Would removing built in wardrobes be a mistake?

[lemoncurdcupcake]

Excuse my very rough drawings.

The first is the current layout. There are two walls of built in cupboards, one wall is floor to ceiling, the other a mix with space for a double bed to go in the middle of built in bedside tables, overhead cupboards and some full length cupboards.

We have a king-size bed, which currently only fits under the window. This blocks the radiator and the curtains are a faff with the bed in the way. I'd like to upgrade this to a European style 'superking' (basically two separate mattresses in a large frame) which currently wouldn't fit.

Would also like to make space for my grandmothers lovely antique dressing table which currently won't fit elsewhere in the house.

So my plan is to remove the built ins, and either buy a freestanding wardrobe which matches the other furniture in the room (bed and dressing table are both oak) plus a chest of drawers, or potentially put in a corner wardrobe. None of the current units will be reusable, not with my skillset anyway!

Am I making a mistake? Have mentioned the plan to a few friends and aghast would be the best word to describe their reactions. Most people are trying to add built ins and being quoted crazy prices for them, so they think the idea of someone removing this much storage is not sensible. I don't think the wardrobes would be useable in another room in the house. They went in when the house was built 30 years ago and seem very much built for the space they're in.

The current units are by no means full. The right hand side is basically empty, and the left has things in there which could live elsewhere but currently we have that storage so we're using it.

Idk if relevant but the light comes in in the morning to hit the middle of the right hand side of the room, I like the idea of sitting in bed with a cuppa with the sun warming the foot end. It's how we had it in the old house and was one of the simple pleasures I enjoyed! Would also mean nice light for getting ready at the dressing table.

Having the bed that you want is much more important than fitted wardrobes .

@MustTryHarderAndHarder I agree! And I'd be so sad if I couldn't have my grandmothers dressing table. I feel like I've thought it through, but wasn't expecting such passionate resistance from several friends. The level of outrage made me think I should at least check with the Mumsnet hivemind if I'm making an error.

How long do you anticipate being in the house? If you plan on being there a longer time then 100% make it your own and do what makes you happy.
If it might be shorter term and the money matters, then it does look like you are going to end up with a main bedroom with minimal storage. The current set up with fantastic storage might win over a potential purchaser.
Is there a middle ground of keeping the built ins on the left and just taking out the right hand side to allow space for the bigger bed? And put the dressing table under the window.

I think what you are suggesting is a good idea. We did similar in our old house. The built in wardrobes were in the wrong place forcing the bed into a specific spot which was also wrong. We moved them and it made the room so much nicer. I also don't get the built in wardrobe love, you can probably buy a lovely oak wardrobe and have your grandmother's dressing table too. The only time I think built in is great, is when it's an awkward space or if access is difficult.

removing the built in wardrobes is the first thing we're doing when we get the keys to our new house!

@Bobbie12345678 the plan is for this place to be the 'forever home', so in it for the long haul. The room is wider than it is long, so the dresser will fit as I've drawn it but wouldn't fit under the window with the current bed let alone a bigger one as I'm hoping for 😅 DH tosses and turns a lot, when we visit family in Europe and both have our own mattresses everyone sleeps better, so that's the dream! Also wouldn't fit between the two doors as it's wider than the space. Scuppered from every angle.

@MrAlyakhin yes this is what I was hoping, find something in a similar wood or decorate it so the finish is similar. It's the style I like tbh, old furniture, shabby rugs, that sort of thing.

I mean, purely for the fact I hate beds sandwiched between wardrobes - especially if they have the run of cupboards over the top - id rip out at least some of the wardrobes.

Its your house. Make your bedroom how you want.

I would keep the full length, and remove the others.

I have built in wardrobes and love them. But in your shoes I’d do what you plan to do. It sounds like the big bed and your Grandmas dressing table will make you much happier than the built in wardrobes!

You can always have different built-ins put somewhere else in the room.

I loathed the ones that were in my room. Got a local joiner to replace them with something I liked. (Oak and oak veneer, Shaker style, no handles, looks like a panelled wall.)

I like the practicality of built-ins, you get so much more storage in the same footprint.

100% make it what you want then. Sitting in the sun sounds lovely

Thanks for the responses gang. I'm usually pretty decisive when it comes to this stuff and trust my ideas, but as mentioned the level of passion from friends gave me pause. Nice to have some balance from the other side!

Do you mean you don't have the bed where it's meant to be in the centre of the built in units?

If so it's probably very easy to remove the bedside tables to increase the width. Ours were just screwed to the wardrobes at the side. We've taken them out while our son has a single bed and put it length ways so he has more room for toys.

But I've kept the unit and can put them back if he wants a double when he's older.

@ChapmanFarm the gap is for a double, not a king so no, the bed is not there. And it isn't an easy job to remove them sadly. Everything is attached to everything else (the top of the bedside table extends into a shelf inside one of the wardrobes, for example) and there's also lighting and other electrics involved. I'm pretty good at DIY and this honestly looks like a case of all or nothing (per wall anyway). I had a similar set up to your son when I was younger and thought that might be one possibility but sadly not the case. I was thinking of moving some of them to my daughter's room as she has no storage, and is shaping up to be someone who likes a lot of clothes 😅 but they're so well installed (the cornicing encompasses them for example) it's well beyond me to get them out in a way that they could be moved and reused.

If we removed the units where the bed is 'meant to go' as you say then we could fit the bed (or a larger one) there, but there wouldn't be space for the dressing table.