Jali design it yourself Dresser

[MoleVision]

Hi all,

I'm looking to get a dresser for the living room but I'm very limited on choice as the access through the front door upstairs to the living room doesn't allow for getting furniture in! So the sofas came in through the window but I'm not doing that with a dresser!

This essentially limits me to flat pack. I'm trying to steer clear of IKEA as they don't do quite what I am after. I have been recommended to look at Jali - design the furniture yourself and they make it from MDF and send it to you flat pack.

Has anyone had experience of them? The design I've come up with is below - cost on the website is £850. The finish is oak veneer. I don't like the idea of just painted MDF as corners etc will be very susceptible to damage / fraying etc.



Or does anyone know of alternative options - decent quality flat pack stuff.

Thanks.

[mikey P 500]

Veneer isnt just painted its normally a very thin layer of plastic (with the oak effect printed on). Its hard wearing enough (can be chipped still) and is how almost all flat pack is made (including most the ikea stuff). Doubt you would find much in real oak thats also flat pack.

[MoleVision]

mikey P 500 said:

Veneer isnt just painted its normally a very thin layer of plastic (with the oak effect printed on). Its hard wearing enough (can be chipped still) and is how almost all flat pack is made (including most the ikea stuff). Doubt you would find much in real oak thats also flat pack.

Yes, sorry I was a bit unclear. Essentially you can have plain or painted MDF or opt for the oak veneer to cover the MDF which is probably what id do as I'm not a huge fan of the idea of simply painted mdf.

and no - I've found nothing in terms of flat pack real oak... You can get similar size solid oak stuff from oakfurnitureland or the like for £6-700 which raises the question of if an MDF construction with veneer is really going to be worth £850. Albeit I'm stuffed for access anyway.

[offshorematt2]

The dimensions don't look too arduous? Unless you've got a circular staircase or something, a solid oak one should get in okay surely. If in doubt check that the delivery drivers will deliver it to the room rather than the front door...

[MoleVision]

You'll have to believe me re access. It's a staircase that doubles back on itself with a central pillar and a low ceiling. Experience tells me its not really worth trying - we got a small sofa wedged going round the corner which took ages to extricate and resulted in several injuries. Suppose if I could get something that came in two halves that might work.

[mad4amanda]

we have this problem quite a lot as we have a very old house with a tiny staircase including tight turns especially to the cellar which is my office/sitting room.
What we did was went to the retailer in our case Lincoln furniture and asked them how small and light things could be knocked down to . we were amazed that with a bit of thought they were able to suggest ways to make the furniture come apart and be reassembled and in the case of our bedroom wardrobes even did it for no extra charge including rebuilding it on site.
What I learnt was 2 things :
Just because you cant see how it comes apart doesn`t mean to say it wont.
Good retailer will go the extra mile for you.

[SunsetZed]

It's not local to you but it may provide inspiration we got a fair amount of our furniture including a dresser from these guys:
http://www.pine-oak.co.uk/

It's all solid oak and some of their dressers can be supplied in 2 parts. The website's not great and doesn't show that many of their products but they actually do quite a few dressers. I don't think that all of them can be supplied in 2 parts but I know that ours could!

[singlecoil]

I assume that it's real oak veneer with the cut edges banded with the veneer in strips. You are right, it will be vulnerable to knocks and there will be noting you can do about it should that happen.

Painted mdf might be safer but it will depend on the paint. If it's sprayed with 2-pack then it will be tougher than veneer, but you still won't be able to hide damage should it occur.