This is a CPD session that traces the evolution of the domestic kitchen—from its historical origins and changing social functions to its current role as the heart of contemporary living—and provides practical strategies for seamlessly integrating luxury appliances to enhance both form and function.
Lunch provided, please advise of any dietary requirements.
SBID Members earn 4 x CPD points for attending!
A townhouse in Notting Hill needed a kitchen that could do two jobs at once: look sophisticated and contemporary, while providing enough storage and space for informal family eating. For Ledbury Studio founder Charlie Smallbone, the brief also arrived with its material already chosen. The clients had fallen in love with Arabescato Nero marble and it became the starting point for the whole design.
It’s the reverse of how most kitchen briefs start. Instead of working from a floor plan outward, Charlie was working from one slab of stone inward: the layout, the storage and the material palette elsewhere in the room all had to be resolved around a single decision the clients had already made.
“Our clients came to us already in love with the stone,” says Charlie. “That’s not unusual and it’s no bad thing, it’s actually a gift. It sets the ambition for everything else. Once you’ve chosen a material like Arabescato Nero marble, there’s no hiding behind a neutral scheme. The rest of the kitchen has to be as considered as the stone is dramatic.”
Charlie made the marble the dramatic centrepiece of the room, wrapping it around an imposing pedestal base beneath the breakfast bar for maximum impact. A fabricated bullnose edge was specially designed for the effect, and the marble was honed rather than polished, for a softer, more understated elegance.
Book-matching, where two adjoining slabs of stone are cut and laid so their veining mirrors across the seam, has become one of the clearest signatures of a considered kitchen island. Rather than a run of stone broken up by a visible join, the effect reads as one continuous surface, and it’s increasingly the detail that separates a bespoke kitchen from an off-the-shelf one.
In the case of this kitchen, because the island sits on a suspended floor, its construction had to be carefully engineered to carry the weight of a 5.25-metre worktop, with two slabs of the marble book-matched at the centre for a seamless effect. It’s a structural question that comes up often in London’s period townhouses. Many have suspended timber floors, rather than a solid concrete slab, so for a large-format stone island the floor should be checked, and often reinforced, before the design can be finalised.
Charlie chose natural oak for the cupboards, which was given a light finish, rubbed back to expose the grain and finished with a pigmented pale wash. Handleless base cupboards and specially designed recessed handles on the tall cupboards keep the design minimal and contemporary, with the wine cooler and oven sitting flush within the run rather than sitting as separate elements.
In addition, the wall cupboards and room-facing island cupboard doors were given shallow fluting, with the timber grain fluted horizontally rather than vertically, for a softer, textured finish. Pairing a warm, pale oak with a cool, heavily veined marble is one of the more enduring material conversations in kitchen design: the wood softens the drama of the stone, while the marble stops the joinery from reading as flat.
“A kitchen this striking still has to work every single day,” concludes Charlie. “The marble is what you notice first. But it’s the storage, the fluting and the way the oak sits against the stone that make you want to live in it.”
The result is a kitchen that is chic and understated, brought to life with the sophistication and drama that mark out a Ledbury Studio design. It’s a useful example of how a single material decision, made early and followed through with conviction, can shape everything else in a room: the cabinetry finish, the storage strategy, even the lighting, all worked out in relation to one slab of stone rather than added on top of it afterwards.
About Ledbury Studio Ltd
Ledbury Studio is a new and exciting design studio, showcasing Charlie Smallbone’s latest kitchen designs. Small and personal, Ledbury Studio has been established to explore and develop the interface between kitchens to cook and work in, and kitchens to live in. The company offers something very different in the world of kitchen design, something not found elsewhere. Combining exquisite materials and artisan craftsmanship, the new kitchen collections are striking and innovative and the culmination of Charlie Smallbone’s history at the forefront of cutting edge kitchen design.
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This week’s instalment of the Project of the Week series features a mid-century kitchen design by 2025 SBID Awards Finalist, Bower Interior Design.
Bower Interior Design was commissioned to design the interior of a newly built rear extension in Saltdean, East Sussex. The open-plan kitchen, dining and living space was created for a family of four seeking a timeless design with a mid-century influence. Rich walnut cabinetry, soft green tones and brushed brass accents were combined to bring warmth, depth and character. The result is a calm, functional and beautifully layered space that reflects the family’s lifestyle while nodding to the home’s coastal setting and their love of classic design.
Category: Kitchen Design
Design Practice: Bower Interior Design
Project Title: Coastal Mid-Century Living
Project Location: East Sussex, United Kingdom
Design Practice Location: Worthing, United Kingdom
The family wanted a home that would really bring them together at the end of each day, as well as a space to host friends and relax. They imagined a place to sit and read with a glass of wine, a generous dining area that could comfortably seat ten, and an open-plan kitchen where they could keep an eye on everything while the family gathered. Hosting was also really important to them — they loved the idea of the bi-folds opening out onto their beautiful gardens, creating plenty of space to entertain and throw parties. My approach was to zone the space carefully into kitchen, dining and living areas, so that each had its own purpose but also flowed seamlessly together. They wanted a contemporary mid-century feel — light and neutral at its base to maximise the natural daylight, but with layers of rich colour, from olive greens to ochres, alongside natural wood textures for warmth and depth.
The biggest inspiration was the house itself. It’s a mid-century property that looks out onto beautiful, sprawling fields, and it felt only natural to bring that sense of greenery and connection to the outdoors into the design. I used earthy tones, wood textures and tactile finishes to echo what was happening just beyond the garden. The family wanted something timeless, with enough wow factor to feel special, but still a home where they could kick off their shoes, put the kettle on, and feel completely at ease.
The project was smooth overall, but one challenge was ensuring the space would be properly heated without relying on underfloor heating. With so many large glazed areas and open walls, I had to think very strategically about where radiators could be placed — they needed to do their job effectively without dominating or disrupting the design. It took some careful thought to make everything work, but in the end it came together in a way that felt balanced and practical.
For me, the highlight will always be my clients’ reaction when it was finished. They sent me videos saying they “couldn’t believe it was theirs,” which was such a moving moment. Seeing their joy and hearing that disbelief turn into pride made all the months of planning and decision-making worthwhile. It’s the kind of feedback that reminds me exactly why I love doing what I do.
Honestly, I entered on a bit of a chance. I was really proud of the project, but I never imagined it would make it through to become a finalist.
Becoming a finalist has been such a dream come true. To be recognised alongside so many incredible designers is both humbling and inspiring. It’s given me a huge boost of confidence in my work and feels like a real milestone for Bower Interior Design.
Questions answered by Natalie Johnson, Founder of Bower Interior Design.
We hope you feel inspired by this week's design!
If you missed the last instalment of Project of the Week, featuring a sophisticated penthouse design, click here to read it.
What we now call Shaker-style kitchens started life in the early 1980s, when Charlie Smallbone launched the Original Hand Painted kitchen. Its single panel door in a frame with a hand-painted finish became synonymous with the simplicity and functionality of 18th century Shaker furniture. Since then, Shaker-style kitchens have become the characteristic of country-style kitchens and one looks much like another. As such, when Charlie founded Ledbury Studio, he was determined to evolve the story once again and to redefine Shaker furniture in a contemporary way, to suit today’s kitchens.
“Design shouldn’t stand still, as its very essence is to present something new and offer an alternative way of seeing things. I believe in staying open to new ideas and constantly evolving,” explains Charlie. “With the Shaker kitchen I took all the traditional elements and then added contemporary touches, such as variations on the frame and panel sizes of the doors, adding an oversized contemporary cornice and modern cast handles in aged and patinated brass. The result is our Ledbury Shaker range.” Here are three beautiful examples.
The Shaker-style evolution: Slim down the width of the door framing, add reeded cupboards and mix with aged and patinated zinc.
The result: The slimmed-down framing creates a contemporary feel, while the ribbed glass wall cabinets bring an element of lightness and texture that breaks up uniformity and enhances visual interest. In response to the client’s request for a neutral palette, the furniture is painted in Ash White, in stark contrast to the coffee making station and tall refrigeration cupboards, which are clad in in aged and patinated sheets of zinc. And again to bring this Shaker design bang up to date, instead of the usual small round knob handles there are tactile aged-brass ones, plus brass kickplates and fixtures throughout.
The Shaker-style evolution: Add stainless steel into the mix to provide contrast to the minimal framing on the doors.
The result: Designed as part of a renovation of a country house, the Hampshire kitchen is a scheme that perfectly balances rustic simplicity with contemporary sophistication. At the heart of the kitchen sits a stainless-steel island, conceived as both a showpiece and a hardworking hub. It houses a Lacanche range cooker, has custom-cast stainless steel and brass handles and limestone worktop edged in stainless steel. As a contrast, allowing the island to take centre stage, Charlie designed the surrounding cabinetry in the Ledbury Studio Shaker style, using minimal framing to the single-panel hand-painted doors.
The Shaker-style evolution: Add an over-sized contemporary cornice and brass detailing.
The result: The brief for the Muswell Hill design was to maximise every inch of storage space by pushing the cupboards as high as they could go. Charlie therefore designed the cupboards almost to the ceiling, introducing a large contemporary cornice with a lighting recess in between the cornice and the cabinets. This Shaker-style hand-painted kitchen achieves its contemporary resonance with the introduction of Ledbury Studio’s signature metals. Charlie added aged brass to the edge of the cooker hood and also used it for the plate rack’s supporting brackets, the hanging rails mounted on the splashbacks and the cupboard handles.
Prices for a Ledbury Studio kitchen start from £70,000.
In an industry often focused on what is new, Yotam Ottolenghi's recently refreshed kitchen offers a valuable reminder of the importance of designing for longevity. More than a decade after its original installation, the Roundhouse kitchen remained so successful that the refurbishment focused not on replacing it, but on carefully evolving it.
Few compliments carry more weight than a returning client. When someone has lived with a kitchen every day, raised a family around it, cooked thousands of meals, hosted friends and relied on the space for years, choosing to return to the same designer speaks volumes about the success of the original project.
That is exactly what happened when internationally renowned chef, restaurateur and food writer Yotam Ottolenghi returned to Roundhouse to refresh the kitchen in his North London Georgian townhouse.
The original kitchen was designed and installed in 2013 using Roundhouse's Urbo collection. Defined by its understated aesthetic, practical layout and carefully considered functionality, the space was designed around the realities of everyday life rather than passing trends.
As Ottolenghi explains: "Roundhouse designed my kitchen 13 years ago, and it still works brilliantly. The refresh was not about changing the fundamentals, I wanted to build on a design that had already stood the test of time."
For interior designers and professionals, the project demonstrates how thoughtful planning, durable materials and adaptable layouts can significantly extend the lifespan of a kitchen without compromising aesthetics or performance.
Rather than embarking on a complete redesign, the refurbishment focused on enhancing a space that was already working exceptionally well. The original layout continued to support the way Ottolenghi and his family lived, while the material palette remained as relevant and appealing as when it was first installed.
"Everything is at my fingertips. The kitchen works intuitively, which makes cooking a pleasure," says Ottolenghi.
That simple observation highlights one of the most important measures of successful design. Beyond appearance, great kitchens make everyday routines feel effortless and intuitive.
While the foundations remained unchanged, the refurbishment introduced carefully considered updates that brought new character to the room.
The most significant addition was a hand painted tiled splashback created by artist Cecilie Maurud Barstad of Gilles & Cecilie Studio. Inspired by family memories, favourite foods and shared experiences, the artwork introduced a deeply personal layer to the space.
"I wanted a kitchen that felt personal. The new splashback brought character and individuality that made the space my own," explains Ottolenghi.
For designers, the project serves as a reminder that personality does not always require dramatic intervention. Sometimes a single carefully chosen element can transform the atmosphere of a room while preserving everything that already works.
Alongside the new splashback, a series of practical improvements helped bring the kitchen up to date.
Storage around the oven wall was reconfigured, appliances were upgraded and the kitchen transitioned from gas to induction cooking. A new suite of Gaggenau appliances and a Quooker tap enhanced performance while maintaining the familiarity of a well-established space.
One of the most notable aspects of the refurbishment was the decision to retain the original white lacquered cabinetry. Years after installation, it remained in excellent condition and continued to provide a calm backdrop for daily life.
As Ottolenghi notes: "A simple, calm backdrop allows everything else to shine. That's true in our restaurants, and it's true in my kitchen. The tiles designed by my dear friend Cecilie Barstad bring some fun and character to the space."
The project also highlights the enduring appeal of restrained material palettes. White lacquered cabinetry, walnut interiors, and stainless-steel worktops create a timeless foundation that allows artwork, objects and ingredients to become part of the visual composition.
For interior designers, there is an important lesson in the way this kitchen has evolved.
Longevity is not simply about durability. It is about creating spaces with enough flexibility to adapt alongside the people who use them. The most successful interiors are rarely those that remain frozen in time. Instead, they mature, evolve, and accumulate character while continuing to support changing lifestyles.
By prioritising functionality, simplicity and quality from the outset, the original design created a framework that could be refined rather than replaced.
The project demonstrates that successful kitchen design is not measured by how quickly it is replaced, but by how well it continues to perform over time. By combining enduring design principles with carefully considered updates, Ottolenghi's kitchen continues to support the changing needs of its owner while retaining the qualities that made it successful from the outset.
In a profession often driven by the pursuit of the new, it is a refreshing reminder that thoughtful design, quality craftsmanship and a deep understanding of how people live can create spaces that remain relevant for decades.
Yotam Ottolenghi's kitchen demonstrates the value of designing spaces that can evolve over time.
If you are planning your own project, book a design consultation or visit a Roundhouse showroom to discover how thoughtful design, quality craftsmanship and carefully considered materials can shape the way you live for years to come.
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.
Frank Iaria, Kitchen and Interior Designer at Mint Kitchen Group, has given his insights into the industry.
My career in the industry began as an apprentice cabinet maker, which gave me a strong hands-on understanding of joinery, construction and detailing from the very beginning. After sustaining a back injury, I moved away from the physical side of cabinet making and into the design field. What started as a necessary career shift quickly became a genuine passion, and I found that I enjoyed the creativity, problem-solving and client interaction of design even more.
I went on to become a Certified Kitchen Designer and built my career around creating highly functional, detailed and beautifully resolved kitchen spaces. After working with major retailers and developing a strong reputation within the industry, I decided to go out on my own and open my own showroom. From there, it was a natural progression to expand into other areas of the home, as many of my clients were renovating multiple spaces at once. This led me to further study bathroom design, allowing me to provide a more complete design service across kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, wardrobes and whole-home joinery.
Entering industry awards became an important turning point in my career. In the first year alone, we achieved 10 awards, which gave me the confidence and motivation to continue pushing the design side of the business further. Year after year, we continued entering awards and collecting recognition, which helped strengthen our reputation and increase demand for our style of work.
As the business continued to grow, I formed a group with industry colleagues to create better buying power, greater exposure and stronger collective advertising. This became Mint Kitchen Group. Since then, we have continued to build on our success and are proud to have become one of the most awarded kitchen design groups in Victoria. Today, I operate two design studios with a team of six designers, and much of our work comes through referrals from existing and past clients.
I am very proud of the work we produce and the care we put into every project. For us, great design is not only about how a space looks, but how well it functions, how carefully it is detailed and how successfully it is executed. That commitment to detail, craftsmanship and the client experience continues to drive the way we work today.
I was drawn to interior design because it combines creativity with problem-solving in a very practical and meaningful way. My early background in cabinet making gave me a strong understanding of how things are constructed, but moving into design opened up a much broader opportunity to shape spaces from the very beginning. I enjoyed being able to think not only about how something was made, but how it would function, how it would feel, and how it would improve the way people live.
For me, the profession is about much more than selecting finishes or creating a stylish space. It is about listening carefully, understanding a client’s lifestyle, and then translating that into a design that is both beautiful and practical. That combination of creativity, functionality, detail and human connection is what first attracted me to the industry and continues to motivate me.
I really enjoy the process of taking a client’s brief and turning it into a resolved design that feels both beautiful and effortless. There is something very rewarding about working through the details — the layout, proportions, materials, storage, lighting, finishes and joinery — and seeing all those elements come together into one cohesive space.
I also enjoy the relationship-building side of the profession. Every client is different, and every project has its own story. Being trusted to help shape such personal spaces in someone’s home is a privilege. The best part is seeing the finished result and knowing that the design has genuinely improved the way the client uses and enjoys their home.
One of my most memorable career highlights from the past year has been the transformation of our South Melbourne Design Studio. We converted what was once a commercial office space into an apartment-style showcase, designed to feel like a real home rather than a traditional showroom. This allowed us to demonstrate the type of work we do across all areas of the home, from kitchens, bathrooms and laundries through to wardrobes, living spaces, custom furniture and detailed joinery solutions.
The studio was designed to help clients experience our work in a more personal and immersive way. Rather than viewing individual displays in isolation, they can walk through connected spaces and see how materials, finishes, storage, lighting and joinery details work together in a complete interior environment. It has become a valuable space for presenting design ideas, inspiring clients and showing the level of detail, craftsmanship and functionality that sits behind every project we deliver.
My favourite projects are those where we are able to create a complete design solution rather than looking at one room in isolation. Whole-home renovations, kitchens connected to living spaces, and projects with custom joinery throughout are particularly rewarding because they allow us to create consistency, flow and a strong design language across the home.
I also enjoy projects that require careful planning and detailed problem-solving. Kitchens, bathrooms and laundries can be some of the most technically demanding spaces in a home, but that is what makes them interesting. When a space works beautifully from both a design and functional perspective, the result feels seamless — and that is always the goal.
One of the most challenging aspects is balancing creativity with practicality. A successful design needs to look beautiful, but it also needs to be functional, buildable, durable and suited to the client’s budget and lifestyle. There are often many layers to consider, from design intent and client expectations through to manufacturing requirements, site conditions, lead times and installation details.
Communication is also critical. Interior design involves many people — clients, designers, suppliers, trades, manufacturers and installers — and every decision needs to be clearly documented and understood. The smallest detail can have a big impact, so maintaining clarity throughout the process is one of the ongoing challenges, but it is also what leads to the best outcomes.
I wish I had understood earlier just how much of interior design is about communication, documentation and decision-making. Many people see the creative side of the profession, but behind every successful project is a huge amount of planning, coordination and attention to detail. Good design is not just about the idea — it is about how clearly that idea is communicated and executed.
I have also learned that every project will evolve. Site conditions, budgets, client preferences and technical requirements can all shift along the way. Being flexible, calm and solutions-focused is essential. The ability to adapt while still protecting the overall design intent is one of the most valuable skills a designer can develop.
My advice would be to learn how things are actually made. Understanding construction, manufacturing, installation and detailing will make you a much stronger designer. A concept may look beautiful on paper, but it needs to work in the real world. The more you understand materials, hardware, joinery construction, clearances and site limitations, the better your designs will become.
I would also encourage aspiring designers to listen carefully. Clients may not always know how to explain exactly what they want, but they will usually give you clues through the way they talk about their lifestyle, frustrations and routines. A great designer knows how to interpret those details and turn them into a space that feels considered, personal and practical.
I think the industry will continue moving toward more personalised, lifestyle-driven design. Clients are becoming more considered about how their homes function, not just how they look. They want spaces that support the way they live, work, entertain and relax, with a greater focus on quality, longevity and intelligent storage solutions.
I also see technology, documentation and communication becoming even more important. Clients expect a clearer understanding of their design before it is built, while design and production teams need accurate information to reduce errors and improve efficiency. The future of interior design will still rely heavily on creativity, but it will also depend on strong systems, clear processes and better integration between design, documentation and delivery.
Being an SBID Accredited Interior Designer represents professional recognition and a commitment to maintaining high standards within the industry. It is an acknowledgment of experience, design capability and professionalism, but also of the responsibility designers have to deliver considered, ethical and well-resolved outcomes for their clients.
For me, SBID accreditation is also about being connected to a broader international design community. It reinforces the importance of continual learning, professionalism and striving for excellence in every project. It is a privilege to be recognised within an organisation that values design integrity, innovation and the ongoing development of the interior design profession.
About Mint Kitchens by Designwize
Mint Kitchen Group is a Melbourne-based kitchen and interiors company specialising in the design, manufacture and installation of bespoke joinery. We create custom kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, wardrobes and interior spaces that are tailored to each client’s lifestyle, home and design vision. With a strong focus on quality craftsmanship, practical functionality and personalised service, our team manages each project from concept through to completion. By combining thoughtful design with locally made joinery and attention to detail, Mint Kitchen Group delivers beautifully resolved spaces that are made to be lived in and built to last.
The presentation will explore the kitchen’s historical context, its role in homes, and its transformation to enhance modern living. We will cover various product categories, discussing dimensions, practical aspects, style and installation consideration.
Lunch will be provided.
Mint Kitchen Group is proud to introduce its South Melbourne Design Studio — a refined and immersive destination for clients, designers, builders, and architects seeking beautifully resolved residential interiors and bespoke joinery solutions.
Located in one of Melbourne’s most established design precincts, the South Melbourne Design Studio has been created to showcase the company’s expertise across kitchens, bathrooms, laundries, wardrobes, and whole-home custom joinery. The space reflects Mint Kitchen Group’s ongoing commitment to craftsmanship, innovation, materiality, and considered design, offering visitors the opportunity to experience the quality, detail, and functionality that underpin every project.
The South Melbourne Design Studio has been thoughtfully designed as more than a display space. It acts as a design destination where clients can engage directly with materials, finishes, hardware, surfaces, storage solutions, appliance integration, and cabinetry detailing in a tangible and inspiring environment. Each display has been carefully curated to demonstrate how strong design thinking, technical precision, and manufacturing knowledge come together to create interiors that are not only visually impressive, but also practical, durable, and highly liveable.
As a business that designs, manufactures, and installs custom joinery, Mint Kitchen Group offers a seamless end-to-end service from concept through to completion. This integrated approach is central to the studio experience. Clients are able to better understand the full design journey, from early planning and layout development through to specification, production detailing, installation, and final delivery.
The South Melbourne Design Studio also allows visitors to explore a wide range of premium materials and design options in person. From cabinetry finishes and benchtop surfaces to hardware selections, lighting considerations, storage mechanisms, and appliance integration, the studio supports informed decision-making and helps clients visualise the possibilities for their own homes. This hands-on experience is particularly valuable in custom interior design, where the relationship between form, function, texture, scale, and detail plays such an important role in the final outcome.
For Mint Kitchen Group, the South Melbourne Design Studio represents the continued growth of the business and its commitment to elevating the standard of custom interiors in Melbourne. With 40 years of industry experience behind its leadership, the company has built a strong reputation for design detail, quality craftsmanship, client-focused outcomes, and highly resolved residential spaces.
The studio brings together the company’s design expertise and manufacturing capability in one cohesive environment. It showcases not only the aesthetic possibilities of custom joinery, but also the technical knowledge required to deliver complex and functional interior spaces. Every element has been considered to highlight the importance of proportion, usability, material selection, construction quality, and long-term performance.
Mint Kitchen Group continues to work closely with homeowners, architects, and designers to create tailored interiors that reflect each client’s lifestyle, brief, and individual home. The South Melbourne Design Studio provides a valuable platform for collaboration, allowing ideas to be explored, refined, and transformed into highly personalised design solutions.
The opening of the South Melbourne Design Studio reinforces Mint Kitchen Group’s position as a trusted name in premium residential interiors and custom joinery. It is a space designed to inspire, educate, and demonstrate what is possible when thoughtful design, expert craftsmanship, and precise manufacturing come together.
The South Melbourne Design Studio welcomes clients looking to renovate, build, or transform their home with beautifully designed, expertly crafted interior spaces that balance style, functionality, and enduring quality.
For interior designers, Milan Design Week 2026 remains one of the most influential moments in the global design calendar. It is where ideas are tested, materials are refined and the direction of residential design quietly resets for the year ahead.
At Roundhouse Design, Milan is never approached as a trend report. It is a working research trip. Designers step away from projects and showrooms to experience 2026 interior trends first-hand across Salone del Mobile and the wider city installations. What returns is not a catalogue of styles but a clearer understanding of how kitchens and interiors are evolving in real homes.
This year felt notably restrained. Less spectacle. More refinement. Materials were more tactile, forms were softer and technology was more discreet. For Roundhouse Design, this reinforces a long-held belief that the most successful kitchens are not defined by impact but by how naturally they support daily life.
One of the clearest shifts in Milan was the continued move towards organic curves which we highlighted in last years’ Milan Design Week report. Across furniture, lighting and interiors, softer geometry replaced rigid structure. The reference point for this approach was the Barene collection by Marco Zito for Carpet Edition, where form follows a natural rhythm rather than strict symmetry.
For Roundhouse Design, curve appeal is never purely decorative. They are functional decisions that shape movement through a space.
In kitchens, a curved island worktop edge improves circulation and removes harsh corners in open-plan layouts. It creates a more natural flow between cooking, dining and living areas. Within Roundhouse Design projects, these details are always subtle. A softened cabinetry run. A gently radiused worktop edge. A transition that feels considered rather than imposed.
The result is a kitchen that feels easier to live in, not just easier to look at.
Metal finishes was one of the strongest material stories in Milan, but its role has evolved. It is no longer an accent material. It is architectural.
At De Castelli, cabinetry systems demonstrated how steel can feel sculptural and layered rather than industrial. Across EuroCucina, stainless steel appeared in softer finishes such as brushed, satin and burnished surfaces.
These finishes were often combined with timber, stone or lacquer to create balance and warmth. The shift is clear. Metal is becoming more domestic and more refined.
Roundhouse Design has long explored this territory. Liquid metal finishes, for example, allow cabinetry to carry the depth of metal without its hardness. Surfaces shift subtly with light and reveal variation across large runs. In practice, this makes metal feel bespoke rather than uniform.
The direction is consistent. Metal is becoming quieter, warmer and more integrated into the overall language of the kitchen.
Colour in Milan 2026 continued the move towards warmth and depth. Earthy tones are now firmly established within contemporary interior design.
Terracotta, rust and clay are increasingly used as foundational tones rather than accents. Deep burgundy and rich reds also appeared frequently, often expressed through stone rather than paint. At Lema, the Traverso Table by Carlo Colombo showed how strongly a single material decision can anchor an entire scheme.
For Roundhouse Design, colour is always used with intention. Strong tones are never applied across a full scheme. Instead, they are anchored to a single moment such as a kitchen island or dining surface. The surrounding palette is then built to support that decision.
This approach creates balance. It allows colour to feel confident without overwhelming the space.
Green continues to shift, moving away from heavier olive and khaki tones towards lighter and more optimistic expressions.
Pistachio emerged as a key direction in Milan. It is softer than traditional greens and carries enough warmth to sit comfortably within layered interiors as seen in our Kinsey project.
For Roundhouse Design, this makes it particularly effective in kitchen design. It works alongside timber, stone and warm neutrals while still offering a clear point of interest. Used on cabinetry, it introduces colour in a way that feels controlled and architectural rather than decorative.
At FTK – Technology for the Kitchen, the message was clear. Appliances are becoming quieter, more integrated and less visually dominant.
Brands including Miele, Neff, Falmec, Elica and Beko all presented softer matt finishes and muted tones designed to sit within cabinetry rather than stand apart from it.
Technology itself is also becoming more intelligent but less visible. AI driven systems now support performance in ovens, refrigeration and energy use, but without adding complexity to the user experience.
Roundhouse Design has always prioritised this approach. Appliances are considered from the earliest design stages to ensure full integration. The goal is simple. Technology should support the kitchen without defining its appearance.
One of the strongest themes across Milan was the renewed focus on craft. Across FuoriSalone, installations explored process, material origin and the human decisions behind design.
The SiMa Townhouse by Massimiliano Locatelli was a clear example. Handcrafted ceramic fragments were assembled into large scale surfaces, highlighting the importance of skill, time and collaboration.
For Roundhouse Design, this thinking is fundamental. Craft is not an aesthetic layer applied at the end. It is embedded into every stage of design and manufacture.
Every detail matters. How a drawer closes. How a handle feels. How storage is configured for daily rituals such as cooking, entertaining or family routines.
All Roundhouse Design kitchens are made in the UK by skilled cabinetmakers using responsibly sourced materials. This control over production ensures precision from concept to completion. It also ensures that design intent is carried through every detail.
Milan Design Week 2026 confirmed a clear direction. Kitchens are becoming calmer, more tactile and more personal. For Roundhouse Design, this is not a shift in thinking, but a continuation of principles already embedded in the studio’s approach.
The most relevant ideas are not trends. They are design values. Flow. Material honesty. Integration. Craft.
When translated through bespoke design, they become kitchens that feel resolved, functional and deeply personal.
If Milan Design Week 2026 inspires you, explore more inspiring projects and considered kitchen design details, by downloading the latest Roundhouse brochure and begin shaping your own vision. Or visit a showroom to experience the craftsmanship, materials and quality of Roundhouse Design’s bespoke kitchens first-hand, and speak with a designer about a space tailored to the way you live.
Ledbury Studio, the luxury design studio founded by Charlie Smallbone, is excited to unveil its latest stunning kitchen, created for a family home in the heart of the Kent countryside. The Sevenoaks kitchen is the final chapter in a complete house renovation that has taken its owners 10 years to fulfil.
The result is a kitchen entirely worth the wait, in which rich materials and artisanal touches combine to deliver something that is truly one of a kind. It delights both on first sight and on closer inspection into the thoughtful design touches Charlie and the team have included. Here, he explains how it was all achieved.
Our clients had owned the house for 10 years, slowly renovating and making it their own. After contemplating the plan for kitchen all that time, they had a really clear idea of what they wanted – which is where we came in. The brief was for a contemporary kitchen that had exciting, individual touches. In short, they wanted something that didn’t look like anything they’d seen before. That’s exactly the kind of challenge we like at Ledbury Studio!
The kitchen is part of a large open-plan space that flows into a beautiful glass orangery, which serves as both dining and living room. With views over the surrounding countryside, the rooms are flooded with natural light. As such, I created a deliberate contrast by choosing dark stained oak as the primary material for the cabinetry. This is then complemented by aged brass accents and our signature Verdigris copper panels.
The tall floor-to-ceiling cabinetry along the back wall incorporates the fridge-freezer, plus both pantry and breakfast cupboards. With the addition of six panels of aged Verdigris copper, it becomes a striking feature wall and a focal point in its own right. Other details include liquid metal trims on the copper-fronted cabinets, as well as on the glazed cabinets, which are fluted for another point of interest.
There are a number of Ledbury Studio signature finishes crafted in our workshops by hand, ensuring they are unique to each project. As well as the aged metallic panels and accents, we include painted fluted wall cabinetry for a tactile touch. In addition, the crockery and drinks cupboards have our Choppy Water finish, hand-carved oak that adds even more texture. The latter piece also has a bi-fold door, so looks just as beautiful whether open or closed.
This is a family home, so the kitchen was always destined to be its focal point. As such, the large island was an essential feature. It is a working space but also a natural gathering point, whether for drinks with friends or cosy family dinners at the breakfast bar. I chose Monte Cristo Oro Quartzite for the worktops, which gives the luxurious veining of a natural stone in a hard-wearing surface that will retain its good looks. The waterfall sides on the island deliver real wow factor, creating a magnificent centrepiece in this sleek, stylish and one-of-a-kind kitchen.
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