Don't Squeeze in an Island: 10 Rules for a Kitchen You Can Actually Cook In
If you are planning a renovation this year, here are my 10 design non-negotiables. These are the details that turn a "nice" kitchen into a truly functional, high-end space.
We have all been there. You scroll through Instagram or Pinterest, saving images of stunning marble backsplashes and brass hardware, dreaming of how good your new kitchen will look.
But here is the hard truth I tell all my clients: You look at the aesthetics, but you live with the ergonomics.
A beautiful kitchen that functions poorly is just an expensive source of daily frustration. If you can’t open the dishwasher while someone is cooking, or if you have nowhere to put a hot tray down next to the oven, the "wow factor" wears off very quickly.
If you are planning a renovation this year, here are my 10 design non-negotiables. These are the details that turn a "nice" kitchen into a truly functional, high-end space.
1. Prioritise Drawers Over Cupboards
If there is one thing you take away from this list, let it be this. Stop building lower cabinets with shelves. Items get lost in the dark back corners, never to be seen again. Deep drawers offer incredible accessibility. You pull them out and can see everything at a glance. They are ergonomic, efficient, and maximise every inch of storage.
2. Layer Your Lighting
A single grid of spotlights is a mood killer. A luxury kitchen needs three layers of light:
Ambient: Your general overhead light.
Task: Hardwired under-cabinet lighting so you can actually see what you are chopping.
Accent: This is the magic dust. Think wall lights, shelf lighting, or even a small table lamp on the worktop to add warmth and atmosphere in the evening.
3 Check Your Clearances (The Island Rule)
This is where hearts get broken. Walkways must be at least 1 meter wide, ideally increasing to 1.2 meters in high-traffic zones or where two people cook together. If your room is too narrow, do not squeeze in an island. It will make the space feel cramped and cheap. A well-designed peninsula or galley layout is infinitely more luxurious than a crowded island.
4. Plan Your "Landing Zones"
Safety first. Every major appliance (fridge, oven, microwave), needs a clear countertop space immediately next to (or opposite) it. When you pull a heavy roast chicken out of the oven, you shouldn't have to walk five steps to set it down.
5. Conceal the Clutter
If it doesn’t need to be seen, it should be hidden. We design "appliance garages" or breakfast stations specifically to hide kettles, toasters, and coffee machines. You open the doors for breakfast, and close them when guests arrive. It keeps the lines of the kitchen clean and calm.
6. Invest in Quiet Extraction
A noisy extractor fan is a useless one, because you will simply refuse to turn it on. Cheap motors sound like a jet engine taking off. Invest in a high-quality motor, and if possible, duct it externally rather than recirculating. Your ears (and your dinner guests) will thank you.
7. Oversize Your Sink
If you have the space, ignore the standard 45cm or 60cm sink and go wider. There is nothing more frustrating than trying to wash a roasting tray or a large chopping board that doesn’t fit flat in the basin. A single, wide "Belfast" or undermount sink (70cm+) is infinitely more practical than two small, unusable bowls.
8. Integrate Your Power
Nobody wants to see a tangle of spaghetti wires on a beautiful quartz worktop. We plan for sockets inside the pantry or hidden inside island drawers for charging phones and iPads. Keep the technology accessible, but invisible.
9. The "Triangle" Has Evolved
We used to talk about the "working triangle" (sink, fridge, oven). Today, modern kitchens are about Zones: Prep, Cook, and Clean. The goal is to ensure these zones don’t overlap in a way that causes traffic jams. Someone should be able to empty the dishwasher without hitting the person standing at the stove.
10. Durability Over Trends
Natural marble is breathtaking, but it is porous and stains easily. If you have a busy family life, you don't want to panic every time someone spills lemon juice or red wine. Consider composite stones or high-quality quartzites that offer the natural look without the maintenance anxiety.
Designing a kitchen requires balancing hundreds of technical specifications with aesthetic choices. If you want to ensure every detail is considered, from the lighting plan to the walkway clearances, I can manage the process for you. If you’re based in Kent or London and looking for a family-focused interior designer who gets how real homes work, I’d love to chat. Send me a message here to discuss your project.