Lloyd’s Woodworking · Hudson, Massachusetts
By Lloyd’s Woodworking Inc.
How Do I Plan Custom Furniture for an Older Home?
DIRECT ANSWER:
Start with the architecture already present. Measure the actual room, document original trim, doors, windows, radiators and other fixed elements, then decide whether the new furniture should blend with the architecture or intentionally contrast with it.
THE HOUSE ALREADY HAS A DESIGN LANGUAGE.
THE NEW WOODWORK SHOULD KNOW IT’S THERE.
OLDER ROOMS MAY NOT BE SQUARE
Do not assume:
Walls are perfectly straight.
Floors are perfectly level.
Corners are exactly 90 degrees.
DOCUMENT ORIGINAL TRIM
Photograph:
Baseboards
Door casing
Window casing
Crown
Paneling
Built-ins
WORK AROUND IMPORTANT ARCHITECTURE
New furniture should not casually bury:
Original trim
Historic details
Windows
Doors
Heating elements
MATCHING ISN’T THE ONLY OPTION
A project may be:
Historically sympathetic
Traditional
Transitional
Clearly contemporary
The important thing is that the relationship is intentional.
Frequently asked questions
DOES CUSTOM FURNITURE HAVE TO MATCH AN OLD HOUSE EXACTLY?
No.
CAN BUILT-INS WORK AROUND OLD TRIM?
Potentially.
CAN MISSING OLD WOODWORK ALSO BE RECREATED?
Potentially.
SHOULD ORIGINAL WOODWORK BE REMOVED TO MAKE ROOM?
Not automatically.
LET THE NEW WORK RESPECT WHAT THE HOUSE ALREADY HAS.
Send Lloyd’s a photo of the space, approximate dimensions and an explanation of what the finished piece needs to do.
START A CUSTOM PROJECTCALL 978-562-9007ALREADY HAVE A PIECE THAT ALMOST WORKS?
Before replacing it, find out whether it can be repaired, restored or modified.
CAN THIS BE SAVED?