Notes from the bench

Short, plain answers to the questions we are asked most about custom cabinetry — and, in time, case studies from finished commissions. Serving Greater Boston, the South Shore, and Cape & Islands.

Cabinetmaker hand-planing a dovetailed walnut drawer box on the bench

Design study

May 2026

What actually makes cabinetry custom

Custom cabinetry means the case, the profiles and the finish are drawn for one room — not selected from a catalog of sizes. Here is how to tell the difference.

Transitional ivory fitted kitchen cabinetry with marble island and brass hardware

Design study

June 2026

Transitional cabinetry, explained

Transitional cabinetry keeps traditional proportion and joinery but strips the ornament — the Gilded Age with its volume turned down.

Traditional cabinetmaking workshop with timber stock and hand tools

Design study

July 2026

Planning a cabinetry commission: timing and sequence

A cabinetry commission typically runs sixteen to twenty-four weeks from drawings to installation. Here is when to start the conversation.