COMMISSIONING

Commissioning furniture is not difficult and Andrew aims to make it an enjoyable and rewarding experience. To begin with, the purpose, dimensions and preferred woods are discussed, together with any special features the furniture should have, and an outline of the budget, within which the work is to be made, is established. Wherever possible, a site visit is advantageous.

This information enables Andrew to produce a design for presentation in the form of scale drawings, perspective sketches, and sometimes scale models, along with a quotation. At this stage, any alterations to the design can be made, if necessary.

Once a client is happy with the proposals, a deposit of 25 per cent of the total cost is requested, the materials chosen and the project slotted into the workshop schedule. Andrew aims to complete commissions within six months of an order being place, but specific deadlines such as a wedding can usually be met.

If a client decides not to proceed at this stage, a fee of 150 may be charged to cover costs. If an enquiry is likely to attract a design fee, this will be made clear at the outset. The return of the drawings is kindly requested: the copyright of all Andrew's designs is reserved and they may not be made elsewhere without his consent.

At an appropriate stage, the client is invited along to the workshop to see how the work is progressing; not only does this help the client feel involved in the project but enables any outstanding decisions, such as the choice of handles for instance, to be made. On completion, arrangements are made for delivery and installation, when payment of the balance of the cost is due. On some large schemes, stage payments, agreed in advance, are made as the work progresses.