How Ordering a Custom Barnwood Piece Works

Maybe you've measured a wall and nothing off the shelf fits it. Maybe you've pictured the exact farmhouse table your family will gather around for the next thirty years, down to the wood and the finish. Because reclaimed barnwood furniture is built one piece at a time, it's especially well suited to custom work — we can build the piece you're imagining instead of asking you to settle for the closest match.

If you've never commissioned a piece of furniture before, the idea can feel a little daunting. It shouldn't. This guide walks through exactly how a custom barnwood order works with us — the steps, the cost and deposit, how long it takes, and what to send us to get started — so you know what to expect from your first message to the day your piece comes home.

Is a custom piece right for you?

Custom isn't always necessary, and we'll always tell you honestly if something we've already built will do the job. A custom build makes the most sense when:

• You need a specific size to fit your room, a doorway, or an awkward nook.
• You want a particular wood or finish to match a space or an existing piece.
• You have a design in mind — from a photo, a sketch, or just a clear idea — that you can't find ready-made.

If you mostly want a great barnwood piece and aren't tied to exact specs, browsing our gallery for something ready-made is often the simplest route — what you see is what you get, and it's usually ready sooner. Not sure which way to go? Our buyer's guide can help you decide, or just ask us.

The five steps, start to finish

Every custom order follows the same simple path. Here's what happens at each stage.

1. Consult

It starts with a conversation. You share what you have in mind — the piece, your space, and how you'll live with it — and we ask the questions that shape a good build. There's no obligation at this stage; it's just figuring out together whether and how we can build what you want. The more you can tell us up front (more on that below), the faster we can get to a useful answer.

2. Design

Together we work out the details — dimensions, wood, finish, and any specific design features — and we send you a detailed quote. This is where the piece goes from an idea to a concrete plan you can say yes to. Once you approve the quote and place your deposit, your order is reserved in our production schedule.

3. Craft

Your piece is built by hand from authentic reclaimed barnwood by skilled, genuinely Amish makers in Lancaster County. This is the part that takes time — real joinery and careful construction can't be rushed — but it's also what makes the piece an heirloom rather than something disposable.

4. Finish

Once built, your piece gets a durable, hand-rubbed finish chosen to protect it and bring out the character of the wood. The finish affects both how the piece looks and how you'll care for it, so we'll talk through the options that suit how you plan to use it.

5. Deliver

Finally, your piece comes home — by local pickup here in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, or by careful delivery through trusted carriers if you're farther away. We'll send a tracking number by email once it ships so you can follow it the whole way.

What it costs and how the deposit works

Because every custom piece is sized, built, and finished just for you, the price depends on the specifics — most of our pieces range from a few hundred to a few thousand dollars depending on size, wood, and finish. We don't ask you to guess: tell us what you have in mind and your budget, and we'll suggest options and send a quote.

To reserve your place in our production schedule, a custom order takes a 10% (or $100 minimum) non-refundable deposit. The remaining balance is due in full before delivery or pickup. If you'd like a fuller breakdown of what drives the number, see our guide to how much reclaimed barnwood furniture costs.

How long it takes

Good handcrafted furniture takes time. Most custom pieces take an estimated 10 to 16 weeks or more to build. A few things can stretch that — holidays, the complexity of the design, revisions along the way, and the availability of the right reclaimed material — so we'll give you a current, realistic estimate along with your quote rather than an optimistic guess. Reclaimed barnwood is worth the wait: you're getting solid, one-of-a-kind, old-growth wood built to last for generations.

What to send us to get started

You don't need formal plans or measurements to the millimeter — just enough for us to picture the piece and give you a useful first response. The more of this you can include, the better:

• The piece and a rough description — a dining table, a kitchen island, a vanity, a hutch, and roughly how you'll use it.
• Approximate dimensions — even ballpark length, width, and height help, along with the room it's going in.
• Inspiration — a photo, a sketch, a link, or a description of a look you love. We can match something you've seen or recommend something that suits your space.
• Wood and finish preferences, if you have them — and if you don't, we'll suggest options.
• Your budget and timeline — so we can steer you toward the right options from the start.

Send as much or as little as you have. We'll fill in the rest together.

Measure before you order

One thing genuinely matters before you commit: make sure the finished piece will actually fit into your home. Because each piece is custom-made to order, all sales are final, so it's worth measuring twice. Check the room itself, of course, but also the path the piece has to travel to get there — doorways, stairwells, tight turns, and elevators. A big farmhouse table is wonderful in the dining room and frustrating if it won't clear the front door. If you're building a dining table, our farmhouse table size guide can help you land on the right dimensions.

When your piece arrives

When your piece comes home, give it a quick once-over. In the unlikely event it's damaged in transit, take photos and contact us within 48 hours of delivery so we can address it promptly. After that, a little everyday care keeps it beautiful for decades — wipe it with a lightly damp cloth, skip harsh chemicals, and keep it out of direct heat and sun. Our complete guide to caring for barnwood furniture covers the rest, and our return policy and product care page has the full terms.

Ready to start?

A custom barnwood piece is one of the most rewarding ways to furnish a home: you get exactly what you pictured, built by hand from genuinely reclaimed wood, in a piece you'll keep for a lifetime. The first step is just a conversation.

Start a custom order and tell us what you have in mind, or browse the gallery first for inspiration. Have a question before you begin? We'd love to hear from you.