Brian Ng'aru made James a custom cutlery tray that brought calm order and everyday ease to his kitchen, shaped just for the way he lives. What's your wish? →
View material & custom-made details
This project showed how Brian Ng'aru made a large, fitted drawer organizer as the Custom Cypress Cutlery Tray 89.5×35 cm. It is a useful example for anyone planning a custom wooden cutlery tray for a wide kitchen drawer and wanting a clear, durable layout for everyday utensils and serving pieces.
- Request: The brief was for a made-to-measure cutlery tray sized to 89.5 × 35 cm with a standard compartment layout for forks, knives, spoons, small spoons, small forks, and serving cutlery.
- Final result: The finished tray was built in cypress wood with a light brown tone, creating a full-width drawer insert designed to keep table cutlery separated, visible, and easy to reach.
- Design details: Brian used kiln-dried wood to help reduce the risk of warping, then completed the piece with smooth sanding, a sanding sealer, and a thin varnish coat for a neat, practical finish.
- Process: Progress updates documented the build from purchasing the kiln-dried timber to joining the base and side pieces, sanding, final assembly, and photos of the completed tray before shipping.
- Helpful for: This item journey is especially relevant if you need a custom cutlery tray for a non-standard drawer size and want a wooden insert tailored to both dimensions and utensil categories rather than using an off-the-shelf organizer.
Every unique piece tells a story. What’s yours?
This design was custom-made exclusively for James. Let it inspire you: customize this design to fit your vision or start with a completely new idea. You chat directly with our artisans, and we handle the secure process.
A request by James from Abridge, United Kingdom
Custom made cutlery tray. Length: 89.5 cm. Width: 35 cm. Height: 9 cm. Compartment setup: Standard (compartments for: forks, knifes, spoons, small spoons, small forks, serving cutlery).
The Journey of Creating Custom Cypress Cutlery Tray 89.5×35 cm
Negotiation & Planning
Custom Cypress Cutlery Tray 89.5×35 cm - design ideas and artisan proposals
Hello James, I am happy to provide an offer for your idea. I will make the tray out of kiln dried Cyprus ess wood to ensure the tray does not warp due to different climatic regions. Cyprus wood is light and has a light brown color. I will finish the tray with a smooth sanding, cure and seal it with sanding sealer before applying a thin layer if varnish. I have sent a sketch of the design I have in mind. If this works for you, I can send a quotation for the project as soon as you give me feedback.
Hello James, I am happy to provide an offer for your idea. I will make the tray out of kiln dried Cyprus ess wood to ensure the tray does not warp due to different climatic regions. Cyprus wood is light and has a light brown color. I will finish the tray with a smooth sanding, cure and seal it with sanding sealer before applying a thin layer if varnish. I have sent a sketch of the design I have in mind. If this works for you, I can send a quotation for the project as soon as you give me feedback.
Perfect just what I want!
How quickly can you make it?
Perfect just what I want!
How quickly can you make it?
Hello James, the tray can be ready in a weeks time. I can start working on it as soon as Tuesday.
Hello James, the tray can be ready in a weeks time. I can start working on it as soon as Tuesday.
Crafting Process
How to make a Custom Cypress Cutlery Tray 89.5×35 cm – work in progress
Hello James, I have received a confirmation for your order, thank your.
I will start working on the tray as soon as I purchase the materials. I will keep you updated with pictures and videos of the project.
Hello James, I have received a confirmation for your order, thank your.
I will start working on the tray as soon as I purchase the materials. I will keep you updated with pictures and videos of the project.
Thanks
Thanks
Hello James, I hope your week started on a good note. I started working on your order today, there were some delays in purchasing the wood but I have finally managed to go and purchase kiln dried wood for the project. Tomorrow I will start by preparing and joining the pieces for the base. I will send pictures and videos of the progress to keep you updated. I am excited to start.
Hello James, I hope your week started on a good note. I started working on your order today, there were some delays in purchasing the wood but I have finally managed to go and purchase kiln dried wood for the project. Tomorrow I will start by preparing and joining the pieces for the base. I will send pictures and videos of the progress to keep you updated. I am excited to start.
Great thanks
Great thanks
Hello James, so far so good, I have prepared wood and joined the base and side pieces. Next step is sanding them smooth then cutting and joining. I have uploaded some pictures of the progress.
Hello James, so far so good, I have prepared wood and joined the base and side pieces. Next step is sanding them smooth then cutting and joining. I have uploaded some pictures of the progress.
Perfect thank uou
Perfect thank uou
Hello James, the tray is now fully joined, I am working on the finishing touches before I can varnish. The tray should be ready tomorrow
Hello James, the tray is now fully joined, I am working on the finishing touches before I can varnish. The tray should be ready tomorrow
Great thanks!
Great thanks!
Hello James, the tray is now ready. We can organize shipping once you give a go ahead. I have uploaded some pictures of the final product.
Hello James, the tray is now ready. We can organize shipping once you give a go ahead. I have uploaded some pictures of the final product.
amazing thank you!!!!!!!
amazing thank you!!!!!!!
The Finished Unique Piece – Individually Handmade
Reference: ON009349E-47528
Cost structure of this project
| Price | |
|---|---|
| Cost of material |
43.67
|
| Cost of labour |
40.65
|
| Cost of packaging |
2.1
|
| Local Transport to photoshoot and parcel drop-off |
2.8
|
| Subtotal – payout to artisan |
89.22
|
| Customer acquisition costs (advertising etc.) |
8.92
|
| Handling fee Urban Change Lab |
8.92
|
| Total (excluding shipping & taxes) |
107.06
|
- Secure: Transparent ordering & approval
- Personal: We support you at every step
- Fair: Direct local value creation in Kenya
Note on shipping & taxes
The cost breakdown above shows how the value of this individual project is composed.
Shipping costs and any applicable taxes (e.g. VAT) depend on the delivery country and the specific setup and are therefore not shown as fixed amounts here.
All additional costs are communicated transparently before placing a binding order.
If you have any questions, you will find our contact details further down this page.
