Why Choose Bespoke Joinery For Your Heritage Home?
By Emma Stergoulis & Eunice Aubert
22 July 2024
Heritage Homes, with their unique historical and architectural value, offer a distinct charm that many homeowners and designers cherish. This is often the reason why most of our clients renovating these properties, purchase them. However, one of the quirks of many properties built over 100-150 years ago was that they were not really built to the millimetre with perfectly rendered walls. Equally the years, ground movement and the location of the properties (for you coastal owners) has added to the imperfection - or what should we say; has given your property character. As such, renovating these properties requires a little more in the way of careful consideration to maintain their original appeal. There are no doubt a number of considerations but one of the main ones that we see with our clients as a critical aspect of such renovations, is choosing the right joinery. In this blog post, we’ll explore why bespoke joinery is the ideal choice over off-the-shelf solutions for heritage homes.
Understanding Your Heritage Home
Heritage homes are treasured for their historical significance and unique architectural features. Preserving these elements is essential to maintaining the home’s character and value. Common challenges in renovating heritage homes include ensuring structural integrity and aesthetic preservation while incorporating modern conveniences.
What Is Bespoke Joinery?
Bespoke joinery refers to custom-made joinery which is tailored to fit unique spaces and requirements. Unlike off-the-shelf solutions, bespoke joinery is crafted with superior skill and attention to detail. This allows the joinery to be designed specifically to match the original design and fit perfectly into the areas that they are to be placed. Whereas off-the-shelf is convenient and perceived to be a cheaper option from the outset, they are usually only available in set dimensions or modules meaning that they are more often than not incompatible with the older homes.
Image by Emma Stergoulis
So What Are The Benefits Of Bespoke Joinery?
Perfect Fit: Bespoke joinery ensures a perfect fit for irregular and unique spaces which are typical in heritage homes. This customisation can also help to maintain the home’s architectural integrity.
Authenticity and
Aesthetics: Custom joinery can replicate original designs and materials, preserving the home’s historical authenticity and enhancing its aesthetic appeal.
Quality and Durability: Bespoke joinery is made from high-quality materials and superior craftsmanship, ensuring long-lasting durability. Lets face it, not many of us can guarantee our flat pack skills and still sit there wondering if the 5 screws you have left over are going to show their relevance in a few months time.
Value Addition: Custom Joinery adds value to the property by enhancing its beauty and functionality, making it more attractive to potential buyers.
What Are The Limitations of Off-The-Shelf Joinery?
Off-the-shelf joinery often comes in standard sizes and designs that may not accommodate the unique dimensions and architectural details of heritage homes. Modern materials used in mass-produced joinery factories, may not match the original construction and the lack of customisation options can detract form the home’s overall aesthetic.
Case Studies
This is a discussion that we as designers have allot with clients. The cost of renovation is not cheap and we look for ways to cut costs. Ultimately the main advice that we give to clients is that they focus on putting their budget to the things which will add value and stand the test of time.
Joinery is usually a fixed part of the property and is not easy or cheap to update later down the track. Let’s put it this way; if it comes to spending extra money on joinery or a designer sofa then we would recommend the joinery. Good joinery will work for what you want, will add to the quality and value of your home and last you for years. To change due to later regreat down the line will end up costing you allot more. Whereas that sofa… well you can update that at any time and it doesn’t add value to your home.
VICTORIAN HOME - DARLING POINT, SYDNEY
The client was frustrated that the home did not have adequate storage in the bedroom. The previous owners had put in some-off-the-shelf “fitted” wardrobes. They where not fitted around the skirt and “packed” down the sides and internally to allow for the doors to open over the skirs. The biggest issue with this was that the internal drawers where shifted across so that in order to use the drawer to open, you had to open both doors fully.
When the client contacted me (Emma) to design the new cabinetry, she was worried that the only way that they would get more space would be to take the original Victorian fireplace out. As you can imagine, this is completely against my Interior Design religion!! But I mangaged to explain that if the joinery is done to fit the recessed space the increase of overall room space will be instant. This week I went on a site visit to see the bedroom and elegant bespoke made-to-fit wardrobes were there, the fireplace remained and the client was overjoyed at the extra space she had as a result.
THE CHAPEL - LLANDUDNO, NORTH WALES
The brief for this beautiful space was to create extra storage for an Annex adjacent to a space that would be re-instated as a Chapel for a private school. The space was left for years as a storage area. The annex had been converted into a multi-use space, one of which was a laundry space at the boarding school! The flooring was missing planks and the whole area was in a state of disrepair. For this particular space we had to come up with custom designed joinery to provide the much needed storage for storing books, microphone wires and the like to assist in the teaching that would happen in this space, as well as the Sunday Morning services that where to be led here for the students and staff in the boarding community.
Restoring this space had to be done in a very sympathetic way as this was a Grade I listed building. We started with restoring the floor and then covering it with board so we could preserve it and eventually tile over the existing floor. The walls where restored with lime stone render (what they used in the 1800’s) and painted with a breathable lime wash paint. We then restored all the architectural features that where missing and designed a built-in bench in the bay window, with storage drawers underneath. The challenge was to design and build it around the existing architectural features and moulding on the walls that could not be removed at all. The resulting outcome was a space that was aesthetically pleasing with joinery that looked liked it belonged there, and also provided everyone with much needed storage.
Choosing A Bespoke Joinery Specialist
When selecting a bespoke joinery specialist, consider the following:
Research: Look for skilled craftsmen who specialise in heritage homes.
Portfolio Review: Review their previous work to ensure their style aligns with your vision.
Collaboration: Work closely with the joinery specialist to ensure your renovation goals are met.
As interior designers we have worked with many joiners and have some great options for you through industry members and also experience, saving you the headache.
Conclusion
Transforming your heritage home with bespoke joinery ensures a perfect blend of historical charm and modern functionality. Custom-made solutions offer superior quality, authenticity, and value, making them the ideal choice for preserving and enhancing your heritage property. And while they may appear to be a much higher layout in terms of cost, the time value and the added value to your home far out weigh the initial pain of the cost. Ready to renovate, but feel a little overwhelmed? Why not tap into our wealth of knowledge and let us help you on your way or guide you through the whole project.
About Us
Emma Stergoulis is the Director of Emma Stergoulis Design. Based in Sydney Emma creates designs that honour the essence of you and your home's history helping to preserve your home’s charm whilst infusing modern elegance and practical design. Born in the UK, starting school in the Caribbean and moving to Sydney in 2001 has given her a wide understanding of many cultures, and climates. Originally studying law and entering the corporate world she stepped off of the ladder to follow her creative dream in 2017.
Eunice is the founder and Creative Director of EA Design . Having travelled extensively and living in numerous places including Hong Kong and Australia, these experiences have enhanced her deep appreciation for art, culture and the built environment. Coming from an art background, she’s always had an eye for design, which she actively started pursuing in 2016. Respectful of the architecture that was heralded before her, Eunice is skilled at creating environments that resonate with the era, yet tell the story of the people that occupy it now and into the future. She currently lives in North Wales with projects spanning across North Wales and other parts of the U.K.
