Long-time member
A Maker who has been a valued part of this community for several years.
Fast shipper
Customers say that this Maker ships promptly after completing a project.
Great service
This Maker has consistently demonstrated excellence in craftsmanship and customer service.
Paul Norman has two interrelated businesses. Forbidden Fruit Guitars refers to his lutherie (guitar making) business. Forbidden Fruit Designs includes all furniture and crafts that are not guitars.
Testimonials
What people are saying
Richard Frank
For Wooden Cover for residential holding tank
Very good. No problems, builder took time to ask questions and provide suggested design elements.
M. Wheeler
For Front Porch Rebuild
I hired Paul Norman of SherpaDog Renovations to rebuild a large enclosed front porch which had been destroyed by carpenter ants! I was pleased by the variety of cost effective redesign options Paul offered. In the end I chose to add some ornament to my Victorian home. He replaced the exterior plain shingles with scalloped ones, designed a diamond pattern (instead of the common basket weave) for the exterior skirt of the porch, added wainscoting under the interior windows, built a beautiful wooden ceiling and installed casement windows. I was thrilled with the results. Paul's attention to detail and fine carpentry skills resulted in a porch much admired by my neighbors and friends. I recommend him to anyone looking for a reliable, conscientious and creative carpenter. I would definitely hire him again.
Information
Maker Policies
Shipping Policy
Area served: We are located in Cambridge Massachusetts. We directly serve this area and approximately a 50-mile radius. Of course, orders can emanate from anywhere in the world, but you will have a hard time appreciating Paul Norman's work from pictures. We create objects and it is best if our work can be viewed in 3D (minus the silly glasses). Shipping Methods: We will ship worldwide, but of course, vast differences in price relate to the size of the object and the proximity to its source. While some small objects (e.g., gargoyle carvings) have shipping cost that can be calculated in PayPal, larger objects (e.g., guitars, tables, etc.) vary widely in shipping cost due to size, carrier, and geographic location. It is best to contact Paul directly when figuring out shipping costs for these items. Our preferred carriers are USPS and FedEx. UPS has proven to be unreliable in delivering goods in the condition in which they began.
Maker Policy
I can ship items in stock for approval upon receiving a cashier's or bank check for the total price of the item. The customer will have 1 week after receiving shipment to decide whether they wish to keep the item. If the item is returned within this 1 week period, I will refund payment. If the item is not returned within 1 week, it will be considered sold. All costs for shipping and insurance are the responsibility of the customer. To secure a spot on the waiting list for a custom item, a nonrefundable deposit of 50 dollars is required. When construction begins, the remaining balance is split into three payments, the first being due when the item is started, the second is due halfway through construction and the final payment, plus shipping costs (if any), is due upon completion of the item. Projected completion and delivery dates are not guaranteed.
