There’s an art to designing an old home. It’s a careful balance of infusing personality, being sympathetic to the property’s history, and ensuring the interiors are fit for modern-day living.
And the kitchen is perhaps the most tricky, especially in old homes that weren’t built to include one. Yet this Victorian flint-fronted townhouse proves that with the right approach, you can create a kitchen that feels right at home in an old, characterful house.
Embracing rich, earthy colors, layered design, and a beautiful mix of antiques, the owner has transformed a once tiny, outdated space into the most enviable design – it perfectly captures the essence of a timeless yet characterful cozy kitchen.
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(Image credit: deVOL Kitchens)
‘The old kitchen was a tiny room at the rear of the original house, with yellow and red checkerboard linoleum floor and a 1950s Formica kitchen. There was a tiny pantry room that had been built on the back, as well as a very old outdoor toilet, which all got demolished as part of the renovation,’ recalls owner Samantha Palmer.
To create a kitchen that felt spacious and flowed well, she reconfigured the layout of her home, using the footprint of the old kitchen, pantry, bathroom, and outbuildings to make space for the new design.
‘We worked with architect Georgina Mann to develop the design of our new extension to be in keeping with the style of the house, using the original Victorian sash windows as inspiration for the new windows at the rear of the extension,’ she adds.
(Image credit: deVOL Kitchens)
The inspiration for the whole redesign came from the house itself, both its history and the design style Samantha chose for previously renovated rooms. She wanted the house to have a flow from one room to the next, capturing a clear look that feels at home in the historic infrastructure.
‘As I developed the design of the house and chose the fixtures and fittings for the other rooms and the bathroom, I knew I wanted the kitchen design to flow seamlessly from the rest of the house,’ she explains.
‘I incorporated the same Calacatta Viola marble used in the bathroom, the same brass hardware, and the same dark wooden flooring. I sourced the antique French doors to match the large stained glass window on the stair landing, and the pitched slate roof was designed to mimic the roofline of the main house.’
(Image credit: deVOL Kitchens)
Inside and out, the new kitchen extension really feels like a part of the existing bones. But it’s the interior kitchen design that really steals the show. To create a sense of traditional style, Samantha chose deVOL’s classic Shaker cabinets as the base of the design.
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‘We chose a deep, muddy olive green for the cabinets, which works beautifully with the brick and flint exterior and the English countryside beyond,’ she says of the palette, perfectly capturing one of 2026’s biggest kitchen color trends. She used Farrow & Ball James White on the walls, and on the island, she opted for Farrow & Ball Smoked Trout.
‘The marble and flint were the main inspiration for the color palette – the green was chosen from an original Land Rover color card, and deVOL custom-made the paint especially for us. There is nothing more quintessentially British than an old Land Rover Defender in the English countryside!’
(Image credit: deVOL Kitchens)
The kitchen is a beautiful blend of open, airy style and a space that exudes coziness. There are also elements of a soft kitchen here, with a layout designed to maximize both function and sociability.
‘We wanted a large convivial island to be the centerpiece of the kitchen, a place to gather with friends, and where we could cook and work simultaneously without any problem. It houses the dishwasher and forms a hard-working triangle with the range cooker and sink, making the kitchen not only beautiful but an efficient piece of design,’ Samantha adds.
And it’s not just the kitchen layout that helps to create this atmosphere. There’s a layered design approach that creates a warm, inviting feel, especially with the tactile materials used throughout.
(Image credit: deVOL Kitchens)
‘With all of the linear elements, from the kitchen cabinets to the angular ceiling beams, it was important to me to soften some of the design elements to create a more cozy feel. Quite often, we see fairly chintzy fabrics in kitchens – either the standard gingham or country florals, but I wanted to keep the look refined and elegant, and more contemporary,’ she explains.
‘Choosing the linen curtain for under the sink, I was keen to find a matching olive green fabric, and I was lucky enough to source an exact match from Merchant & Mills. I also think it’s important to incorporate some natural textures, so I sourced the bamboo blinds and the seagrass and jute rugs to add a textural element and add warmth and coziness to the space.’
But what really solidifies that lived-in look is the mix of storage styles. Built-in cabinetry creates plenty of space for food and less aesthetic kitchen essentials, while more open styles add personality and dedicated spaces to create displays.
‘We also wanted to display some of our favorite ceramics, and I was lucky enough to source an antique cabinet that was a perfect fit for our kitchen that we now use as a pantry,’ says Samantha.
(Image credit: deVOL Kitchens)
‘The mix of old and new and the closed and open cabinetry creates a really effective balance – enough on display for it to be a real, working home kitchen and yet still enough room to hide all of our pots and pans to keep everything looking nice and tidy!’
There’s a rhythm to the design that just works so beautifully. From the antique cabinet and the vintage furniture that give the eat-in area a charming look, to the colorful fabrics that add subtle vibrancy, every detail has been carefully considered.
Collected decor creates that lived-in, characterful look without creating visual clutter. It’s the small details, like the worn cutting boards displayed on the countertops and the vintage bottles stacked above the door. These unexpected details spark conversation, reinforcing that this is a social space. But above all, it feels authentic to the home.
‘The most important element is how all of the features work in harmony together to create a space that is uniquely ours, and is functional as well as remaining in keeping with the rest of the house. When people comment that they can’t believe that it’s a new extension, I always take this as the biggest compliment.’
Shop the Look
Wayfair
Birch Lane™ Aneatra Square Throw Pillow
The textiles are a striking feature in Samantha’s kitchen. Recreate the look of her eat-in area with these red and white striped pillows with charming frill-edge details.
McGee & Co.
Boylan Wooden Bread Board
The wooden boards add a beautifully organic texture to her countertops – either shop for vintage examples, or opt for this classic bread board.
Home Depot
Bare Bulb 1-Light Brushed Brass Wall Sconce
The layered lighting adds that sense of coziness to Samantha’s design, and you can easily create the look with this bare bulb 1-light sconce in a timeless brass finish.
Saks Fifth Avenue
Verden Arborealist Hand & Body Balm
Swapping boring plastic packaging for chicer designs is a great way to elevate your scheme. Samantha chose this Verden hand lotion and matching soap. A chic choice.
Pottery Barn
Custom Rue Bamboo Light Filtering Shade
The blinds are another feature that brings an organic texture to this kitchen. Pottery Barn offers this custom bamboo shade, which is perfect for recreating the look.
Williams-Sonoma
Amelia Linear Pendant Light
Nothing brings function and style in one like a classic pendant. This design is very similar to the one in Samantha’s designs, adding a nod to traditional style.
From the nature-inspired color palette to the vintage furniture and collected decor, this kitchen is a lesson in lived-in style. It’s clean and uncluttered yet still feels loved and used. It’s the perfect balance of functional and cozy, light and moody. And if you were unsure how to make a new kitchen feel at home in an old home, this design is surely the blueprint.
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