How a Commission Works: Six Steps from First Message to Delivery

Commissioning a piece is not like buying something ready-made online. The object does not exist yet, there is no photograph of it, and returns do not work the same way. That naturally creates hesitation: "What happens if I send money? What if I do not like it? When will it arrive?"

This article answers exactly those questions. Six steps, described as they are rather than in marketing language.

Step 1: Sharing the idea#

You do not need a settled idea to begin. Most orders start with "I have something vaguely in mind".

On the custom order page you choose size, technique and detail tier, and see the estimated range immediately. From the same screen you can upload up to three reference images.

Three things help:

• A reference image: a photograph, a drawing, a logo, or an example you like
• A photo of the space where the piece will hang or lie
• A short note about any detail or colour you cannot do without

If you are unsure about size, just send the photo of the room and let us suggest one.

Step 2: The tracking code#

When your request is saved you receive a tracking code beginning with PECK. It is also stored in your browser, so it does not get lost even if you do not write it down.

What the code lets you do:

• See what stage your request is at
• Continue the conversation from the same screen — no email chain needed
• Come back to the same place when a reply arrives

No account, no password. The code is enough.

Step 3: Firm price and date#

I review the image and the dimensions, then tell you three things: the firm price, the detail tier I recommend, and a delivery date.

Honesty matters at this stage. If the photograph is going to be difficult, I say so. If the size you chose is too small for the design, I say so. If what you have in mind will not sit well in tufting, I suggest acrylic instead — or suggest not making it at all. Agreeing and leaving you stranded helps nobody.

The estimate on the page is a band of plus or minus ten per cent, because on handmade work the hours depend on pattern complexity. The firm price given at this stage, however, **does not change** — no extra charges appear during production. We broke down how the price is calculated with real figures separately.

Step 4: Deposit and starting production#

Production begins with a 30 per cent deposit. The balance is paid once the piece is finished, before delivery.

Why a deposit? Because a custom piece cannot be sold to anyone else. Buying yarn, building the frame and preparing the design are costs incurred at the start. The deposit covers those steps and shows both sides the process is being taken seriously.

For scale: on an 80x120 cm floor rug at moderate detail, the deposit is around 3,600 TL.

Step 5: Production and progress images#

Production averages 21 days. During that time the piece passes through seven stages: design, stretching, transfer, tufting, backing, shearing and edge finishing.

I send progress images throughout. That is to reduce surprises: you can see and comment once the design is transferred and once the colours begin to settle.

When changes are possible and when they are not:

• At the design stage: anything can change
• After transfer to the cloth: colour can still be adjusted, composition is difficult
• After tufting begins: colour changes are partly possible, form changes are not
• After the backing is applied: nothing can be changed

Which is why speaking up in the first two stages matters. If something is nagging at you, say it early.

Step 6: Delivery#

When the piece is finished I send final images, the balance is settled, and packing begins.

Packing depends on the type: wall panels travel flat, floor rugs rolled. Both get a moisture-protective layer.

There is further information about delivery, payment and shipping on our frequently asked questions page.

"What if I do not like it?"#

The question asked most often, and the one that deserves the most honest answer.

There is no standard returns process for commissioned work, because the piece cannot be sold to anyone else. I say that plainly up front. In exchange, the process is built to minimise the chance of you not liking it:

• I review the image before quoting and say so if it will be difficult
• I get your approval before the design is transferred to the cloth
• I send progress images during production
• Colour and size decisions are made together

So the possibility of disappointment is dealt with at the beginning, not at the end. If something does not sit right with you, say so before production starts; changing the size, the design or the technique costs nothing at that stage.

Being realistic about time and budget#

Two practical warnings:

• If it has to arrive by a particular date (a birthday, an anniversary, a move), write at least a month ahead. Twenty-one days is an average and can stretch in busy periods
• If your budget is fixed, say so at the start. We can set the size and detail tier to that budget together, which works far better than negotiating later

If you are in a hurry, there are finished pieces in the gallery that can ship immediately.

To begin#

We gathered the whole process — size, technique, design, price — in the complete commission guide. If you are working from a photograph, it is worth reading which photographs work first.

When you are ready, write through the custom order page. An unformed idea is fine — most pieces start that way.