You do not need to know exactly what you want before getting in touch. You might have an early idea, a practical need, or simply a wish to have something made just for you.
I enjoy working with people who arrive with very little decided. I enjoy working just as much with people who know precisely what they want. They are two different ways of working, and both have their charm.
My name is Olof Davidsson, and I run od form, a design studio and workshop in Habo, just outside Jönköping in Sweden. Here I design and make furniture, boxes and cases in solid wood to commission, for clients across Sweden and around the world. My role can be to help you find the design, to ask questions about an idea you already have, and to make the finished piece with care.
This is how a commission can unfold.
In short
- Get in touch by email, WhatsApp or Instagram. A rough idea is enough.
- We develop the design together, sometimes with the help of a 3D model or a prototype.
- Commissions start from €5,000, and the price rises with scale and complexity. You get an approximate price early, and the exact price once the design is agreed.
- Making begins once we have agreed the design and the deposit is paid.
- Lead times depend on how many commissions I have at the time. Feel free to ask about current availability.
- I ship worldwide: smaller pieces by carrier, larger furniture delivered personally or by private transport.
What can I commission?
Most of what I make are unique pieces of furniture and objects in solid wood, designed and built for a particular person or place. For example:
- Cabinets and sideboards
- Tables, from dining and coffee tables to desks
- Built-in bookshelves, cabinets and storage
- Jewellery boxes, watch boxes and other boxes and cases for valuables
- Small series, such as boxes for a company or as gifts
Have something else in mind? Get in touch anyway. You can also see examples among my previous custom pieces.
What should I include in my first message?
A rough sense of what you have in mind is enough to begin. You do not need to have chosen a wood, style or size.
Tell me what the piece is for, or what drew you to my work. A photograph, a reference image or approximate dimensions help if you have them, but your first message does not need to be a complete brief.
If there is an important date, or a particular place the piece needs to fit, mention that too. We can work through the rest together.
You can reach me at info@odform.com or on Instagram. We can write in English or Swedish. What matters is that we start talking.
How do we find out what you really want?
Listening is a large part of my work. I want to understand what you hope the piece will do, and what would make you enjoy living with it for many years.
Talking also gives you time to think the idea through. Sometimes that confirms the original direction. Sometimes it leads somewhere quite different.
One client first contacted me about having a box made. As we discussed how it would be used, the project grew into a desk in solid walnut, with the storage they originally wanted built into it.
That was a substantial change to the object, but it grew from a clearer understanding of its purpose. We did not need to hold on to the first solution once a better one emerged.
Other commissions stay close to the initial idea all the way through. The conversation is valuable either way.
How do we develop the design together?
I bring my experience as a designer and cabinetmaker to the conversation. Over the years, working with many different clients has taught me a great deal about how people use their things and what matters to them.
If something in the proposed design gives me pause, I will explain why and offer constructive suggestions. It might concern how a compartment is reached, the proportions of the piece, or a detail that could be solved differently.
You may like the alternative. Or you may hold on to your original idea, and then I want to understand why.
The aim is to give you sound advice so you can make informed choices. You do not need to know the craft yourself. It is my job to listen, interpret and propose solutions, and to be open about any practical limitations.
Which woods can I choose from?
I work with many different woods, and the choice depends on the project. I often use darker woods such as walnut and mahogany, but I also really enjoy traditional Scandinavian woods such as birch, ash and oak.
For smaller details, such as wooden latches, fruitwoods and harder exotic species can be excellent choices. And I have a soft spot for figured woods, especially masur birch and curly walnut.
There are so many beautiful woods that it would be a shame to limit myself to just a few. For me, it is about choosing the right wood for each project: based on how the piece will be used, where it will live and the character you want it to have.
What does a custom piece cost?
Commissions start from €5,000, and the price rises with scale and complexity. Smaller works and variations on existing designs can sometimes cost less. That also depends on how much room I have in the workshop at the time.
The main factors that affect the price are:
- The size and construction of the piece
- The number of drawers, compartments and other features
- The wood
- Details and finish
- Whether it is a single piece or a series
I usually give an approximate price fairly early, once I have a broad understanding of the project. That gives us a starting point before every detail is resolved. The exact price is set once we have agreed the final design.
Design development can change what the project involves. A different size, additional features or other substantial changes may affect the budget. When that happens, I explain how, so we can discuss it before moving forward.
My main aim is for you to be happy with the piece. Clear conversations about scope and price are part of that, just as the design itself is.
Will I see a 3D model or prototype?
How we explore the design depends on what we need to understand. A 3D model can show the form and layout. A physical prototype is useful when questions remain about dimensions, fit or how something feels to handle.
A prototype can take different forms. For a single bespoke piece, I might make a relatively simple mock-up so we can judge its size and proportions. It does not need the final finish to answer that question.
For an order of 50 boxes, the prototype may instead be made in the intended form and finish of the series. That gives us a representative piece to review before the rest are made.
Sometimes photographs of the prototype are enough; sometimes it helps for you to receive it. Some projects can go ahead without a physical prototype. The purpose is to resolve the uncertainties that matter for your commission.
How long does a commission take?
Lead times vary. They depend on the scope of the project, whether we need a prototype and how many commissions I have in the workshop when we begin. Because I take on only a limited number of commissions each year, I cannot give a fixed lead time here.
Feel free to ask about current availability when you get in touch. You will get an honest answer about when work can start and roughly when the piece could be finished.
If the piece needs to be ready for a particular occasion, such as a move, a wedding or an anniversary, tell me early. Design development, possible prototypes and workshop availability all affect the schedule, so we plan the timing around your commission.
From the agreed design to workshop
Before making begins, we agree the design and a deposit is paid. The specific terms depend on the project.
I put a great deal of time and care into the work. Even a small box can involve many decisions and careful adjustments that are not obvious from its dimensions.
During making, I usually share photographs and videos from the workshop. Occasionally I get in touch to discuss a decision that needs your input.
We stay in touch by email, WhatsApp or Instagram. For more involved questions, a video call can be a good way to look at the piece and talk through the details together.
Can I visit the workshop in Habo?
Yes, but only by arrangement. The workshop is in Habo, just outside Jönköping in Sweden, and visits need to be booked in advance. Visits are reserved for customers who have already put down a deposit or are seriously interested in doing so.
Email info@odform.com and we will find a time.
Do you make built-in furniture?
Yes. When a bookcase, cabinet or other storage is built for a specific room, I measure up on site so the piece fits exactly where it will stand.
Can I change something once making has started?
If you want to change something after making has begun, we discuss it.
What is possible depends on the change and how far the work has progressed. We also need to consider whether it affects the amount of work, the budget or the timing.
Raise the question when you have it. That way we can understand the options rather than making assumptions.
Delivery
I work with clients across Sweden and around the world, and ship worldwide.
Smaller pieces, such as boxes and cases, I usually send by carrier. Larger furniture I can either deliver personally or arrange private transport for. It depends on the size of the piece, your preferences and what makes most sense for the project.
For larger furniture, we talk through transport, access and any assembly or installation as part of the project.
You do not need to have all the answers
You can arrive with a detailed vision or an idea that is still taking shape. There is room for both.
What I need first is a sense of what you would like. From there, we can talk, explore the possibilities and find the right way to work together.
Explore my previous custom pieces, or email info@odform.com to discuss a commission.