Edinburgh Press

An Edinburgh press is a traditional built-in cupboard or recessed storage area commonly found in Edinburgh tenement flats and other period properties. Typically positioned within an alcove beside a fireplace or chimney breast, these presses were originally designed to provide practical household storage without taking up valuable floor space.

Many surviving Edinburgh presses retain original timber doors, shelving, mouldings and other period joinery. During a renovation, they can often be restored or sensitively adapted with new shelving, cabinetry, lighting or fitted storage while retaining the proportions and character of the original interior.

For homeowners renovating a traditional Edinburgh property, an existing press can provide an opportunity to combine useful modern storage with the architectural character of the building. Where original joinery survives, careful repair and adaptation will often produce a more sympathetic result than simply removing it.