9 Interior Design Experts Detail How to Create a Functional Yet Fabulous Kitchen

From coolly minimalist to warm and cozy, the kitchen offers a diverse menu of options for expressing personal style

Rustic kitchen with a wooden island, blue checkered floor, vintage stove, and hanging lights.
Designers including Victoria Hagan, who crafted this Martha’s Vineyard interior, offer ideas on creating curated kitchens. Photo: Pernille Loof

Host a party and inevitably all your guests will wind up in the kitchen. Perhaps that’s why so many designers prioritize aesthetics just as much as function. Or maybe the kitchen’s good looks are the very reason everyone’s there to begin with. “The kitchen first and foremost above all other things has to be a beautiful room,” advises Bobby McAlpine, whose timeless designs regularly feature countertops of soapstone or white marble, fad-resistant appliances in stainless steel, and eye-pleasing, exclusively lower cabinetry. “I try to avoid trend in all products because it ultimately gives the date of the house away. I want the inception date of any house that I do to be vague, so I tend to err on the side of classics.”

Luxurious kitchen with marble countertops, vintage wood table, hanging lantern lights, and a large black stove.
For a residence in London, Steven Gambrel enveloped the room in a heavily veined stone. Photo: Eric Piasecki

Appliances

To be seen or not to be seen is one of the first questions regarding major kitchen appliances, which can either create a focal point or be obscured with panels that match the cabinets. “When I’m working in more modern settings, I like to veneer all appliances in the same finish to produce a very clean aesthetic,” says Washington, D.C., designer Darryl Carter. “Conversely, in more traditional settings, I am a fan of commercial brands with more utilitarian stainless or pargeted hoods.”

Ranges very often set the tone of the space, and the options are vast. “We’re seeing more requests for cooktops over traditional ranges, which allows us to design kitchens with cleaner lines that are more integrated into the architecture of the home,” says Olson Kundig principal Kevin M. Kudo-King. “Clients are looking for ‘quiet’ kitchens, with minimal clutter, concealed hardware, and appliances that can be hidden when not in use.”

Rustic kitchen with exposed beams, blue and white checkered floor, island with fresh vegetables, and white cabinetry.
Victoria Hagan mixed weathered wood elements and traditional glass-front cabinets with modern appliances in a kitchen on Martha’s Vineyard. Photo: Pernille Loof

New appliances with an antique or a classic aesthetic such as La Cornue, Bertazzoni, Sub-Zero, and Wolf ensure long-lasting style. “We’ve done a couple of kitchens now using True appliances, and they have a line that is matte black that’s very cool,” says Kathleen Clements, whose firm, Clements Design, is releasing its debut monograph in September with Rizzoli.

Whatever the style, size matters when selecting an oven. “Scale appliances to the size of a piece of furniture that you’d have in that location,” advises McAlpine. “I wouldn’t put a small range in a large kitchen any more than I would put an out-of-proportion server in a dining room.”

Modern kitchen with wooden cabinets, central island, skylight, and large window overlooking greenery.
To create this minimalist kitchen, Clements Design’s mother-and-son duo, Kathleen and Tommy Clements, opted for built-in appliances and left space to display art. Photo: Bill Abranowicz

Materials

Ingredients like wine and vinegar, hot pans, and the wear and tear of meal prep can wreak havoc on a kitchen countertop. “For people who are into cooking, we always love stainless steel,” says Tommy Clements of Clements Design. “The look is amazing, and you can do anything to it. The more scratched and beat-up it gets, the more character it develops.”

“Clients will show me pictures of kitchens with Calacatta or Carrara—those are really popular, but they’re fragile and they require major upkeep,” says Los Angeles designer Jeff Andrews. “Caesarstone, Silestone, and EuroStone, things that are man-made out of natural materials and are virtually indestructible, are in high demand, as well as quartzite. It’s all about trying to get the look that we want with complete function.”

“The kitchen is just an extension of the house so I think that the materials that go into a kitchen should be as complex and considered”

Steven Gambrel

Others opt for organic elements and play up their aging process. Revered for creating unique, showstopping spaces, designer Steven Gambrel has mastered using natural materials in large-scale ways, such as running a heavily veined marble up the walls. “The kitchen is just an extension of the house so I think that the materials that go into a kitchen should
be as
complex and considered,” says the designer, who puts stone through a heavy process call sueding, or leathering, to add texture. “I’m always looking for inconsistent beautiful irregularities that come with nature.”

Modern kitchen with marble island, dark cabinets, wooden flooring, and large windows letting in natural light.
In this Bobby McAlpine–designed kitchen, a deep pantry provides added storage, while multiple islands offer room for prep and serving stations. Photo: Simon Upton

Storage

Allotting space for a walk-in or working pantry or even a separate catering kitchen can help manage disarray, offering out-of-view areas to stow dry goods and small appliances, provide prep area for dinner parties, or designate a zone for a private chef and staff. “Traditionally, where you’d have a pantry for storing china and extra things, we’re now packing with warming drawers, ovens, dishwashers, and refrigerators,” says Victoria Hagan, who features a range of kitchen styles in her upcoming book, Live Now (Rizzoli). “There’s a focus on minimizing the mess, so the cleanup is in a separate area.”

Storage is also essential in the main kitchen, but whether clients choose to hide things away or display tableware is a personal choice. Many times, it’s a combination of flat-front and glass cabinet doors that strikes the perfect balance. “It’s pretty to see glasses and plates, and I think it opens up the view of the kitchen and offers an interesting dimension,” says Hagan. “I like the reflective quality as well as knowing where everything is. It feels more open and helps make a kitchen more inviting.”

Spacious modern kitchen with island, bar stools, geometric pendant lights, dining table, and large plant.
Designers including Los Angeles’ Jeff Andrews offer ideas on creating curated kitchens. Photo: Grey Crawford

Furniture

Adding furnishings and objects not typically used in kitchens boosts the space’s welcoming appeal. In his own Atlanta home, McAlpine stores all his tableware in freestanding glass-front industrial cabinets, while Gambrel has found success repurposing vintage console tables as islands. Carter’s own kitchen features an antique pastry cabinet and an heirloom grandfather clock. “Yes, a microwave can double as a timepiece, but I’m kind of old-school. I prefer a case clock,” says Carter, who also installed an antique étagère above his kitchen island.

So don’t be afraid to take a few chances—including art or whimsical accessories keeps the space from skewing too commercial. “You can have fun with all the elements that go into a kitchen,” says Andrews. “Sometimes it’s just the cabinet hardware where you do something funky and cool, or you bring in vintage lighting or vintage-looking appliances. It’s a good mix of elements that ultimately makes design work.”

A version of this article first appeared in print in our 2021 Fall Issue under the headline “Made to Order.” Subscribe to the magazine.

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These Exceptional Appliances and Furnishings Enhance Any Kitchen

Le Provençal 2600 range by L’Atelier Paris.

Photograph by Courtesy of L’Atelier Paris

30-inch Column refrigerator by BlueStar.

Photograph by Courtesy of BlueStar

Elise 48-inch range by Aga.

Photograph by Courtesy of Aga

Double DishDrawer dishwasher by Fisher & Paykel.

Photograph by Courtesy of Fisher and Paykel

WineStation by Dacor.

Photograph by Courtesy of Dacor

CM6360 MilkPerfection coffee machine by Miele.

Photograph by Courtesy of Miele

Feldspato Diamante granite from Antolini.

Photograph by Courtesy of Antolini

Shagreen Coffee field tile by Artistic Tile.

Photograph by Courtesy of Artistic Tile

Lilla mosaic tiles by New Ravenna.

Photograph by Courtesy of New Ravenna

Idris in Guercif by Aït Manos from Ann Sacks.

Photograph by Courtesy of Ann Sacks

Cabinet hardware by Katonah Architectural Hardware.

Photograph by Courtesy of Katonah Architectural Hardware

Canteen faucet by Waterworks.

Photograph by Courtesy of Waterworks

Brooklyn copper cookware from March.

Photograph by Courtesy of March

Ring dining table from Holly Hunt.

Photograph by Courtesy of Holly Hunt

Rhone barstool by Alfonso Marina.

Photograph by Courtesy of Alfonso Marina

The Collector’s two-bay, ceiling-mounted shelving unit by Amuneal.

Photograph by Courtesy of Amunreal
Elegant mint green kitchen stove with multiple burners and oven doors, featuring fleur-de-lis accents and metal detailing.
Blue refrigerator with gold handle and sleek design.
Cream-colored AGA stove with multiple dials and handles, featuring an oven and storage compartments.
Stainless steel double drawer dishwasher by Fisher & Paykel with sleek handles and modern design.
Wine dispensing machine with four bottles of Roxanne wine, featuring digital displays and stainless-steel design.
Miele coffee machine preparing two cappuccinos with milk container attached.
Close-up of a textured stone surface with various shades of gray and beige, showing natural patterns and mineral formations.
Textured surface with a geometric diamond pattern in various shades of beige and subtle white speckles.
Geometric patterned tile with intersecting turquoise, brown, and beige lines forming diamond shapes on a light surface.
Geometric tile pattern with green, blue, and beige star and diamond shapes.
Assorted metallic cabinet handles and door knobs displayed on a white surface.
Vintage-style gold kitchen faucet with black handle and separate spray nozzle on white background.
Copper cooking pot with black handle and lid on a light gray background.
Modern rectangular dining table with dark wood top and unique white circular base design on light background
Mid-century modern barstool with wooden frame, white cushioned seat, and a woven backrest against a plain background.
Ceiling-mounted glass rack with various glassware and cups organized on parallel shelves.
Elegant mint green kitchen stove with multiple burners and oven doors, featuring fleur-de-lis accents and metal detailing.
Blue refrigerator with gold handle and sleek design.
Cream-colored AGA stove with multiple dials and handles, featuring an oven and storage compartments.
Stainless steel double drawer dishwasher by Fisher & Paykel with sleek handles and modern design.
Wine dispensing machine with four bottles of Roxanne wine, featuring digital displays and stainless-steel design.
Miele coffee machine preparing two cappuccinos with milk container attached.
Close-up of a textured stone surface with various shades of gray and beige, showing natural patterns and mineral formations.
Textured surface with a geometric diamond pattern in various shades of beige and subtle white speckles.
Geometric patterned tile with intersecting turquoise, brown, and beige lines forming diamond shapes on a light surface.
Geometric tile pattern with green, blue, and beige star and diamond shapes.
Assorted metallic cabinet handles and door knobs displayed on a white surface.
Vintage-style gold kitchen faucet with black handle and separate spray nozzle on white background.
Copper cooking pot with black handle and lid on a light gray background.
Modern rectangular dining table with dark wood top and unique white circular base design on light background
Mid-century modern barstool with wooden frame, white cushioned seat, and a woven backrest against a plain background.
Ceiling-mounted glass rack with various glassware and cups organized on parallel shelves.