About Custom Design
Custom Billiard Table and Furniture Design
"Designing is the most difficult and rewarding part of my work. For me, a successful design must have structural and visual unity. No matter how much time and revision goes into the process, the end result must appear to be simply logical and honest in form, materials, and construction."
- Howard Hatch
While most Hatch Studio clients choose their handcrafted pool table or billiards room furnishings from the Hatch Studio Line, many clients decide to commission an original design. Howard welcomes the opportunity to collaborate closely with a client and to create a one-of-a-kind piece of exceptional beauty. The custom design process at Hatch Studio provides clients the opportunity to guide, critique and witness the journey of their pool table from first sketches to final delivery, while providing Howard the opportunity to find fresh inspiration and new creative direction within familiar materials and tools.
Hatch Studio collaborates frequently with architects and interior designers. Howard Hatch welcomes requests from ASID and other industry professionals to work with them to create furnishings for their clients.
The custom design process is an ongoing conversation between client and craftsman, and as such, it begins with a series of introductions. Howard prefers to visit the room where a custom pool table will reside, and if this is not practical, to have photographs, floor plans or video of the space to explore. He also engages with clients to discern their tastes in art and design, their hobbies, collections and their favorite pastimes. Howard is eager to understand not only the physical space his billiards table will occupy, but where the billiards table will reside in each client’s unique lifestyle.
When Howard has gathered the information he needs to begin designing, the real alchemy begins: synthesizing all he has learned about billiards, furniture design and his client into a brand-new and fully functional work of art. He begins by sketching and progresses to scale drawings. Hatch often creates scale models to assist in the visualization of these highly sculptural forms. Clients are able to examine suggested hardwoods, fabrics and inlays from Hatch Studio's premium palette as they review their qualities and suitability with Howard, and can take samples with them to see how they feel in their home.
When a final design and materials are chosen, at Hatch Studio we pick up our tools and begin the transformation of scale drawings and models into a finished piece. Clients are welcome to observe the construction of their custom pool table whenever appropriate, or Howard can provide virtual updates at regular intervals. Check-ins are encouraged to ensure that the table not only meets, but exceeds the client's expectations at every juncture.
When the final inlays are set, finishes are applied and quality checks complete, Howard orchestrates the delivery of each custom billiards table to its new home. Hatch Studio custom billiards tables are assembled onsite by Howard Hatch. He personally interviews local suppliers and installers of slate and fabrics chosen for each piece and directly supervises the installation.
The custom design process concludes as it began - with a conversation between Howard and his client. A conversation over the celebratory first game on a newly completed billiards table.