Fine Finishes
Joinery finishes
Fitted joinery is handled more than almost anything else in a house, and seen at arm’s length under good light. Finishing or repainting it well starts with knowing exactly what it is made of.
What we finish
Kitchens, wardrobes, dressing rooms, bookcases, window seats, radiator covers and panelled storage: both new joinery that arrives primed or unfinished and existing joinery being repainted in a new colour. The Chelsea mansion apartment shows this work alongside the rooms around it.
What can be painted
Solid timber, MDF and sound existing paint take a new finish well once cleaned, keyed and primed. Factory lacquers vary, so we test adhesion on a hidden area before committing. Foil- and vinyl-wrapped doors and some laminates are much less reliable, and we would rather advise replacing the doors than paint something likely to peel. Kitchens are degreased thoroughly first, since cooking residue is often invisible and undermines adhesion.
In situ or off-site
Finishing in place keeps the room largely usable and suits carcasses, end panels and fixed joinery, with everything around them masked and dust controlled. Taking doors and drawer fronts off-site to a spray booth gives a clean, controlled environment and a very even finish, but leaves the cabinetry without its fronts for a period. Many projects combine the two. Two-pack lacquers containing isocyanates belong in a properly controlled booth, never in a home; see spray finishes.
Sheen, handles and curing
Matt and low-sheen finishes suit most contemporary cabinetry; a satin wipes clean more easily in a working kitchen. Handles and hinges are refitted once the paint is hard enough, and doors are used gently for the first couple of weeks while it reaches full hardness, as the data sheet describes. For the most demanding surfaces, see premium surface finishing.
Common questions
Will the kitchen be out of action?
Partly. With doors finished off-site, the carcasses stay in use while the fronts are away; with in-situ work, we mask and phase so the sink and hob can be used at the end of most days. The programme sets this out before we start.
Can you match the colour of our existing kitchen?
Yes, from the paint reference if you have it, or by having paint mixed to match a sample from an inconspicuous surface such as the inside of a door. A sample door or panel lets you approve the match in the kitchen’s own light before the full run.
Discussing joinery finishes?
Tell us about the property and the rooms involved. We will visit, look closely at the surfaces and prepare a written quotation.
Request a quotation