Three Things I Learned Building Custom Furniture

Black walnut dining table we made for a customer in the Tribeca

Three Things I Learned Building Custom Furniture:

1) Slow and Steady Wins the Race

Or maybe I should say that you can speed things up by slowing down. A slower, more intentional pace prevents mistakes and ultimately allows you to complete projects faster.

2) Waste Not Want Not

When we complete big projects, invariably we end up with off-cuts. Sometimes these are odd shapes, sizes, and colors. We keep these meticulously organized so that when the moment is right, they can be plucked from obscurity and put to good use.

I am currently working on some walnut shelf supports for a client. They will be going next to a walnut dining table and sideboard that we built for them over the years. I've managed to incorporate leftover materials from both of these projects into the shelves so that the wood grain and color will blend and flow seamlessly. 

3) Innovation + Originality are Paramount:

I'm constantly thinking of new designs and shapes. That's why I always carry a pencil and pad so that I can quickly jot down ideas when inspiration strikes. 

Several months ago I was hired to build the aforementioned sideboard. It started with a simple sketch. I wanted the front of the piece to have continuous grain, achieved through bookmatching, where two sequential slabs are split and opened like a book to create mirror images. The initial sketch called for a line of sapwood to run down the middle. Armed with this vision, I combed through every walnut board in inventory until I found the perfect set that would bring this design to life.

Many of our customers want something original and unique that they can't find anywhere else. Our goal is to provide just that. #liveedge #customfurniture #sustainable #nycinteriors #longisland

Sound Designs New York

40 Pratt Oval, Glen Cove, NY 11542

(516) 946-6726 · joe@sounddesignsny.com

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