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What to Expect & How the Process Works

Review unique designs created specifically for you

Schedule a free consultation

Watch your project go from idea to execution

Enjoy your custom piece for years to come

Schedule a Free Consultation


THE DETAILS

Select a highlighted blue date on the calendar and schedule a one-hour free consultation.

Our first meeting will be virtual. This will give us a chance to understand the process and the project.

During this free consultation, you’ll gain insight into the collaborative design process. After discussing your space, style, functional needs, and aesthetic wants, allow me to design three unique pieces for you. Quality time is spent exploring the shape and style before deciding on the design that works best for you.

Commission a Furniture Piece


Interested in a Custom Piece?

A custom or commissioned piece of furniture is a unique piece of functional art created for a specific person, space, or function.

Passionate about each project I take on, custom pieces allow me to develop a relationship with each client. I see these pieces as collaborations.

Each piece is made by hand, by me in my studio. I welcome clients to my shop to see the craftsmanship that goes into their furniture.

I enjoy the process of designing and crafting pieces based on your needs. These pieces are not copies of anything else - they are one-of-a-kind works that will help tell your story for generations to come.

I look forward to collaborating with you on a custom commission.

  • Commissioning a piece of furniture doesn't have to be an intimidating process. I will be here to guide you every step of the way from choosing designs to progress photos during the build to caring for your piece for years to come.

    With each custom piece, I love for my clients to be involved in the entire process. From custom dimensions to design style to material selection, I build each piece from the ground up, taking your needs and style into consideration.

    We start with a free consultation where I will provide you a general estimate of the project. From there, I prepare 3d renderings of a variation of design based on our initial consult.

    Once you’ve made your design choice, you will receive and sign a contract.

    During construction, I absolutely love to have clients out to my studio to see the progress of their piece and the craftsmanship within your piece. You’ll see, firsthand, the integrity of projects built to last for years to come.

    This is a journey I look forward to having with you.

  • With high demand for custom pieces, my current lead time is 24-32 weeks out. Usual lead time is 12-24 weeks, but this can vary greatly on if the design is simple or complicated as well as how many projects I am currently working on. No matter how long it takes, each and every client swears it's been worth the wait.

    A 20% down payment holds your place in the schedule, so I encourage clients to schedule a free consultation to get the design process started.

  • After our free design consultation, there is a $250 flat design fee. This gives you 3 unique designs based on our conversation of your dream piece.

    With these designs, I provide a-la-carte pricing - this allows you to pick and choose where you want to spend the money. Hand-touch elements, a more basic vs. elevated design, material selection, etc. This gives you a lot of control in the look and outcome of the final piece.

    After review and modification of these designs, a 20% deposit holds your place in my schedule.

    A 30% material deposit is due before I start construction, and the final 50% is paid upon delivery.

    See the Commission Process Overview for more details.

Email | alicia(at)aliciadietzstudios.com

FAQs

  • I understand how frustrating it can be to have an idea of what you want, but have no path to find it. This is the beauty of custom furniture. A piece of furniture needs to reflect it's owner - this is why I work with you to design and build that piece that will feel that it's only true place is in your home. Almost every person asks me this question on our first meeting. Your perfect piece does exist... it just hasn't been built yet.

  • This is a terrific question, and I wish there were a standard answer. With high demand for custom pieces, my current lead time is 24-32 weeks out. Usual lead time is 12-24 weeks, but this can vary greatly on if the design is simple or complicated as well as how many projects I am currently working on. No matter how long it takes, each and every client swears it's been worth the wait.

  • Commissioning a piece of furniture doesn't have to be an intimidating process. I will be here to guide you every step of the way from choosing designs to progress reports along the way to caring for your piece for years to come.

    With each custom piece, I love for my clients to be involved in the entire process. From custom dimensions to design style to material selection, I build each piece from the ground up, taking your needs and style into consideration.

    We start with a free consultation where I will provide you a general estimate of the project. From there, I prepare 3d renderings of a variation of design based on our initial consult.

    Upon review of the designs, it normally happens that the final design is a combination of 2 or 3 of the first draft. With the design, I provide a-la-carte pricing - this allows you to pick and choose where you want to spend the money. Hand-touch elements, a more basic vs. elevated design, material selection, etc. This gives you a lot of control in the look and outcome of the final piece.

    Once you’ve made your design choice, you will receive and sign a contract. A 20% deposit holds your spot in the schedule. A 30% material deposit is due before I start construction, and the final 50% is paid upon delivery.

    During construction, I absolutely love to have clients out to my studio to see the progress of their piece. You’ll see the craftsmanship within your piece. You’ll see, firsthand, the integrity of projects built to last for years to come.

    This is a journey I look forward to having with you.

  • First and foremost, with intention, integrity, and innovation. Traditional jointery such as mortise and tenon, dovetails, and lock miters are used. Your furniture will never crack or creak because a screw is coming loose... that's because screws are never used for mechanical joints. This is furniture that will last beyond you. This is because it is crafted to do so from the inside out. In our studio visits, you'll see this internal craftsmanship within your piece - and see first hand the integrity of projects built to last for years to come.

  • Yes and no..... Inspiration images are extremely helpful in our free discovery consultation. They really help me get a sense of your style. And while I don't replicate pieces already created because of artistic copyright, we'll talk though these sources of inspiration to find elements that can be used to enhance your own project.

  • This depends on the scope of the project, but frequently it looks like this: after our free design consultation, there is a $250 flat design fee. This gives you 3 unique designs based on our conversation of your dream piece. After review and modification of these designs, there is a 20% deposit which holds your place in my schedule. Before construction begins, another 30% is due. The final 50% is due upon delivery.

  • Yes. As a veteran myself, I hold a special place for those who have served. All veterans, active-duty service members, and significant others receive 10% off labor costs.

  • Yes! I work with local master sawyers and regional kiln masters to source my wood. Making finely crafted furniture starts with expert selection and understanding of wood. Careful attention is paid to the dryness, gain pattern, character, color, and stability of each board. All finishes are plant-based products that are safe to apply, maintain, and use each and every day.

  • I routinely have work at Alma's RVA Gallery & Shop | 224 W Brookland Park Blvd, Richmond, VA 23222

    I show annually at the Visual Art's Center Craft & Design Show. Visit https://craftanddesignrva.com/ for more information.

    I also love doing public commissions! Here is a list of where you can see my work in Virginia and across the country:

    Mellow Mushroom: The Forest for the Trees | 1409 Huguenot Rd, Midlothian, VA 23113

    ZZQ Texas Craft BBQ: Story Wall | 3201 West Moore Street, Richmond, VA 23230

    Veterans and Athletes United (VAU): Fallen Soldiers Memorial | Richmond, VA

    Chez Center for Wounded Veterans in Higher Education, Military Patchwork Flag | University of Illinois, Champaign, IL

    Additionally, each year I have a booth at the Visual Art Center's Craft+Design show held in Richmond, VA. Sign up for my quarterly newsletter to stay updated on show information as well as different exhibitions I'm in.

  • I happily ship smaller items at cost. For larger, custom pieces, I try to hand-deliver whenever possible to guarantee a safe install. If personal delivery is not possible, I use white-glove shipping services to safely deliver your piece.

  • It is my mission that your piece will live far beyond you. Our relationship does not end when I deliver your piece. With each custom build, I assemble a starter Care-Kit specific to the wood, finish, and environment of your new piece. Detailed instructions and quality care products are provided to you so that you can maintain your piece throughout it's life.

Inquire about a Project or Just Say Hello

Get in Touch

Please feel free to reach out with any questions. Whether its about a collection piece, a custom commission, or just to say hello, I look forward to hearing from you.

Take a look at my Frequently Asked Questions to get a sense of the process, the craftsmanship, and the journey of commissioning a custom piece of furniture.


Email | alicia(at)aliciadietzstudios.com

Artist and woodworker Alicia Dietz at work in her studio sanding a live edge piece of lumber.