Outdoor & Terrace Joinery

Terraces, balconies and gardens are often the spaces people remember most – where mornings begin, drinks are shared and views are enjoyed. The joinery that lives outside has to do a lot of quiet work: organising seating, housing kitchens and bars, hiding storage and planters, and standing up to weather without feeling heavy or technical.

At Make Bespoke Studio we design and deliver outdoor and terrace joinery for homes, hotels, members’ clubs and mixed-use projects – from compact London balconies and roof terraces to pool decks, beach clubs and large shared amenity terraces. We work closely with interior designers, landscape designers, architects and operators to coordinate outdoor joinery with planting, lighting, drainage and structure.

What we mean by outdoor and terrace joinery

We use “outdoor and terrace joinery” to describe the fixed elements that shape how external spaces are used – the kitchens, bars, benches, planters, screens and storage that define zones and make terraces genuinely usable for most of the year.

·        outdoor kitchens, cooking runs and integrated BBQ or grill housings

·        outdoor bars, back bars and servery counters

·        fixed bench seating, banquettes and daybeds

·        planter boxes, integrated seating-and-planter combinations and low walls

·        storage benches and cupboards for cushions, equipment and services

·        privacy screens, pergola soffits and cladding to external structures

These pieces often sit somewhere between Bespoke Kitchens & Pantries, Home Bars & Back Bars and Fitted Storage & Alcove Units, translated for external conditions and coordinated with planting, lighting and drainage.

Types of outdoor and terrace spaces

Every project has its own version of outdoor space – from a single balcony to a layered roof garden or pool deck. We adapt the joinery language to suit scale, exposure and how people will actually use the space.

·        Private gardens and patios – ground-level outdoor rooms connecting directly to living spaces, dining rooms and Bespoke Kitchens & Pantries.

·        Roof terraces and podium decks – external spaces on roofs or podiums, often with views, plant loads and wind exposure to consider, frequently tied into Amenity & Members’ Club Joinery and Residential Joinery packages.

·        Balconies and winter gardens – smaller external spaces off living areas or Hotel Guestroom Joinery Packages, where slimline joinery has to work hard without obstructing views or doors.

·        Hotel and club terraces – bars, lounges and dining terraces associated with Amenity & Members’ Club Joinery, Hospitality Joinery and Hospitality Bars & Back Counters, often with flexible layouts for events.

·        Pool decks, spa terraces and roof gardens – external spaces linked to Spa & Wellness Joinery schemes, where wet zones, loungers and shaded seating need to feel coherent.

·        Back-of-house external areas – service yards, staff terraces and deliveries areas where discreet, robust external joinery supports Locker Rooms & Back-of-House Joinery and operations.

Key outdoor joinery elements

We tend to organise outdoor and terrace joinery into a few key elements that can be combined and repeated to suit different scales and layouts.

·        Outdoor kitchens and cooking runs – worktops, grills, pizza ovens and sinks arranged in a way that mirrors the logic of Bespoke Kitchens & Pantries, with weather-resistant carcasses, doors and worktops.

·        Outdoor bars and back bars – fixed counters and back counters that echo Home Bars & Back Bars and Hospitality Bars & Back Counters, with space for refrigeration, glass storage and service points.

·        Fixed seating and banquettes – benches, banquettes and daybeds with integrated backs, planters or storage, sized around dining tables, low tables or loungers.

·        Planters, low walls and edges – solid or slatted planter boxes, edge details and low walls that define zones, control views and tie into railings and parapets.

·        Storage benches and cupboards – lockable, vented storage for cushions, covers and equipment, often echoing internal Fitted Storage & Alcove Units.

·        Screens, pergola linings and cladding – timber or metal slats, soffits and linings to pergolas, canopies and privacy screens, coordinated with Wall Panelling & Architectural Joinery to keep language consistent between inside and out.

Layout, zoning and views

Outdoors, the experience is all about orientation, views and how people move between inside and out. We plan joinery layouts so that cooking, lounging, dining and circulation sit naturally together.

·        locating outdoor kitchens and bars close to internal Bespoke Kitchens & Pantries and Home Bars & Back Bars for efficient service

·        keeping clear circulation routes between building exits, seating areas and stair or lift access

·        using planters, benches and low walls to create sheltered pockets without blocking key views

·        arranging seating to take advantage of sun paths, shade and long views, while allowing for umbrellas or pergolas

On larger projects we coordinate these moves with Amenity & Members’ Club Joinery, Reception Desks & Lobby Joinery, Spa & Wellness Joinery and Hotel Guestroom Joinery Packages so that external spaces feel like a natural extension of the interior journey.

Outdoor and terrace joinery in residential projects

In homes and private apartments, well-planned outdoor joinery can effectively add another room – a place to cook, eat, read and entertain for much more of the year.

·        Family gardens and patios – outdoor kitchens, benches and storage developed alongside Bespoke Kitchens & Pantries and Home Bars & Back Bars, so that daily life naturally spills outside.

·        Roof terraces and balconies – compact, multi-use joinery that offers seating, planters and storage without overcrowding the space, aligned with Media Walls & TV Joinery and Home Offices & Study Joinery where indoor uses meet outdoor views.

·        Boot room and garden links – external storage and benches near doors that connect to internal Utility, Laundry & Boot Room Joinery and Fitted Storage & Alcove Units, keeping mud, kit and garden tools under control.

Outdoor and terrace joinery in hospitality and members’ clubs

In hotels and clubs, outdoor joinery underpins terraces that work for breakfast, daytime lounging and evening events – often with demanding operational and brand requirements.

·        Hotel roof terraces and bars – outdoor bars, back counters and fixed seating coordinated with Hospitality Bars & Back Counters, Amenity & Members’ Club Joinery and wider Hospitality Joinery.

·        Pool decks and spa terraces – lounger platforms, towel stations and bar or refreshment points, aligned with Spa & Wellness Joinery and Locker Rooms & Back-of-House Joinery.

·        Members’ club terraces – external rooms for dining, events and quiet working, with joinery that mirrors internal Amenity & Members’ Club Joinery in a more weather-resilient palette.

·        Guestroom balconies and loggias – slim seating, side tables and storage that support Hotel Guestroom Joinery Packages without complicating housekeeping or blocking views.

Materials, durability and maintenance

Outdoor joinery is exposed to sun, rain, wind, temperature swings and, in some cases, chlorinated or salt water. Materials and details need to be chosen and detailed with this in mind, without losing the refined feel of the interior scheme.

We build external palettes from our Materials library – modified timbers, thermally treated woods, external-grade laminates, compact laminates, stones, porcelains, composites and metals – and align these with stylistic cues on Joinery Styles.

·        selecting substrates and finishes that can cope with moisture, UV exposure and temperature changes

·        detailing fixings, drainage and ventilation so that water has somewhere to go and components can dry out

·        choosing hardware and fittings in suitable grades and finishes for external use

·        planning access for maintenance, cleaning and eventual replacement of components without dismantling whole runs

Integration with structure, drainage and services

Outdoor and terrace joinery has to work with decks, thresholds, balustrades, drainage and services. We design the joinery as part of this wider technical conversation so that it feels effortless to use.

·        coordinating fixings and load paths with slab build-ups, deck systems and waterproofing strategies

·        aligning joinery heights with thresholds, door sills and balustrade regulations

·        allowing for falls, drainage channels and overflow paths behind and beneath joinery

·        integrating power, lighting, data and, where relevant, gas supplies within outdoor kitchens and bars

These integrations are developed as part of our broader Bespoke Joinery technical packages and coordinated with structural and MEP teams, particularly where terraces connect to Reception Desks & Lobby Joinery, Amenity & Members’ Club Joinery, Spa & Wellness Joinery and Locker Rooms & Back-of-House Joinery.

Our process for outdoor and terrace joinery

Our approach to outdoor and terrace joinery follows the same clear stages as our wider

Bespoke Joinery work, with particular emphasis on durability, drainage and the relationship between inside and out.

1. Brief, exposure and usage We begin by understanding how the terrace will be used, how many people it needs to serve, its orientation, exposure and any brand or operator standards.

2. Surveys, plans and technical context We review plans, sections, waterproofing build-ups, balustrade details and MEP information – or visit site – to understand structure, levels and constraints.

3. Layout options and zoning We develop joinery-led layouts that balance cooking, dining, lounging, planting and circulation, testing views, sun paths and connections to internal spaces.

4. Detailed design & coordination We produce detailed drawings showing carcasses, claddings, fixings, drainage paths, service zones and junctions with paving, balustrades and façades.

5. Materials, finishes and samples We prepare focused samples of external finishes, worktops, metals and hardware, aligning them with adjacent scopes on Types of Joinery and ensuring consistency with Bespoke Kitchens & Pantries, Home Bars & Back Bars, Hospitality Bars & Back Counters, Amenity & Members’ Club Joinery, Spa & Wellness Joinery, Hospitality Joinery and Residential Joinery packages.

6. Production & installation Outdoor and terrace joinery is manufactured through our network of workshops and specialist fabricators, and installed in coordination with main contractors, landscape, waterproofing and services teams, with careful setting out and on-site adjustments to suit real conditions.

Connecting outdoor and terrace joinery into the wider scheme

Outdoor and terrace joinery often sits at the hinge between architecture, landscape and interiors. Handled well, it makes external spaces feel like a true extension of the interior, rather than an afterthought.

We make sure decisions taken here align with adjacent scopes such as Bespoke Kitchens & Pantries, Home Bars & Back Bars, Hospitality Bars & Back Counters, Amenity & Members’ Club Joinery, Spa & Wellness Joinery, Hotel Guestroom Joinery Packages, Fitted Storage & Alcove Units, Media Walls & TV Joinery, Reception Desks & Lobby Joinery, Locker Rooms & Back-of-House Joinery, Hospitality Joinery and Residential Joinery. All of this is structured through Types of Joinery and the stylistic language captured on Joinery Styles.

Next steps

If you are developing outdoor or terrace joinery as part of a project, share your plans, sections, landscape proposals, waterproofing information and interior concepts with us.

We can respond with layout ideas, joinery packages and indicative scopes, showing how external spaces could connect with Bespoke Kitchens & Pantries, Home Bars & Back Bars, Hospitality Bars & Back Counters, Amenity & Members’ Club Joinery, Spa & Wellness Joinery, Hotel Guestroom Joinery Packages, Fitted Storage & Alcove Units, Media Walls & TV Joinery, Reception Desks & Lobby Joinery, Locker Rooms & Back-of-House Joinery, Hospitality Joinery and Residential Joinery. From there we move into detailed design, sampling and delivery in line with your programme.