Step by step

Let’s start the journey! So how do you get from the ideas stage to creating a beautiful home, with lots of storage options, that perfectly matches your needs, desires and style? To help you with the bespoke commission, please read through the information below and let's begin your new home journey.

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Key pad

Design consultation

During an initial telephone conversation, or meeting within our London studio, we will gain a full understanding of your requirements and preferred budget. We need to grasp all your storage needs – how many pairs of shoes, an idea of your winter/summer wardrobe, suits, handbags, hats and so on. We also encourage you to bring any ideas you have with you – cut out photographs of styles you like from magazines, bring fabric swatches, or even your own story board. This gives us a better idea of your personal style, preferences and needs. From here, we can prepare a draft proposal for you.

If required at this stage, one of our designers may have to do an on-site visit in order to assess the space, take measurements and discuss finishes in greater detail. While we are happy to offer the initial consultation in our studio or within a short distance of our base free of charge, we may have to charge a fee of £120+ for consultations further afield (though this fee is paid at the time of the visit, when you confirm your project, it will be deducted from your final order).

Following our meeting, we will provide a written quote, detailing the specifications and estimated costs.

  • Initial discussion with client
  • Understanding design requirements
  • Estimated costs and timescale

3D design & Quote

If you are satisfied with our initial discussions, we will prepare 3D designs that start the journey of bringing your furnishing ideas to fruition. Our 3D designs really bring your furniture to life – showing material specifications and giving you a visual idea of how it will look. This gives us an opportunity to get your feedbank and tweak the designs at an early stage.

We will then be able to offer you a full online quotation giving our summary of your requirements, our proposed ideas and estimated costs. We will give you a detailed list of the specifications, materials and installation costs.

Upon your acceptance of this quote and payment of either a commissioning fee (£100 per room, which is refundable against your final order) or a 30% deposit, we will carry out a survey of the room in order to obtain precise measurements to be used by our craftsmen to hand-make your bespoke furniture.

  • 3D designs bring design to life
  • On-site survey
  • Precise measurements

Production drawings & survey

Following receipt of your deposit and confirmation of your order, our technical designer will carry out a detailed site survey of the room(s), using the latest laser equipment to measure walls and levels. It may take up to two weeks for the site survey to be completed, depending on your availability and our own busy schedules.

Our technical designer will prepare detailed production and fabrication drawings, which will incorporate essential features such as lighting, an agreed electrical layout, plumbing, as well as your choice of materials and colours. You will receive drawings which include all aspects of your new furniture, with all elevations and relevant plans and detailing.

As our team are extremely busy, and this part of the process is paramount in terms of ensuring every detail is correct, this part of the process may take between one and two weeks to complete. We require the drawings, final material and colour selections to be confirmed and signed off by your prior to the manufacturing of your furniture being passed to our master craftsmen.

  • Site survey
  • Detailed drawings
  • Lighting, materials and colours

Project management & production

Our team will manage your project with diligence and will guide you through every step of the design and specification process. We will liaise with our craftsmen and any other required contractors for electrics, plumbing or decoration, and will keep you up-to-date with regard to the progress and on-going timescale of your project.

Depending on the complexity and nature of the design and build, production can take around eight weeks to complete, occasionally longer for more complicated pieces of furniture. We have a team of 14 experienced cabinetmakers in our workshop who make all of our furniture in-house – from the cutting and sourcing of components to the finished lacquering, hand polishing, oiling, waxing and hand spraying of furniture.

When completed, your furniture is carefully packed and transported within 24 hours, ready for installation in your home.

  • Designated project manager
  • Design and specification process
  • Working to timescale

Installation

We will give you between one and two weeks’ notice prior to the installation of your design project taking place. This will usually be carried out by two of our experienced fitters who work in a professional manner and to our high standards. If on-street parking is an issue around your home, we would require you to obtain parking permits for the duration the fitters are on-site (usually between 8.30am and 4.30pm).

If drilling into walls is necessary, we will require to know where cables and pipes run. We will protect floors and surrounding areas while working in your home. Our fitters will always ensure that work areas are left clean and tidy at the end of every day during the installation. Our fitters are frequently complimented on their professionalism, care and courtesy.

Depending on the amount of work required, installation may take several days – we will advise you on this. It is our ethos that quality takes precedence over speed, so it may be necessary to make a return visit in order to complete your project to the highest of standards.

  • Installation date
  • Experienced fitters
  • Completion of project

Aftercare

On completion of your installation, and when you are fully satisfied, the remaining balance will be due. However, our service does not end there. We offer a full five-year guarantee on all of our furniture, and a one-year guarantee on our lighting.

We endeavour to support our customers as fully as possible, which is why we will provide you with a guide on how to care for your new furniture over the years ahead. We are also extremely happy to provide you with advice on the care of your furniture. And give you subsequent furniture advice as your needs evolve.

We are extremely proud of the fact that we have repeat business over many years from very happy and satisfied customers who recommend our services to their friends, family and colleagues. Customer satisfaction is important to us and we are delighted that so many clients have had a positive experience with us – our many testimonials are testament to that.

  • Customer support
  • Furniture care advice
  • Five-year guarantee
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Frequently asked questions

Every piece of furniture made by Barbara Genda and her team is unique and bespoke. We don’t have ‘off-the-shelf’ answers to your problems. Instead, we offer you open, honest and concise solutions that think outside the box.

Why should I choose Barbara Genda?

It is testament to our quality and professionalism that 90% of our business comes through personal recommendations from current and past customers. Our bespoke service involves our experienced designers visiting your home and discussing your requirements face to face. We create beautiful bespoke furniture, made just for you and your space.

Can I see examples of your furniture?

We have a small showroom within our offices in London where you can see some of our bespoke fitted furniture. We can also supply material samples, and we have an extensive photographic archive of all of our previous projects.

Why should I buy bespoke?

The beauty of bespoke furniture is that you are in control every step of the way: from the design and finish to budgets and timescales – choosing bespoke furniture is more a luxury service than a product. Designs are tailored to you and your lifestyle, saving more space than ‘off-the-shelf’ products and designed to specific tastes and styles.

How much will my furniture cost?

We encourage you to get in touch with us to discuss prices, which depend on the product, the finishes and labour required. As an approximate guide, we estimate £1,000-£1,500 per linear metre. The very nature of bespoke furniture means that we are unable to display ‘set’ prices on our website, but you can rest assured that we are extremely competitive. Please remember that bespoke furniture is a luxury service and is always more expensive than off-the-shelf products.

How long will it take to make the furniture?

Please allow eight to ten weeks from the sign-off of production drawings to being ready for installation. When your furniture has arrived, we will contact you to arrange suitable installation dates. Please bear in mind that the pre-production/pre-order time can take a number of weeks before we are all ready to sign-off for production.

How do you ensure that I get exactly what I want?

Following our in-depth discussions, we prepare 3D drawings, CAD drawings and 3D models showing all elevations and a cross section to give you a visual idea of how your furniture will look. We also supply you with samples of all finishes. Any amendments you require will be discussed and agreed with you prior to your project being signed-off for production.

How should I prepare for a design consultation?

Let’s start with the problem – that will help us work out the solution. Think of your needs and requirements from your furniture. Consider your budget, any materials you would like to use, and look for inspiration from our portfolio or from the web or magazines. We have to know what you need to store – whether shoes, clothes, books, files etc – in order to accommodate everything in the design. The more information you share with us, the more your bespoke furniture will meet your exact needs.

What happens if my furniture gets damaged?

If your furniture is damaged due to a material defect, we will endeavour to repair it or replace the defective parts. We offer a five-year guarantee on all of our furniture, and one-year guarantee on lighting. Over and above this, we are happy to offer you advice and support for the lifetime of your furniture.