Alcove Units, Built-in Shelving & Bookcases, Eastbourne

The alcoves either side of a Victorian chimney breast are rarely square and never the same width. Built-in cupboards and shelves fill them properly, from the skirting to the picture rail, and give you back the floor space a freestanding bookcase eats.

We also build whole library walls, home offices with a desk built between the cupboards, and floating shelves on hidden brackets in oak, walnut or live-edge timber.

Tell us what the shelves will hold. Books, vinyl, a printer and a row of box files all need different depths, and we build to suit.

What we build

Alcove cupboards with shelves above
Floor-to-ceiling library walls
Home office walls with a built-in desk
Floating shelves in oak, walnut and live-edge timber
Pantry and larder shelving
Shelving for awkward corners and curved walls

Alcove units & shelving we've made

Long run of floor-to-ceiling white bookshelves over a dark oak floor — Floor-to-ceiling library wall along a living room

Dark navy built-in cupboards with shelves above, either side of a chimney breast with abstract artwork — Navy alcove cupboards with open shelving above

Navy blue fitted home office with a built-in desk between cupboards and full-width bookshelves above — Home office wall: desk, cupboards and library shelving in one piece

Wall-width built-in unit with staggered open shelves above low cupboards, painted pale blue — Fitted shelving and cupboard unit in duck-egg blue

Tall black built-in shelving unit covering a wall — Full-height shelving painted black

Pine shelving unit fitted into a narrow alcove on a landing — Landing alcove turned into shelving

Cream shelves running around a curved living room wall behind a large corner sofa — Shelving that follows the curve of a bay room

Thick live-edge timber shelf floating on a white wall with a vase of daffodils — Live-edge floating shelf on hidden brackets

Three floating shelves with birch-ply edges held by rough-sawn vertical timbers — Floating shelves with timber uprights

Cream painted bookcase packed with books, built into a room corner up to the ceiling — Painted bookcase built to ceiling height

What customers say

All reviews

4.9

out of 5 from 16 reviews on Facebook and Bark. 15 of them are five stars.

“Very quick to respond to my request. Made the shelving unit within specified time and delivered it with no fuss. Quality workmanship. Will definitely use again. Many thanks, very pleased!”

Phillip S. · Bark, September 2022

I honestly can’t rave about Lewis and CustomBuild Carpentry enough. From first contact to finished job, Lewis has been a pleasure to work with. I loved how he gave his professional input and helped me bring my vision to life. He even let me get involved! It’s made our house feel so homely.

Stacey L. · Facebook, April 2022

Alcove units & shelving: questions

How much weight will floating shelves hold?

It depends on the wall. Solid brick takes far more than a plasterboard stud wall. We check the wall at the visit and pick the fixings to suit, and we tell you what a shelf is safe to hold.

Can you match an existing unit?

Usually, yes. Send a photo with the enquiry and we will match the door style, moulding and paint colour as closely as the materials allow.