Kitchen of the Week: 7 Design Ideas to Steal from deVOL's Latest Showroom

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British kitchen and furniture maker deVOL has recently opened a fifth showroom in the genteel Georgian city of Bath. It occupies part of a grand, 18th-century row of apartments built from honey-colored Bath stone. Basking in natural light and boasting fine period details, the building has “the perfect look and proportions to display deVOL furniture at its very best,” according to Helen Parker, the company’s creative director.

The kitchen design company has taken over several rooms on the ground floor, including the main entrance to the building, which lends the space “a very grand feel.” There are four kitchen displays in total, each of which “flows nicely into the other to give the feeling of being in a home rather than a showroom.”

Below, we’ve identified seven design ideas that will transpose to any home.

Photography courtesy of deVOL.

1. Create a bistro nook.

bentwood chairs, low level lighting, cafe curtains, and vintage posters: all th 17 — Above: Bentwood chairs, low-level lighting, cafe curtains, and vintage posters: All that’s missing from this cozy corner is a glass of house red. “The best spot for this is in a corner of the kitchen, especially if it’s near a window so you can hang up some floaty curtains to create some intimacy,” Helen explains. “A low-slung light on a dimmer is perfect, but even just some candles will give you the right vibe.”

2. Add a contemporary kitchen dresser.

you no longer need a vast downton abbey below stairs kitchen to incorporate a d 18 — Above: You no longer need a vast Downton Abbey below-stairs kitchen to incorporate a dresser (or hutch). “If you love the look of a dresser but don’t have the room for such a large piece, then adding some tongue-and-groove paneling with shelves and cornice makes a great alternative,” says Helen. “The paneling gives a warm and textured feel to the room, and with plates and pots to display, your sink can become far more than just a functional run.”

3. Try color drenching in the kitchen.

helen has boldly taken the trend of color drenching into the kitchen, which mak 19 — Above: Helen has boldly taken the trend of color drenching into the kitchen, which makes a lot of sense given the unavoidable clutter that accumulates in most kitchens. “All-over color is both dramatic and understated,” she explains. “The effect is very calming and easy on the eye. You notice the details gradually and subtly, making the overall finish feel very elegant and unfussy.” (For more, see Remodeling 101: 7 Color-Drenching Paint Tips from Farrow & Ball.)

4. Swap a pan rail for the backsplash.

“we love a pot hanger, but sometimes it’s nice to keep your ceili 20 — Above: “We love a pot hanger, but sometimes it’s nice to keep your ceiling and the overall visual of your room less fussy,” says Helen. “Particularly if you have a special cooker hood you want to show off.” Here, a burnished batterie de cuisine is hung up behind the range. “It looks stunning, but it’s also very practical and if, like me, you don’t really like splashbacks, this is a lovely excuse not to have one.”

5. Display plates that travel around the room.

“these pink and blue plates were supposed to go in the pantry cupboard, 21 — Above: “These pink and blue plates were supposed to go in the pantry cupboard, but the patterns and shapes are so pretty and unusual that it seemed a shame to hide them away,” says Helen, who has hung these up above the mantlepiece and continued the display on to the adjacent wall. “The trick is to be as random with the placement as possible,” she says. “Even overlapping is good.”

6. Install a pot filler in your prep area.

a pot filler gives you the luxury of not having to haul heavy pots of water aro 22 — Above: A pot filler gives you the luxury of not having to haul heavy pots of water around your kitchen. “It’s one of those rare things that is both beautiful and very functional,” says Helen. “Fix it on to a simple tiled wall, and you have instantly created a very traditional, below-stairs look.”

7. Get out of the kitchen.

breakfast in bed is a concept we’re all familiar with—prepping fo 23 — Above: Breakfast in bed is a concept we’re all familiar with—prepping food in the hallway, not so much. “Cooking and prepping in a room that’s not your kitchen is a slightly alien concept for most of us,” Helen says. “But I love the notion of taking food prep out of the kitchen and following your friends and family around so you’re not confined to the kitchen, especially on special occasions. Having a big prep table as an entrance hall piece of furniture, or a big dresser in your utility room, allows so much more flexibility at home.”

For more old-world kitchen ideas, see:

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