Custom Made Furniture

DavidA

I'm looking to get some storage and furniture made. We've used a local carpenter to do some work for us before: some under-stair storage and a bookcase. No complaints on either.

Now I need some double bedroom wardrobe and some office storage built. Painted MDF and oak laminated MDF respectively. Adjustable shelves. He's quoted me £3,098 for the double wardrobe and £2,268 for the office storage, inc VAT. South East.

Sketches of both of them here:
http://imgur.com/a/ELtNV

Do those prices sound right?

BlueC

Regardless of the prices which are extortionate, neither of these seems to be built-in so why not just buy something similar pre-made and save yourself £5k?

skinnyman9000

I got quoted £1500 for a under stairs shelving solution, I decided to have a crack myself for the pricely sum of £100.

It doesn't look anywhere near as good as you'd get with a professional carpenter, but it certainly isn't 15 times worse either.

What I'm saying is, I'd rather have a crack myself. Worse case scenario you spend a few hundred quid and get nowhere, but if you're willing to spend £3k on a wardrobe then a few hundred shouldn't bother you.

olias

^^^^^^^^^

What BlueC said! Prices are ridiculous.

I would expect the ultimate in handmade artisan solid oak furniture from a well respected cabinet maker for that price.

Just google solid oak wardrobe, and see whats about, and the prices - lots for about the £1000 mark- less than half that if you are after veneered MDF

Olias

DavidA

I haven't managed to find anything that's the right size and style. Tried John Lewis, Heals, Habitat etc.

My past experience with any form of DIY has taught me to leave it to the professionals. I don't have too much spare time either.

Thanks for the responses.

McKneff

Wow, that seems like an awful lot of money for what you are getting.

If you need to have them built, get another couple of quotes, and references of course.

olias

DavidA wrote: »

I haven't managed to find anything that's the right size and style. Tried John Lewis, Heals, Habitat etc.

My past experience with any form of DIY has taught me to leave it to the professionals. I don't have too much spare time either.

Thanks for the responses.

Have a search online first, then go and look - there are a lot more shops than just the big names!

If you do get them made, go to a quality cabinet maker, not a carpenter.

Olias

leveller2911

DavidA wrote: »

I'm looking to get some storage and furniture made. We've used a local carpenter to do some work for us before: some under-stair storage and a bookcase. No complaints on either.

Now I need some double bedroom wardrobe and some office storage built. Painted MDF and oak laminated MDF respectively. Adjustable shelves. He's quoted me £3,098 for the double wardrobe and £2,268 for the office storage, inc VAT. South East.

Sketches of both of them here:
http://imgur.com/a/ELtNV

Do those prices sound right?

The office storage unit is way over the top.I've just made a solid Oak one 2500mm high x 1220mm wide x 300mm deep and that was £1500 +vat fitted.I would say your unit would be £850-£950 +vat.

The double wardrobe should be around £2,200 +vat and for around £3,000+vat I would expect it to be made from Super prime quality European Oak.

Oak vaneered MDF costs about £45-00 a sheet (8x4) and time wise about 7 days work plus finishing.

carefullycautious

:eek: gosh that's expensive

Friends of mine had mdf wardrobes and drawers fitted under the eaves in an attic bedroom and it cost approx 700 pounds.

I would expect solid wood for those prices.

DavidA

These posts are all much appreciated. Thank you!

I'm a little wary of online shops that I don't know because I fear the quality would be poor. Could anyone recommend one?

I'll also try some cabinet makers. Again, any recommendations for East Sussex?

Alan2020

Hi David, if you give me £5,000.00 I can custom build you those pieces of furniture in any virtual solid wood of your choice. In fact they will not take any space and will be totally invisible :-) I can give you a 100% guarantee that any scientist for the next 150 years will never detect them in your house :-D

Yours truly,
Alan (Virtual furniture craftsman) ;-)