Kitchen Advice

How To Design A Luxury Kitchen

The best luxury kitchen designs are practical, liveable, and easy on the eye, and all of this can be achieved without breaking the bank. This step-by-step on how to design a luxe kitchen, written by interior blogger, Olivia Edwards-Silk, covers top tips on creating this look using layouts, lights, materials and more to give you the best start on your own high-end kitchen.

About Olivia

Interior blogger, Olivia, has spent the last few years putting her design advice into practice to make the Derbyshire home she shares with husband, Matt, her own. With the birth of the couple’s first child, Olivia has been keen to renovate her space to accommodate her growing family, whilst keeping her own personal style.

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Woman in white gloss integrated handle with breakfast bar

1. Assess your needs

If you have recently moved, I highly recommend living in the space for a while before diving headfirst into a luxury kitchen renovation. First and foremost, figure out how your kitchen will be used, so your design meets the lifestyle needs of your household. A luxurious design will only feel opulent if it is practical too.

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2. Be savvy with space

High-end kitchens are often demonstrated in larger rooms, but clever storage can free up floor space in a small area. Within our design, we opted for a larder to hide our white goods out of sight and a u-shape sink drawer to store cleaning products. We also have plinth drawers to maximise all available space.

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3. Finesse your floorplan

Like your lifestyle, it is important to review your layout, so your luxe kitchen includes those must-have features and the luxuries that make it high-end. For us, we love having guests over, which is why we upgraded to an island format. This allows us to make drinks and dinner comfortably in the same space.

4. Go for quality

Quality is so important when designing a luxe interior – it needs to be built to last as much as it looks good. That is why we invested in the anti-fingerprint technology found in the Hockley Super Matt collection. This will save us time maintaining our kitchen with a little one around, keeping it looking newer and cleaner for longer.

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5. Add bespoke

Creating a signature piece in your room will add a premium effect to your design and having a good relationship with your trade professional is key. These personal touches will make your room one of a kind and can take the shape of a floating dining area, open shelving, or a wrap-around counter as found in our home.

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6. Experiment with colour

The colour choice of your cupboards is going to play a huge part in your luxe design. A classic, high-end look often includes neutral tones, which can be styled up with materials and accessories. If you are feeling brave– go dark. It is amazing how sultry colours can lift a room and make it appear more premium.

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7. Style with stone

Counters can ramp up the appeal in a kitchen with stone or stone-effects proving the most effective when crafting a luxe look. There are plenty of low-cost alternatives with laminate. We opted for a polished finish using high-shine quartz tops to add a reflective surface that brightens our room.

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white quartz marble worktop with glossy finish

8. Match your surfaces

Other surfaces that cover walls and behind cleaning areas are just as important when designing a luxury kitchen to create that high-end aesthetic. Tiles may look great but are impractical to clean, which is why splashbacks and backboards are a great option. Added style points for those in a matching finish.

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9. Build in convenience

Many modern luxuries are designed around convenience, like dishwashers for example, which help speed up daily chores. My personal favourite is drawer storage. A simple addition to any design, these smart solutions ensure items are always within easy reach and makes serving meals quick and easy.

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black induction hob on white marble worktop

10. Invest in tech

There is always one member of the family that gets giddy about technology, and I believe no expense should be spared when it comes to devices. Whether it is an induction hob or an integrated drink cooler - do your research, watch reviews, and switch to multi-functional models to save on space and time wherever possible.

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11. Max out on metallics

If you are familiar with my interior style then you will know that I am a big lover of adding metallics, particularly gold tones to warm a space. These finishes are also right on-trend when dialing up a luxe look and there are many ways to do this, from handles to decorative trims, and functional fittings. We chose a curved tap in brass to add this style to our design.

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12. Go under-mount

Keeping tops clear is a must-have within our home as it creates a clean space to work, dine, and play. That is why we switched from an inset sink to an undermount design to make the most of our counter, letting uninterrupted swathes of polished surface take centre stage. These sub-surface designs also add convenience when it comes to cleaning up.

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13. Light it up

What better way to complete the look of a luxe kitchen than with statement lights? My advice is to think outside of the box, so look beyond your ceiling and into other areas of your room. For example, lights tucked into kickboards will showcase a feature floor, while spots positioned under wall units will add ambiance – good when socialising.

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14. Upgrade your floors

Picking flooring is another crucial element when planning a high-end kitchen as it needs to be both practical and aesthetically pleasing. There are also many ways of going the extra mile on comfort, for example underfloor heating can add warmth underfoot, or simply upgrading your underlay will add cushion with each tread.

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White skirting in a black handleless kitchen

15. Touch up on trims

The final touches of a room are going to help bring the whole luxe look together, so pay attention to skirting and architrave. This is something that I have only really appreciated in the last few years – as they make such a difference to the overall aesthetic and can create a high-end, professional finish when completed right.

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