Alcoves beside a chimney breast can become useful storage, display space or part of a media wall. In older Dublin homes, the two sides are rarely identical. The right starting point is to understand the room, the wall conditions and what you want the furniture to hold.
Texture Dublin’s furniture and carpentry service designs and installs made-to-measure units. Ali Onder is your enquiry contact from our Dunboyne base, serving Dublin, Meath and nearby areas.
Measure both sides separately
Record the width at several heights, the depth from the wall to the chimney face and the ceiling height. Photograph skirting, coving, sockets and any uneven plaster. Note where doors open and whether a radiator or window affects the usable depth.
These measurements are for an initial conversation. Final sizes and fitting allowances need to be checked before manufacture. A unit can be scribed to an irregular wall; this should be considered in the design rather than hidden by a rough measurement.
Plan storage around real objects
Books, vinyl records, board games and electronics need different shelf depths and support. A closed lower cupboard with open shelving above can balance practical storage with display space. Tell us which items are heavy and whether you expect the contents to change.
Discuss door proportions, handles, painted finishes and the relationship to the fireplace. Symmetry can be useful, but forcing two unequal alcoves into identical units may waste space or create awkward clearances.
Media walls need access and ventilation
Provide the television model and dimensions, plus the devices that will sit inside the furniture. Think about cable routes, plug access and the space needed to remove equipment later. Enclosed electronics need ventilation appropriate to the equipment manufacturer’s requirements.
Keep fireplace clearances and specialist installation requirements separate from the furniture specification. The joinery should be planned around the relevant appliance guidance and site conditions; a decorative sketch alone cannot establish safe clearances.
Agree the installation scope
Ask what is included in the quotation: cabinet construction, doors, shelves, finishing, fitting and delivery. Removal of existing units, wall repairs, electrical changes and decoration should be identified explicitly. Tell Ali about stairs, parking and access to the room.
We price alcove furniture on enquiry because dimensions, finishes and site conditions vary. Photos of both alcoves, approximate measurements and a list of what you need to store are enough to start a useful conversation.