Tring is a pretty market town in Hertfordshire, nestled in the Chiltern Hills and a short train ride from London. It is also home to a privately owned Natural History Museum, with one of the finest collections of mammals, birds, insects and reptiles in the United Kingdom, making it a rather special place to visit.

While we were in Tring, we found this romantic, peaceful kitchen in a very imposing Edwardian villa, right in the center of Tring, and were smitten with the way it made us feel. We were invited, don’t worry!!

Shaker cupboards painted in Princelet Pink, and a very practical island, painted in our new Folgate Green, these colours just exuded a feeling of calm. The room was filled with light and original features, all of which had been meticulously renovated or remade, then reinstated to ensure the room felt authentic and in keeping with its age. It really interested us that this semi-detached house was the main home for a wealthy family in its time, hence the ornate nature of the features. The next-door property (a mirror image), however, was used for the staff and workers, and consequently, their side did not have any of these beautiful details. We love discovering the former lives of a house; there is always a different story and a fascinating slice of history to learn about. That is the joy of visiting our customers' homes, not only to see a new kitchen but to see how they have decided to furnish and style their surroundings and how they have carefully considered its provenance.

The kitchen design was sympathetic to the size of the room and how it needed to work for a family of five. So, although not huge, this kitchen had everything, yet still felt open and spacious, thanks in large part to the high ceilings, big windows and glazed doors.

Countertop cupboards hid appliances, and tall, deep cupboards hid a large fridge and freezer, making sure everything was easily accessible but not on display. There was a smattering of deVOL accessories; we particularly loved the large Task Light, shining over the sink in its subtle and unshowy way!