Every piece of fitted furniture we make starts with a design visit. It’s a conversation in your home about what you want, what the room allows and how the furniture will be made and fitted. It’s also when we take the measurements the furniture is made from.
This guide explains what happens at the visit, what to have ready and what comes next, so you can get the most from it.
Before the visit
You get in touch through our contact form and tell us a little about the project: which room, what kind of furniture and roughly where you are in London. We then arrange a time to visit. Saturdays are available by arrangement.
It helps to think about a few things beforehand:
- what you want to store, and how much of it
- how you use the room now, and what doesn’t work
- any pictures or ideas you like
- colours you have in mind for the paint finish.
Talking through what you want
We start by listening. We’ll ask how you use the room, who uses it, and what you want the furniture to do. For a wardrobe that might be the balance of hanging and drawers. For a TV unit, what equipment it holds. For a kitchen, how you cook and what appliances you’ve chosen.
We then talk through options: layouts, doors, shelves, the paint finish and how the furniture will meet the walls, ceiling and floor. You don’t need to have everything decided. Part of the visit is working it out together.
Measuring the room
We measure the space ourselves, in several places, because walls and floors in older houses are rarely true. We note sockets, switches, radiators, pipes, windows, doors, skirting boards and cornices. We look at what the walls are made of so the fixings suit them.
We also measure the route from the street to the room: doors, hallways, stairs, landings and lifts. Furniture made in our workshop is made in sections sized for that route. See how to measure a room for fitted furniture.
Thinking about fitted furniture? We design, make and fit it across London: we visit, measure and talk through the design, then send a written quote. Arrange a design visit.
Materials and finish
We explain the materials we use: moisture-resistant MDF and birch plywood. MDF is stable and takes paint well. Birch plywood is strong and holds screws well. We talk through the finish, spray painted in the workshop for a smooth, even surface or hand painted on site, in a colour agreed with you. See spray-painted vs hand-painted furniture.
Other trades and practical points
We’re carpenters. If the project needs new sockets, moved pipes, gas work, plastering or decorating, we’ll point that out so you can arrange your electrician, plumber, a Gas Safe registered engineer or a decorator. It’s easier to plan the order of work early.
We’ll also ask about parking and access. If you live in a flat, tell us about lifts, concierge rules or anything in your lease. See parking for tradespeople and fitted furniture in a leasehold flat.
After the visit
After the visit we send a written quote that sets out the furniture, the materials and finish agreed, and what’s included. Our guide to what a fitted furniture quote should include explains what to look for. If you go ahead, the furniture is made in our workshop and then fitted in your home. You can read more on our how it works page.
Quick answers
Do I need a finished design before the visit?
No. Ideas, pictures and a sense of what you want to store are enough. We work out the design together.
Can the visit be on a Saturday?
Saturdays are available by arrangement.
What happens after the visit?
We send a written quote. If you go ahead, the furniture is made in our workshop and fitted in your home.
Should I measure the room before you come?
It isn’t necessary, as we measure ourselves. Rough measurements and photos can help when you first get in touch.
Related services
More advice
- How to Measure a Room for Fitted Furniture
- What a Fitted Furniture Quote Should Include
- Getting Your Room Ready for Fitting Day
- Choosing a Carpenter in London: A Checklist
- All advice
This guide is general information about fitted furniture. It isn’t legal, planning or building advice; for those, speak to the council, your landlord or managing agent, or a suitably qualified professional.