Bespoke Built-In Eaves Storage – Colchester
Project Overview
Location: Colchester
Project Type: Bespoke Built-In Eaves Storage for Home Office
Design Style: Contemporary Utility with Elegant Detailing
Timeline: 6 Weeks
Challenge: Creating functional long-hanging and cupboard storage within slanted eaves, while preserving usable floor space and achieving a refined, cohesive finish
The Vision
Our client came to Spires Interiors with a clear need: to transform an awkward, underutilised top-floor office into a practical, elegant space with built-in storage. The room sat within the eaves, with slanted ceilings and no existing cabinetry, making it difficult to visualise how long-hanging wardrobes or deep cupboards could work without compromising the room’s openness.
They wanted a solution that would combine bookcases, fitted cupboards, and long hanging space, all tailored to their family’s lifestyle. Most importantly, they hoped for a company that could manage the entire process with care, craftsmanship, and minimal disruption.
Design Challenge & Solution
Maximising Eaves Storage
Traditional fitted wardrobes often require bringing the hanging space far into the room, losing valuable depth behind. Our designer, Claude, proposed a clever solution: placing the cupboards at the front with a false back, creating a hidden zone behind for bulkier items, like suitcases, toys, and travel essentials. This unlocked deep, concealed storage while maintaining a clean, elegant façade.
Lighting & Motion Sensor Integration
To enhance usability and atmosphere, we installed a radiant LED strip light along the recess, activated by a motion sensor on the walk-in door. This added a layer of luxury and ensured the space felt welcoming and functional at all times.
Colour & Material Harmony
After an in-home colour consultation, the client opted for a rich, custom dark green paint finish, bringing depth and character to the cabinetry.
Design features include:
- Brushed brass handles for warmth and contrast
- Natural oak-coloured carcasses for a grounded, organic feel
- Tall hanging and shelving designed to fit seamlessly within the eaves
- Open bookcase for display and everyday access
Bespoke Joinery & Craftsmanship
Every element was custom-built to suit the room’s unique angles and the client’s specific needs:
- False-back cupboards for hidden bulk storage
- Integrated shelving and long-hanging space
- Custom paint finish and brass hardware
- Seamless joins and professional finishing throughout
- Clean, respectful installation with daily tidying and protective sheeting from entry to office
The Result
The once-awkward office is now a beautifully organised, multifunctional space that feels both expansive and intimate. The combination of open shelving and concealed storage offers flexibility, while the hidden zone behind the cupboards provides a discreet home for bulky items.
The client described the craftsmanship as “fantastic” and the installation process as “the cleanest we’ve ever had.” From the thoughtful design to the pristine finish, the space now supports their family’s daily life with ease and elegance.
What Made This Project Special
Smart Eaves Solution: Unlocking hidden depth with a false-back cupboard system that preserves floor space and maximises storage
Colour Confidence: Guiding the client toward a bold, bespoke colour choice that elevated the entire room
Client Experience: Seamless project management and respectful installation that exceeded expectations
Family Functionality: Creating a space that serves both practical needs and aesthetic aspirations
Services Provided
- Bespoke interior design consultation
- Custom joinery design and manufacture
- False-back cupboard system
- LED strip lighting with a motion sensor
- Hand-painted cabinetry with brass hardware
- Integrated shelving and long-hanging storage
- Project management and coordination
- Specialist craftsman installation
Why Choose Spires Interiors for Your Eaves Storage Project?
Creative Solutions: We specialise in unlocking tricky spaces with smart, elegant design
Attention to Detail: Every join, finish, and fixture is carefully considered
Client-Centric Service: From consultation to installation, we prioritise your experience
Craftsmanship You Can Trust: Built to last, with premium materials and expert hands
Timeless Design: Spaces that feel personal, purposeful, and enduring
Client Q & A:
Q: Tell us about the fitted office storage that we created for you. What did we do?
A: So, my office originally was just a very awkward space, it’s in the eaves on the top floor, so it’s got a slanted ceiling, and it was just a very big, open space with no storage. I wanted built-in fitted storage in the eaves that was a mix of bookcases, fitted cupboards, and a space for long hanging, but I was concerned about the long hanging. You usually have to bring it quite far into the room, meaning you lose quite a lot of the eaves behind it, so I didn’t really know how that would work for fitted wardrobes in eaves.
We went to the Spires Interiors showroom in Stanway, met with Claude, and he came up with the idea of having the fitted cupboards at the front and then having a false back, just full of storage behind it. There were actually some examples in the showroom of fitted wardrobe solutions that you had done before, and he showed us, which was brilliant, it meant we got all the fitted cupboard space we wanted.
We’ve now got this big, open space behind our fitted storage, where we keep our suitcases, kids’ toys, travel cot and all of those big clunky things.
Fitted Wardrobe Design & Colour Consultation
Q: How did we help with the office and fitted wardrobe interior design?
A: I originally thought I wanted quite neutral colours for the fitted storage. Because it was quite a bright room, and I wasn’t sure how it would look, but Claude came around and said he had the perfect colour for the fitted wardrobe units. Spires had just done some similar coloured fitted wardrobes. He showed us the videos, and we went for it, ending up with a stunning dark green colour for our fitted storage in the end. Claude was absolutely right. The fitted wardrobes look fantastic.
Finding the Right Fitted Storage Company
Q: How did you hear about Spires Interiors for your fitted storage project?
A: We wanted bespoke fitted storage, and we found you online. What we really wanted was someone to just manage the whole process – we didn’t want to have to arrange different tradespeople, we just wanted someone to completely project manage it.
Q: Why did you choose Spires Interiors for your fitted wardrobe and storage project?
A: We were really keen to use someone independent and local. We did have other nationwide companies come and quote and look, and we just felt that the sort of service and people you get with Spires Interiors was much better for bespoke fitted storage.
I liked the fact that they’re an independent place, and all the reviews online were obviously amazing.
Quality of Fitted Storage Craftsmanship
Q: About the quality of the fitted wardrobe craftsmanship, what stands out most?
A: It’s fantastic. I can’t rate the fitted storage quality highly enough. The finish on everything is excellent.
The Fitted Storage Installation Process
Q: What about the installation phase? How was your daily life during the process?
A: So there is obviously always disruption, but Spires did things I haven’t had before. Firstly, I would say, they’re the cleanest workmen we’ve ever had in a house!
Every day, they would vacuum after themselves and tidy up. And they put a plastic sheet all the way from the back door, up the stairs, all the way into the office, so literally every bit that they were going to be walking there was plastic sheeting over all the carpet, and they would just Hoover that every day.
And then when the job was finished, they literally ripped the plastic sheeting up, and the carpet was completely as it was before. So yes, it was disruptive, but they minimised it as much as they could.
Would You Recommend Our Fitted Storage Services?
Q: Would you recommend Spires Interiors to other people looking for fitted wardrobes or storage?
A: Yeah, obviously, I’ve already recommended them to our sister and brother-in-law for their fitted storage needs, so yeah, anyone in Essex or Suffolk looking for fitted wardrobes or bespoke storage, I would absolutely recommend, and obviously, we’ve got lots of families and friends in the area.
I wouldn’t even bother going anywhere else for fitted storage. Andrew and I are absolutely thrilled with the service and the results, and we will only use you guys now. At some point, we’ll want the kitchen done, so I’d definitely recommend Spires Interiors for any fitted wardrobe or storage project.
