Alcove Cupboards - Alcove Shelving

Fill the gaps with our alcove solutions

Fitted shelf units are not only much sturdier but also look great. We have no restrictions and will work out a shelf design that perfectly houses your picture frames, ornaments, books, folders, CDs, DVDs, vinyl or iPhone charger if you’ve gone digital.

Alcove Shelving

We have over 13 years experience in creating and designing built in alcove shelves, wardrobes, cupboards, home offices and entertainment units in London. 

Our custom built in alcove units are designed exactly to your specifications. We have different built styles and finishes to choose from. One of our friendly and polite staff will meet with you and do a free design visit. 

Our expert and professional carpenters can build and install any alcove cupboard, alcove shelf unit or alcove wardrobe you wish.

built in bookshelves and cabinets in alcoves
floating shelves either side of a fireplace with built in cabinets and TV stand

Alcove Units

We call these “alcove units” and they’re truly iconic! The pair of cupboards either side of your fireplace with shelves above without a doubt are our most popular item. And for good reason too—you simply can’t buy them from a pre-made furniture store. 

They’re ALWAYS custom built—a very special item indeed. Hide stuff away in those cupboards, maybe make them a little deeper to hide even more in them. Carefully display photos and mementos on the shelves or line them up with your personal library. Either way, your fireplace is incomplete without them.

Contemporary Floating Shelves

Floating shelves are a popular item, and again they’re something that has to be done bespoke to be done right—we’re not interested in the pre-made option on brackets that sag out of position! Ours are solid and the fixings are all hidden. 

With their 5cm chunky look they have quite a modern contemporary look. We recommend spacing these out a bit in your alcoves as opposed to cluttering them too tightly together—much more of a display shelf than purely function.

floating alcove shelves in london
Built in alcove book shelves in a loft room

Bespoke Book Shelves & Libraries

Want to turn a whole room into a library? Or got a loft space that’s destined to be your perfect home study? Great! This is where you need us.

We can work with angled ceilings, we can think with shelf space utilisation and we can make your dream space a reality. We’ll use our 3D drawings to help ensure it is exactly how you want before rolling out with production.

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Sophie H
15. August, 2025.
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Absolutely wonderful from start to finish. The fitter and painter were a highlight for us as they were very respectful with our property and made sure to prepare the area well with dust sheets and plastic etc, they were lovely people, and the results were outstanding. Price was competitive. (Please note we chose and paid for our own handles, rather than the standard options). Will recommend to anyone!
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Annabel Alexander profile picture
Annabel Alexander
8. August, 2025.
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Great experience with Humphries Cabinets and above and beyond after-care service. We have had them back twice to build wardrobes, bookshelves and cabinets for us. We had mirrors fitted to our wardrobe doors, we managed to crack one tightening a screw too much. Humphries offered to replace it at cost, but in the end they didn’t charge us anything because a washer had been missing. The design, finish and look of everything is fantastic and we get lots of positive comments on them. Highly recommended
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Belinda C
21. May, 2025.
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
We had Humpries Cabinets build and paint two alcove units, as well as installing some floating shelves. Overall experience with the team was excellent. From design, project management to final build and paint, everyone was a delight to work with and they took a lot of care with their work.
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beastdude
17. May, 2025.
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
From initial rough sketch, to working out the details of measurements, finishes, handles, etc, and the final product(a built in floor to ceiling wardrobe) now built into my room, everything was really well done by all members of the Humphries Cabinets team, including the ones I didn't interact with. Very professional, understanding, and patient of any questions I had. Dariia was the first point of contact for me, working out visits and details both via email and phone. Paal did a very detailed job of taking the measurements around my room so that an accurate render can be made to show what the wardrobe will look like in my room. Marinal did an awesome job of confirming the final details, making sure if there were any changes to the design to be made and approved(such as adding a removeable shelf and a clothes hanging rail), again both via email and phone. Matiss worked very hard for a 1 man team on this project over two days to build and complete the wardrobe, making sure to be as clean as possible around the house, and tidying up along with vaccuming the work area to make sure he left a clean room once finished. I would say they are a little on the pricy side, but we had looked into a couple other carpenters and the prices were around the same, so in this case Humphries was the cheapest with also the best options for what we were after. We had gotten a flyer in the letter box, so I decided to check them out, and I'm glad I did. I'm very happy with the wardrobe, and would recommend Humphries Cabinets for anyone looking for a custom made fitted wardrobe, or other furniture their website showcases. I've added a few pictures to this review, the initial sketch, the area where the wardrobe was to go, and the finished wardrobe(which even has small rubber door stops to they close quietly, and soft closing hinges to also help with the quiet closing of the doors). I'm renovating the room, so don't mind the messy floor, it'll be covered with carpet.
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Wang Haolu
21. March, 2025.
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Great company. We ordered custom made under the bar shelves for the living area. The finish is great and the installation was very smooth. The carpenters Tinash and Ben were tidy and neat, left without any waste / dust.
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Rosie Cheltonr
8. March, 2025.
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Brilliant lounge cupboard, drawer and Shelves built understairs. Whole process very efficient, the plans were top notch and Humphries made sure everything was as I wanted it. The carpenter, Matiss was so tidy and even vacuumed the dust up from front garden as he did cutting there to save dust in the house. Very very happy customer.
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Phil Austin
13. February, 2025.
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Would give Humphries Cabinets 6 stars if was an option, from start to finish, they were perfect. From Vicky who came out and measured, to Marina who super quickly put up with our changes in design, to Matiss who professional installed the bookshelves in our alcove. Couldn't be happier with the whole process and result. Look no further if you're looking for shelves, cabinets, etc as Humphries was superb.
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M Masters
19. December, 2024.
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Humphries did an amazing job fitting wardrobes in our main bedroom. They were really communicative, helpful and didn’t leave any mess. Thanks to Dariia, Rory and Jordan!
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Adi Keinan-Schoonbaert
12. October, 2024.
Google star 1Google star 2Google star 3Google star 4Google star 5
Perfect perfect perfect! We had a second project transforming our bedroom and adding a bay window bench. It's all fits so beautifully. Many challenges were met in a highly professional way. Highly recommended!

Our painting methods:

By Hand

Our hand painting is done to a very high standard with the basic cutting in done by a brush and the final finish with a roller. 

  • Expertly painted; cutting in by hand, finished with a roller to create a perfect finish.
  • Every finish is available in hand painting. 

Spray Finish

Used to achieve a superior look, spray-painting creates a look of utter perfection with an easy up-keep. 

  • Flawless finish every time with multiple layers and sanding in between, this is an unbeatable standard. 
  • High durability making it wear-resistant and long-lasting. 
  • Available in satin or gloss.

The Quality of the paint used is of the absolute highest standard and durability and the method requires multiple coats with meticulous sanding in between each to achieve an overall immaculate finish.

Or Choose One of Our Wood Finishes:

oak wood finish
Varnished Real Oak
  • Deep, warm tones with hints of amber. Think home office, bookshelves and desks with warm leather accents. 
  • Our Oak veneer gives luxurious feel to any space. Oak is a medium warm wood and is hand-varnished with a clear satin resin to highlight its contrasting tones and reveal the depth in the wood. 
walnut finish
Varnished Real Walnut
  • Dark, dense tones with warm hues. A stunning finish to any piece. 
  • A sleek and sophisticated finish, perfect for every space. Creates a look of polished sophistication.