Free-standing dresser/cabinet or built in shelves in chimney breast alcove?

[LittleRa]

Free-standing dresser/cabinet (like this one pictured) or built in shelves in chimney breast alcove? I want dresser (I think), DP wants shelves. We want toy storage (so kallax type boxes) and books, maybe some photo frames/plants.

Personally I tend to lean towards built in furniture but it such a personal choice! How about something like this which has a similar look to the dresser you like but has the cleaner lines of built in shelves?

@Wildwood6 That looks nice, who would make something like that, a joiner? Would be be expensive, having to be bespoke size etc?

I wanted built in shelves very similar to what @Wildwood6 pictured. Would have been have as wide again in my recess, so 3 cupboards to the bottom and the shelves above I wanted there naked to the wall if that makes sense. So no frame edge or backs just bare wall. Quotes from 3 people were a minimum of £2.5k. Most expensive was £4K I think. Not London prices. I ended up with a shelving unit that I feel very meh about but it looks nice enough and cost me about £450.

So sorry for crap spelling, trying to dish up dinner while I type, multi task fail!

That’s interesting @Piggyhoolier for me to put to DP for my case!

Hi @LittleRa yes you would need a joiner or a carpentry company to make something like this. I’ve not had that exact thing built but something similar and as @Piggyhoolier mentioned I think it was about £2.5k roughly, maybe a little less. This was two two pieces of furniture, one each side of the chimney.