When you’re building or designing a new space, there are so many ways you can approach the design. You want to keep function at the forefront of mind, and yet you'll want to add your own personality and play around with colours, patterns, textures and even current trends. There's no denying the transformative power a renovation can have on a home, and if you add built in storage it can take it to the next level. If you're considering adding in built in cabinetry or storage, then here's 10 times that we installed built in storage or custom joinery to spaces we've renovated with powerful results.

Balgownie House - a 5.5m long joinery piece was installed in three components to house a variety of different components. The first section hides away the TV!

Annandale House - a multi-purpose studio received a full wall of built-in storage that houses an office/study desk at the far end, a storage/wardrobe component in the middle, with an entertainment unit in the foreground.

Hilltop Villa - although this home office needed built-in storage we didn't want it to crowd the room given it's small size. We opted for a lower cabinet and used the *Ikea Metod* range for a stylish yet cost effective solution.

Smoochs Palace - installing this bench seat with integrated handles and storage drawers makes for a neat and tidy entry point into the home.

Balgownie House - we installed a custom window seat with storage drawers underneath to not only add more storage capacity but also as a lovely spot to sit and read or contemplate life!

Smooch's Palace - we added lots of storage to this living room that houses the tech for the adults and the toys for the kids. The big winner in this design is the blackened timber behind the TV that disguises the big black box!

Smooch's Palace - designed especially for the kids, this piece lives on the lower ground floor and is perfectly situated in amongst the kids bedrooms.

Balgownie House - the library in the Red Room is an outstanding winner in this home. It took 5 rounds of colour sampling to colour match exactly to the walls!

Hilltop Villa - a 3.6m long entertainment unit with built-in drawers keeps everything neat and tidy in this living room.

Yarrah House - a custom wall-hung built-in storage unit keeps the front living room in order and houses the tech as well.

Why we love built in storage.

The power of built in storage is undeniable. The iterations we've seen through the years is astounding. Not only has little changed when it comes to the types of built in storage elements we see in the home but also we expect more from these elements than we did in the past. However, one difference we see nowadays is that the built in storage pieces are bigger. In reality, wardrobe depths and heights, and even kitchen spaces and how we integrate appliances nowadays.

Experimentation with material application continues. Equally important, existing materials have improved to provide a more modern take on existing ideas. However we apply the materials, one thing is for sure, the results are one-of-a-kind creations that elevate the interiors beyond the every day.

Hidden in plain sight.

What makes us think custom joinery would be a good addition in that spot? The built elements in a home gives the space a streamlined effect by all means 'hiding' it away from the roaming eye. In other words, they blend easily because they are anchored within the space. With this is mind, custom joinery is highly desirable and valuable for all sized spaces, and in particular, small spaces.

Function first.

Custom joinery is very effective when additional storage is required but it can't be hidden away. For example, the entertainment unit in the living room or the shoe storage in the entry. You'll find the majority of built-in storage or custom joinery all meet a need. In other words, they are functional. With this in mind, identify your needs first and then tackle the aesthetic. Good questions to ask yourself include: what is upsetting me about this space? What don't I like about this area? To put it differently, ask yourself how you'd like the space to work in the future. While it may be true you'd like to think about how it could look, it's best to consider how it'll work first.

How we've used it.

Whilst I've provided 10 times we've added custom joinery or built-in storage elements to a home we've renovated, I won't go through each and every one of them. Needless to say, you can hover over each of the images and discover a little more information for yourself. However, keeping the function front of mind is essential to a good outcome for your home.

Every time we design a built in element, it meets a need, or in other words, a function. This function has been expressed by the owner or it's been identified by the designer. It could be more storage, seating, a multi-purpose space, for play or for work. However it's identified, the function of the piece is the priority during the design stage. With colour and materials being a layer that's added once the question has been answered. And that's exactly how any custom piece needs to be approached. Whether you have a designer on board or you're working with your joiner or builder.