Bespoke Carpentry in London
Fitted wardrobes, alcove units, shelving and storage built to fit the room they're in. Made by John, a carpenter by trade working across Islington and north London.
- Fitted wardrobes
- Alcove units
- Bespoke shelving
- Built-in storage
- Kitchen units
- Painted to finish
Fill this in and John will get back to you
Why choose bespoke carpentry over off-the-shelf?
Off-the-shelf furniture is made for square rooms with level floors. London homes rarely have either. Alcoves are different widths, ceilings slope under the eaves, and a standard wardrobe leaves gaps at the sides and top that collect dust and waste space.
Bespoke carpentry is built to the room: measured on site, made to fit, and scribed to the walls and floor so it looks like part of the house rather than something that was carried in.
John'O Handyman is John, a carpenter by trade based in Holloway, N7. Fitted furniture is where the trade shows most.
What can John build for you?
Fitted wardrobes
Storage that uses the full height and width of the space, with doors to suit the room.
Alcove wardrobes
Built into the recesses either side of a chimney breast, making use of space that's otherwise awkward to furnish.
Wall-to-wall wardrobes
Running the full length of a wall, floor to ceiling, with no gaps for dust to settle.
Eaves and loft storage
Built around sloping ceilings in loft conversions and top-floor flats.
Alcove units and shelving
The classic treatment for a Victorian living room, and one of the most requested pieces of joinery in north London.
Alcove cupboards
Low cupboards with shelving above, built to the exact width and depth of each alcove.
Bookshelves
Built to carry the weight of a full run of books without bowing.
Media units
Built around the TV, with room for the equipment that goes with it.
Built-in storage
Storage built into the spaces furniture can't reach: under the stairs, at the end of a hallway, or around a boiler cupboard.
Kitchen fitting
Kitchen units, doors and worktops fitted and levelled, including flat-pack kitchens. Gas, plumbing and electrical connections need the relevant registered trades.
Finished and painted
Fitted furniture is usually painted to match the room. John also paints and decorates, so the finishing can be done by the same person who built it.
Why ask John to build it?
A carpenter by trade
Carpentry is John's trade, so the fiddly work of measuring, cutting and fitting is done properly.
Deal with John directly
The person you speak to is the person who does the job. No call centre, no franchise, no passing you on.
Materials sorted
John can source materials at a trade discount, or work with the ones you've already bought.
Local to N7
Based on Seven Sisters Road in Holloway, a short trip from anywhere in Islington and north London.
Fitted furniture for London's period homes
In a Victorian terrace there are chimney-breast alcoves in almost every room. In a Georgian house in Barnsbury or Canonbury, ceilings are high and walls are rarely true. In a converted flat, every centimetre of storage counts.
That's exactly where bespoke carpentry earns its keep. A unit built to the room fills the space properly, follows the walls and floor, and makes the most of height that standard furniture wastes.
Choosing materials
Painted fitted furniture is usually built from MDF, which gives a smooth, stable surface that takes paint well. For a natural wood finish, veneered boards or solid timber are the usual choices.
John can source materials at a trade discount, or build with materials you've already chosen.
Where does John build fitted furniture?
Based at 124 Seven Sisters Road, Holloway N7 6AE, and working across Islington and north London.
Questions answered
What's the difference between fitted and freestanding wardrobes?
A fitted wardrobe is built into the room, usually floor to ceiling and wall to wall, and scribed to the walls so there are no gaps. A freestanding wardrobe is a standard size, so it rarely uses the space as well, especially in older houses.
Can fitted furniture be painted to match the room?
Yes. Most fitted furniture is painted, and because John also paints and decorates, he can finish it himself.
Can you build alcove units in a Victorian house?
Yes. Alcove cupboards and shelving are one of the most common pieces of bespoke carpentry in north London, and each alcove is measured and built separately because they're rarely the same.
Do you supply the materials?
Either way works. John can source materials at a trade discount, or build with materials you've chosen.
Do you fit kitchens?
John fits kitchen units, doors and worktops. Gas, plumbing and electrical connections need to be done by the relevant registered trades.
Which areas do you cover?
John is based in Holloway, N7, and covers Islington and north London, including Highbury, Canonbury, Barnsbury, Stoke Newington, Camden, Kentish Town, Hackney and Crouch End.