Commissioning a custom piece of furniture
Custom furniture is more than just a reflection of your unique style — it's a significant investment, thoughtfully crafted to stand the test of time. With this in mind, Joe Bernardi takes the utmost care in working with his clients to understand their needs and bring their vision to life. Whether it is in style, size, or color, custom furniture transforms your space into something that is entirely your own.
Design Principles
Local and/or ethically sourced materials are intentionally sought out. Joe works with local sawmills in the New England area on most projects
Sourcing
Wood movement is a natural phenomenon that happens with the changing of the seasons. Pieces are carefully designed with this in mind to prevent cracking or warping and ensure the piece holds up over time. This is critical to get right, and something Joe obsesses over when designing a piece.
Wood Movement
Joinery, the art of connecting two pieces of wood, is far from uniform—it comes in many forms, each with its own unique strengths and characteristics. The right joinery takes time but ensures a durable, purpose-built piece.
Joinery Selection
The Process
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1. Get In Touch
Contact Joe via phone or email and let him know what you’re looking for. If needed, Joe may ask several clarifying questions to be sure he has a full understanding of your needs
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2. Price Estimate
Based on the information provided, Joe will provide a rough price estimate. If the estimate is within your budget then you will both proceed to the next step
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3. Design and Quote
Joe will design 3D CAD renderings of your piece and provide an exact quote. You can make as many edits as you like until we have the exact design you’re looking for. While there is no commitment to move forward from this step, this stage requires a non-refundable $25 deposit which will go towards your final piece.
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4. Approval and Deposit
If you approve of the design, a deposit equal to the cost of materials is required before proceeding to the next step. Material cost will be specified in the quote as well as a lead time for completion
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5. Build
The work begins! It’s very important to Joe that you understand the build process and level of craftsmanship that goes into every piece - progress videos are available upon request but may likely be already featured on Instagram