How to Order a Fully Custom Italian Interior: Step-by-Step Process

Creating an exclusive interior through a custom project requires precise coordination between the client, designers, and production. Modenese Furniture — a leading manufacturer of modern and classic Italian furniture — has developed a three-stage system that guarantees accurate realization of the client’s vision. The process takes 90 to 180 days, depending on project complexity, and includes design development, production at the factory in Vicenza province, and on-site installation.

Stage 1: Concept and Technical Design (20-35 days)

Initial Data Collection

Work begins with submitting architectural documentation, including floor plans with precise measurements, ceiling heights, the location of utilities, windows, and door openings. The Modenese Interiors team requests site photographs, lighting information (including orientation to cardinal directions and the amount of natural light), and structural features (such as load-bearing walls, columns, and niches).

Simultaneously, a technical brief is compiled, including the number of residents, space usage scenarios, storage system requirements, and style preferences (classic, neoclassical, art deco, contemporary lines). The client provides references — interior examples, decor fragments, and material samples.

Creating the Concept Board

Modenese Bespoke designers create a concept board — a visual document that combines a color palette, material textures, fabric samples, and decorative element options. The board includes 15-25 images, including carving fragments, patina examples, upholstery material options, marble or wood samples, and metal decorative elements.

For classic interiors, wood species are selected — such as walnut, cherry, and mahogany — along with the specified processing type: polishing, waxing, or lacquering. For contemporary projects, enamel coating options are proposed (catalog contains 847 shades according to the RAL system), combinations of glossy and matte surfaces, and integration of glass, metal, and leather.

Developing the Layout Solution

Based on the approved concept, a layout with furniture placement is created. The document includes:

Floor plan showing all furniture pieces at 1:50 scale
Wall elevations with height markings (placement of wall panels, mirrors, fixtures)
Built-in construction schemes (wardrobe systems, library shelving, wine cabinets)
Furniture anchoring to electrical points and outlets

Modenese Interiors accounts for ergonomic standards: passage width minimum 90 cm, distance from table edge to wall in dining area — 75-80 cm for free chair movement, working surface height — 72-76 cm.

Approval and Adjustments

The client receives a complete document package in digital format. A meeting is held (either in-person or via video conference) to discuss the details. Adjustments are made — repositioning items, replacing materials, correcting color schemes. The approval cycle typically includes 2-3 iterations, each requiring 5-7 business days for revisions.

After final approval, a technical specification is signed — this document establishes all project parameters and serves as the production foundation.

Stage 2: Detailed Design and Production (60-120 days)

Creating Working Documentation

The Modenese Furniture engineering department develops production drawings for each furniture piece. Documentation includes:

Assembly drawings with precise dimensions (tolerance ±0.5 mm)
Component detailing
Fastener specifications
Carved and decorative element schemes
Material cutting maps

For complex pieces, such as a carved console with inlay or a large, extendable dining table, three-dimensional models are created. They enable the evaluation of proportions, verification of component alignment, and calculation of material consumption.

Material Selection and Preparation

Solid wood is purchased from specialized timber markets in northern Italy. Wood is seasoned in drying chambers until it reaches a moisture content of 8-10%, which prevents deformation of the finished products. Chamber drying takes 30-45 days, depending on species and blank thickness.

For classic furniture, wood with pronounced texture is used: walnut (density 640-700 kg/m³), cherry (580-600 kg/m³), oak (690-750 kg/m³). Blanks are sorted by color and grain pattern — each furniture piece is assembled from cuts with identical texture.

Upholstery materials are supplied from textile factories in Como and Prato. The fabric catalog includes over 2,000 articles, featuring velvet (density 400-600 g/m²), jacquard (density 280-450 g/m²), natural silk, linen, and cotton sateen. For classic furniture, natural leather with a thickness of 1.2-1.4 mm and vegetable tanning is used.

Production Cycle

Production is divided into specialized areas:

Carpentry workshop: wood cutting, cabinet element manufacturing, frame assembly. Computer numerical control machines are used, with processing accuracy reaching 0.1 mm. Dovetail joints and hardwood dowels are used for component connections.

Carving section: decorative element creation. Depending on the complexity of the ornament, work is conducted either mechanically (using 5-axis milling machines) or by hand. Master carvers manually process elements to create the deep relief characteristic of Baroque and Rococo styles. Manufacturing carved decor for one furniture piece takes 40 to 200 hours.

Finishing area: coating application. Classic furniture undergoes multi-stage treatment:

Priming (1-2 layers)
Sanding with 180-240 grit abrasives
Application of toning compounds (if wood shade change is required)
Patination — creating a noble aging effect with darkening in carving recesses
Application of varnish or oil (4-6 layers with intermediate sanding)
Polishing to mirror shine or creating matte surface

Contemporary furniture is coated with polyurethane enamels. The process includes priming, base color application, and finish coating. Wet sanding and polishing are performed to achieve perfectly smooth surfaces.

Upholstery shop: soft element manufacturing. A multi-layer filling system is used: spring block (for classic pieces — hand-tied springs), coconut coir or latex layer, molded polyurethane foam with density 35-45 kg/m³, and synthetic padding layer. Upholstery is performed manually using decorative trim, cords, and buttons covered in matching fabric.

Quality Control

Each piece undergoes inspection at several stages:

Material incoming inspection
Dimension verification after mechanical processing
Finish quality control (coating uniformity, absence of drips, foreign inclusions)
Final acceptance of the finished product

Acceptable deviations: linear dimensions ±1 mm, surface flatness — no more than 0.3 mm per meter length, lacquer coating thickness — 120-180 microns.

Stage 3: Logistics and Installation (10-25 days)

Packaging and Transportation

Finished products are packed in multi-layer protective materials. Packaging sequence:

Protective film wrapping
Corner and protruding element padding with 30 mm foam
Bubble wrap packaging
Placement in wooden crates

Large items (tables, cabinets, panels) are partially disassembled for transportation convenience. All fasteners are packed separately with labeling.

International delivery is carried out by sea transport (in 20 or 40-foot containers) or air freight for urgent projects. Modenese Furniture organizes delivery through its own logistics department, ensuring cargo safety and timeline compliance.

Pre-Installation Site Preparation

2-3 weeks before furniture arrival, the client receives a list of site readiness requirements:

Completion of all finishing work
Installation of floor coverings
Mounting of ceiling structures
Electrical connection
Ensuring climate conditions: temperature 18-25°C, humidity 45-60%

The installation crew receives detailed placement diagrams, room photographs, and the contact information of the on-site coordinator.

Assembly and Installation

The Modenese Interiors installation team (typically 3-5 people for standard projects) arrives on-site with necessary tools. The process includes:

Days 1-2: Unpacking, completeness verification, checking against shipping documents. Detailed inspection for transportation damage.

Days 3-7: Assemble cabinet furniture. Wardrobes and shelving are installed with rigid wall fixation through metal brackets. Precise leveling is performed — deviation must not exceed 1 mm per meter length.

Days 8-10: Installation of decorative panels, cornices, and moldings. Mounting lighting in display cabinets and wardrobes. Connecting electrical mechanisms (illumination, furniture transformers).

Days 11-12: Placement of tables, chests, chairs, and decorative elements. Door and drawer adjustment — they must open smoothly without distortion, with uniform gaps of 2-3 mm.

Days 13-14: Final inspection, packaging material cleanup, documentation transfer to client.

Acceptance and Documentation

After installation completion, a joint inspection is conducted with the client. Verification includes:

Correspondence of installed furniture to the project
Assembly and finish quality
Mechanism functionality (drawer slides, lift mechanisms, transformers)
Absence of defects

The client receives a document package:

Operation instructions for each furniture type
Care recommendations for various materials
Warranty certificate (standard warranty — 24 months on structure, 12 months on mechanisms)
Service department contacts

Modenese Furniture provides post-warranty service, including mechanism adjustment, coating renewal, and replacement of worn elements when necessary. For international projects, service work is coordinated through regional representatives or partner companies.

The three-stage system of Modenese Furniture, Modenese Bespoke, and Modenese Interiors has been refined through hundreds of projects in 43 countries. A clear process structure, detailed documentation at each stage, quality control, and professional installation guarantee the creation of an interior that precisely matches the client’s vision. Implementation timeline is 90-180 days from concept approval to final on-site acceptance.