Get To Know The Process For Our Custom Furniture & Home Remodeling Designs for the Bay Area
Wood Selection for Furniture Design
- Insist on premium grade hardwood for finer, more even grain and color.
- Look for wide, thick boards with well-matched grain and color.
- Avoid “glue-ups”, thin pieces of wood laminated together.
Joinery Types Used in Furniture Manufacturing
- Mortise and tenon joinery is the strongest wood-to-wood connection and allows for contraction and expansion of wood.
- Wood pegs, flush with surface, should finish openings.
- Frame and panel construction in cabinets and case goods accommodates natural expansion and contraction.
- Drawers should show the same quality of materials and craftsmanship as the rest of the piece, with dovetailed or hand-pegged stub mortise joints.
- Drawers should be smoothly finished on inside, back and sides.
Custom Craftsmanship
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- Drawers should open and close easily, flush with the piece.
- Drawers should have an even gap all around the face.
- Full-extension glide system on drawer bottom allows drawer to extend fully without falling out.
- Backs of furnishings should be solid wood, as well-finished as front and sides.
- Avoid particle board or composite backs, often simply nailed on.
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Custom Wood Finishing
- Be wary of stains used to hide uneven color and quality.
- Oil and wax finishes are not water, heat or stain resistant, are more difficult to maintain and allow wood to dry out.
- Catalyzed lacquer finish enhances wood¡¯s natural beauty, provides long-lasting protection from water, alcohol, stains, heat and cold.
All wood is not created equal.
Wood differs, not only by species, but in quality. The color, character and consistency of any species of wood varies from tree to tree, log to log, and board to board. As you can see from the illustration, a log is composed of a layer of sapwood surrounding the tree’s heartwood. The lighter colored sapwood acts as the tree’s vascular system, transporting water and nutrients, while the darker, denser heartwood provides the tree’s rigid core. Although sapwood may occasionally be used as a design element, it is the grain, color and density of heartwood that distinguishes fine furniture.
At Berkeley Mills, we use only export grade and veneer quality wood, whose large timbers yield the wide, flawless planks desirable for table tops and other expansive surfaces. Each piece of furniture we make is unique because of the nature of the wood that shapes it —wood chosen for its ability to express and extend the design of the piece. Whenever possible, boards cut from the same tree are used to ensure the most harmonious color and grain patterns.
While our primary focus is on woodworking, we also work with a variety of other materials to meet the diverse needs of our clients. Our expertise extends to custom interior and exterior applications, including:
- Furniture: From dining tables to bookshelves, our pieces are crafted with attention to detail and a commitment to quality
- Cabinetry: We design and build custom cabinets that fit seamlessly into any space, offering both functionality and aesthetic appeal.
- Architectural Millwork: Our skill in architectural millwork allows us to create intricate and durable elements that enhance the structural beauty of any building.
By combining our woodworking expertise with the use of other high-quality materials, we ensure that each project not only meets but exceeds expectations. This holistic approach allows us to deliver custom solutions that are as versatile as they are elegant.
The Dynamics of Wood
Even after harvesting, wood retains a life of its own. It is a dynamic material, affected by light, air, weather and changes in the temperature. Over weeks, months and years, wood will change in color, responding to its surroundings. For example, the color of your cherry furniture will become deeper and richer as it lives in your home.
Wood as a Renewable Resource
Berkeley Mills is committed to ecologically sound manufacturing and business practices. Because wood is the very heart of our business, we do everything possible to support sustainable forestry and the responsible use of this precious resource.
Upholstery
Sofas and chairs are upholstered with our customers’ choice of fabric or leather. You may supply it yourself or choose from our extensive selection of fine quality upholstery fabrics and leathers.
Cushions employ a combination of down, feathers and polyurethane foam for optimal comfort, support and resiliency. Back cushions are constructed with a baffled tick filled with triple washed 25% down/75% feathers, the best combination for fluffiness, durability and resiliency. Seat cushions have a core of high-resiliency polyurethane foam, enveloped in baffled ticks filled with down and feathers. Downproof ticking permits removal of cushions from zippered upholstery covers.
Cushions are supported by a hardwood frame with woven webbing of commercial-grade Italian elastic polypropylene covered with polyfiber insulator and the chosen upholstery fabric. Unseen, this durable support replaces the springs found in traditional overstuffed furnishings and contributes to the sleek lines of Berkeley Mills furniture.
Unique Finish
After assembly, furniture is finely sanded, sealed with lacquer, then re-sanded for a silken smooth finish before the final coat of lacquer is applied. Stains and other coloring processes are not used at Berkeley Mills, another reason why wood selection and the skillful harmonizing of grain and color are so important. Our unique clear lacquer finish does not obscure any of the wood’s natural beauty.
Our craftsmen apply an environmentally sound catalyzed lacquer finish that resists water, alcohol, stains, heat and cold. Extremely durable and nearly maintenance-free, it can be kept clean with a feather duster or damp cloth. While it equals the warmth, luster and feel of a hand rubbed oil finish, our highly resilient lacquer will not lose its sheen with age, nor will it allow the wood to dry out, as oil and wax finishes do.
Discerning Details
All Berkeley Mills furniture can be ordered in cherry, Honduras mahogany or maple ¡ª other woods are available by special order. Special woods such as wenge, bubinga, birdseye maple, quilted maple, figured cherry, sapele pomele and ebony are used as accents.
Artisan-crafted hardware, much of it custom designed exclusively for Berkeley Mills, is hand forged or cast in solid metal, satisfyingly heavy and smoothly finished. Engineered for ease of use, each piece is chosen for its character and beauty, yet another detail among the myriad details that distinguish our furniture.
Each piece of furniture we make bears the craftsman’s signature, as well as the Berkeley Mills brand stamp.