The world is awash with green wash, and it can be hard to tell fact from fiction, so it’s refreshing to meet a brand that genuinely walks the talk.

From a rural east Sussex workshop on the banks of the River Ouse in Lewes, Custom Fronts manufactures beautiful handcrafted kitchen doors, fronts and worktops, from sustainable FSC timber and certified bamboo in a series of simple, stylish designs – all with a passion for the planet at heart.

Founded in 2017 by Ian and Rachel Thurlby, a former bespoke joiner and lawyer, Custom Fronts bridges the gap between expensive high-end kitchens and the ‘pile it high sell it cheap’ offerings, with a handcrafted, affordable alternative that takes its influence from modernism, Scandinavian simplicity, Japanese design principles and British craftsmanship.

With Ian's years of experience as a bespoke joiner alongside a degree in fine art, and Rachel's interest in design, they spotted a gap in the market when installing a kitchen in their home. Either prohibitively expensive or basic mass-market, there was little in between that satisfied their expectations for well-made, stylish cabinetry - with less waste. The concept for Custom Fronts was born when Rachel asked Ian what would be the best material with which to make a kitchen and designed simple, stylish kitchen fronts to customise a sturdy yet low-cost Ikea kitchen carcass with doors, fronts and worktops handcrafted from birch plywood by Ian. ‘Ikea cabinets are durable, simple and offer a plethora of clever internal options,’ explains Ian. ‘They’re low cost because of its economies of scale, plus sustainability is important to Ikea too, so it was a good base to work from.’

Requests for the pair's handcrafted customised fronts followed and Custom Fronts was conceived. ‘We realised we wanted to offer handcrafted affordable doors and fronts, made with sustainable materials, such as FSC timber, plywood and bamboo to fit tried-and-tested Ikea cabinets,’ says Rachel, his business partner. ‘We both grew up around nature and have a passion for the natural world, which is reflected in the materials we use.’ Custom Fronts woods are Native European species and their aesthetic is very grounded in a sense of place and locale.

Custom Fronts are now developing other furniture alongside their kitchen fronts - starting with a desk and expanding to kitchen and other furniture.

The service Custom Fronts offer is simple and seamless, whether you’re replacing existing Ikea fronts or buying a new kitchen. Simply send the studio precise measurements and they’ll make your chosen fronts (and worktops) for you. If you’ve inherited an IKEA kitchen in a new property or the doors on your old IKEA kitchen need replacing, it’s a far more sustainable answer than ripping out and wasting a perfectly serviceable carcass. If you’re buying a new IKEA kitchen, it gives you the option to upgrade it with a well-designed, handmade exterior.

Since its early days, Custom Fronts has grown and now has an expanding team of 20, and a larger workshop, which is powered by 100% Green electricity. Sustainability and ethics are a serious driving force in the production of Custom Fronts cabinetry and the way Ian and Rachel run their business. ‘We have ultra-efficient lighting and insulation, even the doors, to reduce energy demands and provide a healthy, comfortable workplace for the team, who are offered flexible working and more than Real Living Wage as a minimum,’ says Rachel. ‘We focus on using materials that are long lasting and sustainable, such as birch plywood or European oak and walnut. These are native and European woods that are FSC-certified. We recognise there is no Planet B.’

Rachel explains that Birch is a fast growing species native to northeast Europe. ‘The speed of its growth means there is less destruction when it is felled and it is replaced quickly,’ she says. ‘As an engineered wood, ply is also less prone to issues that affect solid wood kitchens, so it has longevity. We’ve seen ply kitchens still in perfectly good condition after 70+ years.’

The company has recently introduced bamboo, another fast-growing species to its roster of timeless designs. ‘Bamboo is CO2 negative and ours is certified from suppliers who manage their own plantation sustainably and ethically,’ says Rachel. ‘We minimise waste in our production and focus on quality over quantity. We use natural Osmo oil for our finishes and waxes with low solvent levels; these not only look beautiful, they’re safe for children, pets and preparing food.’

‘All of our designs are available in all of the materials we offer, including coloured furniture linoleum. We can make our colour fronts in a customer’s choice if there is something particular that they need.’

‘We have invested heavily in machinery to make our processes more efficient,’ says Rachel. ‘We also use recyclable packaging, made from recycled materials, as far as possible. We’re always looking for eco-friendly alternatives and researching new solutions.’

When they’re not busy running Custom Fronts, the duo make the most of the natural world on their doorstep, by year round sea swimming (Rachel) and kayaking and camping (Ian) with their families, as well as reading design books, painting and making furniture.

‘Our palette is inspired by local landscapes and our team lives locally,’ says Rachel. ‘We work with local photographers, stylists and other businesses too. There is a lot of creative energy in Sussex.‘

Small Kitchen from £1,570
customfronts.co.uk | @custom_fronts