If you are planning to breathe life back into your kitchen in the new year, what better place to steal inspiration from and discover new ideas you might have not thought about than real-life projects?

From homely, farmhouse-style interiors to grand, quiet luxury and everything in between, we’ve put together our top case studies featured in Kitchens Bedrooms & Bathrooms magazine throughout the year (in no particular order) – celebrating the joy of design and showing just what’s possible when looking ahead to your 2026 kitchen renovation.

Screenshot button ready? Read on and click through to explore the kitchen designs in more detail…

1. Japandi minimalism and homely vibes

It’s clear this is no ordinary London kitchen: with oak beams, rattan pendants, and a pared-back palette, this now-extended space blends Scandi minimalism with Japanese-inspired simplicity – an aesthetic shaped by homeowner Jane’s travels.

The brief to The White Kitchen Company was ‘wood, warmth, simplicity, and practicality’. Working together, they reimagined the rear of the house as an open-plan kitchen, dining, and seating area, connected to the garden through sleek metal-framed windows.

Designer Holly Varney-Lonsdale set out to create a space that felt warm and social, but also highly functional for everyday living for Jane, her family, and their two dogs. The cabinetry is a striking mix of slab-front drawers and an oak-finished island with bespoke slatted detailing. Open shelves soften the scheme and provide space for personal touches. The result is a serene kitchen – both contemporary and cosy.

2. Love of London

After eight years of steady graft (and a lot of Pinterest scrolling), Rebecca Constable transformed her Victorian townhouse in Finsbury Park into a warm, welcoming family home that’s as practical as it is beautiful. A clever side-return extension turned a narrow space into a light-filled hub for cooking, hosting, and gathering.

Designed with architect Marek from Burston Architects, the layout prioritises a big dining space with banquette seating, a generous island, and a picture window to frame garden views.

The kitchen itself was crafted by trusted joiner Louis Baker, who created bespoke cabinetry to fit around the home’s quirky angled boundary wall. Painted in Arras by Little Greene – a deep red chosen as a nod to London – the space strikes that sweet spot between timeless and cosy. The details are as thoughtful as the big moves: a flush Barazza gas hob that’s as sleek as it is functional, a double fridge-freezer for future teen appetites…

The result? A home that feels inviting in every season, described by Rebecca as ‘something out of a movie’.

3. Land of secrets

For Karen and Stuart Cook and their three children, their 1870 Gothic Victorian home was a seven-year labour of love. Having restored it room by room, Karen was keen to reintroduce mid-Victorian features and heritage colours while creating a space that worked for modern family life.

The new 46sqm extension, designed with Simon Merrony Architects, now holds this spacious kitchen, a dining, and a living area. Higham Furniture realised Karen’s brief for floor-to-ceiling cabinetry, a hidden walk-in pantry, and no wall-mounted cupboards.

Bespoke Shaker cabinets in dark teal feature quadrant beading, complemented by an antique brass rail. At the centre sits a baker’s table-inspired island, echoing Karen’s antique haberdashery drawers. The finished design is a kitchen that feels both timeless and true to the house.

4. Lovely kitchen island

For TV personality and interiors enthusiast Olivia Bowen, creating her first new-build home with husband Alex and their son Abel was the ultimate design dream. The couple envisioned a countryside-inspired family retreat that felt cosy and welcoming, but also practical for everyday life and entertaining. The kitchen, designed with local specialists Rockwood, captures that ethos perfectly.

A vast natural oak island, echoing the ceiling’s rustic beams, forms the centrepiece. Complete with induction hob, wine cooler, and generous preparation space, the island anchors a U-shaped run of cabinetry zoned for cooking, storage, and washing up.

Limestone-effect porcelain floor tiles add rustic charm without compromising durability, while a subtly toned splashback layers in texture. The outcome is a functional, deeply personal kitchen that’s built to last.

5. Old world finesse

This 1850s property in Cheshire brims with history. But when homeowner Maxine Sutton moved in, much of its period character had been stripped away. After five years living here with her Dalmatian, she decided it was time to restore the soul of the house, starting with the kitchen. Her vision? A space that felt contemporary yet celebrated the home’s Victorian roots. Maxine enlisted Todd James Handcrafted to bring her dream to life.

The brief was clear: remove the cold, overly modern scheme and bring back warmth and timeless detail. The new kitchen, positioned at the front of the house with views of a lush private garden, includes Shaker-style cabinetry, dark herringbone flooring, and open shelves, while a stained-glass window – an original feature – anchors the design in history. Palermo quartz worktops add glamour and a contemporary twist, while a central island enhances flow. The final design seamlessly blends past and present.

6. Sociable kitchen-diner

Even on grey days, Emily and Paul’s Victorian detached home in Teddington now feels bright, uplifting, and full of life. After six years in the house, the couple moved out for a year to undertake a transformative renovation that reconfigured almost every floor, while the rear was opened up into a generous open-plan kitchen-living-diner.

They went to Sola Kitchens for the kitchen design, chosen for its balance of contemporary style and classic detailing. The brief included plenty of workspace around the island, abundant storage, and a sociable booth for everyday meals.

The layout includes an L-shaped run of floor-to-ceiling cabinetry complete with integrated appliances, a breakfast cupboard and a wine display. Opposite, a waterfall-edged island incorporates the cosy booth, perfect for family suppers or homework. Crittall Windows glazing floods the space with light and frames sweeping views of the Thames, while accents of brass, navy and wood tie everything together – practical yet effortlessly elegant.

7. New beginnings

When NHS consultant psychiatrist Annie and her husband Danny, a senior brewer, bought this 1824, Grade II listed Georgian vicarage in Todmorden, West Yorkshire, they saw a lot of potential. And together with their daughter Ruby, they’ve been lovingly restoring the once-neglected property, room by room. The kitchen was a key part of their vision.

Originally tucked away in a small, dark rear room, it has now been relocated to the front of the house by knocking through a gloomy, north-facing dining room and merging it with the brighter, south-facing morning room. The result is a spacious kitchen-diner that seems to be the heart of the home.

For the design, the couple turned to Trig, whose craftsmanship and sensitivity to the home’s heritage won them over. Central to the brief was an island that felt more like furniture. This pairs with basketweave flooring, oak details, and a warm palette of terracotta and sage green. A striking range cooker framed by distressed checkerboard tiles adds character and charm.

Despite the challenges of working with a quirky Georgian structure, Annie says the finished space brings them joy every day – a true focal point in their “labour of love”.

8. Warm kitchen design

Just moments from Brighton’s Palace Pier, Lisa and her husband have lived in their 1930s home for more than three decades. With their two sons grown up, the couple decided to remodel the rear of the house, transforming the dated layout into a light-filled, open-plan hub that reflected their love of cooking and entertaining.

For the kitchen design, they turned to Harvey Jones to resolve a layout complicated by multiple doors. The solution: a timeless yet characterful scheme.

One long run of soft-toned cabinetry houses generous storage, a range cooker, butler sink, and integrated fridge, while a striking green-and-grey marble splashback adds depth. Opposite, a sociable island stands out in bright blue with a crisp white worktop, its reeded glass fronts doubling as a sideboard when viewed from the dining area. Lisa describes the now-complete space as “homely, unique, and welcoming”

9. Seize the moment

When Sarah Jane and James Kelly discovered a semi-detached Victorian with a mature garden in south London, they saw the perfect canvas for their dream family home. With Delve Architects, they set out to create more space, improve the flow, and preserve the property’s period character.

Central to their brief was a kitchen that could serve daily life with their two children while also being ideal for entertaining. Delve delivered with a full-width rear extension that doubled the ground floor and opened onto the garden.

The Shaker-style kitchen by Boffe Design includes two-tone cabinetry, Carrara marble worktops, a Belfast sink, a generous island, and chequerboard marble flooring – creating a welcoming hub for family and guests alike.

10. Transformative DIY kitchen

When Dot and her husband Stef bought their Poole home, they embraced the renovation project. The property, though run down, had a peaceful cul-de-sac setting and a hidden-gem garden that made it worth the effort. One of the biggest transformations was the kitchen.

Originally a narrow 1960s galley, it was cramped and dated, with peeling cabinets and bleached laminate. Determined to create a sociable, light-filled space, Dot and Stef knocked down the dividing wall between the kitchen and dining room, added a steel beam, and opened up the back with bi-fold doors and a large picture window overlooking the garden.

For the cabinetry, Dot had a clear vision from the start: a full wall of tall cabinetry in a timeless yet practical design. Working with Smile Kitchens, she chose neutral taupe Eddison doors, creating a symmetrical run with an integrated fridge-freezer, a butler’s pantry, and an eye-level AEG oven.

Opposite sits a generous island, kept free of appliances for hosting and crafts. Some of the finishing touches include tongue-and-groove panelling, oak shelves, smoked bronze hardware, and a boutique-style tea station. Installed largely by Dot and her father, the kitchen now blends homely warmth with refined detailing.

11. Quiet luxury

With condemned electrics, an overgrown garden, and interiors untouched since the 1950s, this dilapidated 1920s house was in poor condition – but for Caitlin, an interior designer, and Bradley, who works in the art world, the potential was irresistible. They worked with Yard Architects to strip back and rebuild the property, retaining the original bay windows but extending to the rear, side, and roof.

The transformation delivered a new open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area at the heart of the home. Designed with Halcyon, the kitchen features tall, symmetrical cabinetry in matt lacquer, a mitred-corner detail for elegance, and a monolithic quartzite island in Venaria Reale stone, its richly veined colours adding warmth and quiet luxury.

Oiled oak flooring, bronze accents, and curated artworks complete the calm, contemporary space.

12. Into the curve

A west London couple discovered Rider Stirland Architects by Googling “charred timber” – a material they admired for its textured character. Drawn to the practice’s Charred House project, they commissioned the team to reconfigure and extend their detached Edwardian home in Acton, where they live with their two teenage daughters. And so, the architects demolished a dated 1980s conservatory and designed a wrap-around extension clad in charred Accoya wood.

The new addition created a light-filled, open-plan kitchen, dining, and living area, seamlessly connected to the garden. A structural beam spanning the rear was softened with curved detailing, echoed in doorways, joinery, and Art Deco-inspired finishes. The bespoke kitchen, crafted by Nordiska Kök, combines dark-stained oak cabinetry with natural quartzite surfaces. A supersized island provides storage, seating, and a generous preparation area.

13. L.A. vibes

Inspired by her love of luxury hotels and Los Angeles villas, Louisa and her family transformed a tired Victorian terrace in south-west London into a light-filled home. A full renovation saw the original extension demolished and ceiling heights raised, with arched Crittall Windows glazing and a striking ‘waterfall’ glass skylight incorporated to frame views of the garden while defining dining and living zones.

At the heart of the space is the Devol kitchen, designed for both family life and entertaining. The couple’s brief prioritised a clean, minimal aesthetic with social flow: a hob on the island sits opposite the sink, while a generous walk-in pantry provides practical storage and a cool retreat for baking.

Light cabinets, brass accents, and thoughtful details like a coffee station and ladder combine timeless character with modern air, making the kitchen the home’s statement feature.

14. For the love of renovating

Hosting Christmas for 12 with only a tiny oven, confirmed the need for change for Katie and Nick, seasoned renovators with two young children. Their detached Victorian house in Sydenham Hill offered generous proportions and garden views, but the existing kitchen fell short. Though part of a prior extension with floor-to-ceiling glazing, it was squeezed into a dark corner, inefficient for family life and entertaining.

Working with Herringbone House, the couple set out to create a functional yet timeless kitchen, centred on their chosen Bertazzoni range cooker. A full wall of cabinetry in solid wood maximises storage, with a walk-in style pantry and a clever ‘appliance garage’ to keep gadgets hidden but ready to use.

The raised-leg island, designed to double as Katie’s upholstery work table, is now the hub for meals, parties, and projects. Finished in Herringbone’s soft green tones with a darker island, pink zellige tiles, brass fittings, and parquet flooring, the space balances warmth, elegance, and practicality.

15. Tantalising texture

Set within a 24-acre Berkshire estate once landscaped by Thomas Mawson, this five-bedroom home sits in harmony with its historic grounds, despite being only a decade old. The homeowners turned to Roundhouse designer Paul Welburn to refine the layout and create a kitchen that matched both the setting and their lifestyle.

With four daughters, partners, and a new grandchild, entertaining was central to the brief. The reconfigured space now flows seamlessly, with a coffee station, bar, breakfast area, island seating, and a snug, all overlooking garden views framed by new windows.

Oak cabinetry, basketweave flooring, and green accents provide warmth, while fluted details in wood and marble add texture. A stunning island with Verde Fantastico leathered stone is the centrepiece, while brass accents and open shelving complete the design. Light-filled, tactile, and elegant, the kitchen has become both a convivial hub and a tranquil retreat.

16. It started with some marble…

After two years of searching, Eva and her husband Alex bought a five-bedroom London terrace that needed modernising, though the kitchen extension was already in place. Keen to create a bespoke design that combined practicality with luxury, they worked with Dan McClark of McClark Joinery to reimagine the dated space that consisted of cream cabinets, orange handles, and mismatched counters.

Their brief to Dan centred on storage, functionality, and a striking aesthetic: a double pantry with hidden breakfast bar, a wine fridge, and a large 2.8m island for seating and preparation. Still, it was the Calacatta Monet marble, chosen for its bold green and purple veining, that became the statement feature and starting point for the colour palette.

Deep green cabinets, brass Armac Martin hardware, and a Quooker Cube tap add refinement, while appliances include a range and Fisher & Paykel fridge. The result is a moody, modern farmhouse kitchen perfect for their lifestyle.

17. Kitchen calm

When a young family bought a shabby Victorian terrace in need of a total overhaul, they turned to Kitchens by Holloways for a full design-and-build renovation. The ground floor posed the biggest challenge: a narrow rear kitchen, awkward cloakroom, and gloomy side-return courtyard left the space dark and disconnected.

By removing the cloakroom and extending over the side return, the team created a light-filled kitchen-diner, complete with roof glazing, a reworked conservatory, and new utility and cloakroom. The brief was to honour the home’s period character while introducing a contemporary twist.

A central island now anchors the kitchen as a sociable hub, with dining on one side and storage and appliances on the other. Sage green cabinetry, rippled-glass cupboards, and Carrara marble bring elegance, while soft pink walls add warmth. Sympathetic yet imaginative, the redesign marries heritage charm with modern practicality, setting the tone for bold, characterful updates throughout the house.

18. Everyday effortlessness

In their five-bedroom 1930s Buckinghamshire home, a young family transformed their living space with a dramatic rear extension and bespoke kitchen by Krantz Designs. Now the vast open-plan room connects seamlessly to dining, living, and bar areas, with bi-fold doors and skylights drawing in light.

Central to the design is a striking island with a hand-picked live-edge walnut breakfast bar that adds warmth and individuality. A corner pantry cupboard, clever spice drawers beneath the hob, and a breakfast pantry make everyday life effortless.

Materials were chosen for durability and beauty: American walnut cabinetry, antique brass accents, and Calacatta Gold porcelain worktops that mimic marble while offering heat, scratch, and stain resistance. The new design is chic, sociable, and ideal for family cooking and entertaining.

We hope these gorgeous, real kitchen designs provide plenty of inspiration for your upcoming project – happy renovating!

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