Not everyone chooses to include custom millwork. However, this level of detail can make a significant difference when building or renovating a luxury home, or any property for that matter.
Here is our list of the 7 things you should know when considering Custom Millwork.
1. What exactly is Custom Millwork?
Before we can get into what to expect from custom millwork, you need to have a clear understanding of what this refers to. Millwork is the term used to describe woodwork that is made in a mill. It can include flooring, molding, door trims, and other items. The most common wood used for millwork is hardwood or softwood lumber, such as oak and pine, but custom millwork tends to be more high-end and has even more options.
Types of Custom Millwork:
- Custom cabinetry
- Crown molding
- Picture rails and chair rails
- Beams
- Baseboards
- Balustrades
- Columns
- Stairways
- Counters
- Bookshelves
- Wine racks
- Mantels
- Detailed ceilings
- Paneled walls
- Door casings
- Doors
- Tables and other furniture
2. Customization
One of the biggest reasons people choose to include custom millwork in their home or another property is the vast customization opportunities available. Your options are only limited by the skills, materials, and the imagination of the contracting team you choose to hire. If you work with an experienced millwork team, there are almost no limits to the customizations available.
You start by deciding on which of the many elements of millwork you want to add. You then choose the wood type and grain pattern. Then selections of ornamentation, length, color, stain, and any other details you may want.
3. Quality
Custom millwork will almost always include a high level of attention to detail and a focus on quality, due to its customized nature. In many cases, details will be completed by hand to ensure complete accuracy, and to add to its uniqueness.
The high level of attention to detail in custom millwork results in woodwork that looks incredibly high quality and gives off an impressive feel of luxury, elegance, and wealth.
4. Originality
Another major draw of custom millwork is the fact that it is truly one-of-a-kind.
Custom millwork contrasts sharply with mass-produced woodwork that is all the same. Instead, every aspect of custom millwork can be slightly different or dramatically different from the other pieces, giving you one-of-a-kind woodwork, even if you opt for a more conventional style or item.
This uniqueness is essential for many people, as luxury properties are typically associated with exclusive or one-of-a-kind features. The idea that no one else will have a property with millwork identical to yours can do wonders to elevate the structure’s feel.
Millwork increases not only the luxurious feel of a property but also its value. Custom millwork can and often time does significantly increase the value of a home. This is excellent news for those who may want to sell the property at some point in the distant (or near) future.
6. Plenty of Planning
Because of the “custom” aspect of custom millwork, you should expect the planning process to be longer than it would be for mass-produced woodwork. Custom millwork typically starts from scratch, building from the architect and millworker’s knowledge and experience.
While some aspects of the design will be similar regardless of the customization, those personalized parts require more considerable planning.
The planning process will likely include more communication between you and the millwork team than in non-custom woodwork situations. This is because the millworkers want to be entirely sure that they have considered all the features and details you want, and that you will be happy with the finished product.
7. Timeframe
Compared to mass-produced woodwork, millwork is also done with more care, and custom millwork frequently features handcrafted portions, which will take extra time.
Although the timeframe for custom millwork is a bit longer than standard woodwork, it is well worth it in terms of personalization and attention to detail. Additionally, if you work with an experienced millwork team, they will be able to work efficiently without sacrificing quality or attention to detail, minimizing your wait time.
BONUS – What you can expect from Custom Millwork at Escobedo
Quality control is at the heart of everything we do here at the ESCOBEDO Group. When you choose to work with our millwork division, you will get all the above, and then some.
We have a full finishing bay as well as a 3-axis CNC machine and pride ourselves on producing precise work that elevates every luxury property we get to work with. Additionally, our millwork is lauded by interior designers and architects for producing some of the best millwork in the country.
