See How Limewash and a Little Black Magic Bring This Basement Kitchen in Bath, England, Back to Life

It’s fair to say that designer Banjo Beale likely has plenty of experience in damp environments. Based in the Hebrides of Scotland, a collection of islands scattered on the country’s northwest coast, Beale knows what it’s like to live where wet weather and historic properties are often intertwined. So when he was asked to work on a kitchen renovation clear on the other side of the United Kingdom, in Bath, England, he wasn’t exactly fazed by what he saw. 

“The basement kitchen was cold and damp,” he recalls. “Renovating it was all about balance, not restoring the room within an inch of its life.”

Beale was hired alongside fellow designer Amy Davies by a young family who shared the city’s penchant for preserving well-earned character. “They’re a product engineer and a fine arts ceramist, so they appreciate craftsmanship and the little details,” he says. The neglected kitchen needed to be dried out and heated, of course, but no one wanted to get rid of the personality that comes with time—including the chipped paint on wonky woodwork. “As a Grade I–listed building in a historically significant area, it was our responsibility to preserve features,” Beale says. “It’s why you want to live in Bath.” 

Beale and Davies worked with celebrated British outfitter DeVol Kitchens to make carefully considered updates; here’s how they ensured harmony between the past and present. 

Keep What Doesn’t Need Fixing

No one had plans to start from scratch, so much of this project centered around the beauty of original materials. “Embracing the old bits we loved and avoiding ripping out, repainting, and replacing other things made this a dream space to work with,” Beale says. They had to bring in warmth, though, which they painstakingly did by lifting up the two-century-old flagstone flooring piece by piece to install heat underneath, and then ever so slightly updating the stone fireplace. 

“We assembled the floor and arch and cleaned the stone just enough to ensure it still felt old but met modern-day standards,” he says. The archway that was likely the former spot of a dresser on the other end of the kitchen was preserved as well, flanking the kitchen in sturdy charm. 

Use Limewash for a Timeless Feel 

“We wanted to retain the patina of the room, so we avoided painting,” Beale says. He and Davies didn’t want to cover up years of acquired scuffs and splatters, but they did want to refresh the walls in a cohesive color. So they carried a limewash by Bauwerk Colour in Wheat up to the ceiling to highlight those attributes, not detract from them. 

“The dance of light across this finish adds to the cozy, warm feeling,” he says. But to keep the look from leaning too far into traditional territory, the duo made playful squiggles on two air vents on either side of the sink and limewashed those, too. 

Make a Black and White Choice

Beale and Davies aimed to find just the right shade for the L-shaped cabinetry that would sit beneath brass finishes and open shelving showcasing art, serveware, and ceramics. The fronts had to complement their surroundings effortlessly, while the bases had to be expertly molded on uneven floors. “DeVol’s Printer’s Black was the perfect foil to the chipped-cream paint of the kitchen,” Beale says. “It’s not a perfect black, so this matte color somehow disappears into the room.” 

The moody shade on the classic English cabinets acts as a tried-and-true foil to the creamy paint throughout, while simultaneously linking it all to modern style. Since the cabinets subtly pull the design into the present, the kitchen’s existing materials don’t come across as stuffy. “The classic form in a contemporary color makes the rest of the room sing,” says Beale.