Bespoke Timber Doors North London
Custom and Made-to-Measure Doors
Handcrafted Doors for Period Homes, Modern Builds & Everything In Between
North London is home to some of the most architecturally diverse streets in the city — from the Georgian townhouses of Islington to the Edwardian terraces of Crouch End and the post-war estates of Finsbury Park. One thing most of these properties share is that standard, off-the-shelf doors rarely fit properly or look right.
At MJ Kloss Carpentry, we design, build, and install made-to-measure timber doors for homes across North London. Every door is crafted to your exact dimensions, style, and specification — whether you need a solid oak front door for a Victorian terrace or a contemporary internal door with clean lines for a converted flat.
Why Standard Doors Don’t Work in Many North London Homes
If you’ve ever tried to hang a door from a DIY store in an older North London property, you’ll know the problem. Door openings in Victorian and Edwardian houses are rarely standard sizes. Frames settle and shift over decades. Floors slope. Architraves have profiles that haven’t been manufactured since the 1930s.
A bespoke door solves all of this. We measure on-site, account for any irregularities in the frame and floor, and build a door that fits precisely — no planing off large amounts, no unsightly gaps, no compromises.
For properties in conservation areas such as parts of Highgate, Hampstead, and Barnsbury, a bespoke timber door also means you can match the original design and materials, keeping your home in line with local planning guidelines while still improving security and insulation.
What Doors We Build
Front Doors
Your front door takes more punishment than any other door in the house — rain, sun, temperature swings, daily use, and the occasional delivery driver leaning on it. We build front doors from durable hardwoods like oak, sapele, and Accoya, finished to withstand the British climate while making the entrance to your home something worth noticing. Glazed panels, fanlights, and ironmongery are all tailored to your taste.
Internal Doors
A set of well-made internal doors transforms how a house feels. We build panel doors, flush doors, glazed doors, and concealed jib doors — all made to measure. For older North London homes where every doorway seems to be a slightly different size, bespoke is often the only way to get a consistent, professional result throughout the property.
Exterior & Garden Doors
Rear doors, side entrance doors, and doors leading to gardens or basement areas all need to handle weather exposure and security. We use weather-resistant timbers and robust construction methods to make sure they perform as well as they look, year after year.
Door Replacement & Restoration
Not every job requires a brand-new door. If your existing doors have good bones but need repair — rotten sections cut out and spliced, panels tightened, draught-proofing added — we can restore them. Where replacement is the better option, we’ll replicate the original design so the new door looks like it’s always been there.
Our Process: From Survey to Finished Door
1. Site Visit & Survey
We visit your property to measure the openings, assess the condition of existing frames, and discuss what you’re looking for. This is also where we flag anything that might affect the build — unusual frame depths, listed building constraints, or access issues for delivery and installation.
2. Design & Timber Selection
Based on your brief, we recommend a door style and timber species. We’ll talk through the differences between hardwoods and softwoods, painted versus natural finishes, and glass options if you want them. You’ll know exactly what you’re getting before any work begins.
3. Workshop Build
Your door is built by hand in our joinery workshop using traditional construction methods — mortise and tenon joints, solid timber rails and stiles, and proper panel construction. No shortcuts, no hollow cores, no veneered MDF pretending to be something it isn’t.
4. Fitting & Finishing
We install the door on-site, hang it properly, fit your chosen ironmongery, and make any final adjustments. We leave the area clean and tidy, with a door that opens, closes, and latches exactly as it should.
Timber Options
Choosing the right wood matters. Here’s a quick guide to the species we work with most often for door projects:
Oak — the classic choice for front doors and period interiors. Extremely durable, with a distinctive grain that looks beautiful with a natural oil finish or painted. Suitable for both traditional and contemporary designs.
Sapele — a hardwood with a warm, reddish-brown tone. Naturally resistant to moisture and rot, making it excellent for exterior doors. More affordable than oak with similar longevity.
Accoya — modified softwood engineered for exceptional dimensional stability and rot resistance. Ideal for painted exterior doors where you want the performance of hardwood without the weight or cost. Comes with a 50-year guarantee against rot.
Tulipwood & Softwood — for internal doors where weather resistance isn’t needed, quality softwood is a practical, cost-effective choice that takes paint beautifully.
If you have a preference for a specific timber not listed here, we’re happy to source it. We work with trusted suppliers and can advise on what will perform best for your particular application.
Areas We Cover in North London
We work across all of North London and know the housing stock in these areas well. Our team regularly carries out door projects in Islington, Camden, Highgate, Hampstead, Barnet, Muswell Hill, Crouch End, Finsbury Park, Stoke Newington, Holloway, Archway, Tufnell Park, East Finchley, Friern Barnet, and Tottenham.
Whether you’re in a flat conversion near Finsbury Park station or a detached house in Hampstead Garden Suburb, we can advise on the right approach for your property type and budget.
Conservation Areas & Listed Buildings
Several parts of North London fall within conservation areas — including large sections of Highgate, Hampstead, Barnsbury (Islington), and parts of Haringey. If your property is in one of these areas, or is individually listed, replacing or altering external doors may require planning approval or adherence to specific design guidelines.
We have experience working within these constraints. We can replicate period door designs accurately, use appropriate materials, and provide drawings or specifications to support a planning application if needed. If you’re unsure whether your property is affected, your local council’s planning department can confirm.
What to Expect on Price
The cost of a bespoke timber door depends on the timber species, size, complexity of design, glazing, and ironmongery.
We provide detailed, written quotes after the site survey so you know exactly what’s included. No hidden extras.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need planning permission to replace my front door in North London?
For most properties, replacing a front door is permitted development and doesn’t require planning permission. However, if your home is in a conservation area or is a listed building, you may need consent — particularly if you’re changing the style, material, or colour. We can advise on this during the survey and help you navigate the process if approval is needed.
How long does it take from order to installation?
A typical bespoke door takes 4–8 weeks from confirmed order to installation, depending on the complexity and timber availability. Simple internal doors in softwood can sometimes be turned around faster. We’ll give you a clear timeline at the quoting stage.
Can you match an existing period door design?
Yes. We regularly replicate Victorian, Edwardian, and Georgian door styles for customers who want to maintain architectural consistency. We can match panel configurations, moulding profiles, and glazing styles. If you have a photo or a surviving original elsewhere in the house, that’s usually enough for us to work from.
What’s the difference between a bespoke door and a “made to measure” door from a joinery supplier?
Many suppliers offer doors in custom sizes but from a fixed set of designs. Our bespoke service means the door is designed and built entirely around your requirements — size, style, timber, glazing, finish, and hardware. Nothing is off the shelf.
Do you supply and fit the door furniture (handles, locks, letterboxes)?
Yes. We supply and fit a full range of ironmongery, or we’re happy to fit hardware you’ve sourced yourself. We can advise on what works best with your door design, including multipoint locking systems for front doors.
Can you improve the thermal performance of my front door?
Absolutely. A well-built timber door with proper seals, draught-stripping, and double-glazed panels where appropriate offers excellent insulation. Many customers come to us specifically because their existing door lets in draughts — a bespoke replacement with correct tolerances and weatherproofing makes an immediate difference.
What Our North London Customers Say
“We were looking for a bespoke wooden door to match our Edwardian hallway, and the result exceeded our expectations. The finish, the fit, and the detail were all spot on. A great experience from start to finish.”
— Homeowner, N6 Highgate
Get a Free Quote
If you’re thinking about new doors for your North London home, we’d be happy to visit, take a look, and give you an honest quote. No obligation, no pressure — just straightforward advice from carpenters who’ve been doing this since 1975.
Call us on 020 8945 3552 or fill in our quote request form.
