Process & Pricing
Different solutions have vastly different price points.
The type of projects we are commissioned for, you simply cannot get off the shelf, and that’s part of what makes our results so special. But there’s no getting around it: thoughtfully designed custom-made cabinetry costs more than most store-bought options.
A master craftsman making individual pieces in fine timbers cannot compete on price with a factory pumping out cardboard cookie-cutter cabinets. But those huge factories cannot make the heirloom-quality cabinetry that will add value to your home and bring delight every day.
Custom cabinetry versus retail furniture:
Retail ‘Flatpack’
Swedish bookshelves $650
Retail ‘Imported’
Fancy store bookshelves $6,000
Santer Interiors
Built-in bookshelves, custom-made in fine timber $13,500
We’re more akin to interior architecture than furniture.
If you judge our costs against retail furniture, you may think it seems expensive. If you compare our costs to home renovation, we provide a highly cost-effective way to ‘uncompromise’ your home. Tailor-made cabinetry will enhance the look of your home and make it ‘smoother’ to live in, bringing practicality and sophistication that you cannot get off-the-shelf – at any price.
‘Here’s a picture, how much would you charge for this?’
It’s a perfectly simple question that we’re asked all the time, unfortunately, the answer is not simple. To estimate the cost of any project, we need to make our own design blueprint. A sketched drawing or a photo of “this sort of thing” is not enough.
When we create a design it considers hundreds of details: the type of timber and veneer, the direction of the grain, the type of joints, the hardware, what can be done in the workshop, what needs to be done on location, and more.
Five steps to exceptional custom cabinetry:
1) Book a design consultation at our studio workshop
Start with an initial appointment at our studio workshop in Midland. Neil will ask you to describe the kind of thing you’re imagining. Please bring some photos of the space where your custom cabinetry will go, some inspiration references and some rough dimensions (height, width, and depth) are also needed. We can look at different types of timber and bookcase finishes and discuss indicative costs. If you’d like to move forward to a custom design and quote, we will ask for a small fee to cover our time. See example design video.
2) Home visit for 3D design and laser check-measure (fee required)
Neil will visit site (usually this is your home) and have a look around to appreciate the look and feel you are trying to achieve, check access and finally check the measurements with our laser devices for accuracy. Together we’ll look at the functional and aesthetic considerations, and you’ll see Neil taking a lot of notes as he models the space on his computer. Then, once back in the workshop the 3D fun begins. As the design is critical and every detail matters, we usually like around two weeks to properly consider and finesse your piece.
3) Design feedback and quote for your approval
The design will be presented as a video animation showing the finished piece in your home. Your design video will be accompanied by a fixed-price quote. This is when we expect some feedback on the design and, if you’d like to proceed, approval on the quote.
4) Deposit taken, build starts, installation scheduled
If you decide to proceed, we ask for a deposit to get started. This is also the time when we can discuss timing with more accuracy. As it is mostly just me on the tools, we try not to make any timeline promises until the project is live.
Some complicated projects can take months (ask us about the wine cellar with over 2,500 individual pieces), while simple jobs may be completed in as little as 6 – 10 weeks.
5) Installation day: prepare for the big reveal
With most of the work completed in the workshop, the installation can usually be done within one week. This part is enjoyable for everyone as the progress is fast and highly visible. Finally, your ideas become a reality in front of you.