Bespoke joinery in Barnstaplemade to fit your home,not a catalogue.
Made-to-measure timber that fits awkward openings and old walls exactly, priced up front, built by an experienced joiner, guaranteed for five years.
16 years
hands-on trade experience
£2M
public liability insurance
5-year
workmanship guarantee
Free visit
then a fixed quote
Overview
Joinery with Liveliwood Co
What it is
Joinery is timber made to measure: doors, window frames, staircases, panelling, built-in furniture and architectural details cut and assembled to suit a specific space. Where carpentry fixes timber in place, joinery is about making the piece itself.
Who it's for
Homeowners who cannot find an off-the-shelf product that fits: non-standard openings, period properties, sloping ceilings or rooms where only a made-to-measure piece will look right. It suits people who would rather buy once and keep it for decades.
When you need it
You need a joiner when standard sizes leave unsightly gaps, when you are restoring or matching original features, when you want built-in storage that uses every centimetre, or when a renovation needs a feature piece such as a staircase or panelled wall.
Why experience matters
Off-the-shelf joinery is made for perfect, square openings that most North Devon homes don't have. Made-to-measure work is designed around your walls as they actually are, so it fits tightly, looks deliberate and stays stable.
What happens if it's left
The cost of getting it wrong or putting it off.
Standard sizes leave gaps
Forcing stock doors, frames or furniture into non-standard spaces leaves visible gaps, packers and filler that crack as the timber moves.
Mismatched period features
Replacing original joinery with modern profiles is hard to undo and can take value away from a character property.
Cheap timber moves
Poorly seasoned or unsuitable timber twists, cups and splits once it's indoors with heating on, leaving doors that bind and panels that open up.
Common mistakes we see
- Assuming made-to-measure is out of reach without getting a fixed quote first.
- Ordering joinery from a supplier who has never seen the opening.
- Choosing a timber species on looks alone without considering where it will live: inside, outside, damp or dry.
- Leaving finish decisions until after fitting, when sealing and painting is harder to do properly.
Our process
Five clear steps from first visit to guarantee.
Step 1
Free site visit
Ashley visits, looks at the space and listens to what you want. No charge and no obligation.
Step 2
Fixed quote
You receive a fixed price for the agreed scope, so you know the cost before you commit.
Step 3
Planning & Building Control
Where the project needs it, Liveliwood Co assists with or fully manages planning and Building Control.
Step 4
Contract & build
Larger projects run on a formal contract with a deposit and stage payments at agreed milestones. Ashley is involved throughout.
Step 5
Completion & guarantee
The work is finished, checked with you and backed by a 5-year workmanship guarantee.
What you get
Why homeowners choose Liveliwood Co for joinery.
An exact fit
Pieces are made around your actual openings and walls, so there are no oversized gaps or tell-tale packers.
Built to last decades
The right timber, properly jointed and finished, gives joinery that outlives off-the-shelf alternatives.
Character preserved
Profiles and details can be matched to existing features in older homes.
Fixed price, agreed early
Design, materials and fitting are all set out in a fixed quote after the free site visit.
Five-year guarantee
Workmanship is guaranteed for five years.
One person from measure to fit
Ashley is personally involved in every project, so the design intent isn't lost between workshop and site.
In detail
Joinery services, materials and methods.
Doors and frames
Made-to-measure internal and external doors, ledged-and-braced cottage doors, glazed doors and the linings and frames to suit. External joinery is specified with weathering details for exposed coastal locations.
Staircases
New staircases and the repair or replacement of treads, strings, newels, spindles and handrails. Stair work must also meet Building Regulations on rise, going and headroom, which is checked at the outset.
Panelling and architectural details
Wall panelling, wainscoting, window seats, beams, mantels and decorative mouldings that give a room a finished, deliberate look.
Timber selection
Oak and other hardwoods for natural, hard-wearing finishes; softwoods for painted work; and stable engineered cores where large panels need to stay flat. The choice is explained at the site visit.
Joints and construction
Traditional joints such as mortise-and-tenon, housings and dowels are used where strength and longevity matter, rather than relying on screws and glue alone.
Finishing
Oiled, waxed, lacquered or primed for paint. Sealing all faces, including the hidden ones, is what stops joinery absorbing moisture unevenly and moving.
Related services
Joinery near you
Available as joinery in North Devon, including Barnstaple, Bideford, Braunton, Croyde, or contact Ashley.
Who you'll work with
Ashley Cole and a core team of three.
Liveliwood Co is a North Devon carpentry, joinery and building company run by owner Ashley Cole. Ashley started in the construction trade at a young age and has built up 16 years of hands-on experience across most building and woodworking disciplines. When you book joinery with Liveliwood Co, that experience comes to your project directly; Ashley is personally involved in every job, from the first site visit to handover.
Ashley works with a core team of three and brings in trusted specialist subcontractors where a job needs them, such as electricians and plumbers. That means you have one point of contact and one company responsible for the result, rather than a list of separate trades to organise and chase.
Because the same business handles both fine joinery and structural building, projects that cross the two (a kitchen inside a new extension, fitted storage in a loft, a garden office with a built-in desk) are planned as one job. The details line up because the people building the structure also make what goes inside it.
What's included as standard
- A free site visit to assess the project and your requirements.
- A fixed quote, so the price is agreed before work starts.
- A formal contract with a deposit and stage payments on larger projects.
- Assistance with, or full management of, planning and Building Control where required.
- £2M public liability insurance on every job.
- A 5-year workmanship guarantee.
- New builds built to industry-standard structural warranties.
- Working hours of Monday to Friday, 08:00 to 17:00.
Before you start
Planning your joinery project in North Devon.
The most important step in any joinery project is accurate measuring. Openings, alcoves and staircases in North Devon homes are seldom square, and a piece made to the nominal size will not fit the real one. That is why every bespoke joinery job starts with a site visit rather than a list of standard dimensions.
Next, decide how you want the finished piece to look and feel. Natural oak brings warmth and ages well; a painted finish suits cottage and contemporary interiors alike and can be refreshed in future. Your choice affects the timber, the joints and the finishing method, all of which are set out in your fixed quote.
Consider where the joinery will live. External doors and frames on a coastal property face salt air and driving rain, and need the right species, detailing and finish to stay stable. Interior joinery near radiators or in a steamy kitchen needs to be sealed on every face to resist movement.
If you're matching existing period features, take photos of mouldings, door panels and stair details. Profiles can then be discussed at the visit so the new work sits comfortably alongside the old.
Bespoke joinery is a long-term purchase. Pieces made properly from suitable timber should last for decades, which is why the workmanship is backed by a 5-year guarantee and why Ashley is personally involved from measuring to fitting.
FAQs
Joinery questions, answered.
Is bespoke joinery much more expensive than off-the-shelf?
It depends on the piece. The only way to know is a fixed quote, which follows a free site visit so you can compare properly before committing.
Can you match existing period joinery?
Matching profiles and details is a common joinery job. Bring it up at the site visit and Ashley will explain what's achievable.
Do you make external joinery for coastal properties?
Yes. External doors and frames are detailed and finished with exposure to wind and salt air in mind.
How much does joinery cost in North Devon?
Every project is different, so there are no fixed package prices. You get a free site visit followed by a fixed quote for your job, so you know the exact cost before deciding.
How long will the work take?
Timescales depend on the size of the job. The programme is discussed at the site visit and agreed before work starts, so you can plan around it.
How do payments work?
Larger projects run on a formal contract with an initial deposit followed by stage payments at agreed milestones.
Is the work guaranteed and insured?
Yes. Every job carries a 5-year workmanship guarantee, and Liveliwood Co holds £2M public liability insurance.
Which areas do you cover?
North Devon, including Barnstaple, Braunton, Woolacombe, Bude, Bideford, Ilfracombe, Croyde and Saunton.
Can you come out urgently?
Call 07450 059875 during working hours (Monday – Friday, 08:00 – 17:00) to explain the situation and discuss how soon Ashley can visit.
Free site visit
Get a fixed price for your joinery project.
Tell us about the job and Ashley will arrange a free visit. You'll get a fixed quote, no obligation.
- 5-year workmanship guarantee
- £2M public liability insurance
- 16 years' hands-on experience
Monday – Friday, 08:00 – 17:00
Contact Ashley directly, or allow the enquiry form to send your project details.