A client in Portland said my drawer boxes looked 'too industrial' and it stuck with me

I was finishing a kitchen with maple drawer boxes, dovetailed and sanded smooth, but I used a clear satin finish that left them looking a bit like raw workshop pieces. The client, a really nice guy, said 'These are beautiful, but they feel a bit too industrial for the room.' He wasn't rude, just honest. I'd always thought a clear finish showed off the craft, but he wanted something warmer. So for the next job, a built-in for a living room, I tried a very light coat of amber shellac on the poplar drawer interiors before the clear topcoat. It added just a hint of warmth without hiding the wood. It's a tiny change that takes maybe an extra 20 minutes per box, but it completely changes the feel. Do you guys ever tweak your finishing steps based on client feedback, or stick to your proven methods?

3 comments

3 Comments

harperreed22d ago

Sometimes a client's offhand comment makes you question your whole process, doesn't it? I had a similar thing happen with a piece of furniture I built where the client wanted it to look less "new." Now I always ask about the desired feel before I even pick up a sander. That little talk saves so much time later.

logan20514d ago

Yeah but that upfront talk can backfire too... sometimes people don't really know what they want until they see it. I've had clients agree to a "warm feel" then call the first pass too yellow. Now I just make a small test sample they can hold. Saves more headaches than a chat for me.

grant.sam22d ago

Man, isn't it wild how one little comment can make you feel like you've been doing it wrong this whole time? I mean, I've definitely had that moment where a client points something out and I'm just like, oh yeah, that does look kinda cold now that you say it. Sticking to a proven method feels safe, but sometimes you gotta mix it up. That amber shellac trick sounds like a perfect fix, just a tiny tweak for a totally different vibe.