Dulwich is full of period homes with character, and many of them come with a feature that’s easy to overlook: the alcoves either side of the chimney breast. They’re often treated as awkward dead space, but with the right approach they can become some of the most useful storage in the house. Here are a few assumptions worth rethinking.
“Alcoves are just awkward gaps you have to live with”
Alcoves are a feature of many Victorian and Edwardian homes, and they tend to be one of the first things people struggle to furnish. Historic England’s guide to Conserving Georgian and Victorian terraced housing is aimed at owners planning changes to older homes and explains what makes these buildings special, which is a useful starting point before deciding how to make the most of spaces like these.
“You need to understand the house’s history to work with it”
You don’t need to be a historian, but knowing a little about how your street was built helps when you’re planning fitted furniture. Bell House in Dulwich runs local history talks with the Dulwich Society, covering the architectural and social history of the area, and they’re a good way to learn about the kind of property you’re living in.
“Fitted wardrobes are just wardrobes cut down to size”
Period walls are rarely perfectly straight, and alcoves are rarely perfectly square, which is why off-the-shelf units often leave gaps or look awkward. Specialists such as Langley Carpentry build alcove wardrobes in Dulwich to fit the space as it actually is, rather than as it’s supposed to be on a plan.
“Any change to a Dulwich home needs permission”
It depends on the change. The Dulwich Estate’s Scheme of Management requires freehold owners to get prior approval before altering the external appearance of a property, among other things. Fitted furniture inside a room is a different matter, but if you’re unsure where your project sits, it’s worth asking the Scheme of Management Office before work starts.
“It doesn’t matter who builds it, as long as it fits”
The quality of the joinery decides how long fitted furniture lasts and how it looks. The British Woodworking Federation is the UK trade association for the woodworking and joinery industry and lists members offering bespoke joinery, which can help you compare who’s making what.
Alcoves don’t have to be wasted space. Done properly, fitted storage makes the most of what a period home already has, and it keeps the character of the room intact.
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