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Kitchen of the Week: Burgundy Meets Blush in the English Countryside

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Kitchen of the Week: Burgundy Meets Blush in the English Countryside

December 28, 2023

In 2012, beloved English kitchen brand deVOL transformed a 16th-century water mill into their headquarters. The historic, five-story building, which is located on the banks of the River Soar in rural Leicestershire, houses both corporate offices and elaborate showrooms. While updates have been made to accommodate the company, original elements like heavy beams, mullioned windows, creaky floorboards, and wobbly walls remain.

“There are many evidences of its history as a mill, like wheels and pulleys and hatches for lowering grain,” says deVOL creative director Helen Parker. “Each room is different, allowing us to create unusual and inspiring displays that give a sense of home rather than a showroom.”

That cozy residential vibe is especially evident in the Heirloom Collection Kitchen, the newest showroom at Cotes Mill. With a burgundy and blush color scheme and old-world details like an oversized plate rack and linen cupboard curtains, the cook space oozes countryside charm. The only thing missing is a sweet grandmother chopping vegetables at the European oak and Carrara marble dairy table. Let’s take a closer look.

Photography courtesy of deVOL Kitchens.

inspired by &#8\2\20;under the stairs&#8\2\2\1; kitchens in country est 17
Above: Inspired by “under the stairs” kitchens in country estates like Lanhydrock House in Cornwall, the Heirloom Collection Kitchen features generous proportions, freestanding furniture, and a pared-back aesthetic. “It is so solid and practical, but the beauty of this simplicity shines through,” says Helen. “It has a grandness that is not showy or glamorous but so understated and worlds away from what would be considered fashionable.”
to achieve an austere look with a touch of softness, helen opted for devol& 18
Above: To achieve an austere look with a touch of softness, Helen opted for deVOL’s own moody Refectory Red paint on the cabinets and warming Dead Salmon by Farrow & Ball on the walls.
with hand turned legs, hand cast solid brass handles, and a rounded edge carrar 19
Above: With hand-turned legs, hand-cast solid brass handles, and a rounded-edge Carrara marble worktop, a dairy table serves as an eye-catching centerpiece. “The Carrara marble is cool and practical for prepping and kneading and pastry making,” explains Helen. “Originally, marble was always used in a dairy, as it was easy to clean.”
helen ditched lower cabinet doors in favor of utilitarian striped linen curtain 20
Above: Helen ditched lower cabinet doors in favor of utilitarian striped linen curtains from Volga Linen.
a statement plate rack, adorned with a cornice along the top, hangs above the b 21
Above: A statement plate rack, adorned with a cornice along the top, hangs above the black Welsh slate countertop and offers easy access to  crockery. “This smooth matte stone feels a little more tactile and natural than a granite,” says Helen. “It is soft and can scratch more easily, but we like the way it ages and becomes worn.”
a butler style pantry cupboard includes a deep drawer at the base, spice racks  22
Above: A butler-style pantry cupboard includes a deep drawer at the base, spice racks on both doors, and a Carrara marble cold shelf for eggs, butter, cheese, and other fresh produce.
the large scale kitchen leads to a quaint dining nook, where a built in bench a 23
Above: The large-scale kitchen leads to a quaint dining nook, where a built-in bench and a trio of bentwood café chairs provide plenty of seating.
&#8\2\20;it’s hard to put your finger on it, but it just feels like  24
Above: “It’s hard to put your finger on it, but it just feels like it has been there forever,” says Helen.

For more rosy kitchens, see:

N.B.: This story originally published on February 16, 2023, and has been updated.

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