Simple, sweet, sunny and easygoing, we love this colourful little Shaker kitchen in a 17th-century Bermondsey mews house and how it all just feels so humble and really quite achievable. Isn't it lovely to see a real home with real everyday things in it, lived-in and not too formal. The goal should always be to make your home the place you can't wait to get back to at the end of the day and this new project has been a very happy reminder.

It's not about huge rooms and big fancy houses, it's about creating a comfy, beautiful and functional kitchen with the space you have. With a little help from deVOL, this one managed to fit storage, integrated undercounter appliances, pull-out bins, a pretty fluted sink and a big Lacanche range, there was even an old wooden table and chairs because cooking together and having a place to hang out is what matters most to the couple who live here.

This wonky old room called for a bit of a mix of standard sized and bespoke pieces from our Shaker collection. We make all our own furniture to order at deVOL, so slightly tweaking these modular cupboards to fit any unusual or tricky spots is sensible and so simple. Choosing Shaker means there are no compromises, you can be confident that the bones of your kitchen are going to last and you can just get on and enjoy the fun bits....

Perhaps the funnest of all, picking colours!! We mixed up two bespoke shades here, a vibrant warm green for the furniture and a little touch of baby blue for the open shelves, a very cool pair made even better with pale pistachio green on those incredible original sash windows. Aged copper topped the cupboards and it was classic brass for the taps and hardware, including two of our favourite Boho handles which just fit the vibe of this eclectic place so perfectly.

We have been totally charmed by this happy room and hope it's given you lots of ideas and inspiration, especially if you feel your kitchen is too small or too awkward to be your very favourite place. We make kitchens to suit all kinds of spaces and all kinds of budgets, so do get in touch and our amazing designers will show you how to make the most of yours.