The joinery briefs we see in Wanstead
Wanstead and Wanstead Park between them are some of our most-served postcodes in East London. The housing stock is dominated by Edwardian semis and terraces with two consistent features: tall ceilings (often 2.8m+ in main reception rooms) and pronounced bay windows on the front elevation. Most of the projects we do here fall into three categories.
Fitted wardrobes in the master bedroom. Wanstead Edwardian semis typically have a generous master bedroom (3.5m wide is common) with a single wall behind the bed and a wardrobe wall opposite. We build floor-to-ceiling shaker wardrobes that use the full 2.8–3m ceiling height, with mixed interiors (hanging, drawers, shoes). The wardrobes we did at our Wanstead Park sliding-door project and the Forest Gate shoe-storage build are typical of what gets specified here.
Alcove units in the front reception room. Almost every Wanstead terrace has a fireplace on the chimney breast wall of the front room with two recesses either side. Those alcoves are 280–400mm deep, 600–900mm wide and rarely square. We build painted shaker alcove units — often full-height when the brief is closed storage, sometimes low cabinets with display shelves above when the chimney breast wants to stay visible.
Bay-window seating in the front bay. Wanstead Edwardian front bays are typically 1.8–2.2m wide with a splayed three-sided geometry. We build bench seats with drawer or lift-up storage, scribed to the existing skirting and architrave so the seat reads as original. Particularly common in the front bedroom of converted-flat units along Hermon Hill and Bushwood.
Conservation areas and listed buildings
Wanstead has a couple of Conservation Areas — Wanstead Park Avenue and the area around Christ Church on Wanstead Place. Conservation Area status affects external alterations (extensions, replacement windows, satellite dishes) but doesn’t normally constrain interior joinery work. Listed buildings are a different story; the few in Wanstead are Grade II and any internal alterations need Listed Building Consent. Bring the listing details to the survey and we’ll talk through what’s possible.
Recent work in Wanstead
Our most-photographed Wanstead project is the integrated media wall in a 1930s semi — a full-height cabinet structure with hidden cable management behind the TV. The same workshop team built the Wanstead Park sliding wardrobe the following year. Both projects together took the photography that ended up on our home page.
Areas immediately adjacent
We also cover Snaresbrook (E11) just up Eastern Avenue, South Woodford (E18) directly to the north, Leytonstone (E11) to the south, and Aldersbrook (E12) to the east.
