bespoke
Cabinet making and bespoke furniture
Cabinet making is furniture made to fit, usually in a workshop and then installed. Handmade cabinetry typically runs £400 to £900 per linear metre, and the figure depends far more on the door and the finish than on the carcass.
Typical price. £400 to £900 per linear metre for handmade cabinetry
What the job covers
- Freestanding and fitted cabinetry
- Dining tables and benches
- Window seats and banquettes
- Bar and utility furniture
- Restoration and matching of existing pieces
What is involved
A cabinet maker works from a cutting list rather than from the wall, which is the practical difference from a site carpenter. Carcasses are built and finished in the workshop where there is machinery, dust extraction and a spray booth, then delivered and scribed in. That produces a better finish than anything achievable in a bedroom, at the cost of a lead time that is usually four to ten weeks.
The decisions that move the price are the door style, the finish and the hardware. A slab door in sprayed MDF is the cheapest good option. A shaker door adds machining. An in-frame door, where the door sits inside a face frame rather than over it, is the most expensive because the tolerances are tight and every opening has to be square. Soft-close hardware from a known manufacturer costs more than unbranded and is the part most likely to be quietly downgraded in a cheap quote.
Choosing someone for the job
Ask to see the inside of a carcass, not just the front. Ask which hardware brand is quoted and hold them to it. Ask where the spraying happens, because a workshop finish and an on-site brush finish are different products at different prices.
Common questions
What is the difference between a carpenter and a cabinet maker?
A carpenter fits on site. A cabinet maker builds in a workshop to fine tolerances and then installs. Many people do both, but the workshop is what defines cabinet making.
How long does bespoke cabinetry take?
Four to ten weeks from sign-off, most of it workshop time. Installation is usually one to three days.
Is bespoke cheaper than high-end off the shelf?
Often comparable, and it fits the space exactly. It is not competitive with budget flat pack and should not be compared to it.
Can a cabinet maker match existing furniture?
Usually, given a sample or good photographs. Matching an aged finish is harder than matching a profile and is worth discussing early.