Bookcase and cupboard pairs beside chimney breasts
West End sitting rooms often leave twin alcoves either side of a blocked fireplace. We build mirrored carcasses with adjustable shelves on one side and closed cupboards on the other so television cables stay hidden without boxing the whole wall.
Skirting returns are scribed to existing pine so the new work reads as part of the room rather than a freestanding box pushed into the niche.
Typical built-in envelopes before scribing
Alcove widths vary wildly in sandstone tenements. The table lists the envelopes we cut in the workshop; site days add scribed fillers of 10–40 mm.
| Width | Depth | Material | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|
| 750–1100 mm | 320–380 mm | Birch ply | Paint grade |
| 1100–1400 mm | 400 mm seat | MR MDF + oak | Enamel / oil |
| Full wall run | 280–350 mm | Birch ply | Matched lacquer |
| Window seat | 450–500 mm | Ply + foam lid | Fabric by client |
Bay window benches that clear radiators
Hillhead bays rarely offer a flat seat depth once the radiator and pipework are measured. We lift the bench above the valves and cut a removable front panel so plumbers can reach the system without dismantling the carcass.
Lid hinges face inward so curtains still close. Storage under the seat holds board games or winter boots without needing a separate hall cupboard.
Respecting cornice and picture rails in listed closes
Where cornice is intact we stop cabinet tops below the moulding and add a simple shadow gap instead of cutting into plaster. Picture rails stay continuous; doors hang from carcass faces rather than from wall-mounted tracks that would drill into fragile lime.
If your factor requires written method notes for a listed building, we supply a one-page hang plan with fixings listed by wall type.
Built-in pricing bands for Glasgow rooms
A mirrored alcove pair with paint-grade doors typically runs £2,800–£4,600 including install. A bay window seat with under-storage sits near £1,900–£3,100 depending on radiator complexity.
Request a measure through contact.html or review day rates on pricing.html.