The First Steps in Starting A Custom Wood Project With the current weak housing market, many home owners are looking to make improvements to their existing homes instead of buying new ones. This type of custom work can be a small project, such as installing radiator covers, or larger ones, such as redoing a kitchen. Regardlessof the scope of work, the experience of making improvements to your home can be very pleasant and exciting. Here are 4 basic tips on how to make your custom project fun and successful. Research The Shop: The first step in any custom project is to find the right shop to build your custom work. One way to find the right shop is by asking friends if they have had any custom work done. You can use that information to find other reviews on that particular shop on the Internet. In the processyou will find the names of other shops that can provide you with custom work. It is important to identify at least two shops so you can compare estimates on the work and design ideas. Once you get the name of two or three shops, the next step is to get an idea of what you want. Know What You Want: Before visiting any custom workshops, do some research on what type of look you want to achieve. Will it be modern or traditional? An easy way to figure out what you want is to simply collect ideas/pictures from home dĂŠcor magazines. You can present these to the designer in the store so they understand exactly the look you are going for. The designer will be able to help fully develop your idea and give you a rough sketch of the unit that you have in mind. Although most designers will be reluctant to do so, try to get a copy of the design so you can get other estimates and ideas. If they give you the design, most likely they are confident that their price is competitive and that you will return Interviewing the Shop Designer: How do you know if the designer is experienced? There are a few ways. Ask them to show you their portfolio of work. Pay attention to the questions they ask you about your home, such as if your floors are level. Pay attention to their drafting skills. Ask them questions about different wood species, materials, and hardware so you can assesshow knowledgeable they are. It is important that you make sure they suggest they come to your home to take precise measurements. Visit The Shop Factory: Ask the store to give you a tour of its factory. This will allow you to see how organized and professional they are. It will also give you a good idea of the kind of work their shop typically handles. Are they known for creating elaborate and intricate custom work, or do they usually handle simple and small projects.
About the Author Inspired by the challenges of small spacesin urban areas, Gothic Cabinet Craft (1-877-446-8442) furniture is designed to maximize the storage space of any home, regardless of its size. Gothic Cabinet Craft takes the guessing out of custom. Gothic provides an online questionnaire for custom wood work to help customers begin the processof designing their real wood furniture. Gothic also provides in home consultations and measurement services. All of our customers are more than welcomed to visit our factory prior to placing an order or before accepting a delivery. For more information, pleasevisit us online at http://www.gothiccabinetcraft.com or one of our 30 store locations.