Bespoke Victorian Alcove Cabinets with Reclaimed Timber Tops and Built-in Log Storage
Our client came to us with an unusual brief for his Wanstead E11 period home: he wanted all the classic Victorian details that feature on our signature alcove cabinets, but with something of a twist. The result is a bespoke design that keeps the period character of the house while breaking a few rules along the way.
A Different Take on the Traditional Alcove Pair
Most alcove cabinet pairs are symmetrical — two identical units flanking a fireplace, both used for general storage. For this Wanstead home, we built the pair with a different function on each side:
- Left-hand cabinet — a conventional two-door alcove cupboard for everyday storage.
- Right-hand cabinet — purpose-built as a log store for the wood burner, with identical external styling so the pair still reads as a matched set from across the room.
- Ogee panel moulding around each door panel, retained from our standard Victorian profile.
- Round-over detail on the door frames, typical of period joinery.
The frames and doors keep the classic mouldings we see on all our alcove cabinets — this is where tradition holds the design together, even as the surfaces break into something more personal.
Reclaimed Timber Tops and Floating Shelves
The twist is in the surfaces. Rather than painting the cabinet tops and shelves to match the carcasses, we built them from reclaimed timber — polished and stained to match our client's existing floorboards. The effect is layered and warm: floor, cabinet tops, and floating shelves all share the same timber tone, set against painted joinery below.
Steel Angle Brackets — Hidden Engineering
Each reclaimed timber shelf sits on concealed steel angle brackets underneath. Being steel they're strong and discreet — a full row of books, vinyl, or heavy ceramics sits comfortably without any visible support.
Farrow & Ball Green Smoke in 15% Sheen
Green Smoke is a deep, atmospheric green that sits particularly well against warm reclaimed timber and in rooms with a wood burner. The 15% sheen keeps the surface soft rather than glossy — which suits the period character of the house.
Every piece was milled, spray painted, and assembled in our Leytonstone workshop, then installed on site.
Thinking About Bespoke Alcove Cabinets in Wanstead E11 or Nearby?
Wanstead E11 is only a few minutes from our Leytonstone workshop — we share the same postcode district. We regularly install bespoke alcove cupboards, cabinets, and shelving in period houses across Wanstead (E11), Snaresbrook (E11), Leytonstone (E11), South Woodford (E18), and Forest Gate (E7) — all within a comfortable 30-minute drive. For our full service coverage, see our East London carpenter and North East London carpenter pages.
Send us the width, depth, and height of your alcoves and we'll send back a quote by email, typically within a couple of days.
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