Most of those who view these pages have probably already seen my furniture, usually at one of the craft shows where I display my latest work. They already know the anxiety of making a deposit on a piece of furniture that doesn't exist, and then having to wait for months before they see it coming in their front door under a furniture pad, only to be unveiled after it is already in their home. Believe me, I am well aware that this requires a large act of faith on the part of my customers, and I thank them for it. The most important step in deciding to have me make a piece for you is to see and touch my work, to experience the quality of the joinery and the color and figure of the wood, and to feel the softness of the finish as well as the way the moving parts work. Drawings and photographs, especially viewed with a web browser, can't show the attention to detail that sets artisan-made furniture apart from factory-made. To find out where I am next going to be showing my furniture, visit the Now Showing page, or find out how to contact me from the Contact Me page. Some people find that a piece I've already made is exactly what they're looking for, and I'm always glad to repeat a successful design. Ideas come both from pieces I bring to shows, and from my portfolio of photographs, most of which are available in the Portfolio section of the site. But more often, small (or even large) changes have to be made in a design before it is exactly right for another person. This usually involves re-drawing the original design to fit the requirements, and a complete proposal containing drawings, price and completion date. With my computer drawing program and email, this can all happen pretty quickly. If there's nothing in my repertoire to suit your needs, I might have something in my not-yet-made drawings, or I can start from your suggestions and design a new piece for you. This requires some input regarding the size and function of the piece, as well as some hints about what sort of designs (either mine or someone else's) appeal to you. Once I have a starting point, drawings and suggestions can go back and forth, until we agree on a design. If you live between Boston and Virginia, I will deliver your furniture to you personally. The cost of having me bring a piece of furniture in my van is much less than what it would cost to have it shipped by common carrier, not even counting the cost of a crate to ship it in. Also, I know that if I bring it myself, it will arrive in perfect condition. Often, I will arrange my production schedule so that I can deliver more than one piece in a trip, and that way more than one client will split the cost of delivery. In over 30 years of making furniture, I have never charged for drawings, and I don't intend to start now. In return, I ask potential clients to be honest about how much they are willing to spend before I put a lot of time into a project. Once we have agreed on the general shape and function of a piece, I will let you know about how much it might cost, and if you agree to consider a piece in that price range, then I'll go ahead and make you a design proposal, with prices for each choice to be considered. No money changes hands until we agree on a design and a price, and at that point I ask for a deposit equal to about one-fourth of the final price. The balance is due upon delivery. I generally make pieces in the order in which deposits are received, and delivery dates depend on how many people are head of you and on delivery schedules. I will be able to give you an estimated completion date at the time a deposit is made, and I'm pretty good at keeping to those dates (usually).