Bromley
Case Study
Two commissions, one home
Our relationship with this Bromley home began with a bespoke library, designed to house an extensive collection of books within traditionally styled painted cabinetry. Several years later, the clients invited us back, this time to create fitted wardrobes and a matching chest of drawers for their principal bedroom.
The two commissions are quite different in purpose, but both were designed with the character of the house in mind, combining traditional detailing with furniture tailored to the way each room is used.
The First Commission
The original library was designed around the clients' collection of books, with shelving spaced to accommodate their collection, providing generous space for volumes of varying sizes. Enclosed cupboards beneath the shelves offer additional storage, while the painted cabinetry follows the proportions and architectural detailing of the room.
A handmade walnut library ladder provides access to the upper shelves. Its specially designed hooking mechanism and bronzed brass fittings were developed as part of the commission, introducing a contrasting material and a distinctive element of craftsmanship.
Returning to Bromley
When the clients approached us again, the principal bedroom already contained a substantial arrangement of fitted wardrobes. The new commission presented an opportunity to reconsider the storage and its relationship with the room.
The original white cabinetry, with mirrored doors and storage above, was replaced with full-height wardrobes painted in Farrow & Ball's Card Room Green. Traditional panelled fronts complement the newly decorated interior, while a new cornice, made to match the existing plasterwork, continues across the face of the wardrobes, integrating the cabinetry into the room's architecture.
The bay window also offered an opportunity for a separate piece of furniture, designed to complement the wardrobes without interrupting the openness of the space.
Furniture Made for the Room
Behind the painted wardrobe doors, oak interiors provide a warm contrast to the exterior cabinetry. Hanging space, shelves and integrated drawers were arranged to accommodate different types of clothing, with discreet lighting illuminating the interiors when opened.
The external detailing was kept consistent across the installation, from the proportions of the panelled doors to the dark metal knobs and cup handles. The cabinetry extends towards the ceiling, making use of the available height while respecting the room's existing architectural features.
Together, the wardrobes provide substantial storage within a continuous arrangement of furniture that sits comfortably alongside the bedroom's traditional detailing.
Details from the Workshop
Alongside the fitted wardrobes, we designed and made a chest of drawers for the bay window, finished in the same Card Room Green and topped with Verde Alpi marble.
The chest incorporates specially arranged compartments for watches, jewellery and personal accessories. Made with oak dividers and soft-lined interiors, these drawers required careful consideration of the size and placement of each compartment.
A photograph taken in our workshop shows the chest before installation, with its marble top in place and a drawer open to reveal the internal compartments. Much of this detail is concealed once the furniture is complete, but it remains an important part of how the piece functions.
A Continuing Relationship
The library and bedroom furniture were commissioned several years apart, each responding to the particular requirements of its room.
The library provides a home for a treasured collection of books, while the bedroom's bespoke wardrobes bring together fitted storage, a freestanding chest and individually arranged compartments for everyday belongings.
Returning to the same house allowed us to build upon an established relationship with the clients, creating another collection of furniture intended to remain part of their home for years to come.
