Planning a Bespoke Walnut Wardrobe: Site Survey and Client Questions | Draftsman’s Day Ep. 8 | TopSolid Wood
The Starting Point: Three Pieces of Information
Every bespoke wardrobe starts with incomplete information. This one arrived as three inputs:
A concept view showing the layout: a fixed shelf, hanging rail, drawers and adjustable shelves.
A site survey photo of the alcove, showing a wall socket, a loose cable, the skirting already removed, and a very high ceiling.
A hand-drawn survey sheet with a front view and a floor plan, measured off a laser line.
The room is first mapped in TopSolid Wood: walls, floor and blocked-out furniture volumes, ready for the detailed parametric model.
Reading the Site Survey: Laser Lines and Out-of-Square Walls
The survey uses a laser line as a fixed reference, with measurements taken to the architrave, the wall and the floor. Small variations of 5 to 15 mm are normal in houses. The floor plan, however, shows a 36 mm difference across the run of the wall – a significant angle that directly affects the scribe.
One key question is what the measurements were taken from. If the architrave is being removed or replaced, every dimension referencing it changes.
Scribe Size vs Design Intent
The existing furniture uses 26 mm veneered sheet material, and the plan was to mirror that visible thickness on the new wardrobe. With the wall this far out, the scribe needs to be around 50–75 mm, so matching 26 mm is not possible. A wider scribe on one side then raises the question of whether the sides and top should match for visual balance, something to agree with the client before drawing.
Materials: Matching an Existing Walnut Project
The wardrobe is designed to match a completed and installed reference job:
Carcass: walnut-effect MFC
Doors and drawer fronts: custom walnut-veneered MDF, 22 mm core giving a finished door of around 23 mm
Handles: integrated J-pull / finger pull, cut generously deep for comfortable grip
Drawer boxes: solid walnut (to be confirmed)
Hardware: hinges and drawer runners as per the reference job
The front layout mirrors the reference: three drawers, two doors above, and a single tall door to the side.
The Questions AI Won't Ask
This is where real joinery design happens. Before production drawings, the following needs clarifying with the client:
Where exactly were the survey measurements taken from – the architrave or another element?
How tall should the wardrobe be above the door – is storage space on top wanted?
What happens to the wall socket – leave it, relocate it, bring it inside the cabinet, or cut out around it?
What is the loose cable for – is LED lighting planned, and if so, how is it switched (motion sensor, door sensor)?
Does the carcass need a service void or set-back for cables?
How is the scribe handled on the out-of-square wall, and should sides and top match?
Access: flat-pack or pre-assembled carcasses, how large can panels be to get into the room, and where will cutting take place?
AI can generate a wardrobe for a perfectly square room. It cannot ask the client what to do with the socket.
Coming Up Next
Part 2 continues with the detailed parametric model and technical drawings in TopSolid Wood once these questions are answered. Watch the full episode on YouTube and subscribe to follow the Draftsman's Day series.
