FAQs
Our Commitment to Fellowship
We know picking out and buying furniture online can be a disconcerting and stressful prospect but we at Fellowship Furniture are committed to a fellowship and partnership with you. Practically speaking, what that means is that we are interested not simply in selling you a product, but rather in partnering with you to bring your dream of a custom handcrafted dining table or set to life. We want to walk alongside you every step of the way. What the website gains in terms of functionality and convenience it loses in terms of personality and relatability, which are both at the heart of the concept of fellowship. When you order from us you can expect open communication from day one. When we receive your order we will respond with a brief video message describing our plan to bring your custom pieces to life. We encourage you reach out and speak to us at any point in the process, schedule a time for a FaceTime call, or visit us in person. We will keep you up to date on our progress along the way until your newly handcrafted furniture finds its forever home in your space. But our fellowship and partnership doesn’t end there. Because we are committed to forming a relationship and not merely completing a transaction we offer our Lifetime Fellowship Promise. See description below under “Do you offer a warranty or refund policy?”
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Our Commitment to Quality
We use some of the best tools and techniques available as we craft your fine modern farmhouse furniture. We employ and expend our skills, experience, time and energy in the creation of your pieces. Your furniture will pass through at least three sets of hands and before three sets of eyes as it makes its journey from board to finished product. This helps to ensure the quality of your piece. Having said that, because of the handcraft nature of our furniture, each piece may have minor variations and imperfections. These add to the character of the wood and set your piece apart as truly one of a kind, and not a mass produced, machine manufactured product.
We use solid, kiln-dried, hardwood lumber for our furniture. Every piece of wood is unique and tells its own story with its unique grain pattern and natural coloration. Because we work with solid wood and not engineered or veneered “wood” your piece may have knots and voids (all of which we fill with durable black resin). All of these give your specific selection of wood character. And while we try to choose the most aesthetically pleasing boards for your project, we cannot guarantee that it will be completely free of knots and voids. If you want to avoid these entirely you can either pay a premium price for premium lumber or go with a non-solid wood table.
Color Variation:
Because of the natural variation of wood from species to species, and even from tree to tree, your piece will have some variety in color and grain pattern which adds to its inherent character and beauty. We offer a selection of color options which will give you a good approximation of what your finished piece will look like. Because of the variation in each board, you should expect minor variations in the color of your piece.
Dimensions:
Your furniture will be built to the approximate dimensions you select (within 1” of the length, width around on each side of the table) when you place your order. The vast majority of the time we are right on the money with your chosen dimensions. However, due to the handcrafted nature of the pieces and the organic nature of the materials there may be some slight variation in the dimensions. (Due to the nature of how the round tables and square tables are made, we allow up to 2” of variation total in the perimeter).
Wood is an organic product, which means that it will undergo seasonal wood-movement with moisture/humidity changes. This is true of ALL solid wood products. From summer to winter, and everything in between, your table top may expand or contract by a 1/16” to a 1/4”, depending on wood species and table size. This is normal and expected and we build our tabletops to account for this.
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Do you offer a warranty or refund policy?
Yes! Read below for details on our Lifetime Fellowship Promise:
Natural Damage: While it is our sincere hope that nothing ever happens to your furniture and while we work diligently to make that hope a reality, we also recognize that sometimes things happen that are beyond our control. In the unlikely occurrence that your tabletop ever has a structural split due to seasonal wood movement we will gladly fix or replace it. Hairline cracks and small non-structural may occur if proper conditions and maintenance are not heeded.
Accidental or Intentional Damage: While we cannot offer any sort of warranty or refund for accidental or intentional damage, we will strive to work with you to find a solution or fix whatever damage when possible. If we end up bringing the piece back into the shop for repairs for accidental damage we may charge a greatly reduced fee to cover any materials and labor.
Support: Your furniture will require maintenance once or twice a year. This may include re-oiling or reapplying a topcoat. We are always here to answer any technical questions you may have and to walk you through the maintenance process.
Order Discrepancies: If for some reason the furniture you receive is not the furniture you ordered (the color, style, or general dimensions are incorrect as defined by our quality standard above) we will fix or replace your order.
In the event that we cannot fix or replace your order in a timely manner we will offer you a refund. If your order includes a commissioned piece (a custom size or style not featured on our website) we may only be able to offer you a partial refund.
If, after placing your order, you decide you no longer want it we may only be able to offer you a partial refund.
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What’s that horizontal board at the end of my table?
That is a breadboard, and no you don’t have to place your bread there, though you are certainly welcome to! The purpose of a bread board is to keep the tabletop relatively flat and counteract warping while still allowing it to move freely with seasonal wood movement. If you prefer not to have breadboards, leave a comment when you place your order. Instead of breadboards, we will add two recessed steel channels to the underside of your table to add stability and allow the table to move without warping. There is an added cost associated with this which varies depending on the size of your table. On average it is an additional $140.
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What is the difference between wood species and why should I care?
Poplar - Is a tight grained pine alternative that is superior to pine in every way. It is our most economical option and can be finished in a variety of colors. It is also our go to material for our painted bases. It tends to be softer than walnut and is thus more prone to dings and dents.
Walnut - This is our premium option. Walnut is an easily recognizable elegant hardwood due to its natural medium to dark brown color and its unique grain patterns. It is very dense and heavy and thus more naturally resistant to normal wear and tear.
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When will I get my furniture?
Our lead times are generally 4-6 weeks, however depending on our current schedule and production lead times may be either shorter or longer. We work diligently to meet the estimated lead times we provide in your order confirmation email but cannot guarantee to have your order done by a certain date. We will keep posted our progress.
If you are needing a rush order or are needing it by a specific time we may be able to accommodate your needs and fulfill your order in the necessary time frame. This may require us hiring on some additional help and will require an addition fee.
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Can I order a custom piece not shown on your website?
Yes, we do build custom pieces. You can email or call to commission us to build your custom piece. (See our refund policy above for commissioned pieces)