If you’re the head chef in your household, you deserve a kitchen that works as hard as you do – a space that’s both beautiful and brilliantly practical. Naked Kitchens make bespoke kitchens that are made to be used, loved and admired – and built for real life. In this special guest post, we invited them to share their expert tips on creating the perfect home cook’s kitchen…
Even if you’re not a keen cook, the kitchen is still the heart of the home – the place where conversations happen, homework gets done, and guests always seem to gather. But if cooking is your thing – if you take pride in a slow-cooked ragu, plan your week around Sunday roasts, or dream about hosting a perfectly timed dinner party – then a well-designed kitchen can transform your everyday life.
A space that flows effortlessly, where ingredients and utensils are exactly where you need them, where classic design meets modern convenience – that’s the cook’s kitchen dream! It doesn’t need to be vast or flashy – it just needs to work for you. So if you’re planning a new kitchen, here are six expert tips for creating one that’s as timeless as it is practical – and an absolute joy to cook in…
1) Start with how you cook
It’s easy to fall for the dream – scrolling through perfectly styled kitchens on Instagram, all gleaming surfaces and artfully placed lemons. But a real kitchen isn’t just for looking at. It’s for living in – and cooking in, day after day.
So instead of starting with how you want it to look, begin with how you actually use it. What do you cook most often? Which tools, pans or ingredients do you reach for without thinking? Where do you prep, stir, wash up, serve?
A great cook’s kitchen is one that’s designed around your routines. That might mean deeper drawers by the hob, spice racks near the prep zone, or storing oils and Maldon Salt right beside the cooker. Layout matters too – especially how your sink, oven and fridge relate to one another in the classic kitchen ‘work triangle’ – and how your different kitchen zones work together.
When all of that flows intuitively, the kitchen becomes a place of calm efficiency – where nothing jars and everything is to hand. (There’s a name for this: kitchen ergonomics. And yes, it really does make cooking feel easier and more enjoyable.)
2) Design for the home you actually live in
A lot of ‘dream kitchens’ look beautiful in brochures but wouldn’t work for a moment in real life. They’re designed for photoshoots – vast, empty, and usually staged in showrooms. But your kitchen needs to fit your home, your life, and your cooking habits.
That’s where true bespoke design comes into its own. Whether your kitchen is in a Georgian townhouse, a Victorian terrace or a 1930s semi, a made-to-measure approach can make every inch work harder – and look better. We take awkward corners, chimney breasts, low ceilings or uneven floors and turn them into assets, not obstacles.
Our designers will often start not with the cabinetry, but with the architectural character of the space – using it to guide layout, proportions, and the finer details. The result is a kitchen that feels not just practical, but beautifully in tune with its surroundings.
(And don’t worry if your kitchen space is small! See Small but beautiful: A complete guide to designing and maximising the space in a small kitchen.)
3) Go for bespoke and beautiful kitchen storage
There’s something wonderfully reassuring about a well-organised kitchen – where dry goods, herbs and oils are always within reach, and everything has its place. That’s why we design bespoke storage that’s not just practical, but pleasing to look at and use.
Take the classic pantry or larder cupboard: a mainstay of traditional kitchens, it’s the ideal place to store everything from pulses to preserves, spice jars to Maldon Salt. We can build yours to suit exactly what you cook with, how you store food, and how you like to move around the space.
Traditional joinery details – like dovetailed drawers, framed doors and classic shelving – don’t just look beautiful, they also help the kitchen feel calm, composed and built to last. And whether it’s a walk-in pantry, a butler’s cupboard, or pegboard drawers for pans, these storage features are designed to make cooking easier and more joyful.
4) Choose timeless, quality materials that will stand the test of time
A proper cook’s kitchen takes a beating – all that chopping, stirring, boiling, baking, plate-stacking, drawer-opening and fridge-foraging. That’s why materials matter.
High-quality timber cabinets in oak or walnut veneer finishes, and worktops of solid timber, quartz or marble are great investments for the long term, while hand-finished drawers and precision-made doors with well-made handles will survive all that endless opening and closing.
5) Find your style
Every home cook has their quirks, preferences and rituals – and a kitchen should reflect that. From the colour of your cabinets to the type of handles you choose, every detail is an opportunity to express your style.
Don’t be afraid to think outside the box: for example, traditional styles can be bold and unique. A Shaker kitchen in a strong heritage colour, paired with brass taps or patterned tiles, can feel just as expressive as a contemporary space. The trick is to combine lasting elegance with thoughtful details – perhaps a deep Belfast sink or a freestanding painted pantry cupboard.
These elements give the kitchen depth and narrative – a sense that it belongs to you, and to the house it’s in. It’s why so many of our clients mix classic styling with their own distinctive twist. (For more tips on style, check out Choosing colours for your kitchen – an expert guide.)
6) Make room for a touch of magic
Finally, every kitchen deserves a moment of joy – an unexpected bespoke feature that lifts your spirits whenever you see it.
It might be a secret spice drawer, a mirrored bar cabinet, a built-in coffee nook, or even a dedicated drawer for your favourite salt! Some of our most-loved kitchens include ingenious personal touches that feel indulgent and a little bit playful.
Bespoke design makes room for these moments. So whether your dream feature is a breakfast pantry, a wine fridge disguised as a dresser, or a pull-out table for rolling pastry – let’s build it in!
Naked Kitchens make beautiful, bespoke, bomb-proof kitchens which, thanks to their unique combination of British craftsmanship and cutting-edge automation, don’t cost the earth. They can custom-make the cook’s kitchen you dream about: any size, any space, any design; and built for life.
See more at nakedkitchens.com and follow them on Instagram @nakedkitchens
