Understanding Handmade Cabinetry

Most kitchens are built from standard units made in a factory and assembled to fit. Ours aren't. Every Minerva cabinet is built from scratch in our Herefordshire workshop, by hand, to the exact dimensions of your room using solid timber and joinery built to last decades, not years. This page explains what that means in practice, and why we wouldn't build a kitchen any other way.

Understanding Our Cabinetry

A handmade kitchen is built for your room and no one else's. Off-the-shelf kitchens come in fixed sizes you have to design around. Every cabinet we make is built to your space, so an awkward alcove or a sloping wall becomes part of the plan rather than a compromise.

Each kitchen is a run of individual cabinets, made one at a time in our workshop. Every cabinet is built from four parts: the carcass, the frame, the drawers and the doors. The carcass (the box everything else is built onto) is fully six-sided and made from thicker, stronger material than the thin panels used in mass-produced or budget kitchens, so it stays square, holds the weight of a stone worktop without flexing, and won't sag or warp over the years. The drawers are crafted using traditional dovetail joins made from solid wood like oak or walnut.

The backbone of every cabinet is the carcass. Made from either Veneered MDF or Oak veneered plywood, our carcasses are strong and sturdy as they are the main structure that supports all of the other components, including some seriously heavy worktops. Even though the carcass is rarely seen, we can also paint it for feature cabinets such as Larders and countertop cupboards for a real wow effect.
The hardwood surround normally associated with a traditional shaker, the job of the framework is to hide the carcass end grain and be a durable and protective surround to the drawers and doors. Secondly they can either match the main colour scheme and blend in, or be a contrast to frame a natural Oak drawer for example. Bologna has the extra pencil-bead detail beautifully crafted into every opening.
Our standard drawer boxes are made from solid Oak using the faultless dovetail joint for all four corners. Other materials, such as Ash and Walnut, are available upon request. Strong as an Ox, one of the hardest working components of any kitchen is fitted with 40kg rated soft-close runners. We can also make secret, tech-charging and super-wide drawers - because we are handmade.
We prefer self-lubricating soft close hinges that don’t slam and can each take a load of 10kg. The doors themselves are made by hand from hardwood or engineered materials using mortice and tenon joints - proven for centuries for strength and structural integrity.

It's All About the Details

An off-the-shelf kitchen gives you a layout. A handmade one is designed around the way you use the room. Before we draw anything, we want to know the real details. Whether you cook every night or mainly host at weekends, whether coffee is a quick flat white or a proper morning ritual, where you'd rather hide the bin, and where the wine should live.

That's where bespoke our bespoke features come in. Specific things designed around your habits and life, not bolted on as afterthoughts like a dog bed or breakfast station. Here are a few of the details you could build into yours.

The most versatile cabinet in our portfolio, packed with storage options. Shelves and drawers can be configured in a number of ways, appliances and power sockets can be built-in with the additional option to choose a door-activated LED downlight.
Our handmade kitchen inserts are perfect for the cutlery lover, the coffee connoisseur, or anyone who appreciates a beautifully organised drawer. Crafted with the same attention to detail as our cabinetry, these inserts are tailored to your needs—whether it’s for utensils, spices, or your favourite teas. Designed to bring order, elegance, and joy to the everyday.
Handmade for those who love to cook, our spice racks are the perfect blend of beauty and practicality. Whether integrated into your larder or tucked neatly inside a drawer, each rack is crafted to keep your favourite spices within easy reach. A thoughtful detail that adds charm, organisation, and a touch of joy to cooking.
Often forgotten, a properly integrated lighting design can dramatically change the mood of the whole kitchen. State of the art slimline LED technology allows us to almost invisibly add light to any dark corner.
Sssssh! We love a secret drawer but don’t tell anyone. Great for bringing a 3rd drawer into a two-drawer aesthetic and maximising cabinet usage too.
Corners are an awkward space, where (let’s face it) all the pots, pans and trays usually end up. Not anymore! We regularly fit two innovative solutions so you can utilise the corner cupboard to its full potential.
Drawers are great for storage because you can access everything easily. Add some pegs and you have the ultimate in crockery organisation. Bring on the dinner party.
As popular and as useful as a Larder, the Counter-top Cupboard gives you the flexibility of storage and preparation space as the name suggests. Great for coffee machines, toasters and kettles - everything for breakfast in one place.

See Our Collections in Person

The first step to any Minerva journey starts with a visit to one of our showrooms. Book a complimentary design appointment now to meet with one of our designers and discuss all things kitchens.

Book an appointment