What Makes an English Country Kitchen Lovely?

No, lovely ones. Still not over admiring a beautifully designed English country kitchen. Especially when it involves innovative, bespoke design by deVOL! Hello Lovely has sung their praises since the dawn of blogging, eons before the world discovered them in For the Love of Kitchens on television. Whether you are gearing up for a kitchen remodel, planning to refresh your existing kitchen, or building new. I hope this inspiration will aid in the process. (Even inspiration from an English castle!) It is critical to communicate your desires clearly for kitchen design to be successful. Images help so much! See this kitchen Pinterest board for design ideas as well as THIS one for a bit of English country style. What Makes an English Country Kitchen Design Lovely? Let’s dig into my favorite deVOL beauties.

What is it about English country style that tugs at the heartstrings and feels anything but clinical?

Is it the infusion of nature? The mix of old and new?

The craftsmanship, integrity, and commitment to quality? Is it the elegant simplicity and understatement?

Bespoke English Country Kitchen Ideas

Get a taste in this delicious wee moment right here:

and more magic here:

deVOL Kitchens

If you admire the work and wares of the UK-based deVOL, you may be delighted to know they have a presence in the States as well. Have you seen the work in person at deVOL’s Bond Street, New York showroom?

deVOL + House of Hackney’s Castle Trematon

I highly recommend watching the episode of deVOL’s For the Love of Kitchens where the bespoke firm partners with the brilliant designers/owners of Castle Trematon.

What a rare privilege to see how this castle’s kitchen was preserved yet reimagined for modern living with timelessly elegant style.

Maybe the wallcoverings, rich green and blue color story, or beautiful atmospheric mood were a clue as to who lives here…

the creatives behind irreverent British designers House of Hackney. I find this kitchen project completely inspiring. You need not have a castle or castle-sized budget to borrow from the ethos of these creatives!

Shaker Style Kitchen Design: deVOL Cotes Mill Showroom

Let’s peek at deVOL’s Shaker Kitchen in their historic 16th Century water mill showroom at Cotes Mill (near Loughborough in the UK). Four floors of showroom displays feature their lovely designs and finely crafted kitchen “furniture” or what Americans call cabinetry.

Simplicity of Light-Toned Shaker Cabinets

Notice how the pale cabinet color (and quartz counters) create a feeling of spaciousness in spite of the lack of natural light from windows.

Not every kitchen is blessed with high ceilings and abundant sunlight!

Varied Textures & Working With What’s Already There

The other reality and reason that bespoke design is so key? Not every kitchen has standard windows, straight walls, and a perfectly pristine envelope.

However, deVOL says “with careful, simple choices you can create a beautifully fitted and modern feeling kitchen that is sympathetic to the rest of the room.”

Vintage Elements Layered into a Kitchen Design

When I saw this vintage cabinet with shelves of the amber glass candles offered by deVOL, I gasped.

What could be cozier and frankly, luxurious, than a devoted cupboard as beautiful as this with a quantity of gorgeous scented candles? I may not have a wine cellar, but I bet I can find a or construct a vintage style cabinet to stylishly and smartly hold my favorite candles.

Romantic Artisan Lighting

They are handmade, and who says they don’t make them as they used to?

Can you imagine how a simple pendant like this frilly cranberry one (above) could transform the mood of a corner in a variety of places within a home?

And just imagine the fantasy of multiple pendants!

Unlaquered Brass Taps

There’s just nothing quite like the patina that develops from time and use!

I wasn’t able to incorporate one of the brand’s kitchen faucets this time around, but I look forward to using one in the next project whenever that happens.

Cheerful Paint Inside a Glazed Cupboard

I love how a contrasting color inside a cabinet elevates the look and makes it all the more unique.

This can also be achieved with whimsical patterns and handpainted designs!

What an heirloom piece that is destined to be a stunning backdrop for memories made!

Modern Function With Old World Charm

Of this kitchen in their showroom, deVOL explains, “The sink run is a combination of our standard Shaker base cabinets and includes a single bin…The original old window sill behind the sink is a little lower than our standard cabinets but, using Silestone upstands, it keeps the run neat and the work surface contained and easy to keep clean.”

Ever heard the term “upstand?” Americans generally call any surface rising from the countertop material to protect the wall a “backsplash.” The British call their backsplashes “splashbacks” and their countertop “worktop.” They further distinguish between upstands and splashbacks.

(Yes, commit these differences to memory, there’ll be a quiz at the end.) 🙂 Here’s another example of “upstands” in a kitchen where there is no further splashback.

I love how English country kitchens seem to defy a lot of design rules we abide by in the USA. Don’t love a tiled backsplash? Skip it:

In my own kitchen renovation, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to go to the ceiling with backsplash tile. Even though it is seen less often in America, I tiled higher than the standard 18″.

Go higher, go lower, skip it, decide later…you don’t have to feel hemmed into the typical look if you decide to try something less ordinary.

Kitchen Fireplaces

I just watched an episode of Jean Stoffer’s show “The Established Home” where she created a kitchen in an older home’s living room. The space had a gorgeous original fireplace so the kitchen design flowed from that fixture. Because it isn’t typical to see fireplaces in kitchens anymore, it makes a kitchen seem older and established.

If you’re building new and are the type of person who spends endless time in the kitchen, why not include one in the plan!?!

Bold & Quirky Kitchen Design Finishes

What a vibe!

We can be so shy with our kitchen color stories because of the expensive investment and concerns about resale. That’s why it can feel so exciting to see someone celebrate their favorite color or choose finishes designed to be mood lifting, whimsical, and energizing.

Millwork & Refined Details

You just can’t not notice the fine craftsmanship of English country bespoke kitchen design.

There’s a sense that these kitchens will stand the test of time because of their natural materials and the way they are so masterfully installed. So many American kitchens could benefit from such an approach that turns away from the disposable, trendy, and mediocre.

14. Elegant Stone Work Surfaces in a Magnificent Bespoke Kitchen by deVOL

deVOL now offers amazing furniture including tables like this:

and wood stools like these:

Luxury in a Beautiful Bespoke Kitchen With Steel Windows

We tend to think of English country kitchens as humble and a little rustic, but there are plenty of examples where those adjectives seem out of place.

While the deVOL cupboards are understated, they have a luxurious look in this lofty space with high end everything.

Sculleries & Small Serene English Country Kitchen Wonder

I love the look of small and serene. Who doesn’t just sigh at the sight of a mini “dirty kitchen” or scullery that has been thoughtfully designed?

For ideas for classic and timeless kitchens, visit this kitchen design inspiration, and to see a new country French kitchen with Old World style, check out this romantic kitchen.

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

How to Add English Country Style to Your Kitchen?

If a brand new kitchen design from deVOL is not a possibility, maybe one of their tables, lights, tiles, or faucets is?

Because even changing something like the faucet at the sink can add English country charm:

Here’s the exact faucet in my own kitchen in a classic Edwardian style:

It would also make sense in an English country kitchen, and here’s one with a much friendlier price tag than mine:

Tap Images on Mood Board to Go to Buying Info!

I independently selected products in this post—if you buy from one of my links, I may earn a commission.

Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

Thanks for shopping RIGHT HERE to keep decor inspiration flowing on Hello Lovely!

Hello Lovely is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.