8 Custom Joinery Homes That Inspire
Custom joinery can transform a living space, turning a standard room into something unique. 8 outstanding homes in the ELLE Decoration archive demonstrate what is possible when you are creative with timber, offering inspiration for homeowners looking to make a bold statement.
Freestanding joinery within a Victorian structure
A Victorian home with Grade II-listed status presents a specific set of challenges for modern design. Louis Hagen Hall solved this problem by creating freestanding joinery that sits within the original walls. The effect is described as ‘like a hand within a glove’, allowing the owner to remove all the custom elements at any point and return the home to its original state. This approach provides problem-solving at its most beautiful.
Clever storage in a penthouse setting
Located on the top of a former customs house, this property by DIIIP features a wealth of custom joinery. The design includes cupboards, benches, and bunks, all crafted using silver fir, a locally sourced timber. The knot-free grain of the wood creates a feeling of calm spaciousness, and is the perfect foil to pops of neon orange.
Related: John Pawson unveils rugs inspired by his farm
Functional design of the 1930s in Warsaw
Colombe Studio was inspired by the functional design of the 1930s and the work of architect Adolf Loos when creating the panelling and built-in storage that defines the look and mood of this Warsaw apartment.
A staircase as a sculpture
The spiral staircase was designed by Brown Brown Architects and crafted by the woodworkers at Scottish firm Angus+Mac. Its corkscrew-like spiral comprises 280 individually glued and nailed pieces of plywood. ‘We watched the woodworkers build it by hand, piece by piece,’ recalls Brown Brown Architects co-founder Russel Davies. ‘It’s a sculpture, a work of art.’
Bush modernism in Melbourne
Designed in 1969 by Alistair Knox, a largely self-taught designer, builder and setting architect, this home that sits between the Yarra River and the bush of the Warrandyte State Park shows his love of sustainable materials. The palette includes cedar, eucalyptus and spotted-gum timber, which architect Adriana Hanna has also used to create this modern built-in sofa.
Related: Restored 1880s Lodge Emerges as Australia’s Top Backpacker
Dinesen’s rewilded estate
Timber brand Dinesen’s reworked country estate is an ode to bespoke timber design. Danish architecture studio Mentze Ottenstein’s co-founders describe their approach to the country home of the Dinesen family as akin to ‘rewilding’. They have combined contemporary pieces like John Pawson’s collection for the brand alongside designs by Dinesen’s founder Hans Peter Dinesen.
Arts and crafts in Hampstead
A New Day studio’s Andrew Griffiths looked to British makers when creating the joinery for this home, which is complemented by furniture and lighting that also tapped local talent. They are, says Andrew, things that ‘feel natural, earthy and touched by the human hand’. The decision is one that’s thoughtful but also practical – pieces like the built-in cabinetry are ideal for containing family clutter.
An ancient maple tree in Toronto
The owners of this home bought the property chiefly because they fell in love with the maple tree in the back garden. It became the inspiration for the redesign of the tall, thin property by Reign Architects – one that required clever uses of space and bespoke joinery solutions to make it comfortable for a modern family.
