For three decades, Roundhouse has been designing and creating spaces that enhance the way people live. Founded in 1996 on a clear and simple belief that thoughtful design can enrich daily life, the company has grown into a multi-award-winning British manufacturer that places people, purpose and longevity at the centre of everything they do.
Established by architects Craig Matson and Victoria Marriott, Roundhouse’s approach has always been shaped by architectural thinking. A deep understanding of proportion, flow and spatial balance continues to inform each project, ensuring every kitchen feels resolved, relevant and enduring, grounded in principles that stand the test of time.
This architectural foundation is brought to life through British craftsmanship. All Roundhouse furniture is designed and made under one roof at its purpose-built workshop in the Malvern Hills, where traditional skills sit alongside evolving manufacturing techniques.
Roundhouse’s craft has been refined over the years, enhanced by modern machinery and technology, yet always rooted in precision, material integrity and meticulous attention to detail. The result is furniture made not only to look beautiful, but to last for years to come.
Over the past 30 years, Roundhouse has evolved from a small Camden showroom into a multi-award-winning British manufacturer. From its purpose-built factory in Malvern Hills, Worcestershire, Roundhouse designs and produces luxury bespoke kitchens and furniture.
With over 100 employees and seven UK showrooms, they are recognised for creating spaces that are individual and designed around how people live.
Longevity has always been central to the Roundhouse ethos. Many kitchens created more than 25 years ago remain in daily use today - a reflection of timeless design, enduring materials and exceptional craftsmanship.
Reflecting on the milestone, founder Craig Matson notes: “Many of our clients still love kitchens we made over 25 years ago. It reflects what Roundhouse stands for, purposeful design, British craftsmanship and longevity.”
Behind every project is genuine collaboration. Roundhouse designers work closely with homeowners, architects, interior designers, developers and contractors to understand priorities and shape solutions that respond to both the architecture of the space and the needs of those who use it.
This collaborative way of working sits at the heart of how they work and ensures each kitchen feels personal, practical and carefully considered.
Thirty years of experience continues to shape how Roundhouse works today. The knowledge gained over decades informs how the team designs, makes and delivers, responding thoughtfully to evolving lifestyles, advancing technologies and changing client expectations.
As homes continue to evolve, so does Roundhouse - guided by the enduring belief that considered design has the power to enrich everyday life.
To explore Roundhouse’s kitchens and other furniture in more detail, you can download a brochure, browse their kitchen gallery, or experience Roundhouse design in person by visiting one of their showrooms; Wigmore Street, Clapham, Richmond, Fulham, Cambridge, Guildford, or Cheltenham.
About Roundhouse Design Ltd
Founded by architects, Roundhouse is a multi-award-winning British company, creating beautiful bespoke kitchens and furniture. Their stunning kitchen designs feature a signature understated aesthetic, influenced by contemporary and traditional design, using innovative materials, texture and colour. Each project is made to measure from a wide range of stunning finishes. Expertly crafted by skilled designers and makers in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Malvern, Worcestershire. Visit any of seven Roundhouse Design kitchen showrooms; Wigmore St, Clapham, Fulham, Richmond, Cambridge, Guildford & Cheltenham.
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The small dark kitchen wasn't working for the client, it felt cramped, not organised and it was cut off from the dining and living room.
The connecting wall was removed and this instantly opened up this whole area. The new kitchen design by NB Interiors felt more spacious, more purposeful for how the client used and lived in the space.
Being north facing the brighter yellow colour worked at keeping this part of the room feeling brighter and warm. As well as being brave and feeling more energised, this whole space went from neutral and dark to brighter and warmer.
The mix of wood and yellow softened the space and added some texture. Balanced against the blue that leads into the dining and living area makes this a fun, cheerful and invigorating living area.
About NB Interiors UK
I have a passion for colour and texture, I enjoy helping clients be brave and take the leap into injecting personality into their homes. Whilst keeping spaces cosy, welcoming and feeling like their home. I aim to create spaces that can be truly lived in, comfortable and that will stand the test of time.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a modern and industrial kitchen design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalist, Sticks+Stones Design.
Sticks+Stones Design was commissioned to create a space for these clients linking the home with a bold and strong kitchen creating connection of living spaces for the family. This design a Canvas for their colourful art collection and everyday life.
Category: Kitchen Design
Design Practice: Sticks+Stones Design
Project Title: The Canvas
Project Location: Auckland, New Zealand
Design Practice Location: Auckland, New Zealand
This kitchen is part of a renovation of a 1940s-era home in central Auckland, for a family of four with teenage children. It's often said that the kitchen is the heart of the home; in this case, it truly is, as it serves as the only link between the living and outdoor areas, dining, and the other areas of the home.
The brief was to make this a family hub where they could all comfortably enjoy each other’s company, as well as enhance the flow through to the other parts of the house. They requested a modern, industrial vibe and a palette that would showcase their art collection and other colourful touches throughout their home.
Much of the inspiration came from my client's art collection; the amount of colour and vibrancy required a robust and grounded design. Existing structural elements in the home (and the renovation), such as beams and partition walls, had to be worked around, as well as the skylights, which were already in place. The design and layout of this kitchen was created as a connection point; a space that had good flow but connected everyone and all the areas of the house.
With renovations of older homes, there are always hurdles: walls that can’t be moved, uneven floors, structural beams, and differing ceiling heights. All these factors came into play with this project, which made things a little more challenging. But we enhanced the space and gave character.
It was very rewarding seeing the island coming together; being completely clad in porcelain, including hidden storage along the front, and the customised metal frame. However, the biggest highlight for us was seeing the custom light being installed over the island; the way that it suspended over the skylight, creating a sculptural component, was very fitting with the client's brief and the overall look and aesthetic of this kitchen.
Coming from New Zealand, which has a very small population, I wanted to push my designs into the global arena to test the waters and see how they would fare on a larger stage. Seeing what is being designed internationally and being part of that is very exciting and ultimately very motivating, making sure that our little nation’s design is keeping up with the rest of the world.
Personally, it has been one of the highlights of my career. It really puts into perspective what we are capable of, even though feeling very far away. It's reassuring to know that we are judged and can stand alongside such amazing peers in the global design industry. It now feels like there are no limits and anything is possible, no matter where you’re from, how far away, or how big or small.
Questions answered by Katie Scott, Director of Sticks+Stones Design.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's design!
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring an elegant show flat design, click here to read it.
Timber has always had a place in bespoke design, but how it’s used continues to evolve. For 2026, wood is moving beyond cautious accents towards more immersive schemes, where grain, tone and texture shape the space as a whole. One of the clearest signs of this shift, and something you’ll spot across many current wood kitchen ideas, is the rise of “wood drenching”: wrapping cabinetry, islands and architectural elements in timber so kitchens feel cohesive, grounded and calm.
Once most closely associated with traditional classic kitchens, timber is now playing a more confident role in modern design. At Roundhouse, this renewed focus feels like a natural progression, aligning with an approach rooted in bespoke craftsmanship, architectural precision and responsibly sourced materials. Below are four contemporary ways timber is being used right now.
Fluted or ribbed timber detailing offers a refined way to introduce rhythm and depth. Typically arranged vertically, fluting draws the eye upward, subtly emphasising ceiling height while adding architectural interest without increasing the footprint of the room.
In Roundhouse’s Bulpitt project, fluted-grain feature doors are integrated into a timber-led scheme to create movement and elegance. This layered approach allows light to shift across surfaces throughout the day, adding richness while avoiding overly heavy or uniform finishes.
Texture is becoming increasingly important in timber kitchens, with designers stepping away from perfectly uniform finishes in favour of surfaces that feel more tactile and expressive. Rough-sawn cuts and open-grain timbers introduce depth and variation, allowing light and shadow to bring cabinetry to life.
When paired with clean lines, controlled palettes and considered proportions, textured timber feels refined rather than rustic. The use of rough-sawn oak in Roundhouse’s Ashbury project shows how embracing natural variation can add character while still sitting comfortably within a contemporary kitchen. For those exploring oak kitchen ideas, texture offers a way to introduce authenticity without compromising clarity.
Grain direction is a subtle detail, but one that can quietly shape the overall feel of a kitchen. When timber is run horizontally, it helps extend the space visually, encouraging cabinetry to feel cohesive rather than segmented.
This approach works particularly well with richer timbers. Walnut, specified with a horizontal grain on modern slab doors, enhances flow across open-plan layouts, as seen in Roundhouse’s Moony project. It’s a simple move that supports modern design principles: calm lines, visual continuity and a sense of ease throughout the space.
Timber kitchens don’t need to sit solely within light, neutral palettes. As confidence grows around creating more atmospheric dark kitchens, darker stains are being used to introduce depth, intimacy and presence.
Grounded in richly stained oak or walnut, darker kitchens retain the warmth timber naturally brings while creating a more enveloping mood. The key lies in layering -balancing lighting, metallic accents and tonal variation so the scheme feels intentional rather than overpowering. Roundhouse’s Munro project demonstrates how dark-stained oak can create a space that feels bold, sophisticated and timeless.
The success of every one of these projects lies in thoughtful application, ensuring the timber enhances the architecture rather than taking over. If you’re considering how timber might influence your next design, visit a Roundhouse showroom to speak to their team of expert designers.
This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a sleek kitchen design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalist, German Kitchens.
Faced with a stunning backdrop and a challenging interior German Kitchens Limited were handed a renovation project that would test their skill level and broaden their search for the best products, all while creating the perfect environment for their clients wishes. This beautifully located residence in Queenstown, New Zealand required specialist assistance to turn a very tired and dated existing kitchen into the ideal entertaining space. Challengers were met and overcome and a worldwide search was undertaken to find the perfect benchtop and splashback material to replicate the Remarkable mountain range that hovered above the property and the lake beyond.
Design Practice: German Kitchens
Project Title: Kelvin Heights
Project Location: Queenstown, New Zealand
Design Practice Location: Wellington, New Zealand
My clients were renovating their exquisitely located, elevated home in Queenstown New Zealand and are frequent entertainers and passionate cooks so their wish was for a large functional kitchen with lots of separate working and entertaining spaces. They also desired an area to hide away the small appliances and mess when they entertain. Some informal seating where the stunning lake views and warm afternoon sun can be appreciated and a separate coffee area and wine fridge added to their wish list.
As the kitchen was very much a part of their main living area, my clients desired a kitchen that would act as both the daily cooking and socialising family space and when entertaining was able to accommodate large groups, extended family and social gatherings. In response we centred a very long large island in the middle of the room with social cooking and easy cleaning located on the island for maximum functionality and flow. This allowed us to then create locations for the tall appliances, coffee station, wine area and a pocket door cabinet to hide away the small appliances. The design then allowed us to create a lowered servery under the window to allow the perfect entertainers kitchen.
Our biggest challenge was that there were two windows along the North Wall and these were different heights due to one being in the raised kitchen and the other on the normal floor level. This presented us with an issue that to keep both windows would mean that they would be different heights with one far too high to be functional. As the New Zealand sun travels East to West across the Northern sky, a North facing window is desirable due to the light and the warmth it brings. To remove a North facing window is normally not advised without good cause. We looked at lowering the higher window, but this would involve major rework to the exterior cladding of the home and this was something the client was reluctant to do due to the costs and uncertainty. Therefore, we had to make a very good case with the proposed design to prove that the window should be covered over for the best interests, functionality and aesthetic of the desired kitchen. Thankfully the design won through as the client could see how the kitchen space was vastly improved without the higher window and that we had worked out a solution to still retain the desired sunlight into the space.
My client’s home is surrounded by the world famous 'The Remarkable's' (aptly named) mountain range that hovers over my clients home and looks ominous raising sharply from Lake Wakatipu with its dark Greywacke Rock and snow filled crevices. While these stunning mountains surround the home, they are not seen from the kitchen area as the architecture has been designed to face the Lake. Therefore, I wanted to bring The Remarkable's into the home through the use of natural stone. We searched far and wide and found a stunning stone in Spain called Sensa Black Beauty by Cosentino which creates a synergy with the mountain range with its black base with snow filled highlights. The Black Beauty benchtop material was carefully hand-picked in a leathered finish to allow a very natural and tactile response in a rugged environment. The design of the kitchen, and especially the island was adjusted to suit the overall lengths of the Black Beauty slabs.
It's the one award that I am determined to win. I have been a finalist in the SBID Awards 9 times (including this year) and have still not won it yet. I have attended the fabulous Awards evenings in London 5 times and that’s a lot considering we live in the furthest country from England. I have watched three of my design peers from NZ win the award and I would dearly love to add this award to my list of achievements.
Winning awards is key to our business as it is another way of proving our design capabilities and professionalism when you are judged by your peers. Our clients respect the SBID awards and show that our design work is at an international level and has a desirable aesthetic.
Questions answered by Damian Hannah, Lead Designer at German Kitchens.
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a characterful cottage design, click here to read it.
This in person event is an informal opportunity to meet with Mark and the team at our home kitchen showroom in Cookham Dean. Come along and find out more about our portfolio including our Bespoke and MeThD kitchen ranges and how we collaborate with interior designers, architects and project managers.
Friday 27th March 2026, 9:30am-11am GMT:
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SBID Members earn 2 x CPD points (per session) for attending!
Although the year has only just begun, kitchen trends for 2026 are already emerging, shaped by broader influences from fashion, furniture and global colour reporting. Together, these shifts outline how bespoke kitchen design is expected to evolve over the year ahead.
From Pantone’s Colour of the Year to a growing preference for softer materials and tactile finishes, Roundhouse anticipates that kitchens in 2026 will feel warmer, calmer and more grounded. Muted palettes, expressive surfaces and a renewed focus on craftsmanship point towards an approach rooted in longevity rather than short-lived trends.
White kitchens remain firmly in focus for 2026, though their expression is shifting. Rather than crisp, high-contrast whites, designers are leaning towards softer, warmer tones with greater subtlety.
Inspired by Pantone’s Cloud Dancer, these creamy, chalky whites introduce depth without dominating a scheme. The key change lies in how white is used: less as a statement and more as a backdrop. Applied across cabinetry, walls and feature shelving, it acts as a calm canvas that enhances contrasting elements, such as the black island featured in Roundhouse’s Alden project. In 2026, white is defined by contrast and context, moving away from uniform white-on-white compositions.
Green continues to play a defining role in bespoke kitchen trends for 2026. This year, Roundhouse anticipates a shift away from the deep, dramatic green kitchens that have dominated recent years, towards lighter, more herbal shades.
Valspar’s 2026 Colour of the Year, Warm Eucalyptus, sets the tone. With its vintage-leaning character, the colour brings a sense of calm and familiarity, making it well suited to modern kitchens. Industry colour reports reinforce this direction, highlighting clean olives, fresh sages and smoky fern tones as key shades to watch. When paired with pale stone, brushed metals and warm timbers, as seen in Roundhouse’s Oliver project, these greens create a natural, atmospheric palette. In 2026, green becomes less about drama and more about mood, gently anchoring kitchens in a restorative calm.
Texture continues to gain importance in kitchen design, with fluted cabinetry emerging as a considered way to introduce depth and movement. Rather than surface ornamentation, Roundhouse anticipates a move towards more generously curved fluted profiles that emphasise craftsmanship, as seen on the drawer fronts in the Alden project.
This approach allows light and shadow to interact softly across vertical surfaces, celebrating artisanal skill. Whether applied to bespoke kitchen islands, tall cabinetry or drawer runs, fluted detailing breaks up large expanses while adding rhythm and tactility. It reflects a broader shift away from flat minimalism towards bespoke kitchens that feel layered, crafted and rich in detail.
Stone remains a cornerstone of kitchen design in 2026, with quartzite expected to take precedence over marble as the preferred all-natural surface. Characterised by subtle veining and organic movement, quartzite offers a refined alternative to high-contrast marbles while providing improved strength.
Harder and more durable than marble, quartzite still requires a degree of care, making it particularly well suited to breakfast bars and splashbacks. In high-use cooking zones and around sinks, Roundhouse designers often recommend combining natural quartzite with manmade surfaces. In the Ashbury project, Taj Mahal quartzite splashbacks are paired with Caesarstone’s Cloudburst Concrete worktops, balancing natural beauty with practical resilience. The result is a surface that feels luxurious and well suited to everyday living.
Timber continues to evolve as a material language in bespoke kitchen design. While all-wood schemes have been absent for decades, Roundhouse suggests that 2026 will see a return to full timber immersion - not as a revival, but as a contemporary form of ‘wood-washing’.
Natural wood will extend across cabinetry, tall units and architectural detailing, with pale oak and walnut used floor-to-ceiling across storage, media furniture and adjoining living areas. This generous application introduces warmth, texture and continuity, particularly in open-plan homes such as Roundhouse’s Bulpitt project, where the kitchen needed to integrate seamlessly with surrounding spaces. Layered with fluted detailing, this approach to timber feels enveloping yet controlled, remaining crisp, architectural and distinctly modern.
Hardware in 2026 is going to become increasingly subtle, delivering the same visual calm as handleless kitchens while introducing additional material interest. Integrated pulls and slim handles in coordinated finishes offer a refined, understated aesthetic alongside improved grip.
This restrained approach supports longevity and ease of use, reinforcing the wider shift towards bespoke kitchens defined by proportion, materiality and thoughtful detailing.
The beginning of a new year offers a natural moment to reset and reassess. In 2026, the most compelling kitchen designs will be shaped by balance, material integrity and craftsmanship that stands the test of time - principles that sit at the core of Roundhouse’s design philosophy.
Explore how these trends could shape your 2026 projects, and visit one of Roundhouse’s seven showrooms; Wigmore St, Clapham, Fulham, Richmond, Guildford, Cambridge or Cheltenham to speak with Roundhouse’s expert designers.
The first new kitchen launch in over a decade marks the start of a defining year for the brand. Neptune proudly introduces the Borough freestanding kitchen collection, its first new kitchen collection in more than ten years, combining the versatility of freestanding furniture with Neptune’s hallmark craftsmanship and timeless design values.
A twist on the traditional kitchen; Borough is a collection of freestanding furniture, rooted in three decades of design expertise. Fitted with appliances, each piece – from cooking island to sink cabinet and pantry – has been designed to sit independently or together, offering a more fluid, informal approach to cabinetry. Elevated on tapered legs, Borough blends Mid-century Scandinavian design with a distinctively British design flair. It’s clean architectural lines are softened by gracefully curved corners, bringing a contemporary ease and character that feels at once timeless and modern. Seamlessly integrating with a home’s architecture, Borough adapts effortlessly to open-plan spaces or alongside fitted cabinetry, considering form and function in equal measure. These new kitchen pieces are launched in addition to existing pieces previously launched in 2025, including the kitchen island and chopping block.
The Borough collection takes its inspiration from the very first kitchen John Sims-Hilditch, co-founder of Neptune, created for his own home – a freestanding design that prioritised flexibility and individuality. With that same pioneering spirit, Borough reimagines the concept for today’s homes, spaces that are no longer static but continually adapting to modern life. Designed as furniture in their own right, each piece can be reconfigured, layered over time, and carried seamlessly into the wider home. The result is a collection that honours Neptune’s heritage while answering the needs of modern living.
Borough’s hero pieces are designed with flexibility at their core, making them just as relevant outside the kitchen as within it. The cooking island doubles as both a generous kitchen prep surface and a social hub, with space for seating that makes it ideal for open-plan living. The pantry shows its versatility in any setting – as useful for storing drinks and glassware as it is for dry goods and appliances. The sink cabinet conceals a dishwasher, bins, and cleaning essentials, helping maintain a clutter-free space, while smaller pieces such as the wall cabinet or step stool lend themselves to boot rooms, utility spaces, and beyond. Each design can move fluidly through the home, adapting as needs change.
"We’ve created something distinctly our own, refreshingly different in it’s freestanding design, modern in form but unmistakably Neptune in spirit. We’ve never followed trends; we’ve always built with authenticity and purpose. Borough is the next chapter in that story: evolving with the way people live today, while staying true to the values that set us apart and still always built to last for generations." - Fred Horlock, Design Director, Neptune.
Borough Cooking Island - £5,165 Borough Pantry - £4,995 Borough Sink Cabinet - £4,495 Borough Pan Drawers - £2,195 Borough Wall Cabinet - £995 Borough Step Stool - £249
About Neptune
Our Neptune collection comprises over 1,500 products – a full lifestyle offering for the home that includes kitchens, furniture, lighting, home accessories and an edited paint collection. All of our Neptune kitchens are made from the finest quality timber using expert joinery. Our Trade Membership is designed to support the best in the design industry. We work with professionals who share our passion for beautiful and enduring design that takes a stand against throwaway culture and fleeting trends.
Lighting has long been an important feature of the kitchen, but as the space evolves into something more multifunctional, the latest lighting trends are shaping it more than ever. Lighting is now shaping layouts, zoning areas and defining the overall ambience of the home – illumination is now becoming a seamless blend of architecture and art, and that fusion is unlocking extraordinary creative potential.
Roundhouse is predicting a move away from the traditional spotlight-and-pendant formula and towards lighting schemes that feel more layered, expressive and character-driven. From sculptural statement pieces to illumination that almost behaves like furniture, lighting is proving to be one of the most transformative tools in bespoke kitchen design.
Softer, more organic lighting is influencing kitchens for the year ahead. Crescent profiles, arcs and rounded silhouettes are becoming more prominent, offering a gentle counterbalance to the clean lines of modern cabinetry. This direction has been led by designers such as Tom Raffield, John Pomp and Lindsey Adelman, whose work explores sculptural circularity, curved glass and halo-like forms. Their pieces demonstrate how circular lighting can create a warm, atmospheric glow with refined, architectural impact.
Roundhouse’s Ashbury Project highlights this beautifully. Tom Raffield’s Loer Crescent Pendant, suspended over the breakfast bar, introduces quiet drama without asserting itself too strongly. Curved lighting works particularly well in busy family kitchens, encouraging a more soothing, inviting atmosphere. These rounded shapes also pair effortlessly with natural materials like timber, stone and plaster, which are hallmarks of many of Roundhouse’s bespoke designs.
Another key movement for bespoke kitchens in 2026 is the integration of lighting traditionally associated with living rooms. Designers such as Bert Frank, Matteo Bianchi and Gabriel Scott have helped champion this evolution, showing that decorative lighting can actually enhance practicality. Kitchens are now beginning to borrow the warmth and intimacy of lounge environments - not just through sconces or wall lights but increasingly through table lamps. A table lamp in a kitchen immediately softens the aesthetic, creating a sense of comfort and intentionality.
Roundhouse’s Ling Project illustrates this shift with Vibia’s Mayfair table lamp in gold satin placed on the island. Its soft glow and touch-dimmer control offer a salon-like refinement, demonstrating how ambient lighting can add depth and cohesion in open-plan settings.
Personalisation continues to be a defining theme in interior design, and lighting is following suit. Brands such as Buster + Punch, Martin Huxford and Porta Romana have pushed forward with modular systems, mix-and-match components and adaptable silhouettes, enabling lighting to evolve alongside the demands of multifunctional family homes.
This appetite for customisation reflects an evolving desire for flexibility - designers are embracing adjustable cords, pivoting heads, interchangeable shades and modular assemblies.
Roundhouse’s Weir Project captures this versatility with Buster + Punch’s Hooked 6.0 Pendant Nude. Each element can be repositioned or reconfigured, allowing the piece to serve different roles within the same space. In bespoke design, this adaptability is especially valuable, responding to unique architecture and varied family routines.
A more curated form of eclecticism is emerging, driven by a desire for spaces with narrative depth and authenticity. Designers such as Kelly Wearstler, Beata Heuman and Martyn Lawrence Bullard have embraced the dialogue between past and present, blending vintage lighting with contemporary architecture to create interiors with soul.
Roundhouse’s Moony Project with Webb Architects demonstrates the strength of this approach. A vintage chandelier is suspended within a modern take on an Arts & Crafts kitchen, adding instant character and a sense of history. This interplay works particularly well where the kitchen forms part of a wider architectural storyline. A heritage light can anchor a streamlined contemporary space, while surrounding modern elements keep the overall design feeling balanced and current.
For homeowners seeking boldness, oversized pendants continue to make a commanding statement. Influenced by the sculptural, gallery-led collections of brands including Tom Dixon, Bomma and Moooi, these larger-scale fittings combine visual drama with generous illumination.
In a recent Roundhouse kitchen project created in collaboration with QWC Stone (photographed by Carmody Creative), Tom Dixon’s Beat Stout LED pendants take centre stage. At more than 50cm tall and wide, they offer architectural presence while delivering focused light. Oversized pendants work best when given space to breathe, with clean sightlines and complementary materials ensuring the scale feels intentional rather than overwhelming.
Explore these evolving trends first-hand by visiting one of Roundhouse’s seven showrooms; Wigmore St, Clapham, Fulham, Richmond, Guildford, Cambridge or Cheltenham, where Roundhouse’s expert designers can help you reimagine lighting for 2026.
The SBID UK Interior Design Icons were selected to recognise leading design practices throughout the UK who have consistently displayed exceptional standards within our esteemed industry network.
This week’s instalment of the SBID Icon Insights series features Johnny Grey. Johnny Grey Studios specializes in crafting bespoke kitchens that seamlessly blend architecture and interior design with comfortable living.
My design style evolves and rotates between many polarities. I’m inspired by Medieval and Georgian periods in our culture, early Chinese furniture, also Arts and Crafts and Modernist architecture, as well as Japanese movements such as the Metabolists. I am always on the lookout to connect with artists and craftspeople, including through the paint and patterns of domestic artefacts, fabrics and wood carving. My new Unfitted Kitchen shows off this approach with aesthetics that incorporate many of the design references I have mentioned.
Unfitted kitchens are increasingly popular as they offer a range of furniture items to give clients freedom in creating their own personal environments. Furnishing a room, as opposed to having cabinetry built in, allows clients more flexibility and self-expression. Kitchens are no longer just for cooking. The functions of other downstairs room are often folded into them these days. With home working, hobbies and sociability increasingly taking place in the kitchen, the room can now be designated a ‘House Place’, an idea articulated by the poet William Wordsworth. This fits with a process that involves functions of rooms becoming less specific and more diverse. Interestingly the trend applies to both small and large homes. The hybrid nature of this new kitchen, ‘broken plan’ rather open plan, suggests that we need activity areas as well as nooks for privacy or security, plus a personal sense of belonging expressed through its decor.
We have a section on the Johnny Grey Studio website called Full Circle where we resell kitchens that have been taken out of their original homes. This is a very effective way of reducing waste and the problem of disposal of building materials. Our kitchens are always well crafted, very durable and fit to be repurposed. We make conscious efforts to use natural and recycled materials when possible and to avoid plastic finishes on our furniture when this can be done in line with durability, which it often can.
Our designs use multiple style references, allowing them to stand out from fashion trends and obsolescence. Because of this, a thirty-year-old Johnny Grey kitchen still looks modern. Three essential design ideas of mine are in evidence in most, if not all, of my kitchens. Number one is to make eye contact possible as this promotes sociable use of space so that people can have conversations while cooking and preparing food. Number two is ‘soft geometry’ – that is, the avoidance of sharp corners, particularly on furniture like central islands in the middle of a room. Walking around the kitchen feels safe and natural and it means the passageways can actually be narrower. The third principle is the use of dedicated work surfaces instead of indiscriminately long countertop work surfaces. This allows both small and large kitchens to function efficiently, often with reduced distances between key activities. It frees up space for sociable furniture.
Spend time in a workshop to learn how things are made. Take your education and learning processes across design boundaries. Learn skills from product design, architecture and interior design as well as project management. Observe how people use space, follow research into behavioural psychology and neuroscience, visit historic buildings and enjoy books on the history of design. Remain self-critical of your work, seek a broad spectrum of style and constantly explore new ways of approaching your work.
It is not fashion focused. It connects history and my personal vision of using colour, pattern, shape with a sense of fun and quirkiness. I attempt to make people feel comfortable and happy in their surroundings through sociable design philosophy. The quality of the individual pieces of furniture should last for generations.
Many if not all my projects represent the core aspects of my approach. Narrowed down, I would say the Unfitted Kitchen for the reasons mentioned above. It’s the distillation of years of work honing furniture that is practical, stylish and flexible, has an easy appeal and represents good value for money. After successfully offering this to the public in 1986-9 through Smallbone of Devizes, I have now revived the concept as part of my legacy. I’m hoping it will change the industry by becoming a popular alternative to fitted kitchens.
The Guildford kitchen is a classic JG Studio collaboration between clients, furniture makers and the design team. The design is functional and innovative – three working tables distribute the activity of the kitchen, all linked together and with different heights and materials. Surfaces are warm to the touch, including the ceramic wall with its innovative unglazed hammered finish that is soft and eye catching in a fun way. The Dolphin shaped legs make a hinged bar that is ideal for leaning against and serving food is a classic example of one of my custom designs. For interior projects, the Treasure Island House for Felix Dennis stands out. This was a themed fun house based on the writings of Robert Louis Stevenson. It centred around a swimming pool with palm trees distributing heat, a seventeenth century opium ketch kitchen and panelled dining room, a four poster bed decorated with carved statues of Long John Silver and the Spanish Lady with a secret staircase to the stars, a shell filled bathroom and a double-sided aquarium through which the viewer enters the building on arrival.
About Johnny Grey Studios
I trained as an architect at the Architectural Association School of Architecture. Afterwards I enjoyed a brief time running an antique furniture business before setting up a workshop making furniture. When it became clear that design was my strength, I set up a design studio in 1977. My aunt, the food writer Elizabeth David, then asked me to design her a kitchen based on a book chapter on her dream kitchen that she wrote for Terence Conran in The Kitchen Book (1977). It became clear to me around this time how poorly functioning and uncomfortable most kitchens were and what a difference you can make to people’s lives if you get the design of this crucial room right. The need for a new template for kitchens was the spur that got my career up and running as well as an interest in writing design books. I have written four on kitchen and home design. I have a life-long interest in education, which is why helped set up The Kitchen Education Trust. I also provided impetus for the first kitchen design foundation degree, at Bucks New University. This is now closed but am currently devising an apprenticeship called Living Spaces Design. I speak at events worldwide on design innovation in the kitchen that include smart tech, sustainable design, neuroscience and history of design. I have helped set up the South Downs Food Festival held at Stansted Park in Hampshire each summer.
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