Alcove & Chimney Breast Cabinetry · Shropshire & Herefordshire
Alcove & Chimney Breast Cabinetry,
Scribed to Wonky Walls in
Period Shires Homes.
Bespoke cupboards and shelving fitted into the awkward recesses either side of a chimney breast, matched to your skirting, cornice and existing paint. Free home survey. Fixed-price quote within 48 hours.
Owner-led surveys · 5-year manufacturer guarantee · Lifetime installation guarantee
What we do
The two most awkward spaces in a period living room, finally working for you.
The recesses either side of a chimney breast are almost always the two most awkward spaces in a Shropshire or Herefordshire living room, deep, narrow, out of square, and impossible to furnish with anything off-the-shelf.
Made-to-measure alcove cabinetry solves the problem in one step. Closed cupboards to picture-rail height (or wherever suits the room), adjustable open shelves above, all scribed to the wall so the finished piece reads as part of the architecture, not as furniture standing in front of it.
We match painted finishes to the surrounding wall colour, continue existing cornice cleanly across the top, and route mains cables inside the carcass so lamps, speakers and displayed pieces sit without visible flex.
Who it's for
Homeowners with a Victorian, Edwardian, Georgian or period cottage living room where the alcoves either side of the chimney breast are wasted space, or currently filled with mismatched furniture.
When to plan it
After any plastering, chimney work or electrical first-fix is complete. Lead times are typically 4–6 weeks, enquire early to protect an install slot.
Why professional install matters
Period chimney breasts are almost never square. Scribing cabinet sides to the wall, packing behind the fascia and finishing flush with existing cornice is the difference between built-in joinery and furniture that looks placed.
What happens if you get it wrong
Cutting corners here costs more than doing it once, properly.
Freestanding bookcases that lean forward
A tall bookcase in a period alcove pushes off the skirting at the bottom and leans forward at the top. It looks temporary from the day it goes in, because it is.
Mismatched pairs either side of the fireplace
Two units bought at different times, in different depths or heights, ruin the symmetry of the entire room. The eye reads the chimney breast as unbalanced.
Gaps that catch dust and toys
The 20–80mm gap between a freestanding unit and an out-of-square alcove wall is a permanent dust trap, and, in family rooms, a permanent home for lost Lego.
The alcoves we are called in to fit properly almost always contain a pair of mismatched freestanding units that have lived there for years. A matched, scribed pair of built-ins costs less than most people expect and transforms the balance of the whole living room.
Our process
Five steps, from first phone call to finished install.
- 01
Enquiry
Send an enquiry or call 07762 100589. We listen to what you're after and book a survey slot that suits.
- 02
Free home survey
Callum surveys the room in person, measures every wall, floor and ceiling variance, and discusses layout.
- 03
Design & fixed-price quote
You receive a written, fixed-price quote within 24–48 hours with finish, hardware and internals specified.
- 04
Made-to-measure build
50% deposit places the order. Furniture is made-to-measure to your survey, typically 4–6 weeks.
- 05
Install, test & guarantee
Our own team installs, scribes and tests. Balance paid on completion. Lifetime install guarantee starts.
Why homeowners choose Shires
The benefits of doing this properly, once.
Scribed to the wall
Cabinet sides shaped to the exact profile of the plaster. No gaps, no dust traps, no visible packers.
Matched pair, floor to (or ceiling) top
Both alcoves finished identically in height, depth and finish, so the chimney breast reads as symmetrical for the first time.
Cornice and skirting continued cleanly
Existing cornice is either continued across the top of the cabinets or stopped cleanly against them. Skirting is scribed around, not covered.
Lifetime install guarantee
5-year manufacturer guarantee on the furniture, plus a lifetime installation guarantee on the fit itself.
Fixed price, no surprises
Written fixed-price quote in 24–48 hours after the survey. Doors, shelves, hardware and cable routing all priced in.
Adds value and balance to the room
Built-in alcove joinery is one of the most sought-after features in period property listings across Ludlow, Hereford and Shrewsbury.
The detail
Specified around your room, your finishes and how you actually use the space.
Finishes
Matte painted (colour-matched to your existing wall), satin lacquer, warm woodgrain or high gloss. Shaker, slab and panelled door styles specified around the age and character of the room.
Hardware
Brushed and polished brass knobs, matte black knurled knobs, satin nickel cup pulls, soft leather tab pulls, and handleless push-open options, all shown in-hand at the survey.
Interior fit-out
Adjustable shelves, soft-close doors and drawers, integrated warm LED shelf lighting, and internal cable routing for lamps, speakers and display pieces.
Configurations we build
- Matched pair, closed cupboards below, open shelves above
- Full-height closed cupboards either side
- Floating shelves only, scribed and pinned discreetly
- Base cupboards with picture-lit shelving above
- Alcove desk on one side, matched shelves on the other
- Alcove cabinetry with integrated log or kindling storage
- Alcove media units flanking a central fireplace
Where we work
Period cottages around Ludlow and Cleobury Mortimer, Georgian townhouses in Shrewsbury, Victorian semis across Hereford and Leominster, farmhouse living rooms in the wider Herefordshire countryside, and Edwardian family homes in Telford.
Frequently asked
Straight answers, no hard sell.
- What is alcove and chimney breast cabinetry?
- Bespoke shelves and cupboards built into the recesses either side of a chimney breast, sized to the exact depth, width and height of each alcove, and finished flush with the chimney breast so the whole wall reads as one built-in piece of joinery.
- How much do alcove cupboards cost?
- Most alcove projects fall between £1,800 and £5,500 supplied and installed for a matched pair either side of a chimney breast, depending on height, finish and whether the top section is open shelving, closed cupboards or a mix. You receive a written fixed-price quote within 24–48 hours of the survey.
- Can you match cabinetry to the existing skirting and cornice?
- Yes. This is the whole point of made-to-measure, skirting is scribed around, cornice is either continued across the top of the cabinets or stopped cleanly against them, and painted finishes can be colour-matched to the existing wall colour.
- Open shelves, closed cupboards, or both?
- The most common configuration is closed cupboards to a set height (usually just below TV or picture-rail height) with adjustable open shelves above. We show finish samples and layout drawings at the survey so you can make the call in the room itself.
- Do alcoves come out square?
- Almost never, chimney breasts in period Shropshire and Herefordshire homes are frequently out of plumb, and the two alcoves either side rarely match. Scribing, packing and made-to-measure cabinet sides is what turns a wonky recess into a piece of furniture that looks intentional.
- How long does it take?
- Made-to-measure lead times are typically 4–6 weeks after the deposit is placed. Installation is usually 1–2 days on site for a matched pair either side of a chimney breast.
- Is the cabinetry guaranteed?
- Yes. 5-year manufacturer guarantee on the furniture and a lifetime installation guarantee from us on the fit.
- Can you build cabinetry that supports a TV over the fireplace?
- Yes. We do not carry out the TV bracket fixing itself, but we can design and build supporting cabinetry and, where a media wall is preferred, cross-refer you to our media walls service which includes cable management and panelling.
Explore more
Related pages.
Ready when you are
Book a free home survey.
A fixed-price alcove quote in 48 hours.
No obligation, no hidden costs, no pressure. Guaranteed for life on installation.