Commissioning Work
When purchasing a piece of furniture from Stephen O’Briain, you have the option of selecting from a large portfolio of pre-existing designs or having a bespoke piece made to suit your specific requirements. Most of the works Stephen produces today are one-off commissions for private or corporate clients.
After making the initial contact, the first step in the commissioning process is to arrange a meeting with Stephen to discuss the proposed project. This meeting can take place either in Stephen’s workshop, on site or at the client’s home. Stephen has in the past worked with overseas clients where the whole process took place on line, but generally he would prefer to see the location for the prospective piece of furniture.
Some clients like to get involved in the designing of their piece and may have quite definite ideas as to what they’re looking for. Others prefer to stand back and leave the creative process to Stephen. After discussing the details of the project Stephen will return to his studio and develop a design based on the client’s requirements.
Most jobs take between two and six months to complete. During this period customers are welcome come visit and see the work in progress. For Stephen the process of making has always been hugely important. In his workshop situated at the foot of Mount Leinster in The Blackstairs Mountains, Stephen combines traditional skills with more modern techniques in the creation of one-off pieces of exceptionally high standard. For many clients getting an insight into the different processes involved is a hugely rewarding experience, that adds greatly to the value and appreciation of their finished piece.