19/09/2026
Most cloakrooms are a row of hooks on a wall and a pile of shoes underneath.
This family wanted theirs to actually work, so Tom designed the whole corner rather than just the hooks.
A low bench with a solid oak staved top runs along one wall, which means there's somewhere to sit and get boots on and off instead of hopping about in a doorway.
Above it, a panel carrying ten individual coat hooks, so every member of the household has their own and coats aren't three deep on the same peg. Underneath the seat, two deep drawers for the hats, gloves and dog leads that otherwise end up on the floor.
In the opposite corner we built open shelving, a full wall of it, sized for boots and shoes. No doors, deliberately. A cloakroom is a room you pass through in a hurry with your hands full, and doors slow that down. Open shelving means everything is visible and everything gets put back quickly.
The cabinetry was made using FINSA finishes, Gris Coco and Gris Gu, with the oak seat bringing some natural warmth into an otherwise cool grey scheme.
One of five spaces we fitted across this new-build in Exeter, alongside the master, two children's bedrooms and a guest room.
Got a hallway or boot room that never quite copes? Book a free design visit. Link in bio.