Alcoves

[Dylan123]

Hi,

I have a 1930s house with 2 chimney breasts, so alcove cabinets and wardrobes built in would work really well both upstairs and down.

I’ve looked at the cost of this and it’s prob 3K in total at the cheapest flat pack (made to measure) and much more for a properly scribed one, could be 5k+.

So I was thinking, it looks fairly simple joining and cuts provided you have a good workbench and some basic electric tools. So if I could fit these myself this would save quite a bit of money AND give me skills for the future.

Do you think this is beyond the skills of a DIY first real woodwork project? I think provided I get a mitre, router, jigsaw etc it can’t be too difficult with MDF and some mouldings

I just want to gage whether this is biting off more than I can chew. I’ve never done anything like this for a job but I’ve done minor things like cut skirting corners and picture rail scribe, things like that.

advice welcome!

 

[Deleted member 174758]

Yes, if you are a practical person, it is potentially doable.

One principles to get to grips with is that a lot of furniture, especially cabinets and no matter how fancy, are really only a series of boxes

Lastly joinery installation is all about straight lines, levels and plumb lines

You might be best of starting out by sketching your ideas on paper to see what they look like. By all.mwana borrow ideas from magazines, books and the Internet.

Design inspiration can come from anything, although the tutor who ears ago presented me with an egg, a pencil and a piece of coarse cloth was maybe pushing it a bit!

 

[foxhole]

Ikea doors

• foxhole
• 2 Oct 2011
• 4

bed 1 after

• foxhole
• 20 Dec 2011
• 1

ikea doors on alcove

• foxhole
• 8 Sep 2009
• 12

ikea doors on alcove

• foxhole
• 8 Sep 2009
• 6

Wardrobes are easy , I used IKEA doors and reduced alcove dimensions with a frame to suit.

You could buy doors and build frame to suit .
Used 18mm mdf , a decent circular saw is a great help.

 

[Dylan123]

Ikea doors

• foxhole
• 2 Oct 2011
• 4

bed 1 after

• foxhole
• 20 Dec 2011
• 1

ikea doors on alcove

• foxhole
• 8 Sep 2009
• 12

ikea doors on alcove

• foxhole
• 8 Sep 2009
• 6

Wardrobes are easy , I used IKEA doors and reduced alcove dimensions with a frame to suit.

You could buy doors and build frame to suit .
Used 18mm mdf , a decent circular saw is a great help.

that’s great for the wardrobes thanks.

what I mean downstairs is something like this

Do you think that’s feasible for a novice provided a lot of research is done and I have the right tools?

it seems pretty easy with mdf, good paint and the right equipment.

 

[foxhole]

You could buy kitchen shaker doors for ground floor.