Richmond upon Thames · London
Window Seats in Richmond upon Thames
We make window seats for homes in all 19 neighbourhoods we list across Richmond upon Thames, designed after a visit and made in our workshop., with a design visit before any quote, and fitting on weekdays or Saturdays by arrangement.
Talk to us about window seats in Richmond upon Thames
Where we work in Richmond upon Thames
We design, make and fit window seats for homes of every age. The lists below link to a page for each place, or get in touch to arrange a design visit.
Larger neighbourhoods
What else we make in Richmond upon Thames
- Fitted wardrobes
- Fitted home offices
- TV and media units
- Bespoke kitchens
- Walk-in wardrobes
- Built-in bookshelves
- Fitted cupboards
- Wall beds
- Under-stairs storage
- Loft storage
- Alcove units
Postcode districts
Window seats across Richmond upon Thames: what to expect
Many windows have a radiator beneath them. A seat built over a radiator needs a grille or an open front, so the heat is not trapped. We design the grille into the front of the seat and leave space around the radiator. We will look at your radiator at the measuring visit in Richmond upon Thames. We make window seats from birch ply and moisture-resistant MDF, painted by hand or sprayed, and the usual reasons to get in touch are nowhere to keep blankets, toys or books and wanting a seat without blocking the radiator.
Furniture made in a workshop still has to meet the room it is going into, and that happens on fitting day. Few walls in older London homes are truly flat or square, so we scribe the edges by hand to follow the wall. How long the fitting itself takes depends on the shape of the bay or recess and what goes under the seat, and your quote sets out the fitting days.
- You send us a note about the window and the seat you’d like.
- At the design visit we agree the seat and talk about colour, with a choice of spray painting or hand painting.
- A written quote follows, with the finish written in.
- The seat is made at our workshop from moisture-resistant MDF and birch plywood; a spray-painted finish is done there for a smooth, even surface.
- We fit it in your home, and a hand-painted finish is applied in the room.
- Fresh paint takes a while to cure, so go gently with the seat and lids at first.
What affects the price in Richmond upon Thames
Rooms that are not square take more work: walls that lean, floors that slope and sloping ceilings all mean more scribing and cutting. That’s reflected in the quote, written once we have measured up.
Why choose Bespoke Carpentry
- Saturday visits and fitting by prior arrangement
- Workshop-made and fitted by us
- Every London borough and the City of London covered
- Built around your room
Getting a quote
To get a quote for window seats in Richmond upon Thames, use our contact form. Let us know the room and the rough idea. Next comes a design visit, followed by a written quote.
Landmarks near Twickenham
Around Twickenham, we cover homes near The Cabbage Patch pub, St Richard Reynolds Catholic Primary School and Marble Hill Park. Other local landmarks include Richmond upon Thames School (a few minutes’ walk north) and St Richard Reynolds Catholic High School (a few minutes’ walk east). The closest station to Twickenham is Twickenham station, about 0.5 miles north-east. Other landmarks nearby include South Middlesex Hospital (0.6 miles north) and Treaty Centre (1.8 miles north-west). Not far away are Ham Lands.
Fitted storage across Richmond upon Thames
Homes across Richmond upon Thames are full of odd corners, from stair voids to loft eaves. Window seats are drawn up for the space you have.
About 38% of the homes in Richmond upon Thames went up before 1919, and about 24% between 1919 and 1939, on the Valuation Office Agency’s council tax figures for 2025. Knowing roughly when a home was built helps, because walls and fixings change from one era to the next. Of the 19 places we have local pages for in Richmond upon Thames, 9 have their centre inside a conservation area, going by Historic England’s records. Conservation area controls are mostly concerned with the outside of buildings, so fitted furniture inside a house does not normally need planning permission.
We work across all 32 London boroughs and the City of London, and Richmond upon Thames is part of that. Every job starts the same way, with a design visit to measure and discuss the design.
Twickenham: Richmond House, about 0.5 miles east, is one of the historic houses in the wider area. If your own home is a period one, a seat under a sash window can keep shutters and cills clear. For families living near St Richard Reynolds Catholic Primary School, a place for each person’s coat and shoes stops the hallway filling up.
Pricing window seats in Richmond upon Thames
A few things affect what fitted furniture costs:
- Whether you choose a spray or hand-painted finish
- How many doors and drawers there are
- Where a van can park, such as a permit bay or a bay suspension
- The width and height of the space
Access to the room makes a difference too. Narrow halls, tight stairs or a small lift may mean the furniture is made in more sections, which the quote allows for. There’s no price list: each design is priced in writing after we’ve seen the space.
What to send when you contact us
What helps most when you first contact us:
- Pictures of the whole wall or room, including the floor and ceiling
- Whether it is a house or a flat, and if there are stairs or a lift
- The postcode, so we can plan the visit
- Examples of the look you are after
We quote once we have seen the room. At the visit, we measure, look at the walls and floors and go through the design with you, and the written quote comes after. Every piece is quoted for your room after the design visit. To arrange a visit, get in touch through our contact form.
Boards, parts and paint
Lift-up lids
With a lift-up lid, the whole space beneath the seat opens up. It suits blankets, toys and things you do not need every day. The lid is made to lift and close cleanly.
Birch plywood
A window seat needs to be sturdy. That is why we use birch plywood for the frame and top. It is also good for drawer boxes.
Do you need window seats?
The radiator beneath a window can make it tricky to put furniture there. A built-in seat with a grille lets the heat out while making the space useful. It solves the problem of what to do with the space.
Some of the things we’re asked to solve are these:
- A sash window with space beneath it going to waste
- A bay with no furniture that fits
- A radiator under the window getting in the way
- A period room that needs furniture to suit it
Bespoke or off-the-shelf?
Ready-made benches are made in fixed widths and depths. Bespoke seats are made to the size of the space, so nothing is wasted, with drawers, a lift-up lid or a mix below.
Before you hire any carpenter
- Will the doors close with even gaps?
- Are the boards named, like MDF or plywood?
- Real projects you can actually look at
- How the furniture will be finished, and where
When is bespoke worth it?
It’s worth being honest about cost: off-the-shelf furniture typically costs less up front. Bespoke makes more sense where the room is awkward, the space is valuable or you want the furniture to look built in.
Bespoke work comes into its own in rooms that are not square. In period homes, walls lean, floors slope and the alcoves on each side are often different widths.
Questions from Richmond upon Thames
Does someone need to be home during the fitting?
We need someone to let us in. It’s good to have someone there at the end to look over the work with us.
Should I send photos?
Yes, they help. Pictures of the whole wall or room, including the floor and ceiling, give us a good idea of the space, particularly with rough measurements. To send them, fill in our short enquiry form.
Can you build a window seat over a radiator?
Yes. The seat has a grille or open front, so the warmth can reach the room. We also leave space around the radiator. Moving the radiator is for your plumber, if you’d prefer it elsewhere.
What materials do you use for window seats?
Our window seats are made from moisture-resistant MDF and birch plywood, then painted. A moisture-resistant grade suits a spot by a window, where condensation can form. Your quote confirms the materials and finish.
Should I choose a lift-up lid or drawers?
Many seats use both. Drawers are easier for daily use, and a lid section holds larger things. In a child’s room, drawers tend to be simpler for small hands. We’ll suggest a layout during the design visit.
My walls are not straight. Is that a problem?
Walls and floors that are not true are part of the job in older homes. The furniture is scribed to follow the walls and levelled on feet or a plinth, so there are no gaps at the sides.
What finishes do you offer?
You can choose between two finishes: spray painted or hand painted. A spray finish is smooth and even, while a hand-painted one is easy to touch up later.