How To Order

At Siroh & Ivy, we know that ordering custom solid wood furniture can be intimidating. It's not just the price. It's also the list of options to consider to make sure your piece is just right for your home. That's why we've put this simple guide together. We want to make this as hassle-free as possible.

With that, here are the 10 steps you'll follow to build the perfect heirloom piece:

1. Find a design that inspires you

Find some pictures of tables you like on the internet. They're a great starting point for determining which design fits your family's needs and the decor of your home. Save those pictures so you can share them with us later.

2. Determine the length and width

There are two important questions to ask when it comes to determining the table size you need. First, how many people would you like to seat at one time? Second, how big of a space do you have to work with?

When it comes to answering the first question, the rule of thumb is that your table length should equal the number of people you want to seat. If you want to seat 6 people, your table should be 6 feet long. If you want to seat 10 people, your table should be 10 feet long. There is an exception to this rule, and we'll talk about that when we get to table width.

Answering the second question—what space you have to work with—is equally as important. You don't want to order a custom table just to find out it's too big for your room. Here's how to avoid that. In general, you need to allow for 3 feet of space between the edges of the table and any surrounding walls. If you have a 12-foot-long room, for example, you would need to leave at least 3 feet of space on both ends of the table. This adds up to 6 feet of space, and it safely leaves you with a table that is 6 feet long at its maximum.

Now let's talk about table width. Our standard table width is 36 inches for all of our designs. A standard width of 36 inches looks great in most spaces, and it allows you to sit comfortably across from whoever's on the other side of the table. While it also allows you to have light to medium decorations down the middle of the table, it doesn't allow for buffet-style dining.

If you'd like to incorporate more decorations while also transitioning to more buffet-style dining, then you can consider our additional widths of 42, 45, 48, and 52 inches. Starting at 48 inches wide, you get a bonus perk: you're able to seat another person on each end of the table. Let's say you can only fit an 8-foot-long table in your space. Normally that would only seat 8 people, but if you make the table 48 inches wide you'll be able to seat 10 people.

3. Select the type of wood

If you're looking for beautiful yet inexpensive wood, you could go with yellow pine or poplar. They save you money while ensuring you still get gorgeous wood grain and a wood that can be stained in many different ways. While they are softer woods, meaning they will wear and dent more easily over time, they still look great, have plenty of character, and will result in a table that lasts for years.

If you have young kids, you use your table a lot, or you just want a table that is going to stay smoother for longer, then we recommend considering one of our upgraded wood species.

The next step up would be oak. We specifically use red oak because it is a very durable, heavy hardwood with amazing grain character. It also accepts stain very well, so it can be finished in multiple colors.

After oak, the next step up would be maple. It's even harder than red oak but comes with a much lighter, neutral color.

Finally, our last wood option is walnut. The is a naturally darker wood that features hues of brown, purple, and chocolate. Though it's softer than maple and red oak, it's still considered a hardwood and is very durable. What makes it so special and sought after is its rich color.

4. Choose your stain color

If you select walnut or maple as your wood species, we recommend leaving them natural, meaning we would only apply polyurethane and refrain from using a stain. They are gorgeous woods all on their own and are best enjoyed that way.

If you want to play with stain color options though, we recommend you either use pine, poplar, or red oak as your wood species. Both kinds of wood are long-lasting and accept stain colors very well.

When selecting a stain, we generally offer a dark brown (ebony), medium brown (jacobean), light brown (special walnut), or a slight orange tone (golden oak). However, if you have a specific stain you'd like to try, you can always have us get a sample and test it on a piece of wood.

5. Customize the base

When planning out a table or a bench, the unsung hero is the base. At Siroh & Ivy, you even have the option to customize that. Based on the design you're considering, you can have us paint the base, paint and distress it, or finish it using the same wood species as the tabletop. We do have standard paint colors that we use, but if you have a custom color we can accommodate that.

If you decide to go with a steel base, we can leave them unfinished, clear coat them, powder coat them black, or go with a custom powder coat. color.

6. Decide if you want seating or not

What's a table without a place to sit? We can build a bench to match your table, or we can look through a catalogue of chairs that we source from a trusted vendor. With either option, we can customize the stain and paint to match your table.

7. Select your purchase approach

With your furniture completely customized, just decide whether you'd like to pay in full or if you'd like to pay 50% upfront and 50% when the piece is completed.

With either option, you can choose one of the many convenient payment methods. Check out our FAQ page for a full list of options.

8. Relax while we handle the rest

Once you've submitted your payment, we'll take over from there. Through consistent communication, we'll confirm your details, estimate your lead time, send you updates along the way, and set up delivery. Rest easy, you're in good hands.

Still need help?

If you need help going through the process, have questions about payment options, or are interested in building a design from scratch, just reach out to us directly. You can call 412-716-5493 or you can send us a message online.