Fitted living
Fitted alcove cupboards and units either side of the chimney breast
Cupboards and shelves made to fit each alcove exactly, even when the two sides don't match.
Why bespoke fitted alcove units outperform freestanding furniture
The alcoves either side of a chimney breast are almost never the same width, and rarely square. A ready-made cabinet leaves gaps down the sides and across the top; a fitted unit is made to fill its own alcove.
We measure each alcove on its own at the design visit. The units are made to our specification in Leicestershire, and on fitting day every filler and end panel is scribed to the plaster, so each unit meets the wall cleanly and the pair looks matched from across the room. Cutting on site means some dust, so we cover the floors, take the packaging and offcuts away, and clean down and hoover before we leave. How it works sets out each step.
Custom cabinetry options for alcove units
- Cupboards below at a height that suits the room, for the things you want out of sight.
- Open shelves or cupboards above, plain or with LED lighting.
- Space for the way you use the room: a bar area, a wine rack, room for appliances, or a place for the television.
- Any door style from our finishes page, from shaker to fluted, in the colour you choose from real samples.
If you would like the chimney breast to carry the television and a fire as well, the alcove units become part of a media wall.
Planning bedroom alcoves instead? See fitted wardrobes for alcoves and chimney breasts, or our guide, alcove wardrobes or alcove units.
Two recent jobs
In Mountsorrel, the dining room had very tall ceilings and shallow alcoves. The left alcove holds a tall cupboard for small kitchen appliances. The right has open oak-effect shelves for a bar area, a wine rack and cupboards above and below. The doors are 4-panel Contemporary Shaker in Cashmere, and it was fitted in one day.
In Nottingham, the customer shared reference photos of the aesthetic they wanted to achieve. Each alcove has cupboards at the bottom and a column of doors and open shelves above, staggered so the open spaces step across the wall, with warm LED strips in the oak-effect shelves. The doors are shaker in Porcelain white, and it was fitted in two days.
What is included
One fixed quote, in writing, valid for 30 days. It covers your bespoke design, every panel, plinth, cornice, handle, interior layout, delivery, and professional installation, including precision scribing to your walls and ceiling. Lighting is priced in if you choose it. There are no hidden costs added at the end. Our price guide explains the £, ££ and £££ tiers.
Book a free design visit
We’ll measure both alcoves, show you real door samples and sketch the layout with you, so you can see what fits before you decide. From your go-ahead to fitting day is usually 6 to 8 weeks, and there’s no obligation. Book a free design visit.
Before and after
These are how we left them on fitting day.
How it works
From first visit to fitted room.
- 01
Free design visit
Aaran comes to you, listens to how you live and draws your ideas in 3D there and then. Allow about an hour. There's no obligation and no sales calls.
- 02
One clear quote
If time allows, Aaran prices the design at the visit. Larger designs take longer, so he finishes the quote afterwards and emails it, usually within 3 working days. One figure for everything we supply and fit, valid for 30 days.
- 03
Made to measure
Your furniture is made to our specification in Leicestershire, to the design you agreed.
- 04
Fitted with care
Most rooms are fitted in one to three days. We cover the floor, scribe every filler and end panel to your walls and ceiling, take the packaging and offcuts away and hoover before we leave.
Reviews
What customers say
5-star on Google, and 5-star on Checkatrade from 22 verified reviews.
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★★★★★
“From start to finish, his professionalism, craftsmanship, and attention to detail were outstanding.”
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★★★★★
“The standard of work and attention to detail has been extremely high throughout, and it is clear that Aaran takes real pride in what he does.”
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★★★★★
“Aaran did an amazing job, he put everything we wanted into our wardrobe and more.”
Questions people ask
My alcoves are different sizes. Can you still fit matching units?
Yes, and they nearly always are different. Each unit is made to its own alcove and scribed to the millimetre against the plaster, so the pair looks matched from the room even though no two measurements are the same.
Can the units go all the way up to a tall ceiling?
Yes. In Mountsorrel the ceilings were very tall and the alcoves shallow, so each unit was made to its own alcove and run right up to the ceiling, with a cupboard at the top for the things you only need now and then.
Can the open shelves be lit?
Lighting is available as an option. Dimmable LED strips in warm or neutral white can go in the open shelves, as in the Nottingham units. If you choose them, they are included in the one price, with nothing added afterwards.
How long does fitting take?
Our recent alcove jobs took one day in Mountsorrel and two days in Nottingham. We tell you how many days your room needs when we quote, so you can plan around it.
Should I choose alcove units or alcove wardrobes?
It depends on the room and what you need to store. Our guide to alcove wardrobes or alcove units goes through the difference, and we can draw both at the design visit so you can compare.
What happens next
Aaran comes to your home, measures the room, shows you the samples and draws your design in 3D. You get one fixed price for every panel, plinth, cornice, handle and interior, fitted. No obligation, no sales calls.