A curved, glazed brass utility unit for a private Denmark Hill home
At Camberwell House we collaborated with the team at Tim Gaudin Joinery on a singular commission for a private residential client: a standout utility cupboard — elegant yet robust, and highly functional — with glazed, curved brass doors forming the focal point. Tim Gaudin drove the design vision; our role was to translate it into a fully realised brass structure, engineered with precision and polished by hand.
Brass, and the discipline it demands
Brass is a demanding material to work with. Its relatively low melting point means it can burn during welding; temperature control is critical at every seam. The client had chosen taps in a specific tone of brass, which became our colour reference. The cupboard frame had to match that tone exactly and hold it across every visible surface.
The colour-matching process involved working through samples of brass alloy and finish until the frame and the taps read as a single family of metal. Consistency of sheen was as important as tone: the same warmth at the handles as at the worktop surface, the same depth at the curve of the door as at the welded frame joints.
Precision from paper to workshop
Before fabrication began we produced detailed drawings of the framework — curves, glazing rebates, fixing points — submitted for approval. Sections were CNC-cut and hand-finished. The curved glazed doors were the most technically demanding element: bending brass to the correct radius without kinking or discolouration required specialised tooling and careful heat management at every stage.
Fabrication moved through CNC cutting, hand-finishing, MIG welding on the primary structure, and TIG welding wherever the seam would be on show. Heat input was managed carefully on the curved door leaves, where distortion can accumulate.
A reflective skin over a stable core
The worktops were produced by wrapping brass sheet over moisture-resistant MDF substrate, a method that achieves flush surfaces and crisp edges while giving the structure rigidity. The MDF core provides dimensional stability; the brass skin provides the reflective surface and the warmth that defines the space. Accurate dimensioning was critical: every measurement accounted for the thickness of the brass itself.
The combination performs well in daily use: hardwearing enough for a working utility room, with a surface that keeps its quality when maintained and develops character when it is not.
Every weld brought to one standard
Once the frame was assembled, the entire structure underwent thorough polishing — every weld, every corner, every curve brought to the same standard. Installation was a joint operation with Tim Gaudin Joinery. Fine adjustments were made on-site until the brass unit sat precisely within the surrounding joinery. Only once every detail was aligned were the curved glass panels inserted to complete the unit.
A finish that keeps its own record
One of the most beautiful aspects of brass is its versatility over time. Clients can choose to maintain a mirror-polished finish with regular polishing, or allow the brass to naturally patinate, developing a rich organic character as it darkens and softens with age.
Left unpolished, the brass gradually takes on deeper tones of ochre, bronze, and subtle verdigris highlights — a living finish that only enhances the sense of craftsmanship.
This project highlights what can be achieved when designers, joiners and metal fabricators work in harmony. The result is a refined, contemporary statement piece that elevates the entire room, functionally and aesthetically.
