Floating Shelves & Alcove Units
Bespoke Floating Shelves and Alcove Units
Alcoves and recesses are some of the most useful spaces in a home - when they are properly fitted.
Making the Most of Your Alcoves
The alcoves either side of a chimney breast are one of the most common features in British homes - and one of the most underused. Freestanding bookcases never quite fit. Off-the-shelf shelving leaves gaps at the sides and top. The result is a space that looks unfinished no matter what you put in it.
Bespoke alcove units and floating shelves change that completely. Built to the exact dimensions of your alcove - to the millimetre - they fill the space from wall to wall and floor to ceiling with no gaps, no wobble and no compromise. The result looks as though it was always part of the house.
Design Options
Open Floating Shelves
Simple, clean and effective. Floating shelves span the full width of the alcove with no visible brackets or supports. They are ideal for displaying books, ornaments and photographs. We can set the spacing to suit what you plan to display - taller gaps for art books, tighter gaps for paperbacks.
Alcove with Closed Base
A closed base cabinet below open shelving gives you the best of both worlds - display space above and concealed storage below. The base cabinet can include shelves, drawers or a combination of both. This is our most popular alcove configuration for living rooms.
Full-Height Alcove Units
A full-height unit fills the alcove from floor to ceiling with a combination of open and closed sections. Doors can be flat-panel, shaker-style or slab-fronted depending on the style of the room. This option provides the most storage and gives the alcove a substantial, furniture-like presence.
Fitted Library Shelving
For homes with larger alcoves or full walls to fill, we build fitted library shelving that spans the entire wall. Adjustable shelves, a rolling ladder rail and integrated lighting can all be included. This works particularly well in studies, home offices and living rooms where books are a central feature.
More Media Wall Services
TV Feature Walls
Custom built TV wall units that hide every cable, provide smart storage and become the centrepiece of your living room.
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Media Walls with Fireplace
Combine your television, fireplace and storage into a single bespoke built-in unit. No chimney required.
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Media Walls with Storage
Integrated cabinets, shelving, drawers and display units built into a single wall. Designed for your living room.
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Gaming & Entertainment Units
Custom built gaming and entertainment units with dedicated console storage, cable management and display space.
Learn moreQuestions About Floating Shelves and Alcove Units
Yes. We can match the colour, sheen and profile of existing skirting boards, architraves and other woodwork in the room. We spray-paint all our units in our workshop, so the finish is smooth, even and durable - far better than hand-painting on site.
Yes. Our floating shelves are built with a concealed steel bracket system fixed directly into the wall. Each shelf is designed to handle the weight of a full row of hardback books. We calculate the load based on the span and depth of the shelf and specify the bracket accordingly.
Yes. We frequently build alcove units that incorporate a recessed TV section above the fireplace or at eye level. The TV is mounted on a concealed bracket with all cables running behind the unit. The surrounding shelving and storage frame the screen and give the whole wall a built-in, designed look.