A linen cabinet looks simple on a drawing: a tall box for towels, spare bedding and cleaning supplies. On site, it is one of the most-used storage items in a bathroom or hallway cupboard, and small differences in carcass, shelf layout and hardware decide whether it still works well after several years of daily use. That is exactly why samples and written proposals matter more than an attractive 3D render. If you are sourcing built-in storage for a villa, apartment or hospitality project, the pages below give you a practical way to compare what each supplier is really offering.
Start with the drawing, not the price sheet
Before any sample arrives, ask each supplier to show the same information in the same format. For custom cabinetry this is standard practice, not a favour to you. Our custom and OEM service covers detailed drawings and prototypes before production begins. Request:
- Overall height, width and depth, plus clearance for skirting, doors, tiles and any pipework.
- Interior layout: fixed shelves, adjustable shelves, drawers, hanging rails, and which positions can move.
- Door type and opening direction, handle choice or handleless profile, and swing or slide clearance.
- Finish code and material name in writing, not just a photo of a colour.
When two proposals use the same drawing convention, price differences become explainable. A cabinet quoted 20 percent lower may be cheaper because it uses thinner shelf edges, fewer adjustable positions or basic hinges. Once you can see the difference, you can decide whether it is a saving or a risk.
What to look for on a physical sample
Samples vary: one supplier may send a full cabinet, another a door and shelf edge offcut, a third a hardware set. All three are useful if you check the right details. Carry a short note of your findings, because it makes the follow-up conversation much faster.
Carcass and edges. Look at the panel thickness, how the edges are finished, and whether the interior corners are clean. In a bathroom the cabinet sits close to splashes, so edge sealing and panel choice are worth confirming with the supplier for the specific location. Ask what is recommended for a bathroom next to a shower, and get the answer in writing.
Shelves and adjustable positions. Press a loaded shelf gently and check for deflection. Count the rows of pin holes: more positions mean the interior can follow the household or the operator over time. For a linen store the mix matters: keep bath sheets and other tall folded items on one shelf, and put rolled towels and small goods in drawers or baskets below.
Hinges, runners and handles. Open and close the sample door repeatedly; soft-close is a feel as much as a specification. For drawers, extend the runner fully and lift the box slightly; a loose runner shows up straight away. Confirm the hardware brand and model series in the proposal so that replacement parts are available locally after handover.
Finish under your light. View the sample in daylight and under the actual bathroom lighting. A warm matt lacquer and a high gloss surface can look close on a phone screen, yet they respond differently to fingerprints and to bathroom light, and each needs a different cleaning routine.
Read the proposal line by line
A clear proposal protects both sides. Before comparing totals, check that these items appear on each quotation:
- Site-measured dimensions and who is responsible for measuring and any remedial works.
- Material and finish names, including the carcass, doors, shelves and interior surfaces.
- Hardware make, model series and quantity, plus what is excluded.
- Delivery scope and packing method, especially for multi-unit bathroom and hallway orders.
- Installation sequence and what the site must be ready for: level floors, finished wall tiling, set-out of services.
- Snag list process and the after-sales path for parts and replacement.
For projects handled across borders, the delivery and installation lines deserve extra attention. A supplier offering logistics and door-to-door delivery should state the packing standard and the handover point on site. For built-in work, ask how installation is supervised and how measurement checks are recorded before the cabinet is manufactured. For projects that need more than storage, one supplier covering interior design services can coordinate cabinetry with vanities, wall panels and joinery, which reduces clashes between trades.
Compare function, not just the cabinet door
Linen cabinets rarely stand alone. In a bathroom or laundry wall they sit beside related storage, and comparing single items in isolation can leave you with a mismatched run. If your brief includes appliances, ask for a tall cabinet designed around appliances so that ventilation, access and control panels are planned from the start. Where the wall is awkward, a corner tall unit keeps the front line clean while using dead space. For toiletries, linens and everyday items on display, an open shelf tall cabinet can sit next to a closed linen store so that everyday items stay in reach while the rest of the wall stays calm.
List the actual items each cabinet must hold, such as folded towels, bath mats, hair dryers, detergents and spare toilet rolls, and match them to the shelf heights on the drawing. A proposal is only comparable when both suppliers solve the same storage problem.
Useful specifications to lock before ordering
With samples in hand and two proposals side by side, finalise the small list of decisions that stop changes later:
- Final internal layout for every unit, signed off on the drawing.
- Plinth or recess detail, and how the unit meets the floor finish.
- Lighting inside display sections, including cable routes and switching.
- Door alignment tolerance and the fitting tolerance allowed by the proposal.
- Spare parts to keep on site, such as shelf pins, hinges and drawer runners.
SANTERSON works with project teams on furniture and building materials from manufacturing through site coordination, and custom cabinetry is made to project-specific dimensions, layout and finish choices. Confirm dimensions and selected specifications for each project before production, then check the delivered cabinet against the approved drawing. That one habit, sample checked against a signed drawing, is the fastest way to know whether a proposal is worth the difference in price.