You've got contractors who don't want to bother with it, that's why. Rarely would a "contractor" build this; It would be contracted out to a wood craftsman . . Your DH is wrong on this , buy something to tuck in for a fraction of the cost with a lot more STYLE.

Why are your shoes IN the bathroom? The issue seems more suited to a nearby closet problem? Which is where and what?

Thats just a photo I drafted up to give him an idea of a non-custom bench. Shoes are kept in closet 😉.

Most storage benches, we have a few upholstered ones, do not have ”handles and pulls”, ours just lift from the top.. Seems like this is just ”much ado about nothing” …. making it more complicated than it needs to be. There are zillions online, at different levels of quality/price.

I agree, you are making it more difficult than you need to.

Remove the tub and add a storage bench, match any finish and hardware to coordinate.

IT'S TOO SMALL A JOB for a builder, and too expensive for a finish cabinet maker. (it may take a few weeks of mess, to build in. Get it done and be done.

Is this the finished bath, AI you are playing with or what? You're mid remodel and we aren't seeing it?

@K Laurence I agree.

@JAN MOYER The very top photo with the tub is current. The other two are AI. One was to give contractors an idea of what we (he) wanted…the custom look. The other was to show my husband what it could look like if we just bought a bench.

Aha! so it's a remodel. Why not show the whole plan fort more/better advice as often happens?

Maybe get the contractors to give him an outrageous price and he may change his mind!!

Nice reuse of space.

You are asking the wrong people for a quote. If you want custom, go to a custom cabinet maker for a quote. They too might not want such a small job, but you will at least be asking the correct people. And, a quote from them may give your husband sticker shock into wanting to purchase one off the shelf.

One reason I can see for custom is to get it made of materials and finishes that will stand up to moisture and humidity of a bathroom. I presume a lot of ready made available ones are likely cheap particle board that may not be ideal for that environment.

If you really want to convince him of pre-made, take your time to shop for one that is the correct size, made of good materials, and can have the hardware swapped for what you want. Then photoshop or AI that into your picture. It will be a much better sell than what you have show him with the tan shoe bench.

@Kendrah Thanks for the info.

@Diana Bier Interiors, LLC We’ve already had several quotes out of our budget. 🤦🏻‍♀️

Who is going to do the demolition?

Plumbing will need to be removed/capped.

Are you positive there is tile under the tub?

Drywall replacement/repairs and painting?

Unfortunately you need a few trades for a very small project. You might want to look for a handyman with basic construction skills.

If you’ve already got quotes over the budget then what’s the issue?

No issue on my end. He’s looking to see if he can find someone a little closer to our budget. The difference with me is, I’m willing to negotiate on some things if I can get the same desired outcome.

Bottom line: If you customize a basic storage bench, the result will still be custom. And it will not be worth more just because you spent more on it. There's a difference between cost and value.

He’s looking to see if he can find someone a little closer to our budget.

I misunderstood. I thought that the contractors were not giving you quotes and instead suggesting to purchase one. If you have actually received quotes, then your husband is beating a dead horse. (What a horrible phrase, right?)

Custom cabinetry IS expensive. The only way you are going to get inexpensive custom cabinetry is if you get crappy cheap work - a contractor buying inexpensive boxes, using poor joinery, bad hardware. You are better off purchasing a good, more expensive already made piece than searching for cheap custom.

Do you mind sharing with us what the four quotes were? I think folks on here will have a good take on whether they are in the ballpark of reasonable.

Threads without full context drive me crazy. How much of the bath is being redone

Are there pictures of the rest of the bath? No.

What is being stored in the proposed "custom bench? Towels? Grooming/personal hygiene supplies? What will be the top surface? Does it need to be a lift top, or drawers?

What does the rest of the bath cabinetry in the bath look like? It is stained wood, painted?. What is the meaning of "within our budget" and what is the scope of the work for that budget?

What is elevating this bench to the level of importance DH is assigning the bench? : ) and it's two or three pulls to access the storage?

Since you only want a built-in bench have you tried contacting a carpenter or furniture maker instead of a general contractor?

The flooring seems like it will be an issue? i’d be tempted to first do a low cost/DIY change to see if anyone actually sits there (hard to imagine but everyone is different)

Since the tub is coming out and the flooring has to change I’d remove the pony wall and install a full glass panel in its place. This would let more light into the shower. Then just put a comfy chair in the left corner near the window.

I need to see the whole space , a to scale floor plan and what purpose in a new bathroom for a storgae bench at all.

We are planning to do something similar. My DH comes and sits ont he bed every am to but his socks and shoes on. I have high hopes that he will sit on a bench in the bathroom and our shoes will be stored under it instead of next to his bed.

I like the IKEA Kallax idea to get cubbies for storage.

So when you have time answer all the questions asked , post a to scale plan of the space empty. Then pics of how it looks now .

@chispa - We were going to have ‘them‘ do the demo but i’m not opposed to doing it. The whole reason for a remodel is due to leakage from the shower. Yes, the cheapest route would be to just fix the shower floor but we are almost positive that it has also affected the subfloor near the tub. The tile does not go under the tub. I’m trying to give spouse visuals of other options other than a custom bench, like just placing a nice chair in there. For cryin’ out loud, its just a place to sit while putting on clothes! @J Steel - He would like to scale down the pony wall. @Norwood Architects - we have not inquired about a furniture maker/carpenter. @JAN MOYER - Not sure the importance of the bench. He gets an idea/vision in his mind and its hard to change it. I do too sometimes but I’m open to suggestions and willing to compromise on some things.

" Just fix the shower floor"...the tub floor?!

Lol........you have no idea how far that leak has gone and you are worrying about a bench? for all you know ? A lot of the flooring could be compromised beneath your FLOOR TILE. Quietly rotting the sub floor.

Heavens..........

Talk about the wrong issue for a hand wring!? Sorry.....but yes, that's truth..

I have the shower ripped in total, along with the entire bath floor. My dead last worry would be a custom bench.

@JAN MOYER - When I said ’just fix the shower floor’, I failed to say ’including the subfloor as well’. We are aware that the subfloor is most likely compromised and possibly affecting the tub area as well. With everything demoed, we figured we’d just remove the tub and replace with something else, thus the reason for the post.