Our design process

Here, you’ll find all the information you’ll need about how our design process works.

We combine your ideas and our 20 years experience to deliver a collaborative process covering design, manufacture, delivery and installation of handmade bespoke furniture for your home and garden.

Keen to get a consultation booked in, or have some questions about our process? Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Step 1 – Consultation

The first step is to have a chat! We pop round for an in-home consultation, where you can share your ideas with us and we can explore how to make them a reality.

Whether you have a clear vision for your project or want to bounce around some ideas with us, we will listen and in turn offer advice and solutions. We will also discuss any thoughts you’ve had on overall style, materials, colours and finishes.

At this stage we will provide a cost estimate, to be refined during the design process.

Colour swatch examples

Step 2 – Design

Your vision will come to life as we hone your ideas into a 3D design.

First, we create a concept design for you to review. We then discuss the form and function in more detail, narrow down materials and finishes and make sure all your requirements are being met.

We really dig into the functionality of the piece to make sure it’s going to fulfil its role in your home and create a detailed technical drawing for your sign off.

Technical drawing of wooden staircase design showing front, side, and rear elevations with measurements and detail notes.

Step 3 – Build

Next, we’ll get to work, carefully crafting your custom-made furniture in our South London workshop.

We fully manufacture and assemble the furniture in the workshop, so no noisy tools or mess in your home, and test and check every part as we go.

You are very welcome to pop in and see us if you would like to see your piece being made!

Woodworking clamps securing stair components in workshop

Step 4 – Install

The final and most exciting step!

We arrive with your furniture, and carefully install into the space it was designed for. We minimise disruption to your household, by preassembling your furniture in our South London workshop and ensure the process runs smoothly and efficiently.

Close-up of wooden slats in modern interior design with light streaming through window, creating a pattern of vertical lines.

Thumb Designs is here to help.

Drop us a line to start creating your ideal piece of furniture – we' look forward to working with you.

“From first chat to final finishing it was a dream to work with Tom. So many choices, laid out clearly with costing included, and an incredible final project installed so quickly but with such attention to detail.”