​The brief

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A local private client asked me to design built-in wardrobes for a loft room. They’d already spoken to several furniture makers and received a wide range of quotes. This is exactly the kind of scenario I set this business up to support: clear design, practical detailing, and drawings that make manufacturing straightforward.

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Approach

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I began by asking for a few inspiration examples. The client and I then sat down to define what they needed:

• Hanging space and general wardrobe storage

• Drawer space

• Optional shoe storage, if possible

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Survey & constraints

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After measuring the room, I identified a few hidden challenges, including an access door to the roof space that we needed to work around. We also reviewed different storage types and layout options suited to the sloped ceilings typical of loft rooms.

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Lighting plan

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We discussed lighting early, which saves time later. I shared examples of LED profiles, typical positioning, and options for switches or sensors to activate the lights. Documenting these choices during the initial design phase helps reduce redraws—admittedly, changes still happen from time to time, but early alignment keeps them to a minimum.

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First draft drawings

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I produced an initial set of drawings reflecting everything we’d discussed:

• An external elevation, lightly rendered to make details easy to understand

• An internal view showing the storage configuration

Because some hanging space needed to sit under a sloped ceiling, I specified notched hanging rails designed for angled installations and included these in the drawings.

While drawing, I always think about construction, fitting, and future maintenance—e.g., ensuring LED strips and wiring can be accessed easily if they ever need repair.

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Review & refinements

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I met the client to review the first draft. As usual, there were a few minor tweaks to the internal layout. We also discussed materials and clarified a couple of details before finalising.

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Fees

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I charge a small deposit for the first draft at the start of the project. This covers the initial 2–4 hours of work in case the client decides not to proceed further.

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Next steps & outcome

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From this point, there are two routes:

1. I approach a few manufacturers for quotes, or

2. The client takes my plans and gets quotes themselves.

In this case, the client chose to find their own manufacturer. Once they were happy with the prices they received, I completed and supplied the workshop drawings, and sold the drawing package to the client.

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