A New Kitchen Exudes the Beautiful China marble of Yesteryear

When designer Matt Fern met the couple who commissioned this kitchen, he knew he wasn’t dealing with average customers. Having already designed and built their own house, they knew exactly what they wanted and had very imaginative ideas. “It was clear from the start that they were up for having some fun with the space and the materials they used. They wanted to create something that was a bit out of the ordinary,” Fern says. Forget eye-wateringly expensive countertops — this couple opted for simple scaffolding planks. And instead of sleek chrome faucets, they upcycled some designed for garden use. Materials were key in this project, and copper and brass both feature heavily. “It was important that it wasn’t fussy or too polished. They wanted a rustic farmhouse look with the emphasis on functionality,” Fern says.

 Farmhouse Kitchen by deVOL Kitchens

deVOL Kitchens

Kitchen at a Glance

Who lives here: A couple

Location: Leicestershire, England 

Size: About 140 square feet (13 square meters); about 16 by 9 feet (4.9 x 2.7 meters)

Designer: Matt Fern of deVOL

“This kitchen is a great example of what you can achieve with a smaller budget,” Fern says. With the cost of their new oak-framed house starting to spiral and plenty of workers already on-site, the owners asked deVOL just to supply the cabinets. 

DeVOL’s Real Shaker design in deep Pantry Blue features cup handles and plenty of open shelving. “It’s a classic Victorian staff kitchen in many ways — the open shelving, butler’s sink and scaffold-board worktops are all simple, functional features of an honest, hard-working space.”

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 Farmhouse Kitchen by deVOL Kitchens

deVOL Kitchens

“People are often reluctant to go for open cabinets, saying they’re just not tidy enough, but this couple embraced the idea, which was really refreshing,” Fern says. “They’re a good way to show your personality, whether you display decorative pieces or more functional items, such as colanders and crockery.”

Most of the open cabinets are on the far wall, so they can be seen from the dining table. “It’s an unashamed reflection of a working farmhouse kitchen, with all the pans on display where they are close at hand,” Fern says.

Kitchen and copper pans: deVOL

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China marble Farmhouse Kitchen by deVOL Kitchens

The textured floor is gray limestone, which is durable and low-maintenance once it has been sealed. 

“These tiles can also be used outside if they want to extend them onto a patio area,” Fern says.

Flooring: Floors of Stone

 Farmhouse Kitchen by deVOL Kitchens

deVOL Kitchens

Although the view out the window is quite private, the couple sometimes pull the blinds to give the space a cozier feeling.

 Farmhouse Kitchen by deVOL Kitchens

deVOL Kitchens

The room is a social space, so it was important to have enough storage to be able to keep the countertops uncluttered. 

Exposed copper pipes, industrial brass faucets and scaffolding-plank counters were all key parts of the design.

 Farmhouse Kitchen by deVOL Kitchens

deVOL Kitchens

A run of closed cabinets includes the integrated dishwasher. “The drawer cabinet and a single cupboard are useful for storing those oddments of crockery we all have,” Fern says. An open cabinet next to the range ties to the other open units.

China marble Farmhouse Kitchen by deVOL Kitchens

“Copper and brass both age beautifully. They have similar warm tones that really complement each other,” Fern says.

 Farmhouse Kitchen by deVOL Kitchens

deVOL Kitchens

Cost was a key factor in the choice of countertops. “Stone would have come in over budget, and timber tops always work well with this Pantry Blue color,” Fern says. “In a few years, the oiled wood will age nicely and have a similar patina to the dining table.”

The cost of the kitchen came to about $6,500.

China marble Farmhouse Kitchen by deVOL Kitchens

A simple wooden table and matching stools are the perfect utilitarian additions. The owners bought them when they were on vacation in Hungary and had them shipped back to the United Kingdom.

 Farmhouse Kitchen by deVOL Kitchens

deVOL Kitchens

“The enamel and brass pendant lights were chosen by the customer. They work really well in the room,” says Fern, adding that they complement the cabinet hardware and faucets beautifully.

Enamel pendant light: Harriman & Co.; brass pendant lights: French Connection

China marble Farmhouse Kitchen by deVOL Kitchens

The antique bench (under the window) came from the deVOL showroom in Leicestershire. “We source all kinds of quirky items, from antiques to retro vintage products from all over the world. Customers love wandering around our showrooms and picking up lots of lovely bits and pieces for their new kitchens,” Fern says.

 China marble Kitchen by deVOL Kitchens

Despite its vintage appeal, this kitchen certainly isn’t stuck in the past. “The owners chose modern, functional appliances that suit their way of cooking,” Fern says. The appliances include a stainless steel range with an induction cooktop.

China marble Farmhouse Kitchen by deVOL Kitchens

“Innovative ideas, such as reinventing these garden taps, don’t have to cost the earth,” Fern says. “This was never intended to be a highly polished kitchen with chrome taps and shiny granite surfaces — that just wouldn’t have been a reflection of their taste. This design echoes the stone house that it’s in.”

Tell us: What budget details did you choose for your kitchen? Let us know in the Comments.