{"id":25192,"date":"2024-07-03T15:11:24","date_gmt":"2024-07-03T14:11:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/?p=25192"},"modified":"2024-07-03T15:11:24","modified_gmt":"2024-07-03T14:11:24","slug":"designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen","title":{"rendered":"Designing The St Oak Apartment Kitchen"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>We recently completed our fourth kitchen with the duo behind Our Food Stories, the lovely Laura and Nora. This time it&#8217;s a rather wonderful Shaker design for their rental property, <a href=\"https:\/\/st-oak.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">St Oak Apartments<\/a>, in Kyritz, Germany. Open, airy, inviting, it&#8217;s just the place I&#8217;d dream of staying on holiday.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Beautiful styling &amp; photography by St Oak Apartments.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_25196\" style=\"width: 1677px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25196\" class=\"wp-image-25196 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/3.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1667\" height=\"2500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/3.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg 1667w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/3.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-300x450.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/3.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/3.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/3.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-1500x2250.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1667px) 100vw, 1667px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-25196\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><ul id=\"socialshare\"><!--<li class=\"fb\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=688330137993706&display=popup&href=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen?img=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/3.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg\"><\/a><\/li><li class=\"tw\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen&text=Designing The St Oak Apartment Kitchen\"><\/a><li>--><li class=\"pt\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button?&url=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen&media=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/3.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg\"><\/a><li><\/ul><\/div> <em>The St Oak Apartment, what a place to spend a few days&#8230; especially if the pup is a guest too!<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>I find myself going back to the images time and time again, taking in each little detail and considering every decision that makes this such a great space. I decided to sit down with the Senior Kitchen Designer behind the project, Josie, to find out more about the project&#8230;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>This is the third kitchen you have designed with Laura and Nora and the fourth deVOL design they have had! Please could you tell us about this latest one?<\/b><br \/>\nLaura and Nora got in touch about an exciting new project they\u2019d had in mind for a while &#8211; renovating a loft apartment in an old villa dating back to 1911, not too far from their lovely <a href=\"https:\/\/devol.ltd\/SchoolhouseGermany\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">schoolhouse home<\/a> we enjoyed working on together a few years ago. The balcony of the villa overlooks a 200-year-old oak tree and a beautiful red brick town hall opposite. They planned for the loft to become a stylish holiday retreat as well as a photoshoot location, with the kitchen as the focal point.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_25198\" style=\"width: 1677px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25198\" class=\"wp-image-25198 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/37.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1667\" height=\"2500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/37.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg 1667w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/37.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-300x450.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/37.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/37.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/37.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-1500x2250.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1667px) 100vw, 1667px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-25198\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><ul id=\"socialshare\"><!--<li class=\"fb\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=688330137993706&display=popup&href=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen?img=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/37.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg\"><\/a><\/li><li class=\"tw\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen&text=Designing The St Oak Apartment Kitchen\"><\/a><li>--><li class=\"pt\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button?&url=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen&media=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/37.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg\"><\/a><li><\/ul><\/div> <em>An open plan room with the loveliest view.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Did Laura and Nora come to you with a clear brief of what they wanted for this space?<\/b><br \/>\nNora always puts together hand-sketched designs of how they envisage the space, which always sets us off to a great start! They also put a list together of anything that isn\u2019t noted on the drawings, such as any limitations on where appliances can go and if there are parts of the design they\u2019d source locally in Germany, such as the worktops.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_25199\" style=\"width: 3762px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25199\" class=\"wp-image-25199 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/St-Oak-kitchen-04.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"3752\" height=\"2814\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/St-Oak-kitchen-04.jpg 3752w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/St-Oak-kitchen-04-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/St-Oak-kitchen-04-600x450.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/St-Oak-kitchen-04-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/St-Oak-kitchen-04-1800x1350.jpg 1800w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/St-Oak-kitchen-04-1500x1125.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 3752px) 100vw, 3752px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-25199\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><ul id=\"socialshare\"><!--<li class=\"fb\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=688330137993706&display=popup&href=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen?img=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/St-Oak-kitchen-04.jpg\"><\/a><\/li><li class=\"tw\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen&text=Designing The St Oak Apartment Kitchen\"><\/a><li>--><li class=\"pt\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button?&url=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen&media=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/St-Oak-kitchen-04.jpg\"><\/a><li><\/ul><\/div> <em>One of the sketches Nora put together of what she and Laura were picturing for the space!<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>I love the open plan style. Do you find this kind of space generally easier to work with when designing a kitchen? Or is it actually harder as you have so much room to play with and you have to consider how it\u2019ll work with the dining and living areas?<\/b><br \/>\nOpen plan spaces are often easier to design because you\u2019re not usually as limited on space, especially for an island. I prefer to try and hide appliances away if possible with an open plan room, so the kitchen feels more like pretty \u2018furniture\u2019 rather than a typical kitchen. It\u2019s great if the washing machine can go elsewhere, as they can be quite noisy and you may find you are limited on when you can use it. In this design, it\u2019s tucked away in the far corner of the larder run.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_25200\" style=\"width: 1677px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25200\" class=\"wp-image-25200 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/30.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1667\" height=\"2500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/30.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg 1667w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/30.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-300x450.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/30.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/30.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/30.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-1500x2250.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1667px) 100vw, 1667px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-25200\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><ul id=\"socialshare\"><!--<li class=\"fb\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=688330137993706&display=popup&href=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen?img=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/30.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg\"><\/a><\/li><li class=\"tw\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen&text=Designing The St Oak Apartment Kitchen\"><\/a><li>--><li class=\"pt\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button?&url=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen&media=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/30.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg\"><\/a><li><\/ul><\/div> <em>Appliances are hidden away for a simple look. The washing machine is behind the far left door in that bank of tall storage!<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>As we know, this lovely property is actually a rental apartment. Did this impact the design in any way?\u00a0<\/b><br \/>\nIt gives you a little more freedom with the design as you don\u2019t tend to need quite as much storage or space for lots of countertop appliances, like you might have at home. You can also get away with prioritising aesthetics over functionality, which is always much more fun for a designer! We all look for the most beautiful place to stay for your budget when borrowing holiday homes!<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_25213\" style=\"width: 1677px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25213\" class=\"wp-image-25213 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/7.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-1.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1667\" height=\"2500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/7.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-1.jpg 1667w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/7.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-1-300x450.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/7.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-1-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/7.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-1-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/7.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-1-1500x2250.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1667px) 100vw, 1667px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-25213\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><ul id=\"socialshare\"><!--<li class=\"fb\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=688330137993706&display=popup&href=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen?img=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/7.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-1.jpg\"><\/a><\/li><li class=\"tw\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen&text=Designing The St Oak Apartment Kitchen\"><\/a><li>--><li class=\"pt\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button?&url=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen&media=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/7.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-1.jpg\"><\/a><li><\/ul><\/div> <em>This holiday home is so full of character and style, every detail has been considered.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>And along with being a holiday let, this property is in Kyritz, Germany! Did the process change much with Laura and Nora being outside of the UK?<\/b><br \/>\nUsually we start the design process with a visit to the showroom, but as this wasn\u2019t possible for Laura and Nora we communicated via email and it was really easy and enjoyable. We always send over lots of pictures from our huge photo library to help customers visualise the designs we\u2019ve drawn when they aren&#8217;t able to see the cupboards in real life. As Laura and Nora had deVOL furniture previously, it helped that they already had a really good idea of the details and finishes available, so we were able to concentrate fully on the layout and accessory choices right from the start.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_25214\" style=\"width: 1677px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25214\" class=\"wp-image-25214 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/33.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1667\" height=\"2500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/33.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg 1667w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/33.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-300x450.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/33.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/33.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/33.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-1500x2250.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1667px) 100vw, 1667px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-25214\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><ul id=\"socialshare\"><!--<li class=\"fb\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=688330137993706&display=popup&href=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen?img=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/33.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg\"><\/a><\/li><li class=\"tw\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen&text=Designing The St Oak Apartment Kitchen\"><\/a><li>--><li class=\"pt\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button?&url=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen&media=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/33.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg\"><\/a><li><\/ul><\/div> <em>What a marvellous run of cabinetry, I really like the mix of open and closed storage. <\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>It\u2019s so wonderful to see the new \u2018Wilkes Green\u2019 Shaker shade on the cupboards, along with our classic \u2018Mushroom\u2019 for the pantry wall. How did Laura and Nora decide the colours and did they always want to use two?<\/b><br \/>\nThey were really keen to reflect the colours from the oak tree outside the apartment into the design, and so they knew the green shade was going to be super important. They wanted a brighter, leafy green as opposed to the soft, grey-green tones that had become popular recently. &#8216;Mushroom&#8217; complements this perfectly and keeps the larder area bright and airy, even though it\u2019s furthest from the windows and natural light.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_25210\" style=\"width: 1677px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25210\" class=\"wp-image-25210 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/5.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1667\" height=\"2500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/5.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg 1667w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/5.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-300x450.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/5.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/5.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/5.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-1500x2250.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1667px) 100vw, 1667px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-25210\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><ul id=\"socialshare\"><!--<li class=\"fb\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=688330137993706&display=popup&href=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen?img=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/5.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg\"><\/a><\/li><li class=\"tw\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen&text=Designing The St Oak Apartment Kitchen\"><\/a><li>--><li class=\"pt\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button?&url=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen&media=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/5.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg\"><\/a><li><\/ul><\/div> <em>&#8216;Mushroom&#8217; is one of our oldest shades and &#8216;Wilkes Green&#8217; is the newest, and yet it&#8217;s as if they were made for each other.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Did Laura and Nora have any absolute deVOL \u2018must-haves\u2019 from the start?<\/b><br \/>\nThe beautiful double fluted sink was on the must-have list, as well as open shelving to display their collections of handmade pottery, plenty of which is from previous collections made by Claire, deVOL\u2019s ceramics manager. They also love the handcrafted brass accessories, they add plenty of warmth to the design and always look so at home in a historic property.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_25216\" style=\"width: 1677px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-25216\" class=\"wp-image-25216 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/18.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1667\" height=\"2500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/18.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg 1667w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/18.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-300x450.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/18.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-600x900.jpg 600w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/18.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-768x1152.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/18.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES-1500x2250.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1667px) 100vw, 1667px\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-25216\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><ul id=\"socialshare\"><!--<li class=\"fb\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=688330137993706&display=popup&href=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen?img=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/18.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg\"><\/a><\/li><li class=\"tw\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?url=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen&text=Designing The St Oak Apartment Kitchen\"><\/a><li>--><li class=\"pt\"><a target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button?&url=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/designing-the-st-oak-apartment-kitchen&media=https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/06\/18.TheRealShakerKitchen-PhotographyCreditStOakApartments-deVOL_LOW-RES.jpg\"><\/a><li><\/ul><\/div> <em>The <a href=\"https:\/\/devol.ltd\/1000DoubleFlutedBelfastSink\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">deVOL 1000 Double Fluted Belfast Sink<\/a> was a must for Laura and Nora, as were the brass accessories you see here.<\/em><\/p><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><b>Final question, last time I did a Q&amp;A with one of our other Senior Kitchen Designers, Alexa, I asked her for her top three tips for designing a beautiful and functional kitchen. I\u2019d love to hear yours too.\u00a0<\/b><br \/>\nDesign a layout that will last &#8211; don\u2019t get too hung up on the perfect \u2018Christmas Day\u2019 kitchen, or on the age of your children at that moment in time. Having something timeless that will work for you every day of the week, as well as for years to come, will mean you\u2019ll always love it!<\/p>\n<p>A great starting point is to create a moodboard to establish the feel you\u2019d like to achieve, giving you a strong direction to refer to throughout the project. It doesn\u2019t have to be anything fancy &#8211; I would suggest limiting it to just three images. They don\u2019t necessarily have to be kitchen-related either, it can be made up of colours, textures or images that inspire you&#8230; Having a collection of photos showing cupboards, accessories and features you\u2019d like to include alongside the moodboard will be super helpful for your kitchen designer too!<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re tight on budget, prioritise the essentials such as perimeter cupboards, appliances and sink and taps. Additional accessories and even islands and freestanding furniture can be added in time. Antique and second-hand pieces can save a lot of money and often look even better than too much matching fitted furniture! You can swap these out in years to come, they don\u2019t lose value and you can move them around to work out what you\u2019d like to invest in later down the line.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><em>&#8211; You can find out more about renting this wonderful place on the <a href=\"https:\/\/st-oak.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">St Oak Apartments<\/a> website.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8211; Take a look at this kitchen on the <a href=\"https:\/\/devol.ltd\/RealShakerKitchens\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Shaker Projects<\/a> page of our website.<\/em><\/p>\n<p><em>&#8211; Keep an eye on our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/devolkitchens\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">Instagram<\/a> for exciting new projects and updates from us.<\/em><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>We recently completed our fourth kitchen with the duo behind Our Food Stories, the lovely Laura and Nora. This time it&#8217;s a rather wonderful&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":83,"featured_media":25249,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[799,790],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-25192","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-front","category-kitchens"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25192","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/83"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=25192"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25192\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":25248,"href":"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/25192\/revisions\/25248"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/25249"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=25192"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=25192"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.devolkitchens.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=25192"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}