How Long Does Custom Furniture Take?

We do not publish a standard lead time, because it would be misleading. A single table and a whole home’s cabinetry are different undertakings, and delivery to one city is different from delivery to another. What we can explain is where the time goes.

Design

Concept, drawings and revisions. The more clearly the brief and budget are defined at the start, the faster this goes.

Sampling and approval

Physical samples of timber, stone, leather and metal need to be prepared, sent and reviewed. Approvals are often the longest variable — decisions take time, and they should.

Production

Depends on complexity, materials and the maker’s schedule. Rare stone slabs or specific hides can add time to sourcing.

Packing, freight and delivery

International freight, customs clearance and local delivery all add time, and depend heavily on destination.

How to plan

• Start early — ideally while a home is still under construction or renovation.
• Prioritise built-in cabinetry, which must be ready before other furniture.
• Group decisions to reduce rounds of review.
• Ask for a schedule once the design is defined, not before.

What keeps a project moving

• A clear brief and budget range from the start.
• Accurate floor plans and room photographs.
• Grouping decisions so that samples are reviewed together.
• Confirming delivery access early, especially for apartments.
• A single decision-maker, or a clear way of reaching agreement.

What tends to add time

• Changing dimensions or materials after drawings are approved.
• Rare materials — particular stone slabs or hides — that must be sourced.
• Waiting on building works, such as flooring or electrical changes, before measurements can be confirmed.
• International freight and customs clearance, which vary by destination.

None of these are reasons to avoid custom work; they are simply the variables that make an honest schedule possible. Once the design is defined, we can give you a realistic timeline for your project.

Planning around a move or completion date

If you have a fixed date — a handover, a move, a first guest — tell us at the start. We can prioritise the pieces you need first, such as beds and dining furniture, and sequence the rest. Built-in cabinetry usually needs verified site measurements, so it is planned around the stage of any building works.

Interim solutions

Where timing is tight, a few selected pieces can bridge the gap until custom furniture arrives. We plan these so they remain useful elsewhere in the home afterwards.

When you start a project, tell us your ideal timeline and we will be candid about what is realistic. See also the bespoke process and custom furniture.