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Designing a kitchen is an exercise in balancing aesthetics with practicality, ensuring every element serves both form and function. Working with Soho Kitchens to create this gorgeous green kitchen provided me with the opportunity to carefully consider every detail, from layout to materials, in order to create a space that's both efficient and inviting. Throughout this process, key design choices emerged - here’s an overview of my main insights.
The space we had to work with was a decent size at 19m², but we still faced a few layout challenges: glass doors to the garden, an archway to the dining room, and a set of double doors to the playroom left us with just one full usable wall. This meant getting creative with storage and layout.
We squeezed six 60cm-wide cabinets along the main wall (three tall, three low) and added a large island and a compact coffee bar. Though storage space was tight, having the pantry located close by saved the day, letting us balance functionality and design without overloading the space visually.
With so little high cupboard space to make use of, drawers are always a non-negotiable for me. They’re so much easier to organise than cupboards - no more rooting around in dark corners or pulling everything out to reach to the back. Therefore most of these kitchen cupboards hide internal drawers, while the island has additional pull-outs for cutlery, spices, and tupperware. Even the coffee bar is a mini storage haven and has drawers to house mugs and tea paraphernalia.
The island is the star. It’s multifunctional, with a breakfast bar on one side and a stunning AGA Masterchef Deluxe on the other - a game-changer for cooking, with three ovens and a grill. On the other side we added a Temptech wine fridge for entertaining - perfect for keeping reds and whites at the ideal temperature. I would highly recommend fitting a wine cooler and large range cooker if you have the space. The flexibility the AGA offers is tremendous and this home no longer uses gas, so costs are kept low.
Why build a beautiful kitchen and paint it in white or black when you can find your perfect green? It’s a calming yet elevated colour, perfect for a space where you spend so much time. After much deliberation over two Farrow & Ball colours, we finally chose ‘Green 05 Rome House’ by the Lick x Soho House collaboration - a gorgeous dark, muddy green that pairs beautifully with the brass hardware and lighting. I would recommend being brave with your cabinet colour choices - pick a colour that brings you joy when you look at it and don't second guess yourself. There are so many fabulous coloured kitchens on Pinterest and Instagram these days, don't be afraid to look for some inspiration.
Another star of this kitchen is the countertop which is a Brazilian quartzite called “J’adore,” chosen for its light teal colour, durability and stunning terracotta veining. I went with a demi-bullnose edge (or “parrot nose,” as the manufacturer called it) for a touch of interest, and added a backsplash behind the sink which also houses a beautiful slim brass shelf from Sant for added dimension and a nice location to store nicely styled items.
For hardware, we opted for some brighter gold patina brass handles from Prodinter in multiple sizes, which pair so well with the muddy green of the cabinets and add this slice of light through the space. But a favourite item has to be the Quooker tap, which of course not only gives instant boiling water but it looks like it was made to be paired with the brass sink (or the other way around!). Both are practical and beautiful - a theme I kept returning to throughout the design of this kitchen.
Designing this kitchen was a journey full of compromises and about-turns, but seeing this finally come together has been so rewarding. It’s a space that balances beauty with functionality, and feels calming when you're standing in it.