made to measure oak fire surround + tv unit

happyhappyshopper

a couple more questions if anyone can help?

fire surrounds

has anyone any experience of getting wooden fire surrounds made up (im thinking just pine, painted white, in our dining room but a nice, solid oak, feature fire surround made to measure for the living room?

Are there any recommended mail order companies or ones in the Oxfordshire/Wilts/Glos/Bristol/Bath area? Thanks

tv unit

Im also struggling to find a solid oak unit, no more than 94 cm wide, to fit an alcove in our living room. height isnt a problem, but need a door on one side with shelves for dvd storage, and open shelves on the other side for sky box, dvd player, etc. We would then set a new 32" LCD tv on top of the unit.

Ive tried loads of local shops and online stores, but these are generally over 1m wide and hence wont fit. Im thinking about getting something made to measure if it wont be prohibitively expensive - but has anyone seen anything similar available, or could recommend a made to measure service?

thanks in advance for any help

Al

DickDastardly_2

Both are fairly straightforward to make yourself if you have basic woodworking skills? Fire surrounds are really a shelf with long legs. If you have a router you can put different fluting or finished edges on very easily. You can add decorative mouldings to suit as well.

Failing that or if your carpentry skills won't stretch, then I would try and get some quotes for bespoke made-to-measure from local tradesmen. Most shop sold stuff is IMO substandard even for bloody expensive items, and a proper carpenter can make what you want for a similar price without compromise.

coolagarry

I had exactly your problem. In the end I employed a local carpenter and he made a fire surround exactly as we wanted it. He also made a tv stand to our spec and built in fitted bookshelves in a 'wasted' corner in the dining room.
It cost a bit more than if we could have bought them 'off the shelf' but we got exactly what we wanted and are really pleased