Kitchen Design Experts Highlight Functionality, Storage in 2025 WOW!House Kitchen

Rupert Cunningham’s kitchen at WOW!House 2025 showcased innovative design choices, including color palettes and the incorporation of antiques. The kitchen’s success stemmed from a considered accumulation of choices, prioritizing functionality over purely aesthetic elements.

Key Design Principles Emphasized

Interior designer Emma Sims-Hilditch stressed the importance of proper kitchen design, noting the significant cost of subsequent changes. “The key thing is to make sure it really does function before you even think about the aesthetics of it,” she stated.

Architectural designer Rupert Cunningham, director at Ben Pentreath Studio, explained his approach: “Having lots of fitted wall cabinets makes a kitchen feel unpleasant to be in rather than inviting. My approach is to essentially create the same amount of storage, but disengage everything. So I love a really big cupboard that has as much storage as you get in those wall cupboards. Everything is in one place and you can see it all instantly.”

Storage should be designed to support the rhythm of everyday life, according to Sims-Hilditch. “It is vital to have everything you need at your fingertips,” she advised, citing examples like a spice drawer near the cooker and pans readily accessible.

Pernille Lind, founder of Lind + Almond, highlighted the value of strategic storage solutions. “A hidden drawer within deeper drawers is something which works well,” she said, “And utilising corner cupboards with suitable rotating shelves allows you to get to all your items.”

Interior designer Alex Dauley recommended drawers over cupboards for easier organization and item retrieval. However, she cautioned against placing the sink on kitchen islands.

The kitchen featured Calacatta Oro worktops and splashbacks from Euromarble, paired with Paint & Paper Library’s ‘Stable Green’ units and Rose Uniacke’s leather and dark bronze bar stools.