modeller | FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions. Here is a list of some of the most common questions we get asked from our customers.

Yes! Our free professional design service can help you decide on your setup. Not sure what would work best in your space? Our online form can help. Tell us about your room and what you want to achieve, and we will design a 3D layout with dimensions and a quote with shipping included.

Absolutely! Design it Yourself (DIY)

Step 1. Download our Paper Planner PDF

Step 2. Measure your space

Firstly, measuring the wall space where you want to hang your modeller system is essential. Consider any obstructions, such as light switches or bulkheads, as well as the baseboard. This will help ensure that your system fits perfectly in your space.

Step 3. Choose your rails

When selecting the length and spacing of your rails, it’s important to consider what will work best for your specific needs. If you’re uncertain about what dimensions to choose, a helpful tip is to use the paper planners’ graph paper to test out different spacing options and see what works best for you. This can be a great way to visualize how the rails will fit in your space and ensure that you make the right decision.

Step 4. Choose your components

Lastly, Remember to select the components for your system while keeping in mind the vertical spacing required for each, as shown on the paper planner. This will ensure that everything fits together seamlessly. Let us know if you need any help with the selection process.

Step 5. Email us for a quote, or Use our online order system.

We will promptly send you an itemized quote for your new system and a 3D rendering with dimensions specific to your space. We’re happy to make any revisions or adjustments until you are satisfied with your layout.

Step 6. Install your system following our instructions .

Plan Perfect with Paper & Pencil

We have created a paper planner to help you design your wall system.

Use the Grid Planner as your guide. The dotted lines are spaced for our standard widths 24″ 30″ & 32″. Cut out and place the components you want from the scale samples on the Component Page. Print as many copies as you need or draw right on the grid.

We can provide quotes in teak to match Vintage Cado/Royal System Components. Still, clients have almost invariably chosen domestic walnut over teak. Not only for the substantial price difference but In our experience, walnut works nicely with vintage teak, especially old teak that has darkened significantly with age.  Sustainability is a big part of our company; that is why we choose domestic FSC-certified hardwoods over exotics, where the origin and forestry practices are more transparent.

Please feel free to contact us so we can devise the best solution for your unique situation. 

We ship to Canada and the Continental USA via Canada Post. Shipping costs vary based on the size and weight of your order, usually approximately 10% of the value of your order.

The short answer is the shelves will hold more than you can fit on them 😉 However, the weight limit is determined by the wall anchors. If the rail is screwed into a wood stud in the wall, then the weight is not an issue. The included GRK Torx finish head wood screws are all you need. If you are going into hollow drywall, the anchor we recommend is SnapSkru® Self-Drilling Drywall Anchors, rated for over 60 lbs.

If you are concerned about the weight, you can go with the larger Snap toggler anchors, but with those anchors, you will have to use the larger machine screws that come with the anchor. If you decide to use the Toggler anchor, you will need to drill the holes in the rail wider to fit the #10 screw.

Hitting the wall studs makes installation easier, but it’s not essential. You don’t need to sacrifice your preferred layout to hit the studs because using the proper screw anchors will provide more than enough support.

All our hardware is from the best European manufacturers to ensure life-long functionality for generations. Our drawer slides and hinges are Blum soft-close and touch-to-open with Italiana Ferramenta hinges and stays for our cabinets.

Yes. Installing support rails over wall studs makes for an easier and more robust installation, but it is not essential. Slats can be installed anywhere when using the proper anchors. Select correct anchors for any holes that don’t hit a stud. For Gypsum drywall or steel studs, we recommend SNAPTOGGLE Heavy Duty Toggle Bolt we can prove matching machine screws that match our stainless wood screws that come with our rails.

Modeller shelf systems are finished with a blend of polymerized linseed oil, tung oil & beeswax, providing excellent protection against water and other liquids with long-lasting durability in a lower-gloss, antique sheen. Wipe spills or moisture off if left standing water could cause a stain to appear. If so, use a 3M Scotch-Brite Light Duty Cleansing Pad (white) to buff out as much of the affected area as possible. Then, apply a small amount of our wood finish to the damaged area. Modeller wood coasters are provided to protect the surface of glassware.

We can do custom finishes with natural pigments with our finish to achieve many different wood colours. Just ask for a quote or send a sample to match.

Maintenance:
Our penetrating oil finish should be reapplied periodically depending on how much wear it receives to bring the wood back to its original finish, just like a fine pair of leather shoes that must be polished periodically to maintain the leather. 

Repair:
Spills or moisture should be wiped off; if left standing, the liquid could cause a stain to appear, or if the surface becomes dull or worn, use a 3M Scotch-Brite Light Duty Cleansing Pad (white) to buff out any damage, scratches or stains. Then,  apply a small amount of our wood finish to the damaged area. 

Coasters should be used to protect the surface from very hot to cold glassware.

Cabinet and shelf panels need to be square and true without flexing, so we use cross-laminated veneer chore plywood panels.

We use solid lumber for our rails, so during shipping and changes in humidity, they may appear warped when first unpacked. This is not a problem because they need to be flexible to fully contact the wall surface. 

Some are confused by what we mean by Heirloom Quality. Yes, your children will fight over your modeller system, but more than that, we design our furniture to last generations in many ways.

If you have an inexpensive pair of glued-together shoes, you throw them away when they wear out, but shoes that are sewn together can be taken to a cobbler and repaired, significantly extending their life. Our furniture is designed to be maintained and last generations. 

Most furniture today is finished with polyurethane varnish, a plastic coating that can not be easily or affordably repaired once worn or damaged. We use a penetrating oil finish that can easily be reapplied at any time in whole or in part for minor repairs or to bring the wood back to its original finish, just like a fine pair of leather shoes that must be polished periodically so the leather will last. 

We do offer some “bespoke” meaning customization for the system. We can make widths up to 36” and custom rail lengths up to 8’; ask us for a quote. 

Yes, Modeller is compatible with Vintage Cado and Royal system components, with some exceptions. The only difference is our rail hole spacing is 32mm. We have designed a unique series of hardware components to make Modeller compatible with older Cado/Royal systems.

Cado cabinets on Modeller rails
Cado/Royal System Cabinet can hang on Modeller rails with the standard modeller rail hardware. 

Cado shelves on Modeller rails
Cado/Royal System shelves can hang on Modeller rails in most cases. Special modeller shelf support rods that correctly span the Cado/Royal System rail holes that replace the originals are required. We make these in brass or aluminum.

Modeller Cabinets on Cado rails
Modeller Cabinets can hang on Cado/Royal System rails. Special modeller shelf support rods that correctly span the Cado rail holes that replace the originals are required. We make these in brass or aluminum.

Older Rail Systems
In the past, we have made some rails with the Cado/Royal System hole spacing. Because our shop is not optimized to make Cado/Royal System rails, it is much more expensive and, thus, often cheaper to reproduce new Modeller rails with our 32mm hole spacing. For this reason, plus maximum flexibility and consistency, we recommend replacing all your support rails with new modeller rails. 

Our packaging is hideous because beautiful packaging is not our priority; elegant furniture is. We reuse all the cardboard we get from our suppliers; we try never to buy new packaging materials when we can get everything we need from the recycling bin.

Her name is Dexi; she was trained as my son’s diabetes-alert dog, but now he has a constant Bluetooth glucometer, so she spends most of her time with me.