HOW WE MAKE | The deVOL all-in-one kitchen island for Creative Expo Taiwan

We were so excited to be asked to create a piece for the British design collection at Creative Expo Taiwan 2016.
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We soon got to work designing and making a new piece of furniture for our Sebastian Cox Kitchen collection, the all-in-one kitchen island. Our MD, Robin, and head of product development, Ben, crafted this truly unique kitchen island, with rough-sawn rustic cupboards and hand-woven panels of English beech. This is true craftsmanship.
This was also our first ever deVOL copper worktop, which seamlessly ran into a copper sink and clever textured draining board. We weren't the first people to use copper in the kitchen - in fact, historically it has been used in kitchens and hospitals for centuries for its special natural antibacterial properties - but it has become such a big part of the deVOL look. Now we have a whole team of talented metalsmiths who have perfected the art of creating something new that feels old, beautifully mottled and full of character.
This the first kitchen we designed as a collaboration, so it strays a little from our original Shaker and Classic ranges. What doesn’t differ is that it is handmade, the attention to detail and the
always important deVOL ethos of simplicity and longevity are also still very much part of this range.
Sebastian Cox is an environmentally conscious designer already making a name for himself using coppiced woods and weaving. The range of furniture we designed together has become quite iconic. Impeccably designed cupboards with a slightly more edgy look to them, not trendy but just a little more quirky. These cupboards are perfect for large spaces, industrial or retro homes, barns and basements, or large live-in, cook-in spaces with lots of light and glass. The texture is the key and is always commented upon with Sebastian Cox cupboards, its woven delicateness and airy qualities are also quite special.
If you are looking for provenance, rustic beauty, elegance and something a little out of the ordinary, this is the perfect range to look at. It has been loved in England and across Europe and when mixed with our copper and rustic oak worktops it almost looks like a work of art. This may be why it is already an award-winning and recognised kitchen range across the UK.

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What do you use to stain the front beech panels ?

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We use water-based stains that soak into the beech and enhance the natural colour of the timber. After staining, it’s rubbed back and a water-based lacquer is applied, which helps to protect both the colour and the wood and means you can easily wipe the cupboards. Hope this helps!

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How do you keep this beech board from bending?

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We use a sliding dovetailed brace to construct the doors, which is a beautiful and extremely strong joint that negates the need for glue. Joints like this are rarely used in modern joinery and have been replaced by mechanical fixings and glue, but sometimes the old way is the best way!

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They're quite thick in the middle and then slope down at each end. You can catch a glimpse of them at 0:44 or you can see a close up detail shot on this blog... www.devolkitchens.co.uk/blog/introducing-the-sebastian-cox-kitchen-by-devol