Custom Build

Ira building a chair to match a 19th Century model for a client's office

Ira building a chair to match a 19th Century model for a client's office

A coastal Georgia condo featuring a painted and gilded china cabinet designed for the space

A coastal Georgia condo featuring a painted and gilded china cabinet designed for the space

For clients whose design requirements go beyond what the antique market can provide, we offer a bespoke build service. Working with master craftsman Ira Adams, we create faithful period reproductions, adapt antique pieces for modern use, and design custom cabinetry — from single statement pieces to complete room installations.

What We Can Build for You

  • Antique reproductions — new furniture built from period designs, often using reclaimed timber so pieces integrate naturally with your existing antiques
  • Antique adaptation — modifying a genuine period piece for contemporary use, such as the 17th-century oak coffer we fitted with a TV lift mechanism
  • Painted & gilded cabinetry — bespoke china cabinets, display cases, and fitted pieces designed to your exact specifications
  • Wine rooms & paneled rooms — full room installations in period styles, with appropriate mouldings and joinery throughout
  • Kitchens & closets — cabinetry designed to complement a period or traditionally styled home

How It Works

  1. Consultation — We meet to discuss your space, your existing pieces, and the design brief. There is no obligation at this stage.
  2. Design — We develop drawings and, where appropriate, source antique timber to ensure the new piece ages convincingly alongside original antiques.
  3. Build — Ira constructs the piece by hand in our Harrodsburg workshop. Timelines vary by project scope and complexity.
  4. Delivery — We deliver and install, and remain available for any follow-up adjustments.

Our Craftsman — Ira Adams

Ira is a formally trained carpenter who spent years at Stanford Wood Products developing his expertise in precision joinery and large-scale cabinetry. He is also a self-taught carver — an increasingly rare skill in period furniture work — with a thorough understanding of historic ornament and how hand-carved detail reads alongside genuine antiques.

Since joining Jayne Thompson Antiques, Ira has made it possible for us to offer commissions we could not previously take on. Whether a project calls for a single chair built to match a 19th-century original, a hand-carved decorative panel, or a fully paneled study, Ira brings the same exacting standard to every piece.

Discuss Your Project With Us

Every commission begins with a conversation. Call or email us to describe what you have in mind — we are happy to advise even at an early stage, and there is no obligation to proceed.

Phone: 859.748.5628
Email: info@jaynethompsonantiques.com

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