Bespoke Alcove Cabinets in Wimbledon
The two alcoves on either side of a chimney breast are the most wasted space in a London house. They are awkward to furnish, rarely the same size as each other, and almost nothing bought off a shelf fits them properly. We build cabinets into them — measured on site, made to the actual dimensions, and hand-painted by the same team that decorates the rest of the room.
Two alcoves, never quite the same size
Victorian and Edwardian houses were built by hand, and it shows: the alcove on one side of the chimney breast is usually a centimetre or two different from the other, the walls are rarely square and the skirting runs at its own angle. A pair of cabinets built to a standard size would leave a visible gap on one side. We template both alcoves separately, scribe the units to the wall and fit the skirting round them, so the finished pair look symmetrical even though they are not.
Painted to belong to the room
Units are built from Medite MDF with solid timber detail and hand-painted on site in Farrow & Ball, Little Greene or Dulux Trade — any brand you prefer. Painting in the room rather than spraying in a workshop means the cabinets, the skirting and the picture rail can all carry the same colour, and any knocks from installation are made good before we leave. Years later they need only a light sand and a fresh coat, which is not true of a veneered flat-pack.
Cupboards below, shelves above — or whatever suits
The usual arrangement is closed cupboards at the bottom for the things you would rather not look at, and open shelves above for books. But it is your room: full-height cupboards, a bench seat, a drinks cabinet, shelves cut round a radiator or a run of sockets — all decided with you before anything is built, and all priced in writing before we start.
Just moved in?
Alcove units are far easier to build in an empty room, and cheaper to quote when there is no furniture to work around. If you are buying in Wimbledon, tell us during conveyancing and we can decorate and build in one visit rather than two. See our pre-sale and moving-home decorating page, or read more about our full painting and decorating service.
Before and After
What Our Customers Say:
★★★★★ Nava S., Wimbledon
"Pawel fitted storage units and shelving in our home and did a wonderful job. He's professional, skilled and committed to doing a great job. Would definitely recommend and look forward to working with him again!"
★★★★★ Hannah H., Wimbledon
"Pawel built us a bespoke bench with storage in our hallway and we are really pleased with the result. It looks great and is a practical solution for storing shoes and bags. He was professional, friendly and created a quality piece of furniture for us."
★★★★★ Franny C., Wimbledon
"Pawel is an excellent carpenter and we cannot recommend him highly enough. The quality of his work and his attention to detail are second to none."
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer a free quote?
Yes, we offer free, no-obligation quotes for all alcove work. Get in touch and we'll arrange a visit.
How long does an alcove cabinet installation take?
Most projects are completed in 3–4 days, depending on size and complexity.
What materials do you use?
We build alcove cabinets in MDF or solid wood, finished to a high standard and painted any colour you choose.
Can you work with awkward or asymmetric alcoves?
Yes — unusual shapes, angled walls, and narrow recesses are what we specialise in.
Every piece is built to fit.
What areas do you cover?
All of Wimbledon SW19 and SW20, and across south-west London — Balham, Putney, Tooting, Wandsworth, Clapham, Raynes Park, Richmond and Kingston upon Thames, plus the surrounding areas.
Our other services: Fitted Wardrobes | Kitchens | Media Units