How Made-to-Order Furniture Works at Oak Unlimited
At Oak Unlimited, made-to-order means you choose a piece on our Bowmanville showroom floor, we help you specify the wood, stain and size, and an Ontario maker builds it just for you. We are the dealer and your point of contact, while Handstone or Cardinal Woodcraft does the building.
Key takeaways
Every piece is built after you order it, in the wood, stain and size you choose.
Floor models let you test comfort, scale and finish before you commit.
Handstone and Cardinal Woodcraft can be compared side by side in one visit.
We coordinate delivery when your piece is ready, free across Durham Region, the GTA and cottage country.
What made-to-order furniture means
Made-to-order furniture is built for you after you place your order, rather than pulled from a warehouse shelf. Because nothing is mass-produced in advance, you get a solid wood piece designed around your room instead of rearranging your room around the furniture. It takes a little longer than buying off the shelf, but the result is a piece that fits your space, your style and the way you live.
Made-to-order furniture at Oak Unlimited follows four simple steps: choose, customize, build and deliver.
Step 1: Choose a piece on the showroom floor
Most orders begin with a visit to 95 King St W in downtown Bowmanville. Our floor shows solid wood furniture from Ontario makers, so you can sit in the chairs, open the drawers and run a hand along the finish. Floor models are the best way to judge height, comfort and scale in person, and having Handstone and Cardinal Woodcraft in the same room makes it easy to compare them before you decide.
If you are new to the makers, our guide to Mennonite-crafted solid wood furniture in Ontario introduces both, and our showroom visit checklist explains what to bring.
Step 2: Customize the wood, stain and size
Once you have found a piece you love, the fun part begins. Most pieces can be customized in wood species, stain and size, although the exact options vary by maker and collection. Handstone builds in cherry, maple and red oak and offers custom dimensions on most pieces, while Cardinal Woodcraft builds custom solid wood tables, chairs and sideboards in a wide range of shapes and sizes. Mark and Denise will walk you through what each maker offers.
Wood species
Each wood has its own character. Cherry has a smooth, fine grain and a warm tone that deepens with light over the years. Maple is pale, very hard and tight-grained, which suits lighter and more modern rooms. Red oak has a bold, open grain that takes stain beautifully. Seeing all three next to each other makes the choice much easier.
Stain and finish
Stain looks different under showroom lighting than it does at home, so bring a cabinet door, a flooring sample or a photo of your space and we will hold finish samples right next to it. Handstone protects its pieces with a post-catalyzed finish designed for daily use, which is worth asking about if the piece will see a lot of family meals. Our guide to choosing a stain colour for solid wood furniture has more tips.
Size and fit
Before you finalize the size, measure the room along with the doorways and stairs the piece will travel through. Our delivery and measuring guide shows exactly what to measure so your new piece makes it through the door and into place.
Step 3: The maker builds your piece
Oak Unlimited is a family-run dealer and showroom, so we do not build furniture in-house. Once your choices are confirmed, we place the order with Handstone in Wallenstein or Cardinal Woodcraft in the Elmira area, and their craftspeople build your piece in solid wood to your exact specifications. Throughout the build, we remain your point of contact for any questions.
Step 4: Delivery to your home
When your piece is ready, we contact you to arrange delivery. Delivery is free across Durham Region, the GTA and cottage country, and if you live outside those areas, contact us and we will let you know whether we can reach your address.
Why order through a dealer
Ordering through a dealer gives you two respected Ontario makers on one floor and one local contact from start to finish. Instead of driving to separate factory showrooms, you can compare Handstone and Cardinal Woodcraft in a single trip and ask questions of people who know both catalogues well. Oak Unlimited has been family-run by Mark and Denise since 1995, and that experience shows in the details they help you get right.
You can browse ahead on our Handstone dining collection and Cardinal Woodcraft dining collection pages, or read about each maker on the Handstone and Cardinal Woodcraft partner pages.
Frequently asked questions
Does Oak Unlimited build its own furniture?
No. Oak Unlimited is a family-run dealer and showroom. We help you choose and specify each piece, and the maker, either Handstone or Cardinal Woodcraft, builds it in Ontario.
What can I customize on a made-to-order piece?
Most pieces can be customized in wood species, stain and size, with options that vary by maker and collection. We will show you exactly what is available for the piece you like.
Can I see finish samples before I order?
Yes. Visit our Bowmanville showroom to see floor models and finish samples in person, and bring a flooring or cabinet sample so you can compare them side by side.
Is delivery included with made-to-order furniture?
We coordinate delivery once your piece is ready, and it is free across Durham Region, the GTA and cottage country.
Ready to start your made-to-order piece? Visit us at 95 King St W in downtown Bowmanville and we will walk you through every choice.
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