For The Love Of Kitchens – Paul’s Kitchen
29th September 2021
Ooh is it just me, or does each episode keep getting better and better? I find it so interesting to learn about the people behind a brand, and it’s even more exciting when you get to snoop inside their home! And that’s just what we did in this episode, following Paul as he fulfilled his dream of owning a house in Cornwall.
But before we take a trip down south, at Cotes Mill Helen embarked on the exciting project of redesigning our Classic English kitchen display. Here at deVOL we really hate to throw things away, especially when they are beautifully made cupboards that are designed to last a lifetime. So instead of creating more waste, we decided to give these cupboards a second lease of life by giving them a new lick of paint and sending them down to Paul’s cottage in St. Ives.
Now with a clean slate, Helen created the first Heirloom Kitchen. It features our new favourite, the Dairy Table, (which stars in the first episode of For The Love Of Kitchens!), alongside some deep ‘Refectory Red‘ cupboards and our brand new Iron Pot Hanger. Our metalsmith, Alun, created the Pot Hanger by bending steel over old wheels which were used at Cotes Mill when it was a functioning watermill, how cool is that?! Helen was aiming for a space that felt unstyled and functional but nevertheless had a simple beauty, and wow did she deliver! As Robin says in the episode, ‘it just feels like you’ve walked into someone’s house, that just happens to have an amazing kitchen and really good taste!’
With the new cupboards sorted, Paul set about taking down the stud wall in his St. Ives cottage, and in a very exciting moment discovered a second fireplace in his kitchen! This meant he and Helen could totally rethink the kitchen layout and made the slightly rocky start to the project feel a little better!
Paul visits his new cottage in St. Ives, Cornwall.
St. Ives is a very popular tourist destination, but it’s also somewhat of an artists’ hub, with painters, sculptors, and writers all being drawn to the area by the unique quality of the light. In fact, St. Ives has played host to J.M.W Turner, Barbara Hepworth, Piet Mondrian, and Virginia Woolf, so it’s no wonder that Paul and Helen felt right at home! To get a little inspiration, Helen and Paul headed to Porthmeor Studios, a 126-year-old fishing factory that has been converted into fisherman’s workshops and artist’s studios. Set right above the beach with the most incredible view of the sea, each studio is very sparsely decorated but has these characteristic wooden panels on the floors and walls. Built on a shoestring back in 1895, the cladding features layers and layers of paint that have been added and worn away by artists and fishermen over the years. It has a quiet and characterful beauty, and Paul actually says it might be the ‘nicest room’ he’s ever been in!
Paul and Helen loved the rustic, aged look of Porthmeor so much that they decided to recreate the look in Paul’s cottage. I was a little unsure if the wear and tear of over 125 years could be replicated in only a few hours, but some creative thinking by Paul and the help of wax and some washing up sponges gave a really authentic look, and I just know it will look better and better the more they use the room.
Paul explains how he will recreate the Porthmeor look in his own cottage.
A little insight into Paul and Helen’s working relationship!
Back in Leicestershire, we were allowed a rare glimpse inside Robin’s personal workshop. As the Managing Director, Robin spends most of his time now steering the deVOL ship, so it can be easy to forget that at his core, he is a craftsman. In fact, Paul recalls that when Robin turned up for his deVOL interview he came with a full-size wooden oar poking out of a holdall! Today Robin was creating our brand new Heirloom Gaselier Light, it’s an incredibly satisfying and somewhat mesmerising process, watching metal change almost as if it were as soft as clay!
Robin and Paul making the Heirloom Gaselier Light.
With cupboards and light fittings ready, and a yellow and green colour scheme to work with, Helen and Paul headed out again to an antiques fair. Both are avid collectors, but Paul is known to be fond of the slightly more quirky objects. Over the years he’s bought a chopper bike, a dentist’s chair and some flight cases, and this time he set his sights on an old TV!
Paul and Helen visit the antiques fair.
Before I show you the finished result, this episode was particularly exciting because we got to visit Pearl and Danny, the owners of the iconic Frome Kitchen. It’s crazy to think that the kitchen here used to be tucked away in a tiny backroom. Pearl and Danny totally reimagined the space, opening it up and including perhaps one of the most impressive islands we’ve ever seen! Now this deVOL kitchen regularly tops our annual most-liked list on Instagram!
Finally, down in Cornwall, it was time for Helen to style and shoot Paul’s kitchen. Paul’s old TV from the antiques fair made a brief appearance, but Helen rather firmly decided that it was not appropriate for the cottage!
Paul and Helen discuss the antique TV.
Ooh I get kitchen envy every time I see these pictures! The finished space features a simple and colourful kitchen at one end, reminiscent of the Shaker style, and a more grand bohemian sitting area with just a hint of Moroccan opulence at the other. It’s perfect for a sunny summer’s day and the slightly more frequent grey blustery days that we get at the British coast when all you want to do is cuddle up and get cosy!
Apart from the cupboards, this kitchen is just brimming with deVOL accessories so here’s a directory with everything you need to know!
P A U L ‘ S K I T C H E N D I R E C T O R Y
Range – The Classic English Kitchen (sink cabinet, wall & base cupboard) & The Real Shaker Kitchen (pantry, shelf)
Cupboard Colour – ‘Scullery Yellow’ by deVOL and a bespoke green
Prep Table, Dining Table, Chairs & Mirror – Vintage
Worktops – Carrara marble on the base cupboard by the cooker and Cherry on the sink cupboard
Handles – deVOL Aged Brass Boho handles, knobs & pull handles
Tap – Aged Brass ‘Ionian’ tap by deVOL
Sink – deVOL 800mm Crackle single sink
Oven – Lacanche Cluny 1000mm Black/Brass LCF1052CT
Fridge – Smeg Fab28 in Cream
Flooring – Sisal Havana from County Carpets St Ives
Switches & Sockets – deVOL Oxidised Brass Classic Toggle Switches & Classic 13A Plug Sockets
Lighting – The Heirloom Gaselier Light, Small Creamware Pendant & Mini Creamware Wall Lights, all by deVOL
Radiator – Victorian 3 column 735mm Cast Iron Radiator, ‘Foundry Grey’ by Period House Store
Painting – The piece above the sink is vintage, and the one by the pantry cupboard is by one of deVOL’s artists
This episode has definitely made me want to take a trip to St. Ives, so if you want a little virtual holiday, be sure to check out the full episode on discovery+ or the Magnolia Network. And if you’re struggling to find the show, not to worry, I’ve put together a handy guide here to help you with any problems you might be having!
