My Ideal Kitchen
23rd September 2019
Hi, I’m Jemima! I’ve just joined the PR team at the St John’s Square showroom, and am currently in my third week so thought now would be a good time to write my first blog. I have had a passion for homes and interiors since I was young; I can remember going to my friends’ houses after school for tea and being really interested to see what their homes were like! By the age of fourteen, I was stealing my mum’s country homes magazines to cut out pictures of beautiful houses and stick in my ‘house inspiration’ collage (I have Pinterest for that now!). Needless to say, I have known and loved deVOL for many years – never did I think I’d actually get to work here!! I decided to sit down and write about what my ideal kitchen would be.
Let’s start with three of my favourite deVOL Kitchens:
The Queens Park Kitchen
First up, it’s the Queens Park Kitchen. This original Art Deco house definitely has a sense of grandeur that I love. The combination of simplicity and opulence makes for a truly inviting and homely space, perfect for a family. The large island forms the central focus point, made from a combination of standard and bespoke Shaker cupboards, with beautiful Carrara marble worktops throughout. I love the perfect contrast between the soft and muted grey against the Crittall-style window, and I also have a thing for parquet flooring!!
The Coach House
The lofty high ceilings and an abundance of windows in the Coach House Kitchen make it feel so bright and spacious, and the crisp white walls with the pale parquet flooring give a clean and crisp finish. The Pantry Blue island gives the room a bit of warmth and richness, and the black pendant lights tie in so well with the Crittall-style windows.
The Crystal Palace Kitchen
More parquet flooring! I just love the high ceilings and large arched windows in the Crystal Palace Kitchen. It feels as though this kitchen was just meant to be painted in Pantry Blue – I can’t imagine it being any other colour!? The two wall cabinets painted in Damask either side of the canopy provide that perfect hint of freshness, and the bar stools under the island provide an informal dining area, as well as a place to cook, work, and socialise. Simple, unpretentious, with a hint of grandeur, this kitchen has such a rich and warm feel – definitely my dream kitchen!!
When it comes to kitchens, I definitely have a “type”: high ceilings, parquet flooring, and big central islands seem to be a running theme! Now, onto the specifics:
Colour
Colour is probably the thing I find the most difficult to decide on. I have always been drawn to pale, muted greys; I find them so calming and serene, but recently I have been loving rich, dark, statement colours. The Peckham Rye Kitchen really stuck out to me when I was thinking of bold colours; it’s the perfect combination of glamorous and rustic. The stunning mix of emerald and racing green that the cabinets have been painted in works so well against the polished Arabescato marble. I also love that the worktop blends so seamlessly into the splashback. The aged brass handles tie everything together so nicely, and add a touch of vintage.
Worktops
My go-to favourite worktop has to be Carrara marble; it’s such a timeless and beautiful statement. I actually love that it etches and changes over time, I think that just gives it so much character. My general style tends to be quite pared back and simple, and marble just adds a touch of luxury. I also love to bake, and marble surfaces are ideal for rolling doughs and fresh batches of pasta with minimal sticking!!
Another of my favourite worktops is honed granite; offering a much softer, more natural look and feel than polished granite. Almost the polar opposite to marble, this beautiful stone offers a much more understated alternative, evoking a relaxed and casual vibe, whilst still retaining a sense of the high-class character that natural stone embodies. I always relate honed granite to cosy farmhouse kitchens, like The Loft Kitchen at Cotes Mill:
Period Features
Something I have really grown to appreciate as I’ve gotten older are those wonderful and hard-to-find period features. I think they give a home so much character; ceiling roses, ornate coving, rustic beams, and original flooring make me giddy with excitement! The term ‘often-sought, rarely-found’ comes to mind. I especially love the combination of old and new; The Cotswold Barn embodies this so perfectly. The original stone wall and the industrial Crittall-style doors work so well together.
The Little Things
In my opinion, the little things make a big difference. When it comes to all the other features that tie everything together such as sinks, taps and cupboard handles, I definitely like a rustic statement. Anything in aged brass appeals to me!! Another of my favourite kitchens, The Cattle Shed, has both our Aged Brass ‘Mayan’ and ‘Ionian’ taps: 
These are the perfect rustic feature. Also, I swear by hot taps. They are the best invention EVER. Have you seen that we now do a hot tap with Perrin & Rowe in our famous aged brass finish!? Check it out here.
Copper accessories seem to have really made a comeback recently; I love seeing these vintage pots and pans hanging from our brass rail in the St. John’s Square showroom, it’s the perfect spot for them. Who would have thought that something as simple as this would make such a difference to a kitchen?
Another thing I am absolutely in love with is the Emerald Green London Tiles. They are such a cool statement and given the choice, I would absolutely have them somewhere in my own kitchen (in my dreams!). I just love that there are subtle variations in tones across each tile, and that none are the same as the last.
Before I finish this blog I can’t not write about the hand-painted Curiosity Cupboards!! These pieces are simply beautiful – it’s like having a work of art in your home! I just love how delicate and intricate these designs are. How special to have something completely personal and unique to you, almost like a mural.
Well, that’s all for my first blog! I hope you enjoyed reading along and hearing a little bit about my favourite kind of kitchens. There will be lots more blogs on the way and remember you can keep up to date with everything ‘deVOL’ in the meantime by following our Instagram page!
