About ME
My name is Chris Stone, and I run Fivetone Cabinetry from Stroud, Gloucestershire.
I started the business in 2020, after losing my job at a bespoke kitchen and furniture company in Bristol during the Covid lockdowns. What began as working out of my garage — building fitted furniture to keep busy and keep sane — quickly turned into something more serious as word spread and demand grew.
As projects became larger, the workshop grew with them, and Fivetone Cabinetry developed into a full-time practice focused on well-designed, carefully made furniture. What really appealed to me was having control over the entire process — from the first ideas and design work through to making, finishing and fitting — and being fully responsible for the quality of the final result.
Alongside cabinetmaking, my background is in film, TV and music, and that creative mindset feeds directly into how I approach design. I taught myself SketchUp so clients can clearly see how their furniture will look and function before it’s made, allowing designs to be properly resolved and tailored to each space.
Today, Fivetone Cabinetry is about thoughtful design, solid craftsmanship and furniture that’s made properly — pieces that fit their space, work hard, and are built to last.
The workshop
I share my workshop space in Stroud with AJ Hudd Carpentry, an exceptionally skilled carpenter. While the workshop itself is a sensible size, it’s set up to handle large, complex furniture projects properly.
A generous assembly area allows cabinets to be fully built and checked for accuracy and squareness before they move on to finishing. There’s also ample bench space to work comfortably on larger pieces and multi-part builds.
The workshop is equipped with modern machinery for processing solid timber and sheet materials, supported by a wide range of hand tools and Festool equipment. This setup allows me to work efficiently, accurately and with flexibility, whether I’m building a single bespoke piece or a full fitted installation.
FinisH
When I moved to Stroud, one of the biggest challenges was finding a spray finisher I could genuinely trust with my work.
I believe a professional spray finish gives the best and most consistent result, which is why it’s offered as a standard option on my furniture. In the past, I’ve seen pieces finished by decorators or clients themselves, and too often the result undermined the quality of the build. Even well-made furniture can end up looking unfinished if the final coating isn’t right.
After some trial and error, I began working with RJ Hunt & Sons, a specialist finishing company who now handle all of my spray work. Their finishes are consistently excellent, colour-matched accurately, and applied with the level of care that bespoke furniture deserves.
Working closely with a trusted local finisher means every piece is completed to the same standard it’s built to — with clean, durable, professional finishes that properly do the work justice.