Architects, contractors and owners use the words millwork, casework and finish carpentry loosely, and the overlap can make it hard to know who to call. Here is how the terms are generally used.
Architectural millwork
Architectural millwork is custom woodwork made in a shop for a specific building: wall paneling, slat walls, built-in shelving walls, window seats, bar dies and back bars, reception desks and decorative features. It is usually built from architect or designer drawings and fitted to field dimensions. The two cherry shelving walls we built around six 18-foot arched windows at 1X Technologies are a good example.
Commercial casework
Casework is the box-based part of millwork: cabinets, storage, counters and shelving units. In commercial spaces it includes reception and service counters, pantry and break-room cabinetry, back bars, display cases and storage walls. See our commercial casework page.
Finish carpentry
Finish carpentry is mostly done on site: installing trim, baseboards, door casings, crown molding and stock cabinets. Finish carpenters often install millwork that a shop has built, but they usually do not fabricate complex custom pieces.
Custom furniture
Freestanding pieces such as tables, chairs, benches and host stands are furniture rather than millwork, though many shops build both. In restaurants, furniture and millwork are often designed together so species, finish and details match across the room, like the white oak tables, benches and back bar at Slow and Low.
Who to call
- Built-in custom woodwork from drawings: an architectural millwork shop
- Cabinets, counters and storage: a casework or millwork shop
- Trim and installing stock products: a finish carpenter
- Tables, chairs and benches: a furniture maker
- All of the above for one space: a shop that does millwork and furniture together
Related guides
How a custom millwork project works · What drives millwork cost · Quartersawn vs. rift sawn white oak
See our architectural millwork, commercial casework and restaurant furniture pages, or tell us about your project.