If you're looking for custom furniture in Charlottetown or elsewhere in PEI, you can start with a rough idea and a photo of the space. You don't need a finished drawing before getting in touch.
I make furniture and functional woodwork in my Emyvale studio, including dining and coffee tables, seating, cabinetry, pantries and built-ins. A useful first message tells me what the piece is and what you need it to do. The finer details can be discussed from there.
Explain how you'll use the piece
For a dining table, include how many people usually sit down together and whether you want room for extra guests. If it's a desk, say what needs to fit on the surface and what needs storing underneath. For a pantry, describe the things you want to keep in it.
An awkward part of the room is worth mentioning too. Maybe a cupboard door gets in the way of the dining chairs, or a standard cabinet leaves an unusable gap beside the fridge. That tells me more about the project than a style label alone.
Send rough measurements and a room photo
Measure the space available and give an approximate length, width and height for the piece. Mark which measurements belong to the room and which belong to the furniture, and include the units. A quick sketch is useful even if it isn't to scale.
Room photos help show the surrounding furniture and the route people take through the space. For fitted cabinetry, include the whole wall as well as closer photos of anything in the way, such as trim or an outlet. Your first measurements help explain the idea; they aren't final instructions for a build.
Point to the details you like
You can use a piece from my custom woodwork gallery as a starting point. I've made an eight-foot walnut dining table, a white maple dresser and a built-in pantry, among other pieces.
If you send other reference images, explain what you like about each one. It might be the rounded edge of a tabletop or the way a cabinet sits against the wall. Two pictures can look quite different while still helping explain the same idea.
Mention any wood you already have in mind, but it's fine to leave that open. My wood-choice guide explains some differences between walnut, maple, cherry and ash if you want a place to start.
Include a budget and any timing constraints
A budget range helps explain the scale of the project you're considering. Include it if you have one, along with any date the piece needs to work around. A move or renovation deadline is useful information, but availability and timing need to be confirmed for the individual commission.
I quote every commission individually, and we confirm pricing, timing and pickup or delivery together before any work begins. Before agreeing to proceed, make sure you understand what the quote includes and which details still need deciding.
Your first message can stay simple
You can begin with something like: "I'm looking for a dining table for six people. The room is about 12 by 14 feet, and I like the walnut table in your gallery. I've attached a photo of the space."
If you haven't worked out the dimensions yet, say that and describe the piece as best you can. Send a commission enquiry when you're ready to start.