Paul Kiarie crafted elegant, stackable cutlery trays with thoughtful handles for Carina's drawer, blending beauty and functionality. What's your wish?
A request by Carina from Berlin, Germany
Bespoke cutlery tray – I would like two identical inserts in a light wood; both inserts should be on top of each other in a drawer, so stackable. The drawer has a height of 135mm.
To make it easier to remove the inserts from the drawer, it would be nice if they each had handles on the narrow side.
Length in cm: 49,6
width in cm: 40,5
Height in cm: 6,75
Division of compartments: Standard (compartments for: Forks, knives, spoons, small spoons, small forks, serving cutlery).
Thank you very much!
The Journey of Creating Bespoke cutlery tray made from wood L 40,5 W 49,6 H 6,75
Negotiation & Planning
Bespoke cutlery tray made from wood L 40,5 W 49,6 H 6,75 - design ideas and artisan proposals
Hello Carina, I am happy to provide an offer for your idea. Would you like a cutlery tray such as the one I've uploaded but to your specifications?
Thank you Paul, for such a quick reply.
I have added a drawing. However, it is not to scale.
Is it possible to put the subdivisions at an angle?
Also, it is important for me to have the interventions on the sides of the "trays" to be able to lift them out of the drawer.
To make the "trays" stackable, it might be good if the top one under the bottom has narrow ledges - but I'm sure you have more expertise and ideas on that than I do. (Automatic translation)
Hello Carina and thank you for the drawing, it helps give me a clearer picture of the tray you'd like. Yes it would be my pleasure to make the subdivisions at an angle to your satisfaction. Could you sketch me the handles at the sides that allow you to remove the trays from the drawer? Would you like the trays finished with a clear varnish?
Hello Paul,
How nice that oblique indivisibilities are possible. I am very happy about that!
Attached is a picture of what the handles might look like. It would certainly be good if the outsides and bottom are made of stronger wood (1cm ?) than the dividers (0,5 cm?), because the cutlery has quite some weight and I will lift the trays more often - what do you think?
A matt finish would be nice (not glossy please). Thanks for the idea.
Carina. (Automatic translation)
Hello Carina and thank you for the image. I will make the bottom and sides from 1cm thick wood and do my best to use slimmer dividers however the slimmer they are the weaker they'll tend to be...I would advise using 1cm thick wood all through. What do you think?
Hello Paul,
You are the expert. I am grateful for your advice.
The wood should be the same thickness throughout, please.
Carina. (Automatic translation)
Hello Carina, yes I'll make sure to follow all the specifications
Hello Carina, I will be using cypress wood and glue to assemble it and finish it with a clear matte varnish
Paul, please NO varnish (as written above).
Natural, untreated wood.
Thank you
Carina. (Automatic translation)
Hello Carina, I will make the cutlery trays with cypress wood and glue and leave them natural and untreated the way you'd like
Crafting Process
How to make a Bespoke cutlery tray made from wood L 40,5 W 49,6 H 6,75 – work in progress
Hello Carina, I will be acquiring the materials tomorrow when the timber hardwares open
This reads great - thanks Paul!
Carina. (Automatic translation)
Hello Carina, this is the wood and wood glue I'll be using to make the trays. I'll start by straightening the edges and cutting the pieces to size then I'll plane them, sand them and finally start assembling them and when I'm done I'll give them another round of sanding to ensure a smooth finish
Hey Paul - looking good! Thank you, Carina. (Automatic translation)
Hello Carina I hope you are well, I have attached short videos of how I cut the pieces to size and sand them for assembly
Paul, for reasons I don't know, I can't watch the videos. But never mind.
I was able to open the pictures and it all looks very nice!
Love the color!!
Thank you
Carina. (Automatische Übersetzung)
Hello Carina, I've had a few challenges with the trays as I tried to make the partitions as slim as possible but I hope it's taking the shape you'd like.
Dear Paul - thank you for sending more pictures. The dividers look really good - as does the entire tray.
Can't wait to have both of them here!
Cheers,
Carina. (Automatische Übersetzung)
Hello Carina, thank you very much and I hope they'll be as good as you envisioned
Hi Paul,
Before I release them for shipping, I would like to see pictures of the finished inserts. One thing I noticed in the pictures I have seen is that the dividers seem to be different heights. While most of them are lower than the framing, some are higher and thus the inserts would not be stackable (pic 049 and pic 838).
I also see that the frame is not only glued but also stapled (image 049). Are these staples in the wood in such a way that they won't scratch my drawer (where the inserts are supposed to go on top of each other) when I lift them out and put them in?
Is there a picture of the top insert from the bottom? I would like to see what the ledges look like under the bottom that will make sure both inserts are tight on top of each other.
Thanks for your efforts.
Carina. (Automatic translation)
Hello Carina, my apologies for the delay but I had a slight accident with one of the trays and I'll have to redo it...as for the dividers they would be sanded to be the same height as the rest of the tray and the staples were just to hold the pieces together as they dry after which they'll be removed and wood filler added and sanded down for a smooth finish...also since the dividers are the same height as the perimeter pieces and the trays are identical I'll glue strips of wood under one of the trays to create the tight fit when I stack it on top of the other one
All of this sounds very good, thank you.
Sorry to hear about complications.
Don't worry about needing more time. In Germany we say: Good things come to those who wait 😉
Thank you again
Carina. (Automatische Übersetzung)
Hello Carina and thank you very much for understanding the situation, here's the progress so far. I've attached small strips of wood at the bottom of the top tray to enable it to sit tight on top of the bottom tray for a nice fit
Paul - sorry for answering late.
Those trays look fabulous!
Thank you
Carina. (Automatische Übersetzung)
Hello Carina...apologies for the late reply and thank you very much, the trays have a nice tight fit when stacked together
Super - thank you, Paul!
We are really looking forward to the trays. Ready for shipment, correct?
Cheers,
Carina. (Automatische Übersetzung)
Final Delivery – The Completed Piece in Photos
Customer Photos After Delivery
The Finished Unique Piece – Individually Handmade
Reference: ON005110E-24864
Detailed Cost Breakdown
| Price | |
|---|---|
| Cost of material |
32.08
|
| Cost of labour |
40.1
|
| Cost of packaging |
4.01
|
| Cost of delivery to local operations manager |
8.02
|
| Subtotal – payout to artisan |
84.21
|
| Customer acquisition costs (advertising etc.) |
8.42
|
| Handling fee Urban Change Lab |
8.42
|
| Shipping costs from Kenya to Germany* |
50
|
| VAT (Germany)* |
28.7
|
| Total |
179.75
|
*Shipping costs and VAT vary depending on your location.
Each price shown is based on a unique, custom request. Final prices may vary depending on materials, effort, and delivery location.
