Commissioning custom furniture or built in cabinetry
Custom furniture and built-in cabinetry are more than expressions of personal style—they’re meaningful investments, crafted to endure. With this in mind, Joe Bernardi approaches every project with care, taking the time to understand your needs and bring your vision to life. From proportions to finishes, each piece is designed to feel unmistakably yours and to elevate your home for years to come
Design Principles
Local and/or ethically sourced materials are intentionally sought out. Joe works with local sawmills in the New England area on most projects
Sourcing
Wood movement is a natural phenomenon that happens with the changing of the seasons. Pieces are carefully designed with this in mind to prevent cracking or warping and ensure the piece holds up over time. This is critical to get right, and something Joe obsesses over when designing a piece.
Wood Movement
Joinery, the art of connecting two pieces of wood, is far from uniform—it comes in many forms, each with its own unique strengths and characteristics. The right joinery takes time but ensures a durable, purpose-built piece.
Joinery Selection
The Process
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1. Get In Touch
Contact Joe via phone or email and let him know what you’re looking for. If needed, Joe may ask several clarifying questions to be sure he has a full understanding of your needs
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2. Price Estimate
Based on the information provided, Joe will provide a rough price estimate. If the estimate is within your budget then you will both proceed to the next step
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3. Design and Quote
For built-in cabinetry projects, Joe begins with an on-site visit to take precise laser measurements and fully assess your space. From there, he creates detailed 3D CAD renderings and provides an exact quote, with unlimited revisions until the design is just right.
Custom furniture projects do not require a site visit; in those cases, Joe creates drawings based on your dimensions and preferences.
There’s no obligation to proceed from this stage. However, custom furniture drawings carry a $50 design fee, and on-site visits for built-in cabinetry require a $200 fee.
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4. Approval and Deposit
If you approve of the design, a 50% deposit is required before proceeding to the next step. A lead time for completion will be specified in the quote.
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5. Build
The work begins! It’s very important to Joe that you understand the build process and level of craftsmanship that goes into every piece - progress videos are available upon request but may likely be already featured on Instagram