Sculpted Understairs Storage

In early 2021, Renaissance Interiors of Hartley Wintney invited Redwood to collaborate on the design of a bespoke fitted furniture piece that would make a statement in their clients’ hallway while solving a long-standing storage challenge. The design needed to complement the home’s open-plan, architectural style and sit neatly beneath the staircase — with every millimetre of space thoughtfully considered.

The brief was to create a combination of drawers and cupboards to house the clients’ extensive media collection, while maintaining the aesthetic standards of the property and aligning with other renovation works taking place.

The resulting concept was a custom-built media unit composed of drawer units topped with stepped wall cabinets that followed the angle of the staircase. The open niches created by this arrangement were designed for ornaments, lighting, and framed pictures, adding both function and visual interest.

Egger Natural Dijon Walnut MFC was chosen for the cabinets, with a contrasting Graphite Grey for the interior back panel and drawer system to introduce depth and definition. The Seharra Dune 3D pattern was digitally mapped across all facias — precisely accounting for the gaps between doors — before being CNC-machined from 18 mm material and wrapped in a textured woodgrain-effect vinyl. The result is a rhythmic, sculpted surface that appears crafted in place rather than assembled from separate components.

Because the routing process reduced the facia thickness to 10mm in places, standard cabinet hinges could not be used, so Redwood specified Blum’s specialist thin-door hinge, which provides a wide opening angle and full soft-close performance.

Functional elements were equally considered:

• Three 900 mm-wide drawer units, each with four graphite Atira push-to-open, soft-close drawers, provide organised, handleless media storage.
• Upper wall cabinets with glass shelves offer discreet display space and balance to the composition.

Once the design was approved, preparation of the space was straightforward. A carpenter modified the open-tread staircase by closing each step, after which Redwood plasterboarded the underside to create a smooth, enclosed surface. A power socket was relocated to accommodate a lamp within one of the niches and finally the cabinets were installed and the facias precision-aligned to complete the sculpted effect.

The completed installation transforms what was once an unused void beneath the stairs into a distinctive architectural feature that enhances both form and function. The Walnut cabinetry frames the soft, sculpted facias beautifully, so that the Seharra Dune pattern flows perfectly across each facia. The handleless, push-to-open drawers maintain a clean, uninterrupted look, and the subtle lighting and decorative niches bring warmth and personality to the space.

Viewed as a whole, the installation feels integrated with the architecture rather than added to it — a seamless blend of digital precision, craftsmanship, and interior design. It’s an elegant example of how thoughtful planning and skilled execution can turn a practical storage need into a bespoke feature that adds long-term value to the home.

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This project was completed in partnership with Renaissance Interiors, who shared this feedback:

“It was a tricky remit from the very start, but I was confident that with Colin’s skill and eye for detail my clients would receive the quality service and finished result that we stand for.

The clients had a very particular set of criteria and Colin wholeheartedly embraced the challenge. When they returned from their holiday to see the results for the first time they messaged me – ‘Everything looks amazing. We’re really pleased with it all. The work looks fantastic quality.’

Karen Chapman, Renaissance Interiors