Bespoke Kitchens

Phil graduated from Loughborough University in 1988 and joined Insight Design Consultancy. He worked closely with Paul O'Leary on prototyping and was responsible for project administration and marketing Insight's design services. Phil co-founded deVOL in 1989. Initially, much of the work involved furniture and architectural restoration which proved to be an excellent grounding in the traditionally accepted proportion and methods of construction. Phil and Paul developed the deVOL style together over a period of ten years and built a reputation for delivering consistently high quality, cabinet made, freestanding kitchen furniture.

Philip chose to take a sabbatical in 1998, but thankfully returned to take on the role of Customer Services Manager. Philip is renowned for being honest, fair and reliable which made him a natural for providing customer care. Phil also managed deVOL's sister company, deVOL Products, which sold decorative kitchen accessories and the deVOL Laundry Maid. He has since had pivotal roles in HR and Finance positions and has now been Manager of the business since it became a Limited Company in 2008. Philip continues to support the business, which he was so influential in nurturing, in a collaboration which has flourished for over 20 years.

Robin started a one year placement at deVOL in 2005 and returned as a permanent member of staff after completing his degree in Industrial Design and Technology at Lougborough University with a First Class Honours degree.

Helen was employed by Benetton in 1984 and by 1985 had already become store manager. Over a ten year period, as Benetton opened new stores throughout the East Midlands, Helen recruited new staff, selected managers and ensured each store was maximizing its sales potential and running smoothly.

After a lengthy sabbatical raising a family, Helen joined deVOL where she quickly proved that she has the wherewithal to guide prospective clients through the kitchen design process.

Helen is a keen chef, and has attended a cookery course in Tuscany with two of her sisters. The course was hosted by Giancarlo Caldesi and was televised on BBC2’s ”Return to Tuscany” in May 2006. Helen’s life experience together with an innate creative awareness puts her in an ideal position to understand the needs and desires of deVOL’s clients.

Ben qualified with distinction from Hereford Technical College as a cabinet maker in 1989 and worked for Paul Somers Interiors and Woodgate Woodcraft Ltd gaining valuable knowledge from experienced craftsmen. Ben returned to college in 1992, and excelled in successive courses, namely: a BTEC in Art & Design, an HND in Textiles and finally a first class honours degree in Multimedia. Ben's college work was selected for 100% Design and The New Designers exhibition where he won the prestigious 1997 Designer's Guild Award. Ben's chubby carpet scooter sculptures and other imaginative works have been exhibited in London's Mall Gallery, as well as Durham, Berlin and The Maze Gallery, Turin.

Following his graduation Ben worked for a year designing, making and fitting boat interiors before joining deVOL in 1998 as one of our cabinet makers. After 3 years Ben earned promotion to Workshop Manager.

Ben is responsible for maintaining production levels and ensuring that the quality of materials, construction and finishing meet deVOL's extremely high standards. Ben's unique blend of talents and experience are highly valued, and his creative input is regularly sought by the design team. Ben's charming and unassuming nature endears him to all of our clients who clearly appreciate his attention to detail and his aesthetic viewpoint.

Tom joined deVOL in August 05 and assisted with the development of deVOL’s new offices. Tom has worked in the construction industry and spent 3 seasons working as a ski technician in Les Deux Alpes. Many of these specialist manual skills were transferable to cabinet making and furniture finishing. Tom also ran his own catering business in the Isle of Man between 2002 and 2005.

Tom loves snowboarding and is an accomplished musician and Blues vocalist, some of his music accompanies the cabinet makers video above. His varied background gave him many of the qualities we look for in an apprentice: He made a considered choice to learn a creatively stimulating trade, he has plenty of experience with technical and manual work and is a responsible and motivated character. In addition, his open hearted and cheerful nature makes him a pleasure to work with.

Tom subsequently begun passing on skills to more junior members of staff and has proven to be a capable and considerate instructor. He now works in close collaboration with Ben Creed, maintaining the workshop machinery, making cabinets and installing kitchens.

Paul graduated from Loughborough University in 1987 and co-founded Insight Design Consultancy which had a strong ergonomic bias and won prestigious commissions from The M.O.D, The Royal National Hospital Bath and Cranfield Business College. In 1989 Paul followed his yearning for design and production with one of the design partners, Philip deVries and co-founded deVOL (the name being an amalgamation of their initials). deVOL began specialising in freestanding kitchen furniture in 1993. The emerging style was a reflection of Paul and Philip's affinity with simple Georgian and Victorian furniture from Ireland, England and Wales and its relationship with the vernacular architecture of the day. Some other notable influences include Shaker, Scandinavian, French and Eastern European cabinetry. In 2004, 2005 and 2006 Paul received a commendation in The Kitchen Designer of the Year Awards.

Paul became sole proprietor in 1998 and has continued to build on deVOL's reputation through his determination to produce the highest quality cabinetry, maintain a strong design ethic and create a living environment that is truly uplifting. Paul has developed two new businesses: Floors of Stone Ltd and Shreddies Ltd over the last 3 years, but continues to take an active role in the development of deVOL’s furniture and the deVOL brand.