Page 30 · Section How it works
How it works
Seven steps from the first call to the first re-oiling. At every step you know what happens next and what it costs.
From call to furniture
Seven steps
day 1
Enquiry
Via the form, phone or WhatsApp. A few photos of the room and rough sizes help a lot – a sketch on paper is enough. We reply within three working days.
after about 1–2 weeks
First meeting & survey
We come to you for 60 to 90 minutes. We measure everything, check walls, floors and connections, and above all we listen. Free within 25 km.
2–3 weeks
Design & quote
You get a hand sketch, a technical drawing and a fixed-price quote. For complex designs we charge €180, fully credited when you place the order.
1 visit
Choosing the wood
You come to the workshop and help choose the boards. For tables and fronts that matters more than any photo. You can take sample boards home.
4–12 weeks
In the workshop
We build. We send progress photos along the way, and you are welcome to drop in. Changes are possible until the wood is cut.
1–3 days
Delivery & fitting
By our own team, no subcontractors. We protect your floors, vacuum afterwards and take the packaging away.
after 12 months
Care & after
You get a care guide and a tin of oil. After a year we come back for the first re-oiling – free of charge.
Checklist
What you can prepare
- Photos of the room, ideally with a tape measure in shot
- Rough sizes: width, depth, height
- A picture you like (magazine, Pinterest, anything)
- Your budget range – it saves us both time
- Your ideal date and whether there is a hard deadline
No surprises
Fixed price, not timesheets
After the survey you get a quote with a fixed price. If you don’t change anything afterwards, the price doesn’t change either – even if we take longer.
30 · 60 · 10 %
on order · on delivery · after handover
FAQ
Common questions
01What does custom furniture cost?
It depends on size, wood and complexity. As a rough guide: a solid dining table from about €2,900, a built-in cupboard from about €1,600 per running metre, a kitchen from about €18,000. All guide prices are on the Services page. After the survey you get a fixed price.
02How long is the wait?
Our workshop is fairly busy until about February 2027. We still do the survey and design right away so your project gets a fixed slot. Small repairs often fit in between.
03Do you speak English?
Yes. Katrin spent part of her journeyman years in Canada, and many of our clients are American families from the Baumholder community. Quotes, drawings and care guides can all be in English.
04We will PCS in two or three years. Is custom furniture still worth it?
That is exactly when it is worth it – if it is built for moving. We use knock-down joinery, make pieces that fit through narrow stairwells and can crate them for shipping. See our ‘kitchen that moves’.
05Can you work with the VAT relief form?
Yes, we are happy to work with the US Forces VAT relief forms. Please mention it in your enquiry so we can prepare the paperwork with the quote.
06Can I use wood from my own garden?
Yes, gladly – see our walnut table. You need patience: as a rule of thumb, wood air-dries about one year per 2.5 cm of thickness. Call us before the tree is cut up for firewood.
07Solid wood or plywood – which is better?
Both have their place. Solid wood can be repaired and ages beautifully, but it moves. Plywood and veneered boards are stable and cheaper, good for carcasses and large panels. We often combine them: solid where hands touch, sheet material where it carries weight.
08Is there a warranty?
Yes, the statutory one in Germany: two years on furniture, five years on fixed installations such as staircases. And if a drawer sticks after ten years, we will still come round.
09How do I pay?
30 % when you place the order, 60 % on delivery, 10 % after handover. By bank transfer – no cash needed.
Enquiry · Page 34
Ready for step one?
The form asks for exactly what we need for a first estimate. Five minutes, promised.
Thielen · No. 56 · Autumn 2026Page 30