Project — Barnt Green, Worcestershire
Bespoke alcove storage and floating shelves in Barnt Green
A simple, understated fitted storage scheme around an existing fireplace and television: a made-to-measure alcove cabinet on one side, boxed floating shelves above it, and matching shelves in the opposite alcove.
The brief was to make better use of the alcoves while keeping the room calm. The cabinetry was finished in a tone closely matched to the surrounding walls, so it reads as part of the architecture rather than as a new piece of furniture.
The brief
The client wanted the alcoves working harder without the room feeling busier.
Use the alcove properly
A fitted cabinet built precisely into the space beside the chimney breast, rather than a freestanding unit that never quite fits.
Quiet, not a feature
A finish matched closely to the wall colour, so the furniture blends into the room instead of competing with the fireplace.
Storage out of sight
Concealed storage behind a pair of simple shaker doors, keeping the living space light and uncluttered.
Room to display
Substantial boxed floating shelves above, proportioned to the alcove, for books, photographs and a few pieces.
Our design and approach
We designed and installed a made-to-measure alcove cabinet fitted exactly into the space alongside the chimney breast, with a pair of shaker-style doors that keep the look timeless rather than of the moment.
Above the unit we fitted substantial boxed floating shelves, carefully proportioned to the width and height of the alcove so the area has room to breathe.
Balance across the chimney breast
Matching boxed floating shelves were fitted in the opposite alcove, so the two sides read as a pair and the fireplace and television sit centrally between them.
Finishing the cabinetry and shelving in a tone matched to the existing wall colour is what makes the installation look built-in: the eye reads the shapes, not the furniture.
The details that do the work
The cabinet runs on Blum Onyx hardware, so the doors feel solid and the internal fittings stay discreet.
Hendel & Hendel matt black knobs give just enough contrast against the neutral cabinetry, and tie in with the television and the fireplace rather than standing apart from them.
The finished result
Photographed on completion, while the room was still being decorated.
Furniture that does not shout
The finished installation adds storage and display space without taking the room over. The colour-matched finish, the simple shaker cabinetry and the clean shelves give a built-in appearance that complements the fireplace.
It is a good example of bespoke furniture that does not need to be the main feature of a room — sometimes the best result is furniture that disappears into the architecture while making unused space genuinely useful.
Project details
- Location: Barnt Green, Worcestershire
- Project: Bespoke alcove cabinet and boxed floating shelving
- Style: Understated, traditional contemporary
- Finish: Colour matched to the surrounding walls
- Hardware: Blum Onyx
- Handles: Hendel & Hendel matt black knobs
Could your alcoves be working harder?
Tell us about the room and we will arrange a free design visit, with no obligation.
