Thomas J. MacDonald Fine Furniture

The Process When you commission a piece of furniture from Thomas J. MacDonald, you enter into an artistic partnership. You may choose to become involved in every step of the process, from the piece's creation to its completion, or participate only at the beginning. You have an open invitation to visit the shop anytime you wish. Whichever path you choose, you will be participating in the creation of a classic heirloom. During the first meeting, we will discuss the piece that you would like built. MacDonald will look at various designs and photographs to elicit your preferences in style, wood, color, and size. After this meeting he will draw up a complete set of drawings for you to approve. After your final approval, Thomas will give you a timetable for completion. The style of the piece dictates the time involved in its creation.

	After the design is finished, Thomas begins his search for the right wood for the piece. You can continue your involvement in its creation by coming with him to visit lumberyards or you can leave the rest of the design process to Thomas. In the past MacDonald's search for the perfect material has taken him to lumberyards in New Hampshire, New York and Pennsylvania. When he finds the right wood, MacDonald begins to build. Once he is on a timetable, he works until the piece is finished. Thomas builds only one piece at a time. Your commission becomes most important. Once again you can visit his workshop at any time to follow the construction process.


When he has completed building, Thomas will send the furniture out to be finished. Finishing is a separate art in and of itself and our partners do a fantastic job. When you commission a piece of MacDonald furniture, you know that it will be built by one set of hands to create a personal and timeless piece that you will enjoy now and that your family will cherish for generations to come. Click below to see the final product.
Federal Breakfront

The Process