‘I WANTED THE KITCHEN TO BE A STRIKING FEATURE’
A dynamic mix of green and marble sets the tone for this space, where lost Victorian design details have been successfully reinstated
A dynamic mix of deep green and marble sets the tone
Lawyer Victoria Miller and her husband Dene, who works in software, were keen to maintain the character of their period home in west London. The existing kitchen space was small and basic and lacked personality, so they opted to install a tasteful yet dramatic kitchen that would stand the test of time
Tell us about the original kitchen
It was tiny and dilapidated – the flat had been a rental property, so it was a generic white affair with one oven and a small electric hob. There were lots of walls and doorways splitting up the space, which made it feel small, despite the ceilings being three metres high.
Describe what you were aiming to achieve with the new space
I wanted it to feel large, airy and contemporary, yet sympathetic to its period; all of the original features had been removed over the years so we had a blank canvas. We spent a long time researching coving, radiators, valves and switches that were more in keeping with its Victorian origins. We visited the house next door, which has all of the original features, and that gave us an insight as to what it should look like. I wanted the kitchen to be a striking feature but also clearly zoned, to ensure we didn’t feel as though we were sitting in the kitchen when relaxing on the sofa. We did this by painting the entire back wall the same colour as the cabinets. We were concerned that using this dark shade would make the room feel small, but the contrasting marble next to the window bounces the light back into the room, bringing brightness alongside the dramatic swathe of green.
How did you choose the kitchen?
From the outset, I knew that I wanted a Devol kitchen, having seen one in an interiors magazine and fallen in love with it. We both like
to cook and entertain, so it was important to get it right. We spent just under a year designing it and finally settled on green cabinetry, solid-brass hardware and honed Statuarietto marble.
When did you start the project?
The entire property was gutted back to its bare bones immediately after we bought it in September 2018. The initial work took nine weeks and we installed a temporary kitchen while we designed the final one with Devol. Once we’d settled on the colour for the cabinetry, we had the room redecorated and reinstated the period coving. Shortly afterwards, Devol arrived with the cabinetry. It took the team just under two weeks to fit it – they were incredible.
Were there any challenges during the process?
Two days into the build, we were told that one of the walls we wanted to move a metre back was a supporting wall. This meant we had to quickly organise a structural engineer and a party wall surveyor as we had to have a steel joist fitted. This is why you always need a contingency budget! We managed to do all of this in 10 days, due to our very understanding neighbour, so it didn’t set our timeline back.
Did you incorporate everything you wanted?
We had hankered after a full-size wine fridge, but sadly weren’t able to fit it in. In the end, I wasn’t prepared to sacrifice the metre-wide pantry cupboard for it, as we don’t have cupboards on the wall in that space – but the pantry provides lots of storage.
Is there anything you’d do differently?
Not in terms of the kitchen. We’ve lived with it for a while now and it’s perfect for us; we spent a long time planning it with a dedicated designer and project manager at Devol and, between us, we’d thought of every detail. However, in the next project I won’t use spotlights (or if I do they will be moveable). Strangely, I’m finding that spotlights make it difficult to get the right amount of light in the right places, so I’ve learned that next time I’ll use a mix of wall lights, feature ceiling lights and lamps.
What is your favourite part of the space?
I’d say the high marble splashback and shelf. I can display foliage and curiosities on the shelf and the marble reflects the light from the window back into the room.