Specifications
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Brand & Collection: Rauch Forms, part of the Rauch Orange range – produced in Germany as the Kulmbach collection
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Made In: 100% Made in Germany, awarded the Blue Angel and the Golden M quality seals
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Available Colours/Finishes: Basalt tempered glass door fronts – a deep, near-black graphite grey – with a Metallic Grey carcase. The base plinth is always supplied in Silk Grey
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Door or Product Configuration: 3 sliding doors, each front made up of four panel elements
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Mirror Options: No mirror on this model. A version with a mirrored centre door is available separately
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Dimensions: Widths 203cm (3 x 67.5cm compartments) or 271cm (3 x 90cm compartments) | Heights 210cm or 229cm | Depth 62cm
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Internal Layout: Varies by height – 210cm models have 1 storage shelf and 1 hanging rail per compartment; 229cm models have 2 storage shelves and 1 hanging rail per compartment
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Handles: Colour-matched bar handles
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Door/Drawer Mechanisms: Rauch Easy-Slide function for smooth, quiet opening of the sliding doors
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Dispatch Time: 8 to 10 weeks
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Delivery: Free delivery
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Assembly: Please see our Assembly Service information for available options and clearance requirements
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Guarantee: 10-Year Manufacturer Guarantee, subject to Rauch warranty terms
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Matching Furniture: Matching bedside tables and chests of drawers available from the same collection
About the Basalt Glass Front
If you have been searching for a black sliding wardrobe, this is the darkest finish in the Forms range and in most rooms it will read as black. Basalt is a deep graphite – the colour of dark volcanic stone, which is where the name comes from – with just enough grey in it to stop the surface looking flat. In daylight you can see it is not a pure black; under lamplight, or against a white wall, the distinction largely disappears. Customers looking for a black wardrobe almost always find this is what they actually wanted, because true black in a bedroom can feel severe in a way that basalt does not.
Rendered in tempered glass rather than a panel finish, the colour gains a lacquered depth that flat surfaces cannot produce. Dark tones benefit from glass more than any other colour: light travels across the surface rather than stopping at it, so the doors have movement and richness instead of reading as a solid dark block. On a three-door wardrobe that difference is significant – it is what keeps a large dark front from dominating the room.
Basalt suits rooms with light to spare. Against white or off-white walls, pale flooring and a restrained palette, the contrast is architectural: the wardrobe reads as a deliberate dark plane rather than a heavy piece of furniture. Chrome and brushed steel fittings sit naturally with it, and brass gives a warmer, more dramatic result. In a small or north-facing bedroom, a lighter colour from the Forms range will do more for the space.
The carcase is finished in Metallic Grey, a shade from the same dark family as the basalt fronts. The two are close rather than identical, which gives the wardrobe subtle definition between the doors and the frame instead of one uniform mass.
One detail to know before ordering: the base plinth is supplied in Silk Grey on every Forms wardrobe, including this one. Against a near-black front that grey line at the base is visible – a deliberate design decision by Rauch rather than an omission, grounding the wardrobe at the floor. It is more noticeable on the dark finishes than on the light ones, so it is better known now than discovered on delivery.
If you would prefer a softer, non-reflective surface, the same wardrobe is produced with metallic grey décor door fronts – a matt panel finish at a lower price point, and a calmer look than the glass. Both versions are also available with a mirrored centre door, in glass or décor. On a dark wardrobe the mirrored option is worth serious consideration: a full-height mirror at the centre breaks up the run and returns light that the dark doors absorb.
Each door front is made up of four panel elements rather than one continuous sheet, giving the wardrobe a subtle horizontal rhythm that stops a wide dark front from looking like a slab. Practically, panel construction is a considerable advantage on delivery day: a 229cm door in a single piece is extremely awkward to carry up a staircase or round a landing, whereas panels are manageable.
The bar handles are colour-matched to the wardrobe, so they read as part of the door rather than an applied fitting. On a dark front that keeps the appearance clean and uninterrupted, where a contrasting metal handle would draw the eye to the fixings rather than the finish.
Doors run on the Rauch Easy-Slide system, engineered for a smooth and quiet action. Sliding doors are the practical choice wherever floor space is limited: nothing swings out into the room, so the wardrobe can sit opposite a bed, beside a doorway or in a narrow room without losing usable floor. At 271cm wide that becomes the deciding factor for many bedrooms – a hinged wardrobe of the same width would need close to a metre of clear floor before a door could open.
The interior differs between the two heights, and it is worth weighing carefully. The 210cm model gives one storage shelf and one hanging rail per compartment. The 229cm model gives two shelves and one rail per compartment – across three compartments that is a substantial increase in folded storage rather than a marginal one. If your ceiling height allows for the taller model, it is the better use of the same footprint.
Widths of 203cm and 271cm cover most bedroom walls, dividing internally into three equal compartments of 67.5cm or 90cm respectively. At 62cm deep the wardrobe holds standard hangers comfortably while keeping its footprint modest. Surfaces need nothing more than a dry wipe – and basalt is more forgiving than a true black, since dust and everyday marks show less readily on a graphite tone.
Forms belongs to the Rauch Orange range and is built to the same German factory standard as the rest of the brand – 100% Made in Germany, carrying both the Blue Angel and the Golden M seals. Blue Angel is an independently verified low-emission certification, meaningful for a large piece of furniture in a room you sleep in, and the Golden M is Germany's recognised furniture quality mark. Matching bedside tables and chests of drawers are available from the same collection.
Internal Storage Layout
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Three equal compartments: Each measuring 67.5cm wide on the 203cm model, or 90cm wide on the 271cm model
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210cm height: Every compartment is fitted with 1 storage shelf and 1 full-width hanging rail
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229cm height: Every compartment is fitted with 2 storage shelves and 1 full-width hanging rail, giving noticeably more folded storage across the wardrobe
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Left compartment: Shelving in the upper section with a full-width hanging rail beneath for coats, dresses, shirts and suits
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Centre compartment: Identical arrangement to the left compartment
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Right compartment: Identical arrangement, giving three separate hanging sections rather than one continuous run
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Adjustability: Shelves and hanging rails can be positioned to suit your own storage, so one section can be set for full-length garments while another is given over to folded items
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Depth: 62cm external depth throughout, accommodating standard hangers across all three compartments
Made To Order
This item is categorised as 'Made To Order.' Kindly be aware that this item is crafted according to your specifications by Rauch, including your selected options. Once the order is processed, cancellations or modifications cannot be accommodated. We cannot accept responsibility for additional costs resulting from incorrect information supplied when the order was placed.
FAQs
Is this wardrobe black or grey?
Basalt is a very dark graphite grey. In most rooms – particularly against pale walls or under artificial light – it reads as black, and it is the darkest finish available in the Forms range. In strong daylight you can see it is a deep charcoal rather than a pure black. If you are looking for a black sliding wardrobe, this is the closest option we offer, and most customers find the slight softness preferable to a true black in a bedroom.
Do the doors and carcase match?
They are close but not identical. The door fronts are Basalt glass and the carcase is Metallic Grey – both from the same dark family, which gives the wardrobe subtle definition between the frame and the doors rather than one uniform block of colour.
What colour is the base plinth?
Silk Grey, as on every Forms wardrobe. Against the dark basalt fronts this is visible as a lighter band at the base of the unit. It is a design feature of the range rather than a fault or a variation.
How long will it take to arrive?
Dispatch is 8 to 10 weeks. This is a dispatch timeframe rather than a delivery date: the wardrobe is built to your specification in Germany and then shipped to the UK. Occasionally items arrive sooner, and during German factory holiday closures it can take slightly longer.
Can I cancel or change my order?
No. This wardrobe is made to order in your chosen size and configuration, so once the order has been processed with Rauch it cannot be cancelled or amended. Please check your measurements and selected options carefully before ordering.
What delivery service is included?
Free delivery is included with this wardrobe. Full details of the delivery and assembly options available, along with the clearance you will need, are set out in our Assembly Service information.
Are the doors real glass?
Yes. The fronts are genuine basalt tempered glass, not a printed or foiled panel finish. On a dark colour the difference is particularly noticeable – glass gives a lacquered depth and movement that a flat panel cannot reproduce.
What is the difference between the glass and décor versions?
Glass fronts are tempered glass with a smooth, slightly reflective surface that gives a dark colour real depth. Décor fronts are a matt panel finish in Metallic Grey – softer, non-reflective, and lower in price. The carcase, interior, handles and mechanism are the same on both.
Is a mirrored version available?
Yes, and on a dark wardrobe it is worth considering. The Forms 3 door is produced with a mirrored centre door in both finishes – basalt glass with mirror and metallic grey décor with mirror. A full-height mirror at the centre breaks up the dark front and returns light to the room.
Is a dark wardrobe too much for a small bedroom?
It depends on the light rather than the floor area. Basalt works well against white or off-white walls and pale flooring in a room with reasonable natural light. In a small or north-facing bedroom, a lighter colour from the Forms range – or the mirrored version of this one – will generally serve the space better.
Which height should I choose?
The 229cm model gives two storage shelves per compartment against one on the 210cm model – across three compartments that is a substantial difference in folded storage. If your ceiling height allows for the taller version, it is the better use of the same footprint.
How wide is each internal compartment?
The interior divides into three equal sections. On the 203cm model each compartment is 67.5cm wide; on the 271cm model each is 90cm. Every compartment has its own shelving and hanging rail.
Does a dark finish show dust and fingerprints?
Basalt is more forgiving than a true black – dust and everyday marks show less readily on a graphite tone. The surfaces clean with a dry cloth.
Will it fit up my stairs and into the room?
Each door front is made up of four panel elements rather than a single full-height sheet, which makes the components considerably easier to carry through doorways, up staircases and around landings than a wardrobe of this size would normally be. It is still worth checking your access allows for the carcase panels, particularly on the 229cm height.
What guarantee does it come with?
Rauch provide a 10-Year Manufacturer Guarantee, subject to their warranty terms.
Is there matching bedroom furniture?
Yes. Coordinating bedside tables and chests of drawers are available from the same collection.
How do I look after the surfaces?
The surfaces are easy to maintain and should be cleaned with a dry cloth only.
