Fitted Wardrobes for Angled Ceilings in a Devon Home
- Apr 22
- 3 min read
A considered approach to fitted bedroom furniture in a new-build home
Set in a peaceful spot overlooking Rutland Water in Exton, this new-build property presented a great opportunity to create tailored storage that felt calm, practical, and in keeping with the architecture of the home. Our customer approached us with two distinct spaces to solve: a bedroom with a steeply angled ceiling, and a laundry room that needed to balance everyday storage with hidden services.
The brief was clear throughout: make the most of the space, keep the look simple, and ensure everything felt like it belonged.
Angled Bedroom: Making the Most of Every Inch
The bedroom featured an impressive 3 metre ceiling height, but with a sharply sloping angle that introduced both potential and complexity. Rather than seeing this as a limitation, it became the starting point for a fully bespoke fitted wardrobe design.
Design Approach
We created a run of three fitted wardrobes, carefully stepped to follow the ceiling line. This allowed us to maximise internal storage while keeping the external appearance clean and balanced.
A key detail was how the doors functioned. Because of the slope, opening doors toward the lower side would have caused interference. Instead, all doors were hinged to open toward the higher side of the ceiling, ensuring smooth, practical use day to day. The central cabinet, being full height and square, was given double doors to maintain symmetry and improve access.
To make full use of the vertical space, we also introduced top boxes above the main wardrobes. These upper cabinets take advantage of the full ceiling height, offering additional storage without making the room feel heavy or over-designed.
Interior Layout
Inside, the wardrobes were designed with real use in mind:
Generous shelving sized for storage boxes
Full-height hanging where the ceiling allowed
A balanced mix of open and hanging storage
Everything was carefully measured and installed with adjustable feet, ensuring a precise fit into the ceiling and walls.
Finish & Materials
As this was a new-build, low-VOC materials were essential. The cabinetry was spray-finished in a water-based paint system, colour-matched to Farrow & Ball Wimborne White. The result is a soft, timeless look that sits comfortably within the space. The interior of the wardrobe was built with a melamine faced board with the finish 'Roble Joplin Mesura'.
Laundry Room: Practical Storage with Hidden Complexity
The laundry room needed to work hard. Alongside everyday storage, it also had to discreetly house the upstairs underfloor heating manifold, which required occasional access for servicing.
Designing Around the Details
Rather than working around the manifold as an afterthought, it was integrated into the design from the outset.
We carefully notched the rear of the cabinetry to accommodate the system, then incorporated a removable false back panel and demountable shelving. This means the manifold is completely hidden during everyday use, but can be accessed quickly and easily when needed.
Storage That Adapts
The rest of the fitted furniture in the laundry room was designed to be as practical as possible:
Open shelving for laundry and household items
Long hanging space for clothes
Flexible areas that can adapt over time
The result is a clean, uncluttered space that works just as well functionally as it does visually. The cupboards were finished in a water-based paint to match Farrow & Ball's 'Wimborne White'. The interior was built in melamine faced board from the Finsa range 'Canvas Greige Ari.'
Installation & Outcome
The installation was carried out by our in-house team - Matt, Chris, Dan and Aubrey ensuring consistency from design through to completion. In this case, the client had yet to move into the new-build, which gave us a clear run and made the installation more straightforward. More often, our client is very much living in the home so we use careful planning to ensure the installation runs smoothly, with as little disruption to daily life as possible.
This project is a good example of how fitted wardrobes and fitted bedroom furniture can completely transform how a space works, especially in homes with architectural quirks or hidden services.
In the bedroom, what could have been awkward dead space is now fully usable, well-organised storage. In the laundry room, essential systems are neatly concealed without sacrificing access or practicality.
Thinking About Your Own Project?
If you’re dealing with an unusual layout, a new-build specification, or simply want storage that feels properly thought through, bespoke fitted wardrobes and fitted bedroom furniture can make a real difference.