4 interior designers on their favorite kitchen projects (and tips on how to make yours a success)

There's an infinite amount of kitchen inspiration out there. We could make mood board after mood board from all the gorgeous spaces we come across on a daily basis. Which is wonderful yes, however when designing a kitchen, it can be a bit overwhelming to settle on a kitchen style, a color scheme, or a layout. So one way we like to get just a snippet of perfectly formed kitchen inspiration is to ask designers which were their favourite projects to work on.

Those are the spaces you really want to be looking to, the ones that the designer was passionate about. So we asked some of H&G's favorite designers to talk us through the kitchen projects they loved working on best, plus the tips you can take away. 

Plan your layout carefully to get the most from the space

'This is a small kitchen in a London home and the client also wanted to fit in a little corner banquette with a small round table for breakfast in the morning or casual dinners for between two and three people,' explains Lucy Sear-Barlow, co-founder of Barlow & Barlow.

'All in all, quite a lot to fit into a small room. We’re delighted with the result. It shows what you can do with some clever space planning and the result is a bijou kitchen-diner with ample storage, lots of natural light, and a joyful candy-colored scheme.'

Focus on interesting materials and finishes

'The success of this kitchen’s design is credited to the materials we used in its construction. The kitchen island is a focal point by way of its stunning marble waterfall design that instantly draws eyes, while the integrated custom cabinetry, designed by our team, helps the kitchen maintain a living room feel,' explains Cortney Bishop.

'This was important: we wanted this kitchen to effortlessly flow into the living room, as both spaces are so integral to the home and everyday life, without losing the overarching organic aesthetic.'

Lean into the architect of the space

'This top-lit cross-vaulted kitchen space we created at this Arts and Crafts house in Hampstead is a favorite space. We followed a design that pays homage to [the architect Edwin] Lutyens, creating a wonderful and rewarding space,' explains Chris Pask, director of Charlton Brown.

'The airy, double-height kitchen pavilion comes as a surprise after a series of conventional Edwardian rooms. The form solved a practical issue with the arched clerestory windows and cupola to allow morning light to flood the space. It was decorated to perfection by Ben Pentreath who added an eclectic layer to a bold architectural form.'

Bring in plenty of personality

'This is the kitchen of my house in London which I designed as an extension to the 1930s building. I worked with talented craftspeople including artist Rosie Tatham who painted flowers onto the table. The artwork by Chica Seal, whose practice explores the female perspective through historic references, adds drama to the space,' explains Katie Glaister co-founder of K&H Design.

'We designed the oak and bronze island at the studio: the worktop is by Pyrolave and is made from Volvic lava which is enameled to provide a glorious reflection.'

Feeling inspired? These wonderful spaces all offer something different, and it's always so interesting to see what projects designers pick out when you ask them for a favorite. The takeaway seems to be plan considerably, choose materials wisely, and always bring in a ton of personal style.