Chris and his staff were timely, affordable and completely professional. They know what it means to 'delight the customer.'"
Maureen & Stephen Baca
New Mexico
The Commission Process
Finding just the right piece of furniture can be a challenge.
The experienced craftspeople at Artisans of the Desert will work closely with you to ensure the finished work follows all the contours of your vision. Each piece or set of custom furniture we make is tailored to your style preferences and functional needs.
Our commission process follows a few general steps to ensure a smooth transition from your original design concept to a completed work.
- Project consultation. We will meet with you to discuss what type of furniture you want and details such as size, wood selections and any special features. We will show you examples of our work, and review any photographs of work you can provide that are similar to what you envision.
- Initial design review and estimate. We will draft rough sketches of your design ideas and present them to you for review. We will provide an initial estimate that may be revised depending on any changes to the initial design sketches. A deposit is generally required which will be deducted from the project cost.
- Scaled drawing review and estimate. Based on your feedback to the initial rough sketches, we will prepare a scaled drawing of your custom furniture piece, and if necessary revise the initial cost estimate. We will further discuss wood species to be used in the piece.
- Final drawing approval and Project Order execution. Based upon your feedback to the scaled drawing, we will revise the drawing and estimate for your approval. You will also make final wood selections. Upon your approval, we will execute a Project Order and outline a schedule for completing the project. A deposit is generally required which will be deducted from the total project cost.
- Completion and delivery. The project balance will be due when your commissioned piece is completed. For larger projects such as kitchens, progress payments may be required.
Once your commissioned piece is delivered, you and your family will enjoy it for years with minimal maintenance. For details on how to care for your furniture, see our page describing care and maintenance tips for fine wood furniture.