Three very special deVOL Kitchens in St. Barth
29th January 2021
Anybody else dreaming of warm breezes, white sand, blue seas and palm trees? Well, I can’t transport you straight to the beach but I can whisk you away to a few beautiful villas in the Caribbean, each with character and charm and a very lovely deVOL Kitchen.
We couldn’t believe our luck when Sibarth got in touch, they own a collection of luxury holiday stays on the island of Saint Barthélemy and wanted to use our handcrafted cabinetry for three of them. What a cool project and so very different from what we’re used to working on! We design kitchens for homes all over the world and have sent our cupboards to some really obscure and amazing places, but this one felt very special indeed.
The kitchens are part of three separate apartments in different buildings which connect via a lovely garden in the middle. The owners went for our Shaker range, beautifully uncomplicated and expertly crafted. This range is our most popular and it’s easy to see why, the standard sizes help with costs and the simplicity allows you to add your personality. They have an almost chameleon-like quality! These cabinets fit seamlessly into any setting and it’s so easy to make them your own.
First up, ‘El Dorado’. It’s funny, this definitely isn’t what springs to mind when I think of a holiday let but wow, it is absolutely stunning!! It feels classic and quite lavish with the dark colours and warm wooden worktops and vintage chandelier but it has a tropical feel too, what a great combination.
The cupboards have been painted in Printer’s Black, a shade from our Shaker collection and the perfect pairing to our handcrafted aged brass handles and brass Ionian tap. And the Lacanche! These beauties are such a treat to use and really do look the part. I would be so thrilled to turn up on holiday and discover this… and the rest of the place is just as wonderful, I don’t think I could ever tear myself away.
‘The Swedish House’ is next and is set within a building that dates back to 1841, it’s actually one of the few remaining historic buildings in the area of Gustavia. This place has been designed so thoughtfully and sympathetically and, similarly to ‘El Dorado’, it has a wonderfully moody feel with all the dark, rich tones.
How great is the soft, darkened sage green shade against the Printer’s Black cupboards? I so often favour light and airy kitchens but this has me completely converted, there’s something very appealing about dramatic interiors, you’re sure to get a wow from everybody who stays here.
A special little mention to the Curiosity Cupboard which has been painted head to toe, inside and out, in our deliciously dark black shade. This one has been filled with lots of books, which we love, but it really is perfect for displaying pretty much anything you like… The owners of this one decided to have the lower half of the Curiosity Cupboard panelled, great for anybody who doesn’t want to keep everything in their kitchen flawlessly organised.
We love open plan living and this is a perfect example of how to get it so right. A big squishy sofa in one area, a dining table in another and the kitchen in the other. This is the ideal scenario on holiday, everybody chilling out after a day of sunshine, finishing off their book or playing cards or mixing up a refreshing cocktail… the dream.
Finally, we have the ‘Greenhouse’, a very lovely little studio apartment with everything you could ever need. The owners wanted this place to feel like a secret garden and we think it’s spot on, how cool is that wicker palm tree lamp!?
The rich green paint is so sumptuous and works beautifully in here, I love that they went all out and used it for both the Shaker cupboards and the walls. We always say if you like something go all out and use it to the max and we think this is the perfect example, this room is quite compact but wow, it really does feel so special. A lot of people think they should avoid dark colours if they have a small room but actually, deep moody tones can give the illusion of more space and grandeur and we hope this project proves just that.
Despite being a studio apartment, this place still feels light and airy and it has a totally functional kitchen. A full size integrated fridge freezer, integrated dishwasher, Belfast sink, very cool 50’s style Smeg cooker and hob and plenty of storage, it’s all you’d ever need! Oh, and our favourite, a spot to settle down into with a glass of red for an evening of chatter.
And that’s it! Thank you so much for joining me and I hope this tour transported you somewhere warmer and sunnier for a few moments. I’m sure it won’t be too long until we can get holiday planning for real… I think you could probably guess the tropical island at the top of my wish list!!
– Once again, thank you Sibarth for choosing deVOL for your beautiful villas.
– All images styled and photographed by the wonderful Laurent Benoit.
– You can see all our other favourite Shaker projects on our website, just click here.
