MODERN HOME, EAST SUSSEX
The Hassocks Residence
Three Built-In PAX Wardrobes & Media Wall Storage
Three PAX wardrobes across two bedrooms, a chimney breast media wall and a storage problem that most installers would have solved by compromising on height. Sian wanted floor-to-ceiling storage. Her ceiling height meant the standard taller PAX frames wouldn't fit without modification. I modified them.
The Project
Sian wanted to maximise vertical storage across two bedrooms; two wardrobes in the main bedroom, one in the guest room. The challenge was her ceiling height. Standard taller PAX frames were too tall for the space without modification, and the shorter alternative frames would have meant losing valuable storage above.
There were two options. Use the shorter PAX frames and accept the loss of storage above, or modify the taller frames to fit. We went with option two for all three wardrobes.
Fortunately, the taller PAX frames only needed to be reduced by 4cm. A small enough modification that the standard IKEA doors could still be used, keeping costs down without compromising on the floor-to-ceiling result Sian wanted.
The installation also included floating shelves fitted between each wardrobe on the chimney breast, creating a media wall that flows naturally with the wardrobes on either side.
An access panel built between the shorter frame and the wall fixture: Rather than treating the gap between the shorter PAX frame and the wall fixture as dead space, a custom access panel was built in. Every bit of usable space accounted for.
Painted panels colour-matched to a professional finish Surrounding wardrobe panels, ceiling infills, side returns and base plinth were primed and painted with a Dulux Heritage topcoat, colour-matched to the white GULLABERG doors. Sian wanted a clean, open white finish throughout. The GULLABERG doors were ordered in white from IKEA and fitted without any additional finishing work. The painted panels match them exactly, so the finished installation reads as one unified piece rather than a wardrobe surrounded by visibly different materials.
Floating shelves on the chimney breast creating a media wall Between the wardrobes in the main bedroom, the chimney breast was fitted with floating shelves to create a media wall. The shelves sit flush with the wardrobe doors on either side, creating a unified wall of storage and display that flows naturally across the full width of the room.
What Made This Installation Distinctive
Modified PAX frames to maximise vertical storage: The ceiling height in both bedrooms couldn't accommodate the standard taller PAX frames without adjustment. Rather than defaulting to the shorter frame sizes and losing storage space above, the taller frames were reduced by 4cm on site. A precise cut that kept the installation within the ceiling height while preserving every centimetre of usable storage. Critically, the 4cm reduction was small enough that standard IKEA doors could still be used, avoiding the need for custom doors across all three wardrobes.
A shorter frame in the left alcove required a different door: One alcove in the main bedroom had a wall fixture that made the taller modified frame impossible in that position. A shorter PAX frame and door was needed here. The problem: most IKEA shaker-style doors don't match in design between short and tall frame sizes. Fitting a standard shorter door next to the taller modified doors would have created a visible clash.
The solution was GULLABERG doors throughout. A consistent door design that works across both PAX frame heights, keeping the finished installation visually unified from floor to ceiling.
I can’t thank Josh enough for creating fabulous wardrobes in my two bedrooms.
Given the restricted space, wonky ceiling and uneven floors, Josh magically custom fitted PAX wardrobes to not only look fantastic, but fit perfectly and used every possible centimetre available to give me maximum storage. Thank you sooo much.
SIAN - HASSOCKS, WEST SUSSEX
Project Specs
Property: Hassocks, Sussex
Installation: Three built-in PAX wardrobes across two bedrooms, chimney breast media wall
Main bedroom: Two floor-to-ceiling PAX wardrobes with floating shelf media wall between
Guest room: One floor-to-ceiling PAX wardrobe
Frame modification: Taller PAX frames reduced by 4cm to fit ceiling height
Doors: White IKEA GULLABERG doors, consistent across all frame heights
Panels: Primed and painted with Dulux Heritage topcoat, colour-matched to doors
Handles: Brushed nickel bar handles
Left alcove: Shorter PAX frame with custom access panel beside wall fixture
Media wall: Floating shelves on chimney breast between wardrobes
Finish: Full built-in finish, scribed to walls, floor-to-ceiling
