Built-In Robes - $$$$$ and Is Timber Still Possible?

[fionas]

Well, after much head-scratching and soul-searching, I think we've almost decided to stay in this house (pending visit to a place tomorrow to see if we can get a lift for the front verandah so that I don't have to haul a stroller up and down steps with a dodgy pelvis).

So, presuming we can get one, it's all steam ahead on some minor and major renovations.

One of the minor renos is to put in built-in robes. I got a ballpark quote today over the phone for $4K for two robes for either side of an existing fireplace. I haven't measured but each one would be about 100-120cm wide.

I did expect it to be about that much and I'm sort of OK with paying that if that's what good ones cost? Would rather get well-made ones that last for ages than el cheapo ones. Plus, after living in this house for 13 years without built-ins, I reckon I deserve them.

I was thinking timber though and the place I spoke to doesn't do timber anymore - just timber veneer.

Has anyone had timber built-in robes installed recently and how much more did they cost?

[Oorki Galoorki]

timber is more exxy.. you would have to call a real cabinet maker over a cupboard maker(iykwim?)
but timber would last the distance..

[Bumperstump Cummerbund]

I work for a cabinetmaker, and $4k sounds very expensive for the size you've quoted - the only reason I can think of is that they're going to make stand alone cupboards to fit the space, which is the same as what we would do. Believe it or not, a lot of cabbies won't do built in stuff as its too fiddly, much easier to build a cabinet that they can set up in the factory to make sure it's alright before it goes out to you.

Maybe contact a builder local to you, and ask who they use for built in robes?