Example photo by Pete Alexopoulos on Unsplash, not our project
Merton · London
Alcove Units in South Wimbledon
Planning alcove units for a home in South Wimbledon? It starts with a design visit to measure and talk through ideas, then a written quote, before anything is made.
- A desk that tucks into an alcove
- Somewhere to keep books and records
- Units that sit well with original features
Alcove units in South Wimbledon
Alcove units for homes in South Wimbledon
Period alcoves are rarely square. Walls bow, corners wander and floors slope, sometimes all in one recess. We make each unit in our workshop to the measurements we take, then scribe it on site, so the sides meet the wall closely rather than showing a dark line. Adjustable feet or a plinth set it level. Most enquiries start with storage that suits a period room and old alcove cupboards that have seen better days; the furniture is made from moisture-resistant MDF and birch plywood, finished by spray or by hand.
Ceilings in homes built before 1919 are often taller than in later houses, and a large share of the homes around South Wimbledon date from then. Full-height alcove units can run up to the picture rail or the cornice, so the furniture looks as if it belongs to the house. Blocked fireplaces are common too, and a capped chimney should still be ventilated before anything is built against it.
The written quote puts the design visit in writing: the layout, what goes inside, the materials used and the finish. If you’d like to change anything, it’s easier before the furniture is made.
- Location
- South Wimbledon (SW19, SW20, SW17)
- Area
- Merton
- Cost
- Quoted for your room
- How it starts
- Design visit, then a quote in writing
- Made
- In our workshop, then fitted in your home
- Materials and finish
- Painted MDF and birch ply
- Fitting days
- Weekdays, and Saturdays by prior arrangement
- Enquiries
- Our contact form
- Last updated
- 27 October 2026
Practical tips
A little care keeps the finish looking good, whether it was spray painted or hand painted. These practical tips help:
- Think about what you’ll store before we meet
- Deal with any damp on the chimney breast first
- Measure anything large that must fit inside, like a record player
- Mention parking and access when we visit
Painted finishes feel dry quickly but take longer to cure fully. At first, go gently with the new paintwork: lift things onto the shelves rather than sliding them, and do not scrub the surfaces.
Put coasters or mats under anything that holds water to stop rings and water marks on the paint. Dry any spills quickly.
Your questions about alcove units in South Wimbledon
Do you make alcove units for homes in South Wimbledon?
Yes, South Wimbledon is within the area we cover, which takes in all of Merton and the rest of London. The first step is a design visit, where we measure and discuss the design, followed by a quote.
Will a conservation area stop me having alcove units fitted in South Wimbledon?
Normally not: conservation area rules mainly cover the outside of buildings, and fitted furniture inside a house does not normally need planning permission. Listed buildings are different, as works inside that affect their character may need listed building consent from the council. If you are unsure, the council can confirm.
What happens at the measuring visit?
We measure the space and discuss the design, materials and finish. We also check the walls and floors and note radiators, sockets and other things in the way, then send a quote in writing.
Do alcove units need to reach the ceiling?
That is your choice. Some people take the units right to the ceiling for the most storage, while a low cupboard with shelves above keeps the room feeling lighter. We talk through the options during the design visit.
Do alcove units affect the chimney’s ventilation?
We plan alcove units so any chimney vent stays clear. A capped or blocked chimney should still be ventilated to help stop damp and we design around it.
Can you come on a Saturday?
Yes, by arrangement. If a Saturday works better for you, say so when you get in touch.
Places near South Wimbledon
What else we make in South Wimbledon
Built-in living-room furniture in South Wimbledon
The biggest shares of homes in the streets around South Wimbledon were built before 1919 (about 66%) and between 1973 and 1999 (about 15%), going by the Valuation Office Agency’s 2025 council tax figures. Knowing roughly when a home was built helps, because walls and fixings change from one era to the next. 13 conservation areas have at least part of their area within a mile of the centre of South Wimbledon. Historic England says England has around 10,000, and the controls mainly cover the outside of buildings, so fitted furniture inside a house does not normally need planning permission. Parking controls in London are set borough by borough, so Merton has its own. If your street in South Wimbledon is in a controlled parking zone, a visitor permit, a pay-and-display bay or a suspended bay through the council may be needed. Let us know about parking at the measuring visit.
The wider area includes historic houses like Southside House, about 1.6 miles west. If your own home is a period one, picture rails and cornices give alcove units a line to finish at. Near listed buildings like Church of St Winefride, less than half a mile east of the centre of South Wimbledon, older homes may keep original joinery that alcove units can be designed around. If your own home is listed, check with the council before fixing into original features. For an older house near Holy Trinity, picture rails and cornices give alcove units a line to finish at.
South Wimbledon is in the London Borough of Merton, about 1 mile north-west of Wimbledon. South Wimbledon is part of the area we cover, and the process is the same everywhere we work. We cover places right across Merton, from the busiest high streets to quiet residential roads.
Every home in SW19, SW20 and SW17 is within our area for alcove units, from the main roads to the quieter streets. If your home is on a street such as Gap Road, Mina Road and York Road, or close by, we can visit to measure up for alcove units. Other places close to South Wimbledon include Merton (1 mile south-east), Merton Abbey (1 mile south-east), Summerstown (1 mile north-east), Colliers Wood (1 mile east) and Tooting Bec (1 mile north-east). Across the rest of Merton, our area takes in Morden (2 miles south), Eastfields (2 miles south-east), Copse Hill (2 miles west), Mitcham (2 miles south-east), Hackbridge (2 miles south-east) and West Barnes (2 miles south-west). As one of the bigger places in Merton, South Wimbledon is covered for alcove units and everything else we make.
Around South Wimbledon
Around South Wimbledon, we cover homes near Willington School, Wibbas Down Inn and Wimbledon High School. There is a railway station in South Wimbledon itself: Wimbledon station. Well-known places in the area include Wimbledon Museum (0.9 miles west) and St George's Hospital (1 mile north-east). Open spaces near South Wimbledon include Merton Park Green Walks and Henman Hill.
Fitting day, step by step
You will not need to do much on the day. We need someone to let us in at the start, and it helps to have the room cleared beforehand. From there, we protect the floors, bring the furniture in and get on with the fitting. The time the fitting takes depends on the size of the alcoves and what goes in them, and your quote sets out the fitting days. In a period home, the furniture is fitted to walls that aren’t straight, so each piece is trimmed and adjusted on site. Floors are protected, and dust is kept down as far as possible. It is useful to let us know about parking during the design visit, as terraced streets are often busy.
- To begin, use our contact form; a brief note on the alcoves is plenty, and mention if you live in a flat or up a few flights of stairs.
- At the design visit we measure the alcoves and also the way in: the front door, the hall and any stair turns.
- Your written quote sets out the design, materials and finish.
- The units are built in our workshop from moisture-resistant MDF and birch plywood, in sections sized to come through your door.
- On fitting day the sections come in, are joined in place and scribed to the walls. A spray-painted finish arrives done; a hand-painted one is applied once the units are in.
How to prepare
- Book any lift and let the concierge or building manager know
- Empty the space we’ll be working in
- Let us know where the boiler and meters are
Ask for a quote
Every piece is quoted for your room after the design visit. Because every room is different, the quote comes after the design visit, when we’ve measured up and talked through the design. To arrange a visit, send us a few details through our contact form.
Read more
What affects the price in South Wimbledon
A few things affect what fitted furniture costs:
- Access to the room, such as stairs, lifts and narrow halls
- How many doors and drawers there are
- How square the room is
- What goes inside: rails, shelves, drawers and dividers
There is no price list, because every piece is designed for one room. We measure up, discuss the design and send a quote in writing, with the materials and finish set out. To start, use our contact form.
Before the design visit
These details help when you contact us:
- The postcode, so we can plan the visit
- Radiators, sockets, pipes or meters on or near the wall
- Rough sizes: width, height and depth
- A few photos of the space, taken from the doorway and from each corner
Every quote follows a design visit. At the visit, we measure, look at the walls and floors and discuss the design with you, and the written quote comes after. Prices are quoted for your room, once we’ve measured and talked through the design. To arrange a visit, drop us a line using the contact form.
Flats, conversions and lettings
We also make and fit furniture for landlords furnishing a let, as it makes good use of an tricky room. The materials are the same as for any home: moisture-resistant MDF and birch plywood, with a spray or hand-painted finish.
Blocks of flats often have their own rules on lift bookings, entry systems and times for trades. Let us know about them at the measuring visit.
Why bespoke in South Wimbledon?
In fairness, standalone furniture comes with you when you move. Fitted alcove units stay with the house and remain when you move on. It depends on how long you expect to stay. Ready-made pieces are proportioned for newer homes and can look lost in an older one, whereas fitted pieces can pick up the room’s height and mouldings, with panels and details to suit the house.
Rooms that aren’t square take more work: walls that lean, floors that slope and sloping ceilings all mean more scribing and cutting. That’s reflected in the quote, which we write after seeing the room.
Why choose Bespoke Carpentry in South Wimbledon
- Built from moisture-resistant MDF and birch plywood
- Saturday visits and fitting by prior arrangement
- Spray painted or hand painted, in the colour you choose
- Designed for the room you have
Read how bespoke compares with ready-made and what a quote should include.