Custom Book Cases and Radiator Covers

That's a very difficult question to answer because there are different levels of custom. You can go to someplace like Techline and they will design for you an entertainment unit based on their catalogue pieces or there is custom with drawings and meeting with the cabinetmaker several times. I am currently doing the second option. It's also based on the size of the unit and materials. If it makes you feel better, my custom unit is quoted significantly higher than your price. I can't answer the radiator covers question.

Who gave you the quote, owenwalk?

Our guy is doing our 6' wide, nearly 10' tall completely custom entertainment unit for $4k. We were also quoted $5,500 by another vendor.

The radiator cover quote sounds high to me. How large is the piece? Is it a freestanding box or does it have extras like a window seat? If the latter, then $2K is probably within reason.

Radiator covers are 9 ft wide and 10in deep. They are a cover and shelves on each side so it looks even across the window well

I got radiator covers for $900 each from David Vincent woodwork on City Island in the Bronx. Overall, I was not impressed with the service, and the quality is only so-so.

Custom millwork is a very difficult thing to price out just based on what the piece is. I can make a custom radiator enclosure for $600 as well as one for $8,500.00 with storage. Can you give more detail about the entertainment center? What is the finish? Is it Lacquer? Veneer? Are there lights? Doors? just open shelving? all these things go into the price.

A good way for people to expect their price to be for a very good piece of millwork is this. If your piece is going to be 6-8 feet high you can assume your millwork will cost around $1,000.00 a linear foot. That means if you piece is 8 feet long it is $8,000.00. This is for a real piece of millwork, the kind that looks like furniture.

When buying millwork get references and look at their work. Just yesterday a new client asked me for a price to replace her entertainment unit that she just had made, it cost $7,500.00 which does look like it store bought and put together.

It is a entertainment center with the entire bottom has doors and the top is bookshelves. There are pull out trays under the tv. It is lacquer and will be painted white. There are no lights.