Commissioning something gets as close as possible to ensuring that you get exactly what you want/need. If it happens to be a box it means complete choice of the interior format - fitted out exactly as you require. This can be to take anything from jewellery, musical instruments, computer disks, drawing or painting materials to chess pieces, tea, coin collections, mineral collections, collections of anything - anything you want to keep in a box. Or just a nice, empty box.

Commissioning also means you get the exact exterior shape, size, veneer type and decoration you want. A common problem with modern boxes, and furniture of all types, is that the inlaid lines and bandings that are used to decorate them are very dull and limited. There are so few really good ones available and lines incorporating the colours I like to use simply don't exist.

So, I long ago decided that in order to get appropriate bandings to go with the designs I wanted to make I would have to make them myself. This means that you have absolute choice of lines and bandings to match the colour of the interior lining material and veneer of your particular box. If I don't have the right colour or design, I will make it.

It is certainly useful if you have a clear idea of what you want and can roughly draw or explain it. You can browse through my photos - or show me a photo of something you want copied, or even tell me an idea you might have the like of which you've never seen. Certainly a roam around this site will give you a pretty good idea of the kind of thing I do - and may help to give you a clearer idea of what you do, and don't like. I will design in a wide range of traditional and contemporary styles - I don't really do reproduction work as such but I am happy to match a particular predominant decor. My own preference is for light colours and the use of dyed veneers but you will see that I use plenty of more traditional woods too.

There is really no substitute for a face to face meeting in my workshop which is near Church Stretton in south Shropshire, UK. Here I can show you veneers, woods, lining materials, bandings and many more photos than appear on this site. This may not be convenient for you, however - in which case all these processes can be done satisfactorily by post, phone, fax or email.

However you decide what it is you want I will always give the best advice I can at every stage whilst still leaving any final decisions to you. In any case, please be assured of the high quality of workmanship and any 'after sales service' should this ever be necessary.