A curio cabinet is one of the smallest items on a project schedule and one of the easiest to misquote. Two cabinets that look identical in a reference photo can differ in carcass depth, glass type, shelving layout, lighting spec and fixing method — all of which change production cost and installation time. If you are specifying Santerson Curio Cabinets for a villa, apartment or hospitality living space, the quality of your first enquiry determines whether you receive a usable quotation in days or spend weeks on drawings and corrections.

The Santerson display cabinet range is made to measure: finish, layout and dimensions are specified per project rather than chosen from fixed sizes. That flexibility is the reason the brief has to be complete. Below is the information a supplier needs to price your cabinets accurately, in the order it usually arrives.

1. The space and the wall

Start with where the cabinet will sit. A built-in unit that fills a recess is produced and installed differently from a wall-mounted display cabinet fixed to finished wall surface, which in turn differs from a freestanding piece standing on the floor. Send the overall opening width, height and depth, note whether the floor and walls are level, and say what the wall construction is — masonry, stud partition or an existing joinery run. For recessed work, identify the point at which surrounding finishes (plasterboard, panelling, stone) will be completed, because cabinet dimensions must be measured against the finished line, not the structural one.

2. Interior layout and what you intend to display

Curio cabinets are judged by what happens inside them. Tell the supplier what will be displayed — ceramics, glassware, collectables, books, awards or product samples — because object size and weight drive shelf spacing, shelf load rating and whether adjustable or fixed shelving is appropriate. Confirm the number of shelves, whether you need a locked lower compartment or closed base for storage, and whether the display area should read as fully glazed on two sides (a room divider or corner unit) or glazed only at the front. Corner positions and alcoves with radiused or arched heads need particular attention; these have to be drawn rather than assumed.

3. Materials, finish and door details

The display cabinet collection is offered with material and finish options that can be matched to the joinery around it. Specify the carcass board and the door treatment: glass type (clear, frosted, ribbed or smoked), framing material and colour where a framed glass front is wanted, and the wood finish or lacquer used on solid elements so the cabinet sits with built-in furniture in the same room. State door operation — hinged, sliding or open display niches — and hardware preference, including handles or integrated pull profiles. If your project already has an approved finish schedule, send it; matching to an existing sample is far more reliable than describing a colour in words.

4. Lighting and electrical requirements

Lighting is where incomplete enquiries most often stall production. An illuminated display cabinet needs to be defined before it can be priced: interior or shelf-edge lighting, warm or cool colour temperature, whether a lit top or back panel is required, and how the unit will be switched and dimmed. Confirm the local supply voltage for the destination country and where the power feed will terminate — inside the cabinet footprint, in an adjacent wall, or at floor level. Electrical details are project-specific and must be confirmed with your electrician before the final production drawing is signed off.

5. Quantities, delivery destination and site conditions

Give an exact quantity, including any spare or replacement units you want produced at the same time, and split them by configuration if the design repeats with variations. Then state the delivery address, whether it is a port, a warehouse or the project site, and what access looks like: lift dimensions, stair widths and any restriction on package size. For overseas projects, SANTERSON handles freight forwarding, export paperwork and door-to-door delivery, so the destination and Incoterms you prefer should be in the enquiry from the start — that information belongs with logistics and door-to-door delivery planning rather than being added after production.

6. Drawings, references and decision authority

A dimensioned floor plan or elevation is enough to begin with; a fully detailed joinery drawing is not required. If you are working from reference images, send them with a note on what you want copied — proportion, glazing detail or finish — because a photo alone invites assumptions. Name the party who approves drawings and samples, since production of made-to-measure cabinets follows confirmation of the final layout. Where your team needs help turning a concept into a buildable specification, SANTERSON's custom and OEM service covers bespoke material finishes and textures alongside manufacturing.

A short checklist before you send the enquiry

• Opening width, height and depth measured to the finished line, plus wall and floor condition
• Mounting method: built-in recess, wall-mounted or freestanding
• What will be displayed, shelf count and spacing, storage compartment needs
• Glazing type, framing, door operation, hardware and finish schedule
• Lighting specification, switching, dimming and local supply voltage
• Quantities by configuration, delivery address, access limits and preferred Incoterms
• Floor plan or elevation, reference images, and the name of the person approving drawings

Send these seven items in one enquiry and the quotation you receive will match what is eventually produced. Dimensions, materials, finishes and storage details are confirmed for each selected configuration before manufacturing begins, so the effort you put into the brief is the effort saved later.

To specify display cabinets for a residential or hospitality project, contact SANTERSON at santerson.com/contact.