Fitted wardrobe advice please

[username3678]

I'm trying to organise fitted wardrobes. I'm using a local carpenter and have just come off the phone.

He told me that he uses chip board or MDF and he uses a carcass. I thought they constructed them but am obviously wrong.

I don't like the sound of chip board but he said they're coated and don't need to be painted. He said MDF can be sprayed but it's expensive. If I don't have to paint, I don't want to but chip board? That's not good quality is it?

I don't know what to do. Does that sound right? I was hoping for wood. Is that not possible anymore?

Thank you. I have read a few times about people buying IKEA pax wardrobes and getting someone to fit them.

At the moment - since I don't have a clue what I'm doing - I'm just making enquiries. But I don't know what to enquire about.

That's very interesting. I'll look at the PAX wardrobes. Was the spraying expensive? The fitter today said it's very expensive.

Thank you.

we are having some fitted at the mo. Mdf doors with veneer internals. Our carpenter has made it all but it has taken an absolute age so I guess depends on what you are looking for? Also, even though ours are supposed to be ‘bespoke’ our carpenter works with specific sizes for wardrobes so wasn’t as flexible as we’d hoped. The main piece of advice I’d give is be really clear about what you want and think about every detail. Do you want internal drawers? If so how many? How much hang space do you need? What drop do you need for things like shirts? Do you want doors floor to ceiling? Are there plug sockets where the wardrobe is? Do you want access to those? What about coving and skirting boards? How big do you want the shelves to be? Sorry bit of a brain dump but lots that I’d wished we’d thought of before we got ours fitted!

That's very useful advice. I definitely have an idea about what I want. I do want drawers, I'm thinking six, three deepish drawers in each wardrobe (am getting two).

Yes re plug sockets, although the fitter said it wasn't a problem. I want floor to ceiling wardrobes with storage space at the top.

Do I need shelves? I wasn't going to have shelves. Just drawers, hanging rail and storage at the top. Do I need space for shoes?

We recently went through the pain of having 4 different wardrobe companies come and quote for us. The wall space is 4m wide, and quotes ranged from £5-11k. They were all variations of MDF, but the lower end quotes were using a very limited range of shell options and only a few colour choices, while the more expensive offered more flexibility in terms of fitted components, adjustable shelf depths, a huge range of colours and handles.

Like you I was a bit surprised that even £11k only gets you fancy MDF!

Thank you, that's good to know. I took a look at the PAX wardrobes and it's overwhelming, I didn't know where to start. I need to take a proper look.

I'm surprised about the MDF as well, I thought they were wood.

I designed online and bought and fitted Pax myself - different depths - full depth in main then less depth at the end to allow for door opening, interior shelves, basket drawers and hanging rails in 2 x rooms. 1 has book case at the end and more interior shelves. V easy, economic and loads of storage. Can add extra shelves and all sorts at a later date.

Thank you will take a further look. Are the wardrobes MDF?