Built-ins
Built-ins are cabinets and shelving fixed to the room: alcoves either side of a chimney breast, a wall of bookshelves, a window seat with drawers, a bench in a hall. Valmont draws them to the walls they sit against, builds them in the shop and scribes them on site so they look as if the house was built around them.
On the drawings, and on the quote.
- 01Elevations of every alcove and wall, measured at several heights
- 02Closed cabinets below, open shelves above, or any mix, sized to what you own
- 03Window seats and benches with drawers or lift-up storage
- 04Scribe panels, crown and plinth details that run into the existing trim
- 05Lighting wired in the shop where shelves are lit
- 06Delivery and install by our crew, [n] days on site
No figures published. The drivers, in order.
| Driver | What we look at |
|---|---|
| Linear feet and shelf count | Open shelving is the lightest line; closed cabinets with doors and drawers add parts. |
| Site conditions | Chimney breasts, sloped ceilings and out-of-square alcoves add scribing time. |
| Door construction and finish | Painted shaker at one end, veneer or fluted fronts at the other. |
| Lighting and stone | Lit shelves and a stone top on a console add wiring and a fabricator. |
Paint colour and hardware are the smallest lines. Site conditions and what the piece hides set the number. Read the cost guide.
Measure, draw, quote, build, install.
The five steps in full, with the walkthrough you see before we build.
We measure each alcove at floor, counter and ceiling height because they are rarely the same, and photograph the trim so the new work meets it cleanly. The drawings show what sits on every shelf.
Boxes are built and finished in the shop in [n] weeks. On site the crew levels, scribes and fixes them over [n] days, and returns once after you have filled the shelves.
Asked before the first call.
Can built-ins go either side of a fireplace?
Yes, and it is the most common request. We measure each alcove separately, since they are rarely equal, and draw the two sides to read as a pair with the chimney breast between them.
Will built-ins damage the walls if I move?
They are fixed to studs with concealed fixings. Removal leaves screw holes and a paint line, no more than a large bookcase would. Most buyers see them as part of the house.
Can a window seat have storage?
Yes. Drawers on the front are easier to use than a lift-up lid; a lid holds more. We draw the seat height to the sill and the cushion depth to sit comfortably.
Do you paint built-ins on site or in the shop?
In the shop. Sprayed lacquer gives a smoother finish than a brush, and the room stays clean. Scribe edges are touched up on site after fitting.