brings a fungus on its feet that causes a light bluish-gray streak through the wood. Ambrosia Maple is usually finished natural and is a great way to bring in a coastal look to your home with its blue-gray coloring!

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Spalted Maple

Spalted Maple is caused when a maple tree is infected with a spalting fungus. Once the fungus is discovered, the tree has to be taken down to prevent the spread. Fortunately for us, the spalting leaves beautifully striking streaks throughout the wood, as well as interesting figuring and coloration.

Step 3: Choose Your Finish

Your custom piece can be finished naturally to bring out the unique character of the wood (common with walnut, spalted, and ambrosia maple), or it can be stained to achieve the perfect color while preserving the grain. Below are our standard stain blends, but we can also create custom blends to bring your vision to reality.

Maple & Oak Finishes

Natural Oil & Varnish (6)
Natural Oil & Varnish (3)
Natural Oil & Varnish (10)
Natural Oil & Varnish (7)
Natural Oil & Varnish (2)
Natural Oil & Varnish (4)
Natural Oil & Varnish (11)
Natural Oil & Varnish (9)

Mahogany Finishes

Natural Oil & Varnish (1)
Natural Oil & Varnish (8)

Walnut Finishes

Natural Oil & Varnish
Natural Oil & Varnish (5)
Spalted & Ambrosia Maple are always finished natural

Step 4: Measure the Space

There are many nuances to determining the perfect size for a piece of furniture. We recommend that you take full measurements of your room as well as any other furniture that will be affected by your custom piece, such as rugs, sofas, etc.

Once you have these measurements in hand, contact us directly and we can start working together to bring your imagination to life! We can collaborate in person, over video conference, or even over a combination of phone and email.

Book A Design Consultation with Luke

Need help designing the perfect dining set for your home? We can help! Choose a date and time to book a design consultation with Luke to make sure you are making the right choices. We have three ways to meet...

1. Visit the Shop & Studio - Our studio is a small showroom with several finished pieces of furniture for you to see, as well as wood and finish samples. You also get a behind the scenes look at the workshop and how we make such beautiful furniture!

2. Virtual Design Consult - Whether you would like to meet via Zoom or just set up a time for a good old fashion phone call, we have got you covered. We usually request you email us some photos of the space ahead of time and make sure you have measurements.

3. In Home Design Consult - If you are local to the Wilmington area, Luke can come to your home for a personalized design meeting to ensure you get the perfect piece for your home and persionality!