Not all furniture is the same. Some, called heirloom furniture, is made of the highest quality materials and formed with expert craftsmanship, and can be priceless, being passed down from one generation to the next.
But what makes it so desirable and why do consumers and collectors pay so much for it?
What Sets Heirloom Furniture Apart
Most furniture bought in stores is made in bulk, by machines, and carries no uniqueness. The build quality and materials can be good, but pales in comparison to hand-made. For most of them, the purchaser has to assemble it themselves, in fact.
Heirloom furniture is entirely different – it’s made from the highest quality materials, usually hand selected by an expert craftsman, and is cut, assembled, and finished to be a one-of-a-kind piece built to last.
In essence, it all starts with the material used. But the process and intense scrutiny from the woodworker to make the very best final product is the key ingredient. True heirloom furniture takes time, expertise, and ageless design.
Heirloom furniture is something you’d find at an estate sale, if it’s not being passed down to family members. You won’t find it at local stores or in a Craigslist ad (unless you were extremely lucky).
Professional Plan Design
A lot goes into planning high-level furniture when you consider all the different parts of the build which can be customized.
First, the craftsman is going to need to discuss with the client what they want, what their estimated build specs are going to be, what materials and design elements they wish to have, and any other small details they need to discover in order to make it just right.
Then, it’s up to the craftsman to go back to the drawing board and find the balance of utilizing every detail received from the client, but also allow his or her own creativity to bring it to life with character, uniqueness, and their own touch of love.
Last, once approved by the client, the design goes to the drafting process where the final details, measurements, and the material inventory can be completed.
Sourcing Top-of-the-Line Materials
One of the most important steps in building furniture which can last decades, or even centuries, is choosing wood which can withstand years of daily use and not become brittle, cracked, or easily scratched.
Best in class woods, which are more dense, strong and have beautiful, naturally occurring grains include:
- Oak
- Mahogany
- Cedar
Because of their density, they are heavier, as well, and more difficult to work with at ultra high levels of precision. Mistakes can be costly, so the process will require a notable amount of patience, accuracy and skill from the craftsman.
Wood can be sourced from many places, but master woodworkers tend to rely on reputable sellers, and each piece of the project will be individually inspected to ensure it lives up to the specifications and quality requirements to create a near perfect end product.
Inspection includes:
- Ensuring boards are matching in color
- Confirming grain and knots in the wood are consistent
- Verifying boards are straight, compact, and not splintered
If a single piece of the furniture loses its integrity, it can reduce the integrity of the entire work, so no shortcuts can be afforded when selecting materials.
Heirloom Furniture Construction
With the plan and materials in hand, the craftsman is ready to begin the process of physically building the furniture. This part of the process can vary from woodworker to woodworker, especially depending on which type of piece is being built.
In the beginning, there will be a proper order of operations to constructing the furniture, especially when considering certain types of joints being used. The craftsman is going to want to avoid having to redo work, so a chronological construction timeline can be important.
Another thing to consider is not just how foundational pieces fit together, but what parts of the furniture may move, like drawers. Certain clearances will be needed, or individual cuts will need to be made before they are installed to account for these features.
Yet another item which has to be considered is if assembly can be completed before installation. If the final piece is larger than a standard door frame, and there’s no other way to get it to it’s final destination in one piece, it may require the build be able to be constructed on-site. This is especially helpful if the work is not going to be permanently installed.
The Finishing Touches
Some people love the raw look and feel of unfinished wood, where others may want it finished with a certain texture, certain stain or color. Depending on what the finished product calls for, there could also be a need for custom fasteners, hardware, drawers, or even modern accessory installation.
The last and final step of the entire build process is careful delivery. An often neglected, albeit crucial step, is to safely transport, move, and install the heirloom furniture at its final resting place. With the amount of time, effort and expertise going into creating it, delivery is a critical component.
