Bespoke joinery introductions in London.
Fitted joinery is where the quality of a refurbishment is most visible and most often touched: wardrobes, libraries, kitchens, panelling, doors and staircases. Epelle & Co. introduces independent joinery workshops suited to the piece, the finish and the way it will be designed.
We do not make, design or install joinery. Workshops contract directly with the client, designer or main contractor who appoints them.
What joinery packages usually cover
A package can be as small as a single bookcase or as large as every fitted element in a house: wardrobes and dressing rooms, media walls, kitchen and pantry cabinetry, window seats, wall panelling, internal doors and architraves, and feature staircases.
Most packages pass through the same stages: a site survey, shop drawings for approval, material and finish samples, workshop manufacture, then delivery and installation once the room is ready. The handover between the main contractor's work and the joiner's fitting is a frequent source of delay if it is not planned.
Which workshops suit which work
Furniture-grade workshops
Small makers working in solid timber and fine veneers for statement pieces and close tolerances.
Architectural joiners
Larger shops producing doors, panelling, staircases and repeat items across a whole house.
Kitchen makers
Specialists in cabinetry, worktop coordination and appliance integration.
What to prepare
- Design drawings or reference images, and who is responsible for the design
- Room dimensions or a note that a survey is needed
- Preferred materials, finishes and ironmongery
- Where the main build will be when joinery needs to be fitted
- Whether the joiner is appointed by you, your designer or your contractor
- A budget range for the package
Common pitfalls
- Fixing room dimensions before the joiner has surveyed the finished walls
- Approving shop drawings without checking services, sockets and lighting positions
- Not agreeing protection of finished joinery while other trades complete
- Leaving lead times out of the overall programme
- Comparing prices for different materials or levels of finish
How we approach a joinery enquiry
We consider the type of piece, the design status and who will hold the contract. We then identify workshops whose recent work matches the material, finish and scale, confirm their interest, and introduce them with your agreement. Interior designers and contractors use this route as often as homeowners.
Materials, finishes and samples
Joinery decisions are easier with samples in hand. Solid timber, veneered board, lacquer, oil and painted finishes all behave differently over time and in different light. Ask each workshop to show finished samples in the materials proposed, and to explain how they will age in a sunny room, a steamy bathroom or a busy kitchen.
Ironmongery deserves the same attention. Hinges, runners, handles and push-to-open mechanisms are used every day, and cheaper fittings are often the first thing to fail. Agree the specification as part of the quotation rather than leaving it to the workshop's default.
Ask also how the workshop deals with uneven floors, walls and ceilings, which are common in older London houses. Scribing and site adjustment are part of a good installation and should be allowed for in the price.
Lead times and programme
Joinery is made off site, so drawings must be approved well before the room is ready. Ask each workshop how long it needs from approved drawings to installation, and build that into the overall programme. Bespoke joinery often has long lead times, so it should be designed and ordered early to avoid holding up completion.
- 1. Review
We read your brief and ask what we need to understand it.
- 2. Qualify
We check budget, decision-maker and timing are in place.
- 3. Source
We identify a small number of potentially suitable firms.
- 4. Introduce
With both sides' agreement, we make a direct introduction.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you introduce a joiner to my interior designer or builder rather than to me?
- Yes. We introduce the joiner to whoever will appoint them, with your agreement.
- Do joinery workshops design the pieces themselves?
- Some offer design. Others make from a designer's drawings. We ask which you need.
- Will the joiner install as well as make?
- Most workshops install their own work. The arrangement is agreed with them directly.
- Is there a minimum size of joinery package?
- No fixed minimum, but introductions are most useful where the package justifies a dedicated maker.
Next step
Enquiries are free and reviewed individually. Epelle & Co. makes introductions only. It does not design, build, project-manage or guarantee work; appointed parties contract directly with the client. See our Privacy Notice.