How does the custom furniture process work?

    For more information about the custom design process, please read this page.

What's the best way to get in touch with you?

    Email works the best because we can have more in-depth conversations about your ideas and I will have a record of them to go back to if I have questions about your project. However, you can also contact me by phone or text at 607-793-3865. You can also use the contact form on this website, which I can respond to through email. 

    The custom design process requires a lot of customer input, so you can expect that we will be corresponding frequently. I try to answer all emails within 24 hours so that we can keep your project moving forward as quickly as possible.

How do you calculate your prices?

    Prices are calculated by the cost of materials plus the cost of labor at $20/hour. I will give you an estimate based on my best guess for how much the lumber, hardware, and other parts will cost, and based on how many hours I expect your project will take.  Your final cost will be determined by the actual cost of materials and labor. Don't worry, I don't charge like a lawyer - I won't charge you for the time I spend thinking about or planning your project (even though it will always be on my mind!) 

    Customers within New York State will be subject to 8% sales tax.

I have big dreams but I have to work within a budget. Can I still afford a custom project?

    If you tell me your budget up-front, I am happy to work with you to find ways to keep the costs down.  For example, on one recent project, my estimate was outside their budget so I asked the customer if they'd be interested in painting it themselves. They were happy to do the work and stay within their budget. Other options to keep costs down include using less expensive types of wood or simplifying the design.

Why do you ask for a 20% non-refundable deposit before you begin to work on a project? 

    When I begin a project, I often have to purchase a large amount of lumber that is specific to your project. Once I have cut the wood, it is very difficult to re-use it for another project. The deposit covers these up-front expenses. 

How long will it take you to build my project?

    I know you're anxious to get your project as soon as possible. I work on projects in the order I receive them, and I currently have a waiting list of between four and eight weeks. I do my best to estimate correctly how long it will take before I will be able to finish your project. 

    Time is always a big variable in the custom-building world. Sometimes unusual projects take more (or less) time than I expect, and sometimes unforeseen hold-ups happen with suppliers or materials. And sometimes, everything goes smoothly and I finish ahead of schedule.

Don't I know you from somewhere?

    Were you also at the Tibetan Freedom Concert in 1998? 

What are your options for Shipping and Delivery?

    I deliver anywhere within New York State at a rate of $0.35 per mile.  For example, the trip from Syracuse to New York City is approximately 500 miles round-trip, so my delivery charge would be $175. Sometimes I am able to combine deliveries if I have several orders from the same area. If this happens, I will split the delivery charge between customers. 

    For out-of-state customers, I am willing to ship to you, wherever you are located. I will find out the approximate cost of shipping to you and quote you a price when we are discussing your project. Please be aware that I am a small business without a big shipping contract, and sometimes the cost of shipping is prohibitive, especially if you are interested in a large or heavy item.  If price is a concern for you, it may be worthwhile to find a carpenter closer to where you live.

What happens if I'm not satisfied?

    If this is a custom design, we will be working together throughout the process. I will send you pictures along the way to make sure you're happy with the progress.  However, if you're not satisfied with the final result, I will do my best to fix or replace your item.  If you are still unhappy, I will refund your purchase (minus the 20% non-refundable deposit).

What do fish eat?

    I'm glad you asked. This is my favorite question.  I'm going to go with "fish food."