Based in Colchester, Davonport began from humble origins with Richard Davonport’s initial interest in furniture design inspired by his father, Aubrey Davonport. As an honorary member of the British Woodcarvers Association, Aubrey taught his son how to carve using off-cuts of timber which Richard collected from an after-school job cutting down trees.
With an interest in woodwork established, Richard progressed quickly and left his first job at a yacht builder to attend college where he gained a 'Distinction' in Furniture Design and Cabinet Making.
As his knowledge and expertise grew, in 1992 he won several awards for cabinet making. Richard went on to set up his own workshop in the early 1990s and Davonport was borne.
Though the company has come a long way in three decades, we catch up with Richard who has never lost sight of the strong focus on traditional craftsmanship ethos while using the best materials, and from an Essex couple who have a kitchen “exactly what they wanted” and one which happens to be one of Richard’s favourite projects, too.
'Davonport’s rich history is the reason we place so much importance on our workshops and the intricate process each and every cabinet goes through in its production. We combine traditional cabinet making techniques with state-of-the-art technologies in order to produce premium quality furniture.
'World-class craftsmanship with no room for compromise ensures the quality of every cupboard is truly unsurpassed.
'Only after a piece of furniture has passed our rigorous quality checks does it receive a Davonport seal of approval. We feel so strongly about the quality of our product that we offer a lifetime guarantee on all our cabinetry and craftsmanship.
'We are incredibly proud of our furniture and our English workshops within which every piece of Davonport furniture is made. We invite you to visit our workshops as it’s only then that our passion for creating bespoke furniture can truly be appreciated.'
'There’s a noticeable rise in the use of feature timbers, adding warmth and natural texture to spaces. Reeded or fluted glass is also gaining popularity, offering a blend of style and practicality by providing privacy without the need for perfectly organised cupboards. Additionally, bold worktops and statement backsplashes are on the rise, especially with advancements in new porcelain stones that mimic the beauty of marble while retaining the practicality and low maintenance of man-made materials.'
Is it important to get finishing touches right?
'Absolutely, finishing touches like taps, handles, lighting, and splashbacks are crucial because they tie the entire kitchen design together. These elements might seem small, but they significantly influence the overall aesthetic and cohesion of the space. Getting them right ensures the kitchen feels cohesive and well thought out.'
'Yes, it’s often a natural progression, as clients frequently want a consistent style and finish to flow throughout their home, so it’s common to pair the kitchen with custom pieces for utility rooms, boot rooms, media areas, and even dressing rooms. We’re increasingly designing and crafting furniture for entire homes, ensuring each space reflects a cohesive and personalised aesthetic.'
The design process, how does it start and progress?
'It begins with an initial consultation in our showroom where you will experience the quality of our furniture and gain inspiration from the wide variety of kitchen styles we have on display. We also offer a tour by appointment of our workshops to view our manufacturing process. You will meet your Davonport designer and they will discuss with you the kitchen you are imagining for your home and crucially how you plan to use your space. They will listen and learn about what inspires you, to create a kitchen based on you.
'Following these initial conversations your designer will visit your home to survey the space. When we visit, we gain an insight into the style and history of your home, it is only then we see the unique features that make up your home and your lifestyle.
'Your kitchen will be designed to enhance the most beautiful features of your room and disguise the less attractive ones. Your designer will draw up a kitchen design sympathetic to the history and style of your property and you will then be invited back to the showroom to view your plans and experience three-dimensional visuals of your design, encouraging you to immerse yourself in your new room. Working closely with you to finalise the design, the will make sure it is perfect for you and your home before sending plans to our workshops for production. Throughout the process you will work with one member of our design team, creating a strong partnership to ensure you always have a trusted point of contact at Davonport.'
How important is sustainability?
'It has a serious impact on us and we are proud of our commitment to sustainability. We believe our responsibility to the environment extends beyond just reducing our own environmental footprint. Our efforts are also directed towards ensuring that our business practices are in harmony with the natural world around us.
'One way we do this is by sourcing all our timber from suppliers who are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification. This ensures the timber we use in our furniture is sourced from responsibly managed forests that are committed to sustainable practices.
'Additionally, we are committed to not using any timber listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species to help protect endangered species of trees.
'For more than 15 years, we have been conscientiously recycling our wood shavings and offcuts through an advanced extraction system and carbon neutral biomass heating system.
'The extracted offcuts are channelled towards a specifically designed biomass boiler system that generates heat for our paint shop and workshop, thus completely eliminating the need for fossil fuels to heat our paint drying booth.
'In 2022, we furthered this initiative by investing in a state-of-the-art controlled variable speed extraction system, reducing our power consumption to half of our previous consumption. This improvement not only minimises material waste going to landfills but also positively impacts our carbon footprint.
'We also embarked on a project to install a new insulated roof that has enabled us to avoid unnecessary heat loss, thereby reducing our workshop and offices energy consumption.
'In addition to the new roof, last year we also invested in solar panels that now span across the entire 20,000 sq ft workshop roof. This innovative measure has resulted in the production of sufficient electricity to power 100 per cent of our showroom and head office, as well as 52 per cent of our workshop, a feat that underscores our commitment to sustainable practices.
'In recent years, we have integrated our first fully electric vehicle into our fleet, which is assigned to our site surveyor, contributing to the reduction of our carbon footprint during our operations on the road. We have now installed eight electric car charging bays in our car park, powered by our solar array, furthering our commitment to sustainability and environmentally responsible practices.'
Having fallen in love with their property in Great Dunmow, Mr and Mrs Hunter knew the tired, yet beautiful building had the bones of a perfect family home.
Mrs Hunter said: 'The house was built in the 1960s, but on the survey, we found timbers in the property date back to the 1700's and that the original dwelling could have been a barn.'
After surveying the property, Richard Davonport could see by remodelling the current floorplan the couple would benefit from a larger kitchen space and would be better positioned in the home, flowing into the new orangery and overlooking the garden.
The couple wanted a classic country aesthetic to complement the rustic timber beams that feature throughout the kitchen and opted for the classic Holkham style.
Mrs Hunter added: 'We absolutely love our new kitchen, it’s exactly what we wanted. The utility room is like an extension of our kitchen, too, I always leave the door open so I can admire it from the island when I’m preparing meals.'
1996 - Richard moved to larger premises and switched his focus to designing and building luxury, bespoke kitchens. His attention to detail and unwillingness to compromise on quality soon led to growth in the business.
2005 – Davonport had become a respected brand working with more than 20 design studios across the UK.
2013 - Davonport moved to its current home, a 1.2-acre site in Stanway, Colchester, which comprises of a showroom, 20,000sq ft workshop and head office.
2024 - Richard has continued to build on the Davonport name, using only the finest materials and expert knowledge throughout the design and manufacturing process.
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