Designing Custom Furniture in Toronto
Amid countless fast furnishing options, we chose to create custom furniture.
Our story began with a conscious decision to do things differently. Adopting a slow-build approach to sustainably made pieces, our mission is to create something you’ll love having in your home for years to come. As a trusted brand for custom furniture in Toronto, each piece is handcrafted in Canada and entirely customizable.
Designed to be passed down from one generation to another, our commitment to heirloom-quality furniture begins with our dining tables. It’s the cornerstone of a home, a place where family gathers, stories are shared, and memories are made.
Commissioned by Ashley Montgomoery Design, this custom dining table captures the timeless appeal of British heritage design.
Design: @ashleymontgomerydesign Photography: @lomillerphoto
This week we’re sharing a custom dining table created in collaboration with one of our favourite and always inspiring, interior designers, Ashley Montgomery. When Ashley reached out to our team, she had a clear vision in mind–a custom oak dining table in a rich chocolate hue. We shipped over a full set of samples, and finally landed on our Espresso Oak finish.
“Jack and I are both big fans of her work! A huge inspiration for us as we love her warm, textural aesthetic. Very much a nod to that British heritage design that we love so much,” says Danielle.
Building an Appreciation for Customization
Since 2023, our founders, Jack and Danielle have been designing custom furniture in Toronto under the Acre Made brand. Recognizing the need for custom wood furniture that respects the environment, they committed to challenging the fast furniture industry and addressing the impact of furniture waste.
Together, through meticulous research and design, they developed a custom furniture program that encouraged an appreciation for quality, intention, and customization.
From the Workshop
Guided by the technical drawings shared by the team at Ashley Montgomery Design, we followed them closely to execute their vision. Although technical drawings are never required, we’re happy to work from them to bring you as close to your vision as possible.
And if you’d prefer to build from an existing design, choose from our collection of modern, traditional dining tables, then customize, to make it your own.
GROVE WOOD DINING TABLE
What Defines an Heirloom Piece of Furniture?
Craftsmanship
Heirloom-quality furniture prioritizes craftsmanship and the art of carpentry in all phases of design. Custom furniture demands an acute attention to detail that values accuracy as much as problem solving to ensure the structural integrity of a final product.
One of the key differences between custom and mass-produced pieces are traditional journey techniques–essentially the method in which you connect two pieces of wood. Recognized for their strength, dovetail and mortise and tendon play an important role in the fabrication of furniture, reflecting greater craftsmanship as opposed to basic butt joints, nails and screws. When commissioning custom made furniture, pay close attention to the woodworking, and the furniture maker's level of craftsmanship.
Quality of Wood
Not all wood species are created equal. Hardwoods like oak, maple, walnut, and cherry are regarded for their strength and resistance, developing character over time, while cedar and pine are more prone to wear with consistent use. High-quality hardwood is essential in custom furniture to ensure durability.
Design
One of the most exciting aspects of commissioning custom furniture in Toronto is also one that demands a carpenter's expertise, balancing design possibilities and anticipating how a piece of furniture will wear with time. Custom furniture that outlasts a generation requires careful consideration of material, functionality and overall design. Asking questions like how a design could be adapted in the future, is a great starting point for creating furniture that is both timeless and purposeful.
The Custom Process: How it Works
At Acre Made, our design process for custom furniture balances functional design, sustainable living, top-quality materials and efficacy. Every dining table is crafted with the intention of lasting far into the future.
1 - Consultation
The first phase of customization is all about ideation. In our consultation, we’ll go over your inspiration, furniture needs, measurements and the craftsmanship required to bring your dining table to life.
2 - Design and Build
Once the vision has taken shape, our next step is to produce formalized drawings and get your feedback. With a broad selection of materials at your fingertips, we’ll work together to determine which type of wood would work best for your dining table, and you’ll have an opportunity to order samples to your doorstep so you can truly envision your custom furniture before the final product is delivered. After making the necessary tweaks we can begin construction.
3 - Complete and Deliver
Arguably the best part: with our white glove service, we’ll hand deliver your dining table and offer a one-on-one session on caring for your custom furniture, to ensure that it lasts for the generations to come.
Table Talk with Jack & Danielle
“I love things of the past. Every time I go back home to the UK, I’m surrounded by the beauty of architecture and stone fences. I’m reminded of the difference in how long things last there compared to here,” says Jack.
“Our true value as furniture makers is our ability to create pieces that become heirlooms for the next generation. That is what we aspire to do when we build a piece of custom made furniture. ”
“We love taking an antique design feature and modernizing it,” shared Danielle.
“Designing something that's timeless. Something that our daughter will one day want to have in her home.”
More than a Dining Table
Built completely around your vision or a customized design from our made-to-order collection, every piece is constructed from solid wood with skilled craftsmanship and attention to detail. Engineered for longevity, each table is designed with intention at every stage. It’s this approach that turns custom furniture into family heirlooms that future generations will inherit and hold dear.
A second look at our latest custom piece in collaboration with Ashley Montgomery.
Design: @ashleymontgomerydesign Photography: @lomillerphoto
At Acre Made, every commission is an opportunity to create something deeply meaningful. We take pride in creating custom made furniture that carries history forward, connecting generations and upholding sustainability.
Ready to design a one-of-a-kind heirloom that's truly reflective of your style?
Start your custom design journey with Acre Made.
