A little bit of talent with your hands also helps. Sound like you're blessed with some!
I'm a bit of a DIYer too but furniture like what you just did is way beyond my skill level - I've done interior trim, bookcases and built ins but the kind of factory like stained/poly finishes I want continue to elude me.
I won't tell you what we paid for the bed we just bought. It would be embarrassing.
There's a small local company/outfit near my house which finishes unfinished furniture. I've used it for nicer pieces, and DIY'ed the others. You could look for a similar setup where you live. I'm sure there's something similar.
I'm in the process of restoring and updating the woodworking shop I inherited from my pops. I have my cnc set up in one corner, my lathe in the other and it's a giant mess otherwise right now. The machine is on the old workbench and I'm looking forward to building a new workbench. I've got a dust collection system in the works so that it won't be a dusty disaster. There's a pretty healthy supply of dry cherry in the barn and a woods full of beauties to lay down on the Wood Mizer for next year's projects.
I'm majorly jealous of both the shop and the wood supply. Did your dad pass, or just age out of spending copious time there? Did you ever work side by side there with him? I hope you savored that time/experience. I would treasure learning from my cousin or his (deceased) father; both have / had 40 years in the business.
First house I bought had a 29x32' insulated outbuilding with two 10' bay doors, two separate man-doors, a 10' shed roof off the back wall for additional storage (wood, lawn & garden), and a 100A sub-panel with plenty of circuits and extra capacity. House and shop were built by a small-time builder, and he used it for his business. Then he sold it to a finish carpenter / cabinet maker who used it for his business, then sold it to me (vacant, no machinery). Spent the money on the house, had no money left to outfit the shop significantly. When I later married, my wife wanted to live in town, so I traded one dream for another.
4 houses later, and I'm not moving again until I retire. I put up a 12x20' shed in 2014 which I am still running off a 12/3 extension cord. Redid my house electrical service summer 2017 and paid an electrician to put in a new main panel (previously had no main disconnect, had a 6-breaker service panel instead, running to a sub-panel in the laundry room). Added several extra circuits for house, garage, and exterior, and improved the safety of the prior distribution (some myself, most I paid for). I updated the kitchen and 2 baths, previous owner had added a screened porch tapped off interior 15A circuits with no GFCI/AFCI. Added a 60A breaker for the shop, but haven't completed the 6/3 run to it yet. (I won't go 36" below ground, so need to do it myself.) The shop itself is 50% wired; I did that when I was placing my benches & cabinets, etc. so I wouldn't have interference later.
My issue (besides space - who doesn't have an issue with space?) is moisture. Since it's an outbuilding, I haven't insulated it because I don't want to condition the air 24 x 7 x 365, and the insulation would just trap moisture. Mold / mildew is always problem in Sept., and can be throughout the year (it was 74 degrees and 99% humidity yesterday).
Those of you up north / in WNY won't appreciate the value of a basement (storage, "free" living space, shop space, etc., access to wiring and plumbing) unless you've lived in the south where there are no basements.
Hoping to finish the wiring in both the shop and the garage, clean both out, clean both up, and be ready restore '64 1/2 Mustang (garage) and to build a few "heirlooms" keepsakes for the kids (workshop). I also have some cheap customizing to do in our bonus room to make it more usable.
I'll post pics if I ever finish any / all of those things.
