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10/10 - AMAZING WORKMANSHIP - Simon was wonderful. He worked extremely hard and was always open to our "tweaks"....Joanna Checkatrade - see more on..
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- Where do you begin??
- Where do you begin??
It can be very rewarding - a creative and practical journey to transforming your space - whether you're planning a bespoke bedroom wardrobe, home office, or open plan living space, but it can also be a big investment, and should be durable, without the need to be updated too often. Fitted Furniture can result in adding value to your property, so take your time and consider options carefully.
Fitted furniture is tailored to your room's dimensions, your storage needs, and your personal style. For Some people it is easy to decide what, where, how big and the look they want for their home, but others may need a bit more help or guidance, - so here is a little list or aide-memoire before starting a build, which can all be discussed with Simon and he can also advise on many aspects of your choices. You chose your own spec, function & hidden additional elements, decorative detailing, paint colours & handles if having them - - here's what to think about...
First consider the room itself before the furniture - it may sound obvious, but look at the ceiling slopes, alcoves, radiators, windows, sockets, pipes, skirting boards - clearance needed for potential new doors, any awkward areas or beams. Fitted furniture is particularly useful for lofts, understairs voids, mezzanines, angled ceilings... as off the shelf items just will not fit, and radiators, pipes, and sockets can be built around. Also note that any new electrics or radiators or solid flooring (not carpets) will need to be done before the carpenter comes in! Function & practical considerations take presidence over the aesthetics usually - people generally want it to blend into the background whilst maintaining a useful purpose....hence 'the quiet hero of modern living'.
There are so many possibilites that you may need some inspiration initially - looking on line and in magazines/shops are all good sources.
Half height cupboards using cutout door inserts built into the sloped eaves retains a feeling of spaciousness & utilizes the low unusable end of the room
The Function of the Piece
Display or Storage, Office Desk Nook, Useful Bookcases, A home for storing clutter, Media Display Wall Open plan display unit with storage..?
Think though the details of what & how you want to store items for each room or 'piece, how often you might need to access them and if you want some display space or some hidden space & function as well - listing the really important things and the less so, & bearing in mind your daily routines/needs & any possible future changes in habits..
For eg. a bedroom wardrobe - how much space for hanging - dresses/suits/bulky coats & how much for shelving - woollens /shoes/bags/accessories. A pull out shoe rack/laundry basket, integrated mirrors/dressing table are all additional (hidden) possibilites. A home office may need to consider hidden wires or day to day filing and a media unit ventilation or future tech upgrades as well as electrics.
Where in the Room do you want it built?
Sometimes it is ovious - an alcove, understairs voids, as mentioned above, one end of a room, in an 'L', Measure up or decide the aproximate size depending on what space you want it to have or what function you want it to perform. Then Simon can measure exactly as he knows what other small details will be needed to be considered when building eg uneven walls or floors.
You may want to draw a plan to scale so you can see the proportions of the proposed furniture..and include such things as door swing directions & clearance & how drawers & doors work with each other in small spaces. You may also want to think about a rough budget based on your research...
Stories Space Saving tips for smaller spaces
The Character of the Room - its look & Feel
Choices of Materials
This is the fun bit - do you prefer Contemporary, Clean Lines, Mimimalist, Scandinavian, Shaker, Shabby-Chic, Industrial, Vintage, Rustic, Traditional, Grand or Simple,...
What sort of materials would you like to use...this will affect the finished look as well as the cost & durability
Choices such as painted MDF, solid wood (see below), glass, mirrored doors, brass etc. Whether you want tongue in groove or a plane & smooth finish, beading, routing or other panelling/mouldings..paint colours & textures [more details discussed below]
Choices of 'hardware' add another dimension to the finished piece - smooth with no handles recessed handles or minimal hidden finger pull or edge pulls; brass, glass, simply painted or wooden knobs or brushed steel long bar pull or cup pull handles in kitchens...
Hinges - Butt or flush...Brass, brushed metal hinges...?
Proportion
The unit shouln't overpower the room but needs to function effectively. For smaller rooms half height cupboards can give a more spacious feel, or combine open & half width shelving with closed cupboards for narrower spaces, or some glass/mirrored doors
How thick do you want the shelves to be – the thickness should be in proportion to the overall size of the unit but thicker shelves can make a piece look much smarter - Simon can tell you what he usually uses, but do your own research also.
Decide on how the shelves will be arranged - just one long shelf, or broken up into compartments or lots of 'boxes'. Perhaps the space between the shelves should allow for one to be higher than others to give space for larger books/display items or pictures
Would you like drawers to hide clutter and have a safe place to keep certain posessions?
What types of Shelves - & cost implications
Floating shelves can be useful, especially in a smaller space but they are more expensive to install due to the amount of labour & materials involved
Are you thinking of using MDF or Wood or even Glass or mirrors?
Do you want the shelves to be static or adjustable...
How Many doors on your cupboards?
Simon can advise on how many once you have agreed dimensions & you can discuss decorative detailing with him also.
What are Floating Shelves
They are wall mounted without any visible support -using hidden mounting between two 'shelves' making them thicker but giving a clean minimal look & they are space saving as they appear to float on the wall giving them a lighter feel, especially useful in smaller spaces, although they tend to take less weight.
Alternatives to Floating Shelves
Bracketed Shelves - give a more rustic feel - choice of types of brackets - wood, brass, metal..
A built in Unit using a 'carcass' to fix the shelves to routed grooves, tend to be in a fixed position
If you want adjustable shelves then you can have banjo supports or brass bookcase strips (or tonks)
Nicely finished with smart door & drawer handles & minimal routing as decoration
Luxurious solid maple drawer fronts
Nicely propotioned & incorporating some wood for a timeless feel
A bright colour choice to liven up a dark kitchen, incorporating a wooden top for a smarter finish
Final Check List of what elements must be included in the build once you have decided - such as hidden laundry basket or dressing table compartments, pull-down hanging rails for high spaces, integrated mirrors for a bedroom cupboard, exra drawers for desk unit - rounded or curved desk; integrated lighting for a media wall...
Are you incorporating solid wood - what sort of wood would you like - Oak the most popular choice for its durability, strength and versatility - you could chose to incorporate some character oak for more interesting grains, or maple, lighter more contemporary feel, Walnut is another famously durable alternative, darker but again interesting grains and can be finished with wax to keep it lighter
A Final check on decorative details & Structure
Simon can advise
Integrated electrics (call the elctrician first or use wireless options)
Check overall dimensions, proportions, door sizes, hights & lengths, configuration & thickness of shelf types once decided, division of shelving/drawers....
Panelling/Mouldings/routing/beading for doors/sides - how much and what size....?
Hardware - knobs, handles, indented, soft push;
Hinges & Drawer runners - Ask for highest quality to ensure durability, budget dependent - ball bearing runners are best
What will be pianted and what will be left - for example Simon does not generally line or paint the back of a bedroom wardrobe, to allow maximum space, so ensure you request if you do want your bedroom wall painted behind the cupboard, also for shelving units...this often depends on your colour choices too
And Finally Finally....The Finish!
Colour choices & textures - there are myriads of brands and hues of paint colours..........
Some brands can be used without undercoat these days and others spread more thickly so you may only need 2 coats, which will also save on labour costs.
Or are you using real wood - do you want a wood stain, varnish or wax
Or incorporating some real wood or glass/mirrors?
Simon will explain how he works & how long the project should take. He usually tries to paint undercoats off site, but inevitably cut end bits and bobs and final coat is painted in situ
Simply fitted bedroom wardrobe with pull down hanging rail making the most of all the space
Bespoke solid oak door to this bedroom cupboard for a rustic feel in this cottage bedroom
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