Residential Joinery

Residential joinery is where daily rituals meet long-term comfort. Built-in pieces shape how a home feels and functions – from the first cupboard you open in the morning to the last light you switch off at night. At Make Bespoke Studio, we design and deliver bespoke joinery for high-end homes, London apartments and country houses, working closely with interior designers and architects.

How we approach residential joinery

Homes demand a slightly different sensitivity to hospitality projects. They need to feel personal, adaptable and calm over many years. We focus on joinery that is both beautifully resolved and quietly practical – generous storage, considered lighting, tactile materials and details that feel good in the hand.

Whether we are working on a single room or a whole-house package, we aim to create a coherent thread through every built-in piece, drawing on the stylistic language set out on Joinery Styles and the finishes available in our Materials library.

Living spaces, media and work

Living rooms, open-plan kitchen/living spaces and quieter snug rooms often rely on joinery to anchor the space – providing storage, display and a home for technology without overwhelming the architecture.

·        Media Walls & TV Joinery – Calm, composed media walls that integrate the television, AV equipment, storage and display, tailored to open-plan rooms, family spaces and more formal sitting rooms.

·        Home Cinemas & Screening Rooms – Dedicated cinema rooms or snug spaces where we line walls, create tiered seating platforms and integrate AV equipment into considered joinery.

·        Libraries & Bookcase Joinery – Library walls, reading niches and bookcases that can be quiet backdrops or more expressive focal points within a room.

·        Home Offices & Study Joinery – Built-in desks, storage and shelving for dedicated studies or working corners within living spaces or bedrooms.

Many clients now work from home at least part of the week. We can help you integrate work functions into living spaces so that screens, printers and paperwork disappear neatly at the end of the day.

Bedrooms, dressing and hidden storage

Bedrooms and dressing spaces are where joinery most directly affects daily routine – how easy it is to get ready, to put things away, and to keep a sense of calm order.

·        Wardrobes & Dressing Rooms – Full-height wardrobes, dressing rooms and internal layouts tailored to each user – from capsule wardrobes to extensive collections.

·        Headboards & Bedroom Feature Joinery – Integrated headboards, bedside tables, reading lights and concealed storage that give bedrooms a clear focal point.

·        Fitted Storage & Alcove Units – Storage tailored to alcoves, under-stairs areas and other awkward spaces, making the most of every inch without compromising character.

We can work from a detailed clothing inventory or a more general brief, helping you decide how much hanging, folding and hidden storage each room really needs.

Kitchens, pantries and utility spaces

Kitchens and back-of-house spaces are the engine rooms of a home. Well-planned joinery can make everyday tasks feel easier and less visible.

·        Bespoke Kitchens & Pantries – Kitchens, islands and pantries designed as part of the wider interior scheme, rather than as stand‑alone products – including integration with appliances, stonework and lighting.

·        Utility, Laundry & Boot Room Joinery – Storage, benches, drying space and integrated appliances for utility rooms, back kitchens and boot rooms.

·        Tea Points & Breakout Kitchenettes – Compact kitchenettes for annexes, studios and guest areas that echo the main kitchen language on a smaller scale.

These scopes can be combined or separated depending on the project. We are happy to collaborate with kitchen specialists where they are already appointed, or to lead the full design and delivery ourselves.

Architecture, circulation and outdoor spaces

Beyond individual rooms, joinery can quietly structure the experience of moving through a home – softening thresholds, creating rhythm along corridors and extending living areas outdoors.

·        Wall Panelling & Architectural Joinery – Panelling, dados, window seats and other architectural elements that give rooms depth and a sense of permanence.

·        Internal Doors & Screens – Doors and glazed or timber screens that shape how spaces connect, maintain light and sightlines, and provide acoustic separation where needed.

·        Staircase Joinery – Timber staircases, handrails and balustrades where new interventions are required.

·        Outdoor & Terrace Joinery – Benches, planters, outdoor kitchens and storage for terraces, balconies and gardens, designed to work with planting and weathering over time.

Heritage apartments and new-build homes

We are comfortable working in both historic and contemporary contexts. In older buildings the challenge is often to respect existing fabric while improving storage and functionality. In new-builds, the task is usually to add character and warmth.

Our approach is guided by the stylistic frameworks outlined on Joinery Styles – whether the project leans more traditional, Shaker, contemporary minimal, Japandi or a mix. We then translate that language into door profiles, proportions, handles and junctions across the scopes listed on Types of Joinery.

In all cases, we aim for interventions that feel as though they belong – as if they could always have been there – while clearly raising the level of finish and usability.

Our process for residential joinery projects

Our process mirrors the stages described in Bespoke Joinery, tailored to the pace and decision-making style of private clients and residential design teams.

1. Brief & priorities We start by understanding how the client wants to live in the space – who uses which rooms, storage frustrations, routines and long‑term plans.

2. Survey & context We review drawings and, where helpful, visit site to understand light, views, existing character and constraints such as services and structure.

3. Concept & scope definition Working with your concept design, we identify which pieces fall under bespoke joinery, how they group into packages and where we can create strong focal points.

4. Technical design & samples We produce detailed drawings and sample palettes, coordinating with lighting, AV and other consultants as needed. Decisions made here are recorded so that joinery across different rooms feels part of one story.

5. Production & installation Joinery is manufactured through our network of workshops, selected for their suitability to the materials and complexity involved. We coordinate with the main contractor or installer to ensure a smooth fit on site.

6. Aftercare & future phases We remain available for adjustments, additional pieces and later phases as clients extend, reconfigure or refresh their homes.

Bridging residential and hospitality projects

Many of our clients work across both private homes and hospitality projects. A hotel suite may take cues from a favourite apartment; a members’ club might be designed to feel like an extended living room.

Because we are active in both Residential Joinery and Hospitality Joinery, we can help you carry a coherent language across different project types while tuning details – durability, housekeeping, storage – for each context.

Next steps

If you are developing a residential project and would like support on the joinery, share your drawings, mood boards and any early thoughts with us. We can identify which areas are best served by bespoke joinery, suggest combinations from our

Types of Joinery and outline how topics such as Media Walls & TV Joinery, Wardrobes & Dressing Rooms, Bespoke Kitchens & Pantries and Outdoor & Terrace Joinery could support the way your client wants to live. From there we move into detailed design, sampling and delivery in line with your programme.