Most people commissioning a piece from us have never done anything like this before, and there’s no reason they should already know what to expect. This page lays out every stage of the process plainly, so you always know what’s happening, what’s coming next, and who’s responsible for what — at every point along the way.

This is where we start — a private conversation, in person, by phone, or by Zoom. No obligation, no pressure. We want to understand what brought you to us: who this piece is for, what you already have in mind, and what questions you’re still sitting with. Some people arrive with a fully formed vision. Others arrive with nothing but a feeling. Both are a complete starting point. By the end of this conversation, we’ll have a sense of direction and you’ll have a sense of us — whether this feels like the right fit before either of us commits to anything further.

This is where we start — a private conversation, in person, by phone, or by Zoom. No obligation, no pressure. We want to understand what brought you to us: who this piece is for, what you already have in mind, and what questions you’re still sitting with. Some people arrive with a fully formed vision. Others arrive with nothing but a feeling. Both are a complete starting point. By the end of this conversation, we’ll have a sense of direction and you’ll have a sense of us — whether this feels like the right fit before either of us commits to anything further.

Using what we learned in the Legacy Interview, we develop the design direction — sketches, wood pairings, structural approach, and for themed commissions, the concept for how the piece will express that theme. This stage is collaborative. We’ll show you where our thinking is headed and adjust based on your response before anything is finalized. Changes at this stage cost nothing. This is exactly the point in the process where refining the vision is expected, not an inconvenience.

Once the design direction is set, we select the actual lumber — by hand, board by board, the same way we’ve described throughout this site. If your piece calls for a species with limited availability, like Wormy Chestnut, we confirm stock before moving forward. This is also where we finalize joinery approach, finish type, and any hardware decisions specific to your commission.

Your commission enters our production queue and is built in the order it was received. This is the longest stage of the process, and it’s also the one where the least needs to happen on your end — we build, you wait, and we keep you updated at meaningful milestones rather than pestering you with constant check-ins you didn’t ask for. Current production timeline runs under four weeks from build start to completion, though queue position affects when your build actually begins. Your contract specifies your estimated window based on your position at the time of signing.

Before your piece ships, we send high-resolution photography — and video where applicable — showing the completed work from every angle. Nothing leaves this bench until you’ve reviewed it and given your sign-off. This is also the point where your final payment is due, and where we confirm your shipping details and crate preference.

Your piece is crated and shipped via our White-Glove Delivery Service, arriving ready for immediate use or long-term storage depending on your circumstance. If you’ve selected pre-planning storage, your crate and care instructions arrive with it. If this is for an immediate need, we coordinate timing directly with your funeral home. Either way, the relationship doesn’t end at delivery. If you ever have a question about care, storage, or anything else, you reach us directly — the same two people you talked to on day one.