heritage
Coving & Cornice Installation
Period-correct cornicing that crowns your rooms with distinction
From £35 per metre installed
Simple cove profiles from £35/m. Ornate period profiles and bespoke matching are priced per project.
Typical Duration
1-3 days per room depending on complexity
Free Consultation
No-obligation quote and colour advice
Cornicing and coving define the character of a room, framing the junction between wall and ceiling with architectural grace. We install, restore, and paint cornice profiles ranging from simple cove mouldings to elaborate fibrous plaster designs. Whether you are reinstating original detailing lost during previous renovations or adding classical proportion to a modern interior, our team delivers precise, clean results.
About Our Coving & Cornice Service
The cornice is one of the most important architectural elements in a period London interior. It provides visual weight, establishes proportion, and creates a finished transition between wall and ceiling that elevates the entire room. In many Mayfair and Belgravia townhouses, original Georgian and Victorian cornicing survives in remarkable condition, while in others it has been damaged, removed, or obscured by decades of overpainting. Our coving and cornice service covers the full spectrum: from careful restoration of existing period mouldings to the installation of new profiles that complement the architectural style of the property. We work with specialist fibrous plaster suppliers to source profiles that match originals precisely, and our installers are experienced in the particular demands of fitting cornicing in properties where walls and ceilings are rarely perfectly square or level.
What We Deliver
- Supply and installation of plaster coving and cornice profiles
- Matching of existing period profiles using specialist fibrous plaster suppliers
- Restoration and repair of damaged or deteriorating original cornicing
- Ceiling rose installation and repair
- Removal of multiple layers of old paint to reveal original detailing
- Mitring and joining of profiles to achieve seamless corners
- Filling, caulking, and finishing of all joints prior to painting
- Full decoration of installed cornicing in chosen finish
Our Approach
Cornice installation demands precision. We begin by assessing the existing ceiling line and wall surfaces, noting any irregularities that must be accommodated during fitting. For restoration work, we take moulds or detailed measurements of surviving original profiles and commission bespoke runs from our fibrous plaster partners. New installations are carefully marked out, adhesive-fixed, and mechanically secured where required. Every joint is filled, caulked, and sanded so that the finished cornice reads as a continuous, unbroken line around the room. We understand that in older properties, true right angles are rare — our installers have the skill to scribe and adjust profiles to follow the actual geometry of the room rather than fighting against it. Once installed, the cornice is primed and painted as part of the wider decorating scheme.
Materials & Brands
We source profiles from Locker & Riley, Clark & Fenn, and George Jackson — Britain's leading fibrous plaster manufacturers. For simpler installations, we use Orac Decor lightweight polyurethane profiles that are virtually indistinguishable from plaster once painted. Adhesives are from CT1 and Gripfill, and all finishing is carried out with Toupret fine surface filler for invisible joints.
Property Considerations
Georgian properties in Mayfair and St James's often feature elaborate egg-and-dart or dentil cornicing that requires specialist matching. Victorian homes in Chelsea and Kensington may have deeper, more ornate profiles with acanthus leaf detailing. Mansion flats frequently have simpler cove mouldings that can be replaced with off-the-shelf profiles. In listed buildings, we liaise with conservation officers regarding any proposed alterations and ensure that all work respects the building's significance.
Why Choose Our Coving & Cornice Service
Profile Matching
We source or commission profiles that precisely match your property's original cornicing style and period.
Seamless Joins
Every mitred corner and butt joint is filled and finished to create the appearance of a single continuous moulding.
Integrated Decoration
Cornicing is primed and painted as part of the same project, ensuring a cohesive finish with walls and ceiling.
Our Coving & Cornice Process
Survey & Profile Selection
We assess the room, measure accurately, and identify or source the correct cornice profile.
Surface Preparation
Wall and ceiling surfaces at the junction are cleaned, scored, and prepared for adhesion.
Installation
Profiles are cut, mitred, adhered, and secured around the room with precision at every corner.
Finishing
All joints are filled, caulked, and sanded to create invisible seams.
Decoration
The cornice is primed and painted to match the room's decorating scheme.
Brands We Use for Coving & Cornice
Available Across London
We offer coving & cornice installation across all 20 of our service areas in prime London.
View All AreasRelated Services
Ceiling Painting & Restoration
Expert ceiling decoration from simple refreshes to ornate restorations
Learn moreHeritage & Period Painting
Sympathetic decoration that honours your property's history
Learn morePlaster Repair & Surface Preparation
Restoring the foundation for a flawless painted finish
Learn moreInterior Painting
Flawless interiors that elevate every room in your home
Learn moreFrequently Asked Questions
We install plaster coving, fibrous plaster cornicing, lightweight polystyrene coving, polyurethane profiles and MDF shadow-gap trims. For period properties we source ornate profiles that match the original architectural style.
Yes. We take a mould of the existing profile and have matching lengths cast in fibrous plaster by specialist suppliers. Alternatively we source the closest standard profile and dress the joints to create a seamless match.
A standard room with simple cove takes half a day. Ornate multi-piece cornicing with mitred internal and external corners takes a full day per room. Filling, sanding and painting the coving adds an additional half day.
Yes. All new coving is caulked, filled at the joints, sanded and painted as part of the installation service. We typically finish coving in the same white as the ceiling for a clean, traditional look, but can colour-match to any scheme.
We regularly work with the uneven surfaces found in older London properties. Flexible adhesive and careful scribe-fitting allow us to follow undulations while maintaining a straight visual line — a skill that comes with years of experience.
Coving has a simple concave profile and is typically less ornate. Cornicing features decorative mouldings such as egg-and-dart, dentil or acanthus leaf patterns. Cornicing is more common in Georgian, Victorian and Edwardian properties.
Ready for Expert Coving & Cornice?
Get a free, no-obligation quote from our specialist team. We respond within 24 hours.