Renovation Diary: My Honest Experience with Skon Design Sliding Wardrobes

By Constantine Picasso Posted in Bedroom Makeovers, Reviews

If you are anything like me, the phrase “storage solutions” usually conjures up images of plastic bins under the bed or fighting with a flat-pack wardrobe that never quite sits flush against the wall. For years, the master bedroom in our semi-detached house was the place where calmness went to die. Between my partner’s accumulation of coats and my own overflowing shoe collection, our trusty (but tired) freestanding wardrobes were bursting at the seams.

We decided 2025 was the year we would finally bite the bullet. We stopped buying “temporary” rails from the hardware store and decided to invest in something permanent: Made-to-measure sliding wardrobes.

After weeks of trawling through forums, Instagram pages, and Irish interior design groups, we settled on Skon Design. You’ve probably seen their vans around Dublin or heard them mentioned in renovation circles. They are an Irish-owned company based in Churchtown, specialising in bespoke sliding wardrobes.

Now that we’ve been living with our new wardrobes for three months, I feel ready to give the HomeDecor.ie community the full, unfiltered rundown. Here is my comprehensive review of the entire process—from the first showroom visit to the final price tag.

Feature	Rating	Notes
Aesthetics	★★★★★	The grey mirror finish is stunning.
Functionality	★★★★★	Internal drawers require precise door positioning.
Installation	★★★★★	Clean, fast, and respectful of the home.
Value	★★★★☆	Expensive, but you get what you pay for.

Part 1: The “Why” and The Search

The Problem

Our bedroom isn’t massive. It’s a standard Irish box room functional, but tight. We had two alcoves on either side of a chimney breast that were essentially dead space. We had jammed basic wardrobes into them, but there were huge gaps on top and at the sides where dust bunnies gathered. We were losing about 20% of our potential storage space simply because the furniture didn’t fit the room.

Why Skon Design?

We looked at a few options, including the big nationwide wardrobe chains and a local carpenter.

The Big Chains: Felt a bit impersonal, and the sales tactics were aggressive (“Sign today for 50% off!”).
The Carpenter: High quality, but the lead time was six months, and he didn’t specialise in the specific sliding mechanisms we wanted.

We chose Skon Design for three main reasons:

Irish Manufacturing: They manufacture their units in their own factory in Dublin. I liked the idea that if a part was missing, they wouldn’t have to ship it from Germany.
Specialisation: They seem to do only (or mostly) sliding wardrobes. I prefer specialists to generalists.
The “No-Nonsense” Vibe: Their website and initial phone manner felt professional but grounded. No hard sell.

Part 2: The Showroom Consultation

We booked an appointment to visit their showroom in Churchtown, Dublin 14. If you are considering Skon, I highly recommend going in person rather than just doing it over email.

The Atmosphere

The showroom is compact but well-laid out. It’s not an overwhelming warehouse; it’s a curated space where you can actually feel the weight of the doors and the glide of the rails. This was crucial for us. You can’t judge the “soft close” mechanism of a door through a PDF brochure.

The Design Process

We met with a designer (let’s call him David) who was excellent. We brought rough measurements of our room and a few photos on our phones.

The Tech: Skon uses 3D modeling software. We sat at a desk, and within about 20 minutes, David had built a virtual replica of our bedroom.
The Configuration: This is where the custom aspect really shines. We weren’t just picking a “shell.” We discussed exactly what we owned. Long dresses? Suits? Heavy winter coats? We ended up with a split design: double hanging rails on my partner’s side for shirts, and a mix of long hanging and deep shelving on my side.
The Aesthetics: We chose a three-door sliding system. We opted for a mix of grey mirror (which looks much more premium and smoky than standard silver mirror) and a matte white glass. The goal was to make the room look bigger (mirrors) without it looking like a dance studio.

The Quote: At the end of the consultation, we were given a price. It wasn’t cheap, bespoke never is, but it was transparent. The price included VAT, installation, and a warranty. There were no hidden “fitting fees” added at the end.

Part 3: The Lead Time and Survey

Once we paid the deposit, the clock started ticking.

The Technical Survey: Before anything went to production, a senior fitter came to our house to take the exact measurements. This is critical because walls in Irish houses are rarely straight. He used a laser measure and found that our ceiling dipped by 15mm on the left side. He noted this to ensure the scribe panels would be cut correctly.
The Wait: We were quoted a lead time of roughly 4-6 weeks. They actually called us at the 4-week mark to schedule the installation for week 5. In the current climate of construction delays, I was genuinely impressed they hit their deadline.

Part 4: Installation Day

This was the part I was most nervous about. I’ve had “tradesmen nightmares” before—dust everywhere, chipped skirting boards, and half-finished jobs.

The Arrival

The team arrived at 8:30 AM sharp. They laid down protective sheets on the stairs and landing immediately. (Top tip: Clear the room completely before they arrive. It makes their job faster and protects your bed).

The Build

Because Skon manufactures the units off-site to specific dimensions, the on-site work is mostly assembly and scribing.

Scribing: This is the art of cutting the side panels to fit the uneven walls. The fitter spent a good hour just planing the wood to ensure it hugged our bumpy plasterwork perfectly. There are absolutely no gaps. No filler was needed to hide mistakes because there were no mistakes.
The Frame: They use an aluminium track system. It feels incredibly robust. Unlike cheaper wardrobes where the door hangs from the top, these feel like they are weighted and rolling smoothly on the bottom track (though supported by the top).

The Clean Up

By 3:00 PM, they were done. They vacuumed the inside of the wardrobes and the carpet. They even wiped down the glass doors to remove fingerprints.

Part 5: The Results – Three Months Later

So, is it worth the hype?

1. Build Quality

The difference between these and our old flat-packs is night and day.

The Doors: They are heavy. When you slide them, they have a satisfying momentum. The “soft close” feature is a marriage saver—no more banging doors early in the morning.
The Interiors: We went for a “linen” effect finish on the internal wood, which looks very high-end compared to standard white carcass. The shelves are thick (25mm I believe) so they don’t bow under the weight of heavy jumpers.

2. Space Management

We effectively gained about 30% more storage. By going floor-to-ceiling, we are using space that was previously just gathering dust. The top shelves are perfect for suitcases and spare duvets.

3. Aesthetics

The grey mirror finish was a great choice. It reflects light, making the room feel twice the size, but the tint softens the reflection so it feels cozy rather than clinical. The aluminium frame is slim and unobtrusive.

Minor Gripes (To be balanced)

If I had to pick a negative?

The Drawers: We opted for internal drawers behind the sliding doors. While they are high quality (soft close), you do have to ensure the sliding door is fully open to pull the drawer out. If the door is overlapping even by an inch, the drawer hits it. It takes a bit of getting used to, but that’s the nature of sliding doors.
Price: It is an investment. You are paying for the service and the custom fit. If you are renting or planning to move in a year, you won’t get that money back. This is a “forever home” purchase.

Part 6: The Verdict

Pros

Truly Bespoke: Fits every wonky angle of our ceiling.
Professionalism: From the showroom to the fitters, the staff were polite, skilled, and tidy.
Quality: The materials (glass, aluminium, rails) feel industrial-grade but look residential-chic.
Irish Made: Supporting a local business and getting faster support.

Cons

Cost: Higher cost than IKEA or generic fit-outs.
Lead Time: You need to plan ahead; this isn’t a next-day delivery solution.

Would I recommend Skon Design?

Yes, absolutely.

If you are tired of clutter and want a streamlined, architectural solution for your bedroom, Skon delivers exactly what they promise. The stress they saved us by managing the measuring and installation was worth the premium price alone.

The transformation in our bedroom is profound. It feels calmer, larger, and for the first time in years, I can actually see the floor. If you are browsing HomeDecor.ie looking for a sign to upgrade your storage, take this as it. Go visit the showroom in Churchtown—just make sure you bring your rough measurements!