When we think custom joinery, the kitchen is usually the first place that springs to mind. But some of the smartest joinery in a home happens elsewhere.
Done well, custom cabinetry can make better use of space, solve those slightly awkward areas and add something visually to a room at the same time.
Here are five places where it can really earn its keep.
1. The bedroom
A walk-in wardrobe is lovely if you have the room, but it’s certainly not the only option.
A well-designed wall robe can give you plenty of storage without eating into valuable floor space. Rather than simply being something functional, the right materials and detailing can also make it a feature in its own right.
The bonus of going custom? The storage inside can be designed around what you actually own, rather than hoping your clothes, shoes and everything else fit the standard configuration.
2. That awkward corner
Every home seems to have one. The funny nook. The space under the stairs. The wall that isn’t quite big enough for a piece of furniture, but feels like it should be doing something.
These are often the places where custom joinery works hardest.
Because it’s made specifically for the space, cabinetry can turn otherwise wasted areas into storage, shelving, a small workspace or something completely unique to the way you live.
3. The laundry
It may not be the most glamorous room in the house, but a well-designed laundry can make everyday life a whole lot easier.
Raised washing machines, a pull-out tray for the washing basket, a spot to fold clothes, or a cupboard for the vacuum, having thoughtful joinery can give everything a home.
And when space is tight, clever cabinetry can help a laundry comfortably share its footprint with a mudroom, scullery or even sit neatly behind closed doors.
4. The living room
Custom joinery can be a great way to give a living space some structure without filling it with more furniture.
Think built-in shelving around a fireplace, a window seat with hidden storage, a streamlined entertainment unit or cabinetry that gives books, artwork and favourite pieces somewhere to live.
It’s practical, but it can also become a big part of what gives the room its character.
5. The home office
Working from the kitchen table gets old pretty quickly.
Whether you have an entire room to play with or just an unused stretch of wall, custom joinery can create a workspace that fits neatly into your home, and your working day.
Desks, shelving, drawers, cupboards and even clever ways to hide screens and paperwork at knock-off time can all be designed into the space.
Make the space work harder
That’s really the beauty of custom joinery. It doesn’t have to start with a particular room or a new house, sometimes it simply starts with “we’ve got a space, what could we do with it?”
And more often than not, there’s a pretty good answer.