How To Design A Dream Kitchen, According To Interior Tastemakers
It’s known as the heart of the home, but how do designers balance functionality with creating a beautiful culinary space for socializing? Here, four interior pros reveal how to create your dream kitchen. By KATIE BERRINGTON
Jo Berryman, interior designer
“My dream kitchen has bold, outlandish and other-worldly shapes and pristine surfaces, with raw edges and a view to cook to.”
Try unusual finishes
“Function has to be given, but it needn’t be boring. Consider unusual finishes – like charred wood (shou sugi ban). Not only does it bring an elemental quality to the kitchen, but it is a robust finish and will never go out of fashion – because it’s never been in fashion!”
Avoid clichés
“Steer clear of the kitchen clichés and instead go for something that challenges the eye. A waney-edged marble or a gargantuan island (space permitting, of course).”
For a fast refresh
“If the carcasses are in good order, invest in new cabinet fronts. And use impactful lighting suspended directly over an island or dining table.”
Hollie Bowden, interior designer
“My favorite kitchen has to be [architect] Robert Mallet-Stevens’ kitchen at the Villa Cavrois in France. I love how he uses simple materials to dramatic effect. I’m really drawn to the simplicity of the off-white cupboards with their steel trim and marble worktop, and how these contrast against the striking checkerboard floor. I have always been drawn to how such a simple combination of black and white tiles can have a huge impact.”
Create a social space
“Of course, a kitchen must be functional, with a sense of quality and robustness behind the joinery. However, one of the most important things to me is designing a sociable kitchen. You want your kitchen to feel like a space that everyone is drawn to – where people hang out and congregate. It is all about layering materials and accessories, and the layout of the space is key. If the space is there, I will always try to get a kitchen island or large center table in – it is multifunctional, serving as a great space for prepping, cooking, hanging out, with informal seating and space to stand and circulate. It’s also always beautiful if you can have your kitchen open out onto your garden. It further transforms what was formerly a purely functional room into the hub of the house.”
Focus on good lighting
“Lighting is incredibly important when designing a kitchen space. It’s key to get task lighting correct, but also to ensure you have considered mood lighting, which creates an atmosphere and ambience, too.”
Use story-telling materials
“Worktops can be one of the most challenging things to spec in a kitchen. We like to specify stone, timber or steel, but these materials do come with a level of maintenance and an acceptance that the material will weather over time. This can be a really beautiful moment in a kitchen, though – the wear and tear in a timber dining table or worktop, for example, documents the story of how the space has been used.”
Louise Roe, designer and stylist
“A dream kitchen [has enough space] to accommodate a dance! Whether in an apartment or house, the kitchen stands as the nucleus of one’s living space… After all, food has a unique capacity to gather individuals.”
Look beyond functionality
“If practicality weren’t an issue, I’d steer away from a modular focus and instead prioritize a more sculptural, artistic look. And make sure that accessories, such as storage containers, bowls and trays, are not just functional but also serve as beautiful, visually appealing objects. Opt for earthy color tones and natural materials that harmonize with fresh produce and the ingredients you use in your culinary creations, too.”
Take a layered approach
“I enjoy a seamless blend of masculine and feminine forms and materials, akin to the layering of different spices in a heartfelt dish – there’s always a good balance between sweet and savory. I love opening my fridge and discovering a realm of culinary possibilities, and I truly relish deviating from recipes and indulging in the freedom to infuse creativity into every dish.”
Invest in great basics
“I think it’s important to prioritize a spacious countertop and lots of storage. Investing in a high-quality set of knives also enhances your culinary experiences.”
Linda Boronkay, interior designer
“Kitchens are often the heart of a home, where people gather and spend time together. They are backdrops to chaotic breakfasts and jovial dinners, so I like kitchens to evoke a sense of comfort, home and warmth.”
Incorporate unconventional elements
“I prefer a kitchen that doesn’t look like a kitchen in a conventional sense. I like to select finishes that are hard-wearing but feel residential, such as Pyrolave worktops, washable wallpaper for kitchen fronts, and selecting feature handles as jewels on the carcass.”
Elevate the essentials
“[Include] plenty of flexible storage that can be adapted to changing needs, good task lighting as well as atmospheric lighting, and enough space for artworks and styling pieces to make the kitchen feel like part of the other rooms.”
Add scene-stealing character
“I would add rattan to the kitchen fronts and a stunning marble slab as the countertop, as well as potentially including some fabrics in the cabinets to soften the space.”
Finish with atmospheric touches
“Adding greenery, such as herbs or smaller plant pots and hanging plants, is an effective way of creating atmosphere in a room. Also, I adore copper pots and cake molds on display, either hanging or on the walls.”
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