With intricate detailing and unique, luxurious finishes, this London project perfectly showcases Katharine’s passion for bespoke designed joinery. Here’s how she did it:
Tip one: Your entrance sets the tone
Keep an entrance hall clutter-free with sleek floor-to- ceiling bespoke joinery that includes plenty of coat, boot and umbrella storage. A breakfront design in antique mirror, brass and dark stained timber looks particularly attractive and is also hardwearing.
Tip two: Make a feature of partition panelling
An open plan living/dining room can be impressively closed off when entertaining using sliding screens or bi-folding doors. Here I used a rare and exquisite gold églomisé mirror with glossy dark timber framework. When closed, the semi translucent panels reflect the light of the rock crystal chandelier beautifully.
Tip three: Add tacking details to upholstery
I love to elevate a simple headboard design by panelling the wall behind with an oyster silk satin and finishing it with precisely positioned polished brass tacking.
Tip four: Use back lighting on natural stone
This gold-edged, white, agate slab was the perfect feature panel to the centre of the deco-inspired joinery unit in the living room. I used back lighting for maximum effect, as this really brings the crystals alive.
Tip five: Use reflective finishes
Bevel edged mirror panelling extended behind crystal wall lights makes a bathroom feel so much bigger. I coupled this with a gold-edged pearlized lacquer vanity to liven up the room.
Tip six: add storage to a smaller bedroom
In both of these bedrooms I added full height joinery where possible and softened the door panelling with an inset specialist wallpaper.
Tip seven: Recess your tv
Televisions can be such an eyesore; i try wherever possible to recess them into an elegant wall of feature panelling. Stretched suede or leather works very well and has good acoustic properties. Hidden storage space behind will allow all your A.V. equipment to be kept completely out of sight.
Tip eight: Keep utility rooms & dressing rooms simple
In both the utility room and one of the dressing rooms I chose an understated, dark timber and added elegant textural handles with inlaid metal detailing. In smaller rooms where there is a lot of joinery fussiness should be avoided. I prefer to keep shapes and finishes clean and elegant for a timeless feel.
Tip nine: make bespoke furniture pieces to fit the space available
The client requested a desk for the bedroom that could also be used as a dressing table, but space was quite tight. I designed a new piece to fit perfectly within the window reveal, which is also a lovely position to admire the park views beyond.
The most important tip I can give you when creating bespoke joinery is to use only the best craftsmen. A good joiner is like gold dust and some of my favourites to use for cabinetry work are Rick Baker, Bill Cleyndert, Halstock and Interior Id. With workshops, draughtsman and wood and metal workers of their calibre, you really are in safe hands.
