Chester ThomasBespoke Furniture

Solihull

Bespoke Under Stairs Storage in Solihull

Cabinetry drawn to the actual rake of the staircase, not a stock unit trimmed down until it fits.

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Bespoke Cabinetry for Solihull homes

A larger kitchen extension or an opened-up hallway in Solihull often leaves the space under the stairs as the one area nobody has quite worked out what to do with. It is deep at one end, barely usable at the other, and rarely square to the rest of the room. We treat that awkward geometry as the starting point for the design rather than a problem to be minimised, drawing the cabinetry to the surveyed rake of the stair string so every door and drawer front follows the true line above it.

In an open-plan renovation where the hallway now runs into a kitchen or living space, under-stairs storage is frequently asked to do more than hold coats. Households want somewhere for cleaning equipment, recycling, shoes, bags and children's outdoor kit, all kept out of sight from an open living area rather than tucked behind a single flat door. We divide the cavity into zones sized for what will actually go in them, rather than one deep cupboard that turns into a single pile at the back.

Pull-out drawers do more work than hinged doors in this kind of space, because they bring the full depth of an awkward triangular cavity out to where it can be seen and reached. We specify heavy-duty runners rated for the drawer's loaded weight, particularly toward the tall end of the stair where a drawer front can still be a reasonable size even as the depth behind it shrinks. Getting the runner selection right at the outset avoids a drawer that sags or catches once it is loaded with shoes or files.

Door proportions matter as much here as anywhere else in the house, and under stairs work is unforgiving of a design drawn without reference to the stair line itself. A door cut square against a sloping ceiling looks wrong the moment it is hung, however neatly it was measured. We set the top edge of each door and drawer front to follow the rake precisely, so the run reads as one deliberate design rather than a series of separately fitted panels.

The cabinetry is built in our Derbyshire workshop from a template taken on site, then fitted by the same team that designed it, so any final adjustment to a hallway wall that is slightly out of true is made by the people who understand why it matters.

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Working in Solihull

Solihull's contemporary renovations and larger kitchen extensions often open up the hallway as part of a wider remodel, which is usually when the space under the stairs stops being wasted and starts being designed. We size the storage for what a busier, more open household actually needs to keep near the front door, rather than assuming every home wants the same cupboard.

Design considerations

Stair string profile
The exact profile and pitch of the stair string is surveyed and used to set the angle of every door and drawer front.
Diminishing depth
Storage is planned to work with the reducing depth of the cavity rather than treating the whole run as one uniform box.
Drawer versus door access
Pull-out drawers are used where full-depth access matters; doors are used where a shelf arrangement suits the space better.
Loaded weight of runners
Runner capacity is matched to what each drawer will realistically carry, including shoes, files or cleaning equipment.
Out-of-true walls
Hallway walls are checked for line and level before manufacture, with scribed panels used to close any resulting gaps.
Push-to-open hardware
Handle-free opening mechanisms are specified where a continuous, uninterrupted hallway elevation is wanted.

What can be included

  • 01

    Surveyed to the stair rake

    Every door and drawer top edge is set to the actual pitch of the staircase above it, measured on site rather than assumed.

  • 02

    Heavy-duty drawer runners

    Runners specified to the loaded weight of each drawer, particularly toward the taller end of the cavity.

  • 03

    Zoned internal layout

    The cavity divided into sections for shoes, coats, cleaning equipment and household items rather than one open space.

  • 04

    Push-to-open cabinetry

    Handle-free doors and drawers specified where a clean run is wanted along a hallway wall.

  • 05

    Angled and raking end panels

    Cabinet ends cut to the true triangular geometry of the space rather than boxed off square.

  • 06

    Shoe and coat storage

    Racks, hooks and shelving sized for the household's actual volume of everyday outdoor items.

  • 07

    Scribed fit to hallway walls

    Cabinetry scribed to out-of-true walls so gaps do not open up along the back or side of the run.

  • 08

    Depth-matched interiors

    Shelving and drawer depths set individually along the run to suit the diminishing depth as the stair rises.

We survey and measure at the property, then design around the room as it is actually built.

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Materials & finishes

Specifications are developed with you during the design stage and sampled before anything is built. Nothing here is a fixed range; we will say so where a material is the wrong choice for the room or the way it is used.

  • Painted or timber-veneered cabinetry

    Finished to match or deliberately contrast with adjoining hallway joinery.

  • Heavy-duty soft-close drawer runners

    Rated to the loaded weight of shoes, files or equipment stored in each drawer.

  • Push-to-open door and drawer mechanisms

    Fitted where a handle-free hallway elevation is wanted.

  • Scribed solid timber end panels

    Cut to the true angle of the stair string and any out-of-true wall behind it.

  • Adjustable interior shelving

    Set to varying depths along the run to suit the diminishing cavity.

How the work is done

We survey the stair string, the hallway walls and the true depth of the cavity before drawing the cabinetry, so the design fits the room as it actually is rather than as a standard cupboard would assume it to be. Our full approach, from initial visit to fitted installation, is set out at the process page.

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Our published case studies show completed commissions in detail, from the brief through to installation.

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Bespoke Cabinetry in Solihull — your questions answered

Design

How is under stairs storage designed around an awkward shape?
We survey the stair string and the surrounding walls first, then draw cabinetry that follows the true pitch of the stairs rather than boxing the space off square. Doors and drawer fronts are set to the actual rake, and the internal layout is divided into zones sized for what will realistically be stored, so the finished result uses the awkward geometry rather than fighting it.
Can the storage include both drawers and cupboards?
Most under stairs designs combine pull-out drawers where full-depth access is useful, such as shoes or files, with hinged doors where a simple shelf arrangement suits the space better. We plan the split between the two based on what the household needs to store and how the depth of the cavity changes along its length.
Will the doors line up with the stairs above them?
The top edge of each door and drawer front is set to follow the surveyed pitch of the stair string, so the run reads as one considered design rather than a series of separately fitted panels. Getting this line right depends on an accurate site survey before manufacture begins, which is why we always measure the actual staircase rather than working from a standard angle.
Can shoe and coat storage be included in the same unit?
Shoe racks, hanging space and hook rails can all be built into the same run of cabinetry, arranged into separate zones so coats do not end up piled on top of shoes. We size each zone for the household's actual volume of everyday items rather than assuming a fixed proportion for every home.

Materials

What finish works best for hallway storage under the stairs?
Painted or timber-veneered cabinetry can be matched to existing hallway joinery or specified as a deliberate contrast, depending on how visible the run is from the rest of the house. We agree the finish once we know how the storage sits within the wider hallway design.
Why does the drawer runner specification matter here?
A drawer under the stairs is often deeper and more heavily loaded than a typical hallway drawer, particularly toward the taller end of the cavity where a full-size drawer front can still be fitted. We specify runners rated to that loaded weight so the drawer continues to glide smoothly rather than sagging once it holds shoes, files or cleaning equipment.
Can push-to-open mechanisms be used throughout?
Push-to-open hardware works well on doors and drawers along a hallway wall where a clean, handle-free elevation is wanted, though we sometimes recommend a handle on the most frequently used drawer, since a mechanism used many times a day can feel less positive than a handle over time. We discuss which approach suits your daily use of the space.

Installation

How do you deal with a hallway wall that is out of true?
Most hallway walls have some variation in line or level over their length, which is measured during the site survey and taken up behind the cabinetry with a scribed filler or end panel rather than showing as a visible gap. This keeps the doors and drawer fronts sitting flush and consistent even where the wall behind them is not perfectly straight.
Is the staircase disturbed during installation?
The staircase itself is not altered; cabinetry is built to fit against the existing stair string and surrounding walls rather than requiring structural changes to the stairs. Installation is carried out by the same team that designed and manufactured the unit, so any final adjustment on site is made by people who understand the original design intent.

Practical

How much storage can realistically fit under a domestic staircase?
This depends on the height of the stairs, the depth of the cavity and how far it extends along the hallway, so we assess it on a case-by-case basis during the site survey rather than quoting a standard capacity. Dividing the space into zones for shoes, coats, cleaning equipment and other items generally makes better use of the volume than one open cupboard.
Can cleaning equipment be stored alongside coats and shoes?
A separate zone with its own door or drawer can be built in specifically for cleaning equipment, kept apart from coats and shoes so nothing gets marked or tangled. We plan this division at drawing stage once we know what the household wants to keep in the space.
What happens to the space right at the low end of the stairs?
The shallowest end of the cavity, where the ceiling meets the floor, is usually too low for hanging or drawer storage but can still be used for flat items such as shoe trays or low shelving, accessed through a smaller door sized to that part of the run. We plan the layout so this low section still contributes rather than being sealed off entirely.

Cost & quotations

What affects the cost of under stairs storage?
Cost depends on the internal layout, the balance of drawers to doors, the finish specified, hardware such as push-to-open mechanisms, and the complexity of the stair geometry and hallway walls, rather than a single fixed price for the space. Get in touch through the contact page so we can discuss your staircase and what you want to store.
Is a drawer-based design more expensive than a cupboard with doors?
Drawers generally involve more manufacturing than a simple hinged door, since each one needs its own runners, sides and front matched to a varying depth along the run, so a drawer-heavy design can cost more than an equivalent cupboard. The right balance depends on how you want to use the space, which we discuss once we understand your storage needs.

Chester Thomas

Do Chester Thomas design under stairs storage in Solihull?
We design, manufacture and install under stairs storage for households across Solihull and the wider Midlands from our single Derbyshire workshop, rather than operating a local branch. Each project starts with an on-site survey of the actual stair string and hallway, since the angles and wall lines involved vary from house to house and cannot be worked out from a description alone.

Related bespoke services

Part of our wider work

Nearby areas

Speak to us about your bespoke cabinetry in Solihull on 07542 822456, email info@chesterthomas.com or send us the details.

Angled view of a navy painted drinks wall with lit oak wine racking, open shelving and panelled cupboards beneath a marble-effect counter

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