Our services
Panelling & Cornice
Elegant wall panelling and decorative cornice installation, designed to add depth, character and a refined architectural finish to your interiors.
Real panelling & cornice projects.
A selection of recent work completed by GPD Property Service across London and Surrey.
Hinchley Wood, Surrey
Wall Panelling & Interior Decorating
Hinchley Wood, Surrey
Wall Panelling & Interior Decorating
- Decorative Wall Panelling Installation
- Preparation
- Interior Painting & Decorating
This Hinchley Wood project transformed the living room with decorative wall panelling, followed by careful preparation and a fresh painted finish. From setting out and installing the panelling to protecting the room during decorating, every stage was completed with attention to detail for a clean, elegant result. Explore the project photos to see the installation process and finished room.
More panelling & cornice projects
Some of the clearest examples of panelling and restored cornice sit in the projects we've written up. Browse our recent projects.
What's included
- Traditional and contemporary wall panelling
- Wainscoting and dado detailing
- Decorative cornice and coving installation
- Hallway, staircase and living-room feature walls
- Fully painted and finished ready to enjoy
Preparation & workmanship
Panelling and cornice detailing is only as good as the linework behind it. We plan proportions carefully to suit the room, install every length dead level, fill and caulk joints properly and finish with a crisp, hand-painted final coat.
Who it's for
Panelling and cornice are architectural work more than decoration — they change the proportions of a room, so they suit some properties more than others.
Period homes missing original detail
Victorian and Edwardian houses stripped of their cornice, picture rails or dado during earlier refurbishments. Reinstating the right profiles gives the rooms back the proportions the architect intended.
New builds wanting character
Modern houses and apartments with flat, plain walls and square ceiling lines. Panelling and a well-chosen cornice add depth and shadow without making the space feel fussy.
Hallways and staircases
The area a visitor sees first, and often the largest expanse of blank wall in the house. Panelling running up a staircase, set out to follow the pitch, is one of the most transformative things you can do to a hall.
Bedrooms and living rooms
Panelled headboard walls, half-height wainscoting and picture-rail detailing that frame furniture and give the room a finished, considered feel.
Reception areas and hospitality interiors
Commercial spaces that want a traditional or refined look at the entrance, where the detailing has to be crisp and hard-wearing.
How the process works
Getting panelling right is a matter of setting out. We plan it fully before anything is fixed to the wall.
- 01
Survey and design consultation
We measure the room, check ceiling heights and how level the floor and walls are, and discuss the style — traditional raised or shaker panels, slim contemporary battens, half-height wainscoting or full-height detailing — along with the cornice profile that suits the period and scale of the room.
- 02
Setting out and preparation
Panel sizes and spacings are drawn out on the wall so the proportions work with the doors, windows, radiators and sockets, and so the layout stays visually even where the room is not square. Walls are made good and the room is protected before installation begins.
- 03
Installation
Battens and mouldings are fixed level and plumb, mitres cut tightly and lengths joined so no gap shows. Cornice is scribed into corners rather than simply butted, and around the staircase the panelling is set out to follow the rake consistently.
- 04
Filling, painting and handover
Every fixing is filled, joints and wall junctions caulked and the whole assembly sanded before priming and hand-painting. The final coat is cut in carefully along the top edges and mouldings, and we check the linework in raking light before clearing up.
Where we work
South West London & Surrey.
We work across Wimbledon, Putney, Clapham and Fulham, and through Richmond, Kingston and Esher. Panelling and cornice work is usually about putting back detail an earlier refurbishment took out, and in Victorian and Edwardian rooms the proportions rarely match a standard panel spacing — so hallways and staircases are worth looking at in person before a layout is agreed. See every area we cover.
Frequently asked questions
Which style of panelling will suit my room?
It depends on ceiling height, the period of the house and what the room is for. Half-height wainscoting works well in halls and dining rooms, taller panels suit high Victorian ceilings, and simple slim battens sit better in modern flats. We will sketch the setting out so you can see the proportions before committing.
Can you panel a staircase wall?
Yes, and it is one of our most requested pieces of work. The panels are set out to follow the rake of the stairs with consistent margins, which takes careful marking out but produces the clean diagonal line that makes staircase panelling look right.
Can you match existing cornice in the rest of the house?
In most cases. We take details of the existing profile and source the closest match so new work reads as part of the original scheme. Where an exact match is not available, we will show you the nearest options and recommend which sits best alongside what you already have.
How disruptive is the installation?
Less than most people expect. The room is protected, cutting is kept contained and the messiest stages — filling and sanding — are short. A single feature wall is usually a matter of days including painting, while a full hallway and staircase takes longer because of the setting out and the amount of hand-painting.
What affects the quotation for panelling and cornice?
The wall area, the style and number of panels, the cornice profile chosen, how square the room is, whether sockets, radiators and staircases complicate the setting out, and the paint finish specified. We survey the room and provide a free written quotation covering the joinery and the decoration.
Related services
Mouldings change a room's character, and the work either side of them matters just as much. These services usually go hand in hand.
Interior Painting
New panelling needs filling, caulking and decorating to read as one surface, so the painting stage is what makes the joinery disappear into the wall.
More on interior paintingBespoke Carpentry
Where a room needs more than mouldings — alcove shelving, window seats, cupboard fronts — the same team can make and fit it to match.
More on bespoke carpentryWallpaper Installation
Paper above a panelled section is a classic pairing in period homes, and it needs both trades planned around the same datum lines.
More on wallpaper installationFree, no-obligation quote
Ready for a finish worth showing off?
Tell us about your project — we'll be in touch within a few hours with next steps and a detailed estimate.
- Mon–Fri:08:00–19:00
- Sat:08:30–18:00
- Sun:Closed