01494 778787
01494 778787
Back in 2004, Nabil and Elizabeth Assaf were looking for a way to turn their typical 1970s British bungalow into something more eye-catching. They decided a beautifully designed, contemporary front door would have a transformative effect on their home. When the search for the door of their dreams proved fruitless, they decided to take matters into their own hands.
“I enjoy the process of making so I bought some wood from a local timber merchant, and I made a door in the garden,” says Nabil. Within days of fitting the handcrafted door, the Assafs found themselves inundated by passers-by asking where the door was from.
Just a year later, Elizabeth and Nabil had left their careers in TV and banking respectively, and, in February 2005, Urban Front was launched. Since then, every Urban Front door has been lovingly handcrafted in Chesham, Buckinghamshire by the skilled workshop team.
“Manufacturing in the UK allows us to retain control of our product. We feel emotionally connected to our doors and we make a product we are so proud of,” says Nabil. “We’re about the design and beauty of hardwood: our doors are so distinctive and secure, and we pride ourselves on great customer service,” says Elizabeth.
In celebration of two decades in business, Elizabeth tracked down Urban Front’s first-ever customers and was delighted to catch up with David and Angie Daw (yes really) and learn their doors are still in use. Read their story here.
Twenty years after they began their own door search, Elizabeth and Nabil have helped thousands of customers all around the world to transform their own homes or property developments with their bespoke doors. “Urban Front isn’t just about doors though,” says Elizabeth. “It’s about the people who chose our product. Selecting a door is an emotional decision and we love taking people on that journey.”
The first Urban Front office opens in Watford
As manufacturing begins we have our first exhibition at Homebuilding & Renovating
We move to our own manufacturing premises in Chesham and launch fingersafe doors
Sahara, the eldest Assaf child testing the fingersafe door
We exhibit at our first 100% Design exhibition
Our manufacturing site is extended to include the office and showroom
Investment in new top-line machinery sees the launch of our Passivehaus certified doors
Bi-fold garage, internal and RAL painted doors are launched
Urban Front celebrates 10 years in business. Sahara is pictured here with little brother Raphi at the Assaf family home
In-house metal finishes launched
New designs Bari and Barn become our best sellers. Dual finish doors are launched
Taking measures to reduce our CO2 output with a briquette machine and a DEFRA clean air exempt biomass burner.
Powered by a passion for bespoke craftsmanship and innovation, watch us in action and learn how co-founders Elizabeth & Nabil Assaf turned a simple dream about doors into a state-of-the-art product.
