FAQs

Frequently Asked Questions

Ordering and custom sizes

Is everything really made to order?
Yes. I don't hold finished stock. Every desk, table, bench and shelf is built for the order it belongs to, in my workshop in Somerset.

Can I have a size that isn't on the dropdown?
Usually, yes. The size options on each product cover the sizes I make most often, but if you need something outside that range, or a width that falls between the steps, get in touch before you order and I'll quote for it. If you need a desk that's 137cm wide to fit an alcove, that's what I'll build.

What sizes can I choose from?
It depends on the range. The Bruton Desk runs from 50cm to 90cm deep and 80cm to 200cm wide. The Halse Desk runs from 50cm to 80cm deep and 100cm to 200cm wide. Tables, benches and shelves each have their own size options listed on the product page.

Can I buy just the top, without legs?
Yes. Every desk and table has a "no legs" option in the leg style dropdown. You get the solid wood top on its own, which suits sit-stand frames or legs you already have.

Wood and finishes

What woods do you use?
Solid pine, solid oak and American black walnut. Nothing is veneered or laminated. The Bruton and Somerton ranges are pine, the Halse range is oak, and the Wedmore range is black walnut.

What's the finish?
Osmo, a plant-based hard wax oil. The Bruton range is finished in Osmo Wood Wax, and the Halse, Somerton and Wedmore ranges in Osmo Polyx-Oil Tints. It soaks into the grain rather than sitting on top as a plastic-looking layer, so the wood still feels like wood. It's food safe once cured.

How many colours are there?
Fifteen across the Bruton range, from Antique Oak and Cognac through to Ebony, White and Granite Grey. The hardwood ranges keep the natural colour of the oak or walnut.

How do I look after it?
Wipe spills up rather than letting them sit. Use a damp cloth, not a soaked one, and avoid anything abrasive or bleach based. Every few years you can refresh the finish with a thin coat of the same Osmo oil, which is one of the advantages of an oil finish over a lacquer. Ask me and I'll tell you exactly which one your piece was finished with.

Legs and assembly

What leg styles can I choose?
Four steel styles: Cross, Square, A-frame and Trapezium. Plus the no-legs option if you only want the top. The legs come from The Hairpin Leg Company, a UK manufacturer.

How thick is the top?
32mm as standard on the Bruton range, with a 40mm option for a chunkier look. Thickness is shown in the leg style dropdown on those products.

Does it arrive assembled?
It arrives flat, with the legs detached. That keeps it safe in transit and means it can come through a normal doorway without specialist handling. All the fixings and instructions are in the box, and it takes a few minutes with ordinary household tools.

Delivery

How long will it take?
Typically 3 to 6 weeks for desks and tabletops from the date your order is confirmed, and 5 to 7 weeks for bespoke or custom-finish orders. These are estimates, not promises. Timber drying, finish curing and workshop scheduling all move about. If your date shifts I'll tell you rather than leaving you wondering.

What does delivery cost?
Free to the UK mainland. Northern Ireland is £30 and the Channel Islands is £50, calculated automatically at checkout from your address.

Will I get tracking?
Yes. You'll get a dispatch notification with tracking details when your order leaves the workshop.

Returns and problems

Can I return it if I change my mind?
Because every piece is made to your measurements, it can't be resold, so I can't accept returns for change of mind. That's worth knowing before you order. If you're unsure about a size, email me first and I'll help you work it out.

What if it arrives damaged or isn't what I ordered?
Contact me straight away and I'll put it right. Your legal rights over faulty, damaged or misdescribed goods aren't affected by the made-to-order policy above.

Something's gone wrong later. Can you help?
Get in touch. Solid wood moves with the seasons and occasionally something needs attention. I'd rather hear about it than not.

Anything else

Who actually makes this?
I do. I'm Adrian, and The Somerset Workshop has been going since 2020. Close to a thousand pieces have left the workshop since then, all built by one person.

Do you sell anywhere else?
Yes, I have an Etsy shop with Star Seller status, where I also sell custom desk tops and table tops that aren't listed here.

Can I ask a question before ordering?
Please do. Get in touch and I'll give you a straight answer, including a more precise lead time based on what's in the workshop at the moment.