Why the perfect sideboard is so hard to find

Perhaps it is twelve centimetres too long, eight too deep or leaves a gap that makes the piece look accidental. Standard sizes make sense for mass production. Rooms, however, are rarely standard.

Radiators, skirting boards, sockets, doorways and walking space all influence what fits. Measure width, depth and height before falling for a photograph, and check the room at more than one point.

Allow space for doors to open and drawers to extend. A shallower cabinet may feel lighter in a compact room. A long, low sideboard can settle a broad wall, provided it leaves enough room around it.

Made-to-measure design is not simply stretching a box. Door proportions, drawer widths, panel thicknesses and fittings need to work together. KR8A is developing a considered design that can adapt within practical manufacturing limits.