The Two Oaks Studio Approach
Our Process:
Building Together: The Importance of Communication
At Two Oaks Studio, we're all about clear communication. When you choose us to bring your custom furniture vision to life, we know you're putting your trust (and investment!) in our hands. We take that seriously. That's why we keep you in the loop throughout the entire furniture making process. We break down each project into key milestones, and as we hit those markers, you'll get a status update. We typically send updates via email, but we're happy to chat by phone or text—whatever works best for you. Plus, we love sharing behind-the-scenes photos and videos of your furniture being built, so you can see the magic happen.
To keep things running smoothly and ensure your custom piece turns out exactly how you envisioned, here's a quick heads-up:
If you need to make any changes to your custom furniture order, please let us know within 48 hours of us confirming your project is in our queue. This helps us avoid starting on a design that might need adjustments, and ensures we can accommodate your requests. After that 48-hour window, we may have already begun working on your piece, which could make changes more difficult.
Built by Hand: The Heart of Two Oaks Studio’s Craftsmanship
The Beauty of Real Wood (and a Little About Variation)
At Two Oaks Studio, we work with real, solid wood—it's what gives our custom furniture its unique character and warmth. But because wood is a natural material, it's important to understand that some variation is to be expected. Think of it this way: just like no two trees are exactly alike, no two pieces of wood will be either.
Things like temperature, humidity, and light exposure can cause slight changes in the wood over time. You might also notice natural features like knots, subtle grain variations, or tiny imperfections. These aren't flaws; they're part of what makes each piece of solid wood furniture one-of-a-kind. They tell a story! You might see some tight grain, some open grain, some knots, some color variation. That's just how trees grow.
And because each piece of furniture is handcrafted with care, there might be very slight variations in measurements—we're talking fractions of an inch, not noticeable differences. This is the nature of true craftsmanship, and it ensures that your custom piece is truly unique.
Living with Solid Wood: Seasonal Changes and What to Expect
One of the cool things about solid wood furniture is that it's a living material. It responds to its environment, especially changes in temperature and humidity. Think of wood like a sponge—it absorbs and releases moisture, causing it to expand and contract slightly throughout the year.
Because of this natural movement, you might occasionally notice small seams between the boards of your table, especially during seasonal changes. This is totally normal! You might also see very slight movement (up to about 1/8") in the length, width, or thickness of your furniture. In some cases, a tabletop might even develop a slight bow or flex. Again, this is all part of the natural behavior of solid wood and nothing to worry about.
Sunlight can also affect wood over time, potentially causing it to lighten, darken, or fade slightly, depending on the species. To ensure a more even color, we recommend occasionally rotating items on your furniture and exposing table leaves to similar light and air conditions as the rest of the table.
At Two Oaks Studio, we're not about mass-produced perfection. We celebrate the unique character of every piece we handcraft in our shop. We're sharing this information not to scare you, but to give you a better understanding of solid wood and help you feel confident in your investment. We want you to know what to expect so you can enjoy your furniture for years to come. If you ever have any concerns about excessive wood movement, don't hesitate to reach out. We're always happy to help!
The Deal with Lead Times: Quality Over Everything
At Two Oaks Studio, we're dedicated to crafting each piece with the utmost care and attention to detail. Because every piece of custom furniture presents its own unique set of challenges (some expected, some not!), our lead times are estimates. We prioritize quality above all else.
Sometimes, unexpected things happen in the workshop—a particularly tricky grain pattern, a new technique that requires extra time, or even just the inherent nature of working with natural materials. Rather than rush a piece to meet a strict deadline, we'd rather take the time needed to ensure it meets our high standards (and yours!). We believe it's better to be a little late than to deliver something that we aren’t proud to show off.
So, while we'll give you our best estimate for when you can expect your furniture, please understand that it's just that—an estimate. We'll keep you updated throughout the process, and we appreciate your understanding as we pour our heart and soul into creating your one-of-a-kind piece.
The Big Reveal: Bringing Your Furniture Home
We'll keep you updated throughout the build process, but this is the message you've been waiting for! As we get close to finishing your custom piece (usually about a week out), we'll reach out to coordinate pickup or delivery. We'll also share some important care instructions to help you keep your new furniture looking its best.
For Deliveries: Because we don’t have an enclosed trailer, delivery dates are subject to weather. We'll work with you to find a day that works for everyone. Delivery fees are based on distance. For some larger pieces, we might need an extra set of hands to help with unloading and bringing it into your home. We'll let you know in advance if this is the case. If you're unable to provide an extra helper, we can arrange for an additional delivery person for a small fee. See Getting Your Furniture Home: Delivery and Pickup Options for information on Third-Party Deliveries.
For Pickups: We'll let you know as soon as your piece is ready for pickup at our shop. To keep things organized, we ask that you pick up your furniture within 15 days of notification. After that, a small storage fee of $25 per week will apply. If a piece isn't picked up within 90 days, we may need to make other arrangements for it. We really don't want that to happen, so please reach out if you have any scheduling conflicts!
Getting Your Furniture Home: Delivery and Pickup Options
As we get closer to completing your piece, we'll reach out about a week beforehand to coordinate delivery or pickup, depending on what you've chosen.
Two Oaks Studio Delivery & Pickup: If we're handling the delivery ourselves, or if you're picking up your furniture at our shop, we'll give you a call the day before to confirm a delivery window.
Delivery Fees (Two Oaks Studio Delivery Only): If we're delivering your furniture ourselves, our fees are based on the distance from our shop:
First 200 miles: $1 per mile
Over 200 miles: $1.50 per mile for each mile over 200
Third-Party Delivery: If we're using a third-party delivery service, the scheduling will be handled by them, but we'll provide you with a tracking number as soon as it's available. We highly recommend being present for the delivery if possible. When your furniture arrives, please inspect it carefully before signing for it. If you notice any damage, do not sign the delivery receipt, take photos, and contact us immediately. For third-party deliveries, you'll be responsible for their delivery fees plus the cost of our packaging materials.
Important Delivery Notes:
If your delivery location isn't on the ground floor (e.g., an apartment or upstairs room), please let us know when we're coordinating the delivery so we can make the necessary arrangements.
It's important to make sure your new furniture will fit through your doorways and hallways! We can't accept returns if the furniture doesn't fit through your entryway, so please double-check those measurements before ordering.
Our Promise: Standing Behind Our Craftsmanship
At Two Oaks Studio, we're proud of the pieces we create. We build everything to the highest quality standards, using durable construction methods and the best materials we can get our hands on. We want your furniture to last a lifetime, and we stand behind our craftsmanship.
What Our Warranty Covers: We warranty our furniture against defects in materials and workmanship that cause the product to not function as intended. This includes things like:
Loose or wobbly joints
Wood splitting or cracking under normal use
Other structural issues that affect the integrity of the piece
What Our Warranty Doesn't Cover: Because wood is a natural material, it's susceptible to changes in different environments. Our warranty doesn't cover damage caused by:
Improper handling or misuse (like damaging the finish or applying excessive force)
Extreme temperature or humidity fluctuations that cause warping, bowing, or twisting
Normal wear and tear
Wood naturally expands and contracts with changes in humidity and temperature. This is a normal characteristic of solid wood furniture and not considered a defect. We do everything we can on our end to account for this movement with our construction methods. For more information, take a look at the section titled “Built by Hand: The Heart of Two Oaks Studio’s Craftsmanship ”
If you have any questions about our warranty or believe you have a warranty claim, please don't hesitate to reach out. We're here to help!
Our Policy on Custom Orders: A Few Things to Know
Because each piece we create at Two Oaks Studio is custom-made just for you, we don't offer returns or exchanges. We put a lot of care into every step of the process, from selecting the wood to the final finishing touches. We also thoroughly inspect each piece during and after construction to ensure it meets our high standards.
What Happens If There's an Issue?
In the rare case that your furniture is built incorrectly or has a defect (see Built by Hand: The Heart of Two Oaks Studio’s Craftsmanship), we'll happily replace the piece or correct the issue. Remember, the natural characteristics of wood (like variations in grain or knots) are part of what makes each piece unique and are not considered defects.
If your furniture arrives damaged from shipping, we'll take care of it! Just make sure to note the damage on the delivery receipt, take photos, and contact us right away, as per the delivery instructions (see Getting Your Furniture Home: Delivery and Pickup Options).
A Note About Color and Wood Variation:
Since every piece of wood is unique, there will be slight variations in color and grain. We do our best to create a cohesive look, but these natural variations are part of the beauty of working with solid wood. We encourage you to keep this in mind when placing your order, as we're unable to offer returns or refunds based on color variations. Because every piece is made to order based on your specifications of size, style, and wood species, we cannot offer refunds for buyer's remorse.