Custom Kitchens by DF Carpentry & Joinery
They say the kitchen is the heart of the home, but we believe it should also be its soul. At DF Carpentry & Joinery, we craft bespoke fitted kitchens that do more than simply house your appliances—they create the backdrop for family breakfasts, Sunday roasts, and those late-night cups of tea when the house is quiet.
Our kitchen design approach begins with listening. We'll pop round for a chat to understand how you actually use your kitchen, not just how you think a kitchen should look. Do you bake every weekend? Love to host dinner parties? Need space for the children to do homework while you prepare the evening meal? These conversations shape everything that follows, from the initial sketches to the final polished handles on your custom kitchen units.
We work with a carefully selected palette of materials—from characterful oak and rich walnut to contemporary painted finishes—creating handmade cabinetry that balances timeless design with practical durability. Our skilled kitchen joiners craft everything from scratch in our Sussex workshop, building robust dovetailed drawers that won't sag even when loaded with cutlery, perfectly aligned cabinet doors that close with a satisfying click, and clever storage solutions that make use of every awkward corner. Whether you're dreaming of a classic Shaker kitchen with a modern twist, a sleek contemporary space with clean lines, or a country kitchen with a generous larder for all those preserves and baking ingredients, our bespoke kitchen design service brings the same meticulous attention to detail.
What truly sets our kitchen installation service apart is our comprehensive project management. Unlike many kitchen companies in Sussex and Surrey, we don't just deliver the units and disappear. We orchestrate the entire kitchen transformation—coordinating plumbers, electricians, tilers, and decorators to ensure everything happens in the right sequence with minimal disruption to your household. You'll have a single point of contact throughout your kitchen renovation, keeping you informed at every stage and ensuring any unexpected challenges (and let's be honest, there's always something in an older property!) are swiftly resolved.
The result is more than just a new kitchen—it's a space that works intuitively, looks beautiful from every angle, and will stand the test of time both structurally and aesthetically. And because we understand that a kitchen remodelling project can be daunting, we take pride in making the journey as smooth as the finished worktops we install. Oh, and we always clean up properly after ourselves—no dusty footprints or packaging left behind!
Expert Roofing by DF Carpentry & Joinery
Your roof isn't just the lid on your home—it's your first line of defence against the British weather and a defining feature of your property's character. At DF Carpentry & Joinery, we approach timber roof construction with the same precision and care that traditional craftsmen have employed for centuries, combined with modern techniques that ensure exceptional durability.
Our bespoke roofing structures are designed and built to stand the test of time, whether we're creating a brand-new roof for your self-build project, renovating an aging structure that's seen better days, or crafting bespoke features like dormers and roof lanterns that flood your home with natural light. Each roofing project begins with a thorough assessment of your needs and the specific challenges of your property. We'll consider everything from the local weather patterns in Sussex and Surrey (and we all know how unpredictable those can be!) to the architectural style of your home, ensuring that form and function work in perfect harmony.
The beauty of our expert roofing work lies in the details that most people never see. Our skilled roof carpenters hand-cut traditional rafters, precisely position purlins, and create robust roof trusses that distribute weight evenly across your home's walls. We understand the geometry of different roof styles—from simple pitched roofs to complex hip and valley configurations—and how each joint and connection contributes to the overall structural integrity. This isn't just about hammering beams together; it's about creating an engineered roof structure that will protect your family and possessions through decades of scorching summers and bitter winters.
What truly sets our roofing service apart is our comprehensive project management. We don't just handle the timber frame and then disappear when it starts drizzling. Instead, we orchestrate the entire roof construction process, coordinating specialist roofers, lead workers for flashings, plumbers for guttering, and insulation specialists to ensure every element comes together seamlessly. We're well-versed in the weather-dependent nature of roofing work in Sussex and Surrey (this is England, after all) and build contingency plans into our schedules, keeping you informed throughout the roof renovation process so there are no unwelcome surprises.
The result is more than just a weatherproof covering—it's a roof with character, crafted to enhance your home's appearance while providing superior protection. And because we understand the significant investment that quality roofing represents, we ensure compliance with all building regulations, incorporate energy-efficient insulation to keep your heating bills in check, and provide clear guidance on maintenance. A well-built roof should be something you can trust implicitly, allowing you to sleep soundly even when the winter storms are howling outside and the neighbors are worrying about their loose tiles.
Expert Joinery by DF Carpentry & Joinery
There's something special about a piece of bespoke joinery that's been crafted specifically for your home. At DF Carpentry & Joinery, we create custom timber elements that transform ordinary spaces into something extraordinary—the kind of handcrafted features that would make Kevin McCloud pause mid-sentence during a Grand Designs reveal.
Our expert joinery workshop in Sussex is where imagination meets craftsmanship. Here, our skilled team creates everything from statement staircases that serve as sculptural centerpieces to fitted wardrobes that seem to disappear into walls, from characterful doors with perfect proportions to architectural timber features that define a room's personality. We combine traditional joinery techniques—dovetail joints, mortise and tenon, hand-planing—with modern precision tools to create bespoke furniture and fittings that honour the heritage of British woodworking while meeting contemporary expectations for durability and function.
The journey begins with your vision. Whether you're working with an architect on an ambitious self-build in the Sussex countryside, renovating a Victorian terrace in Surrey, or simply wanting to transform your home with thoughtfully designed made-to-measure storage, we'll collaborate closely with you to understand exactly what you're hoping to achieve. We consider not just the aesthetics but the practicalities—how you'll use the space, how the light falls at different times of day, how the luxury joinery integrates with other elements of your home. Our detailed drawings and, where helpful, 3D visualisations ensure you can see exactly what we're proposing before a single piece of timber is cut.
What sets our bespoke joinery service apart is our comprehensive project management. Unlike many joiners who create beautiful pieces but leave you to coordinate their installation (and deal with the inevitable hiccups), we orchestrate the entire joinery project from start to finish. From initial concept through to the moment you run your hand across the perfectly finished surface, we manage every detail—coordinating with architects, interior designers, electricians, and decorators to ensure your custom joinery isn't just beautiful in isolation but works harmoniously within your Sussex or Surrey home. For larger projects, this means you have a single point of contact overseeing all the wooden elements of your build, from structural timbers to the finest finishing details. No more chasing multiple suppliers or trying to decipher conflicting advice.
Beyond individual joinery pieces, we also undertake complete bespoke house builds in Sussex and Surrey, managing every aspect of the project just like you'd see on Grand Designs. From groundworks to final decorative touches, we coordinate all trades, timelines, and budgets, bringing the same attention to detail and craftsmanship to the entire timber frame construction that we apply to our expert joinery work. These ambitious custom build projects allow us to create truly cohesive homes where the architectural vision and handcrafted joinery elements work in perfect harmony, resulting in living spaces that are both beautiful and functional. If you've ever dreamt of building your own home but been daunted by the complexity, we're the team that can make it happen without the drama (though we can't promise Kevin McCloud won't want to feature it).
The result is expert joinery and craftsmanship that does more than serve a function—it tells a story about your home and the people who live in it. Whether it's a hand-crafted kitchen that becomes the backdrop for Sunday roasts and impromptu dinner parties, a library wall that showcases your dog-eared paperbacks and treasured hardbacks alike, or a dramatic timber staircase that seems to float between floors, our bespoke joinery creates those moments of delight that make a house truly yours. And because we use only the finest materials and time-honoured techniques, these are pieces designed not just for today but for generations to come—future heirlooms in the making, gathering character with every passing year.
Our Work