Interior finishing and built-ins

Every stage before this was inspected with a tape measure and documents, but this page is inspected by hand and eye, because there's no Thai standard setting tolerances for built-in work. What decides whether the work is good or bad is what the people living in the house touch every day — uneven door gaps, draw…

• This page contains
• Six points on a cabinet door — in the order they should be checked
• Built-in kitchen — the most expensive item of the finishing work
• Core and surface materials — the only question is which can be used in wet areas
• Hinges, drawer runners and handles — small items that decide whether using them is annoying
• Wardrobes and dressing rooms — decide based on what you actually own, not on catalogue photos
• Strength of the cabinet carcass — things you can know before something breaks
• Cove ceilings with hidden lights — why some homes get soft light and others see spots
• Curtains and curtain tracks — things to prepare before closing the ceiling, though you buy them a year later
• Wallpaper, mirrors and feature walls
• Lighting — decided when the wiring is run, but you find out the result when you move in
• Three documents you must receive at the end of the finishing work