Some might have thought he was crazy taking on such a huge project in the midst of a recession, but taking risks is what Paul does best, he just has that knack of getting it spot on.

Paul bought Cotes Mill, a historic 16th century water mill on the banks of the River Soar, in 2012. Paul's designs and comments have been featured in wide ranging media coverage from Country Living, Elle Deco and House & Garden to Radio One and from The Financial Times to The Daily Star. Paul has been a regular commentator on kitchen design and underwear design in the press with ask the experts articles in interior magazines and interviews for radio, TV and newspapers. Paul appointed a Managing Director for deVOL Kitchens Ltd in 2011, but still plays an active role on a daily basis, particularly on the creative side, directing the design office and writing and designing deVOL's brochures. Paul formed Shreddies Ltd in 2008 which retails his underwear and other healthcare garments. Paul also spent 3 years working closely with a friend who is a leading fashion designer and together with investment from de Montfort University and a number of lingerie designers, developed and patented a range of healthcare underwear, which won the ACA 'Look Good Feel Good' Award and were featured in the book 'The History of Men's Underwear'. Floors of Stone Ltd became a company in its own right in 2008. Since many of deVOL's clients would ask advice on other aspects of interior design, deVOL began recommending and then selling the flooring that complimented their furniture. deVOL now design kitchens for clients all over the world, as far afield as Hawaii, Ghana, New York and Iceland and even ship their furniture over to two showrooms in Japan, opened by Japanese entrepreneur Masaya Fujita. Paul became sole proprietor in 1998 and has continued to build on deVOL's reputation through his determination to produce the highest quality cabinetry and maintain a strong design ethic. In 2004, 20 Paul received a commendation in The Kitchen Designer of the Year Awards. Some other notable influences include Shaker, Scandinavian, French and Eastern European cabinetry. The emerging style was a reflection of Paul and Philip's affinity with simple Georgian and Victorian furniture from Ireland, England and Wales. deVOL began specialising in freestanding kitchen furniture in 1993. In 1989 Paul followed his yearning for design and production with one of the design partners, Philip deVries and co-founded deVOL (the name being an amalgamation of their initials). Paul graduated from Loughborough University in 1987 with a 2:1 and co-founded Insight Design Consultancy, which had a strong ergonomic bias and won commissions from The M.O.D, The Royal National Hospital Bath and Cranfield Business College.

One Man, One Woman by Dale O'Leary