Commissions
Ki Dō Studio accepts a limited number of commissions for handmade furniture and objects.
Each piece begins with a conversation. We’ll discuss what you are looking for, where the piece will live, how it will be used, and any ideas or influences you would like to bring to the project. From there, I develop a design that considers proportion, structure, material, and the character of the individual boards that will become the finished piece.
THE PROCESS
Conversation & Design
The process begins with an inquiry. You do not need to arrive with a finished design. A general idea—a dining table for your home, a cabinet for a particular collection, or simply a space that needs the right piece—is enough to begin. After discussing the project, I will develop the design, select appropriate materials, and establish the scope, estimated timeline, and price before work begins.
Material Selection
Wood is selected individually for each piece. Species, grain, color, figure, and the relationship between individual boards are considered as part of the design rather than simply as raw material. Natural variation is expected and celebrated. No two pieces of wood, and no two pieces of Ki Dō furniture, will ever be exactly alike. I source beautiful wood locally, from around North Carolina, working with independent sawmills and private sellers.
Making
Every piece is made by hand in my North Carolina workshop using traditional hand tools and joinery. The process is slow. Surfaces are planed, joints are cut and fitted, and forms are shaped by hand. The goal is not simply to reproduce a drawing, but to allow the design and material to inform one another throughout the making process.
Completion & Delivery
Because each piece is made individually, lead times vary according to the scale and complexity of the work and the studio's current schedule. An estimated completion window will be established before the commission begins, with updates provided throughout the process. Delivery or shipping arrangements are determined individually based on the piece and its destination.
Pricing
Commissioned furniture is priced individually according to the design, materials, scale, complexity, and time required to make the piece. Following our initial conversation, I will provide a written proposal outlining the design, materials, estimated timeline, and price. A deposit reserves the commission and allows material selection and work to begin.