Blending inbuilt wardrobe to chimney breast

[dcoy]

I’m installing some ikea wardrobes so they are built into the chimney alcoves and I’d like a seamless transition between wall and wardrobe.

I’ve cut some pieces of thick ply to fit in the space between the chimney breast ( yet to be secured) and wardrobes for a base to build upon but I’m not sure of the best way to finish it.

I’d like to skim it with joint compound (leaving a few mm to caulk to the wardrobe) so I could then sand and refine before caulking and painting, but obviously skimming to bare ply is a bad idea..

So really I’m looking for something that’ll adhere to ply and the wall that is preferably sand-able or maybe a coat to the ply (pva?) so I can skim over it, or any other suggestions how to finish these wardrobes and have them blend seamlessly.

Thanks in advance

 

[Notch7]

Ideally you would’ve left room for plasterboard, then skimmed over that.

 

[foxhole]

Better to have a small recess at edges, flush will always be cracking and looking cwap.

 

[dcoy]

Thanks.

Ideally you would’ve left room for plasterboard, then skimmed over that.

It’s not too late to put plasterboard in, the ply hasn’t been attached yet. I could potentially push the ply deeper a use it as backing for plasterboard.

Better to have a small recess at edges, flush will always be cracking and looking cwap.

I’m hoping having a couple of mm of caulk might buffer any cracking. Could be kidding myself tho.