City-centre terraces
Tall, narrow houses with chimney breasts, uneven walls and steep, tight staircases. Large pieces of furniture often cannot get up to the bedrooms.
Often suitsAlcove wardrobes, shaker doors, units made in sections
Local service · DH1 & County Durham
Fitted wardrobes in Durham, for city terraces and village homes
The older terraces in Durham have uneven walls, steep stairs and small, oddly shaped bedrooms. We design made-to-measure wardrobes that fit these rooms properly, for homeowners and landlords.
Lat 54.78° NLong 1.57° WPostcodes DH1 & County DurhamService Design · Supply · Install
Painted doors suit older rooms. Each panel is scribed to follow the line of the wall and ceiling.
Local service
Storage for Georgian and Victorian terraces
The centre of Durham sits on a loop of the River Wear, below the Cathedral and Castle. Streets such as Claypath, Gilesgate and Old Elvet are lined with Georgian and Victorian houses. They have plenty of character but very little built-in storage.
Rooms in these houses are rarely square. Walls lean, floors slope and the ceiling height can change from one side of a bedroom to the other. A made-to-measure wardrobe is scribed to every surface, so it sits tight to the wall with no gaps. The recesses beside a chimney breast also make good alcove wardrobes.
Most owners of older homes choose painted shaker or panelled doors, often finished with a simple cornice. Others prefer plain modern doors that contrast with the old walls. We talk through door styles and colours at the design visit, so you can decide what suits the room.
Homes we design for
Common homes and their storage problems
These are the homes we are asked about most in Durham, and how we usually plan for each one.
Student lets and shared houses
Several bedrooms of different sizes, and each one needs its own storage. Tenants need wardrobes that are simple to use and hard to damage.
Often suitsBuilt-in wardrobes with hard-wearing finishes
Colliery terraces and new estates
Former mining villages around the city have long rows of terraced houses. Newer estates, such as those at Bowburn, often have small second bedrooms and stair bulkheads.
Often suitsMade-to-measure units, sliding doors, bulkhead wardrobes
Wardrobe solutions
Wardrobe styles for older and newer homes
The styles homeowners and landlords ask about most. Each one is made to measure for your room.
Hinged Door Wardrobes
Painted shaker or panelled doors that open fully and suit Georgian and Victorian rooms.
Explore hinged door wardrobes
Alcove Wardrobes
Wardrobes built into the recesses beside a chimney breast, with shelves or a cupboard above.
Explore alcove wardrobes
Built-in Wardrobes
Wall-to-wall storage with hard-wearing finishes, a sensible choice for lets and family rooms.
Explore built-in wardrobes
Sloping Ceiling Wardrobes
Hanging space and drawers shaped to fit the attic rooms at the top of tall city houses.
Explore sloping ceiling wardrobes
Made to Measure Wardrobes
Units sized to the exact wall, including the space over a bulkhead in a new-build bedroom.
Explore made to measure
Fitted Bedroom Furniture
Matching desks, drawers and bedside units, useful in student rooms where floor space is short.
Explore fitted bedroom furniture
Photography on this page is licensed design-inspiration imagery. It shows styles and finishes, not installations completed by our team.
Installation coverage
Areas we cover in Durham and nearby villages
We fit wardrobes across Durham City, including Gilesgate, Belmont, Framwellgate Moor, Newton Hall and Neville’s Cross. We also cover villages such as Brandon, Langley Moor, Bowburn and Sherburn, and Chester-le-Street to the north.
Many streets in the city centre are steep and narrow, and some have little room for a van. We talk about parking, loading and stairs at the design visit, then plan fitting day around them. We also fit wardrobes in nearby Sunderland.
Neighbourhoods and nearby areas
- Gilesgate
- Elvet
- Neville’s Cross
- Framwellgate Moor
- Newton Hall
- Belmont
- Brandon
- Langley Moor
- Bowburn
- Chester-le-Street
Steep streets
We agree loading and parking with you before fitting day.
Narrow stairs
Wardrobes can be made in sections and put together in the room.
Several rooms
We can measure every bedroom in a house or let on one visit.
Nearby areas
We also design and install nearby
We also cover Newcastle upon Tyne and towns across Tyneside, Wearside and County Durham.
What wardrobes work best in a student let?
Simple, hard-wearing wardrobes with hanging space and a few shelves usually work best. Giving every bedroom similar storage also keeps things fair between tenants. Our built-in wardrobes make good use of awkward rooms in older Durham terraces.
Can you fit wardrobes between tenancies?
We try to. Student tenancies often change over in the summer, so tell us your dates as early as you can. We then plan the measure and fitting around them.
Can I have a fitted wardrobe in a listed house?
Often, yes, but check with Durham County Council before any work that affects the building. We can explain exactly how the wardrobe will be fixed, so you have the details for that conversation. Where we can, we scribe around original features rather than cutting into them.
Is a fitted wardrobe worth it in a small new-build bedroom?
Usually, yes. A fitted unit uses the full width and height of the wall, so you gain storage without losing floor space. Sliding doors also help in small rooms, because they need no space in front to open.
How long does a fitted wardrobe take?
It depends on the design and finish you choose. Allow a few weeks from signing off the design, then one or two days on site for a typical wall. Your quote sets out the expected timings.
How much does a fitted wardrobe cost?
The price depends on size, doors, finish and the fittings inside. We give an itemised quote after a free visit to your home in Durham. Our fitted wardrobe costs guide explains what affects the price before we meet.
Free design consultation
Book a free design visit
Tell us about your home or let in Durham. We’ll measure up, talk through the options and send a clear, itemised quote.
- Free home visit and precise measurements
- Design ideas tailored to your room
- A clear, itemised quote with no obligation