Built in robes - floor to ceiling or bulkhead on top?

[thisisme]

We've been thinking about our built in robes and are not sure if it's best to have them all the way to the ceiling, or to have a bulkhead above them so the cornices can be continued all the way around the bedrooms.

Our concern with having them all the way to the ceiling is that the cornice will need to be cut off where it meets the built in and it might look a bit odd.

Would love to hear your thoughts.

[Julie-Ann]

I think you can never have too much storage. So I would almost take them to the ceiling but allow the cornice to follow around the built in robes. Just not add a bulkhead. Does that make sense?

[thisisme]

So add a bulkhead but only high enough to fit the cornice?

Or do you mean have a gap in between the top of the robe and the ceiling?

[Julie-Ann]

I think it would be easier to add the bulkhead but just enough to be covered by the cornice.:)

[thisisme]

Thanks Julie-Ann :)

For some strange reason I can't find any photos of built INS with cornices above/around them :s
Is it not very common?

[Julie-Ann]

No most don't they finish at 210mm on the outside and about 225mm inside with a bulkhead above. And thinking about it with the size of this house it's not like you are short of storage:D. So I am officially changing my mind and say use the 210mm doors with the frame and bulkhead above that.

[thisisme]

Thanks for that :)

That's exactly what Mr T had in mind. See, he is not that bad afterall :P

[Julie-Ann]

No not so bad if we are not talking about glass doors:D

[thisisme]

The reason you suggested wardrobe doors to be 2.1m is to match the doors upstairs, is that right?

The issue I have is that there will be a lot of wasted space if we make the bulkheads that big :( over 2 cubic metres per bedroom
:(

If we make the wardrobe doors 2.4m high with a bulkhead above that would it look too unbalanced in relation to the 2.1m doors?

[Julie-Ann]

So the doors to the built in would be 2.4mt and the doors in to the bedroom would be 2.1mt?

[thisisme]

Yes
*shy*

Would it look bad?

[Julie-Ann]

I think because you are having sliding doors it will look fine. Will the sliding doors have the same profile as the other door?

[thisisme]

Yay!
:)
Although not yet sure on the style of doors. But will either be the malamine doors or the real doors like a-m's.

[Julie-Ann]

I think it will work best if the doors profile isn't the same as the internal doors profile IMHO. I have seen it done with mirrored and melamine sliding doors and it looked just fine.:)

[thisisme]

Thanks for that :)

What about bulkheads in walk in/through robes? They usually don't have bulkheads, do they? No cornices either, just a square set finish. Is that right?

[Julie-Ann]

No bulkheads but ours have cornices. But then our builder put cornices in the garage:confused:

[thisisme]

Not sure if this is true but appearently it is cheaper to put standard cornices then have the plasterers be super neat and do the square set properly... No idea what we will do for the garage :S

[Julie-Ann]

I think you are right Thisisme:)

[thisisme]

Sorry. Another bulkhead question *shy*

We were thinking of not having cornices on bulkheads in cinema and study/gym... But now I am thinking... Since we are having them in the kitchen bulkhead should we do the same in those two rooms as well?
The kitchen is a part of open living though and the other two are on their own. Does this make a difference?

[Julie-Ann]

so I am guessing your bulkheads in these rooms run around the edge of the rooms- creating a coffered ceiling in the middle is that right?

[thisisme]

That's correct. Bulkhead on all 4 Walls.

[Julie-Ann]

These are your options:
No cornice but you need to get a good finish.
The same cornice where the bulkhead meets the ceiling as to where the bulkhead meets the wall.
Or a smaller but similar cornice where the bulkhead meets the ceiling as to where the bulkhead meets the wall.:)

[thisisme]

Can these rooms be completelly different from the rest of the house or is it best to make them consistent? In terms of cornices that is :)

[Julie-Ann]

I would do the same cornices as the rest of the house Thisisme.
How's the house coming along?

[thisisme]

So bulkheads with "The same cornice where the bulkhead meets the ceiling as to where the bulkhead meets the wall" is the one that would look the best?

Very slow at the moment. We are doing c-bus, data, audio etc cabling throughout the house. Have so far only done 80% of upstairs. Still lots to do :(

We've got our first fix a/c booked in for the 13th of January.