Making the most of the space beside the chimney breast
Alcoves either side of a chimney breast are an obvious spot for storage, but fitting them well means working with the slightly different width, depth and height on each side rather than assuming they match.
This is part of our wider carpentry work, and the time it takes depends mainly on the size of the alcoves and whether cupboard doors are included.
Floating shelves or cupboards with shelving above
A simple run of floating shelves suits books, ornaments or a television and games console, and can be fitted quickly with no legs or brackets on show.
Where more concealed storage is useful, cupboard bases with shelves above give you a tidy run of doors at floor level, hiding clutter, with open display shelving higher up.
What can be fixed to the wall
How a shelf or cupboard is fixed depends on the wall behind it. Solid masonry walls take a heavy load easily, stud partition walls need fixings into the timber studs, and older lath and plaster walls need extra care so the fixing doesn't crack the plaster.
We check the wall construction before fitting anything, so shelving is properly supported rather than relying on the plaster alone.
Hiding cables and moving sockets
Alcoves either side of a chimney breast are a suitable spot for a television, which usually means hiding cables and sometimes adding or moving a socket behind the unit. Our electrical service can move sockets or add new ones as part of the same job.
We can also run cable channels discreetly behind shelving so nothing trails across the wall once everything is fitted.
Cutting around skirting and coving
A neat job depends on the shelving or cupboard fitting snugly around existing skirting boards and any coving at ceiling height, rather than leaving gaps. We scribe and cut carefully so the join looks deliberate rather than like an afterthought.
Where skirting needs to be cut back or extended to meet a new cupboard, we can do this as part of the same visit rather than leaving it unfinished.
A painted finish that matches the room
Once built, we fill, sand and paint alcove shelving and cupboards to match your walls, woodwork or a contrasting colour, so it reads as part of the room rather than an addition.
If you would rather arrange this separately, call us on 07735 852901 and we can quote the carpentry and painting together or on their own.
Other storage worth considering
If you like the idea of built-in storage, it is also worth thinking about the space under your stairs, covered in our under-stairs storage page, or a full run of fitted wardrobes in a bedroom. Our guide to fitted wardrobe cost is also a useful read if you are weighing up built-in storage against buying freestanding furniture.
We cover homes in Ruislip, Harefield, Northwood and Pinner, typically fitting shelving and cupboards in living rooms either side of a fireplace or in a study used for books and files.
Some homeowners prefer a matching run of cupboards on both sides of the chimney breast, while others only need storage on one side and leave the other as a feature alcove with lighting, and we are happy to design either way.
Getting a price for your alcoves
Because every chimney breast and alcove is a slightly different size, we prefer to measure on site rather than guess over the phone. Call us on 07735 852901 and we can arrange a visit to talk through shelving, cupboards or a mix of both.
We will give you a clear price before any work starts, including how long the job is likely to take and whether painting is included or arranged separately.