Across the pond and all the way to Australia, we take you on a global trip to explore real international kitchen designs and discover what makes each style special.
Every time I travel to a new place, I wish I could bring a piece of it back home with me. So, why not apply the same thought to interior design? Here, I’ve rounded up five striking international kitchens and asked the experts about the key elements of each look…
Danish delight
This 1907 apartment with a striking custom-made kitchen from Nordiska Kök is nestled in the old part of Copenhagen, Denmark, called Frederiksstaden. Richly veined Calacatta Viola marble stands out against slim Shaker cabinets, which are painted in the kitchen brand’s So Cotton, which also adorns the walls.
Herringbone parquet flooring warms up the scheme and visually draws the eye to the generous island and main cabinetry run. Meanwhile, elegant cornices add historical charm, while the pastel green ceiling adds a contemporary twist to this delightfully Scandi kitchen.
Photography by Andrea Papin
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“Scandinavian design tends to focus more on the balance between materials, functionality, and clean lines, whereas British design is often bolder, more decorative, and created to stand out rather than blend in. Key elements that define the Scandinavian kitchen include natural wood, tactile materials, muted colour palettes, and thoughtful detailing that highlights craftsmanship,” says Jonna Karlsson, kitchen designer at Nordiska Kök.
“To bring the Scandinavian look into a UK home, focus on simplicity and balance – combine natural materials such as oak and stone with soft, earthy tones, and keep the space uncluttered with integrated storage and clean architectural lines.”
American beauty
Architect Mindy Kelson O’Connor, of Melinda Kelson O’Connor Architecture and Interiors, was brought onto the renovation of a historic home in the Squirrel Hill neighbourhood of Pittsburgh, in Pennsylvania, US, to transform a confined space into a kitchen perfect for a family who loves to cook.
The plans included a large, 12 ft long island for entertaining and preparing meals, finding space for all of the homeowners’ small appliances, and connecting the kitchen to the rest of the first floor and the outdoors. The new design, with ample cabinetry that helps maximise storage, as well as a generous Lacanche range cooker, beautifully blends colour and pattern, from the rich blue units to the hand-painted splashback tiles.
Photography by Reid Rolls
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“While American and UK kitchen designs increasingly draw inspiration from one another, key distinctions remain – particularly in scale, layout, and habits. American kitchens are typically larger, reflecting the generous proportions of American homes. This extends naturally to the appliances – think oversized refrigerators, six-burner ranges, and double ovens. The capacity to accommodate a full-size Thanksgiving turkey or multiple baking trays is an unspoken design requirement,” says architect Mindy Kelson O’Connor.
“By contrast, UK kitchens, often influenced by older housing stock and smaller overall footprints, favour compact layouts and appliances. British cooks have long mastered the art of efficiency, working creatively within limited space and storage constraints. American kitchens are often open-plan, too; this spatial openness reflects an emphasis on casual living and sociable cooking, while UK homes, particularly those within period architecture, tend to retain more defined room boundaries.
“While open-plan conversions are on the rise, many British households value a degree of separation between cooking and living spaces. Although, funnily, many American kitchens are returning to this value as well.”
Serene and sun-drenched kitchen
Jenn Sinclair from Comma Projects drew inspiration from coastal Spanish-Mediterranean style for the design of Layà Villa A, an alluring home in Gold Coast, Australia.
The kitchen feels light and airy thanks to the pale oak cabinetry and the mix of sandy-toned marble, textured stone tiles, and warm brushed copper tapware by ABI Interiors, with a calm backdrop of decorative Venetian plaster and polished concrete flooring. Curvaceous forms on the central island and wall unit further soften the look, resulting in a serene space, ideal for both cooking and hosting.
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“Australian kitchen design leans more towards open, airy, and connected to the outdoors, with generous islands, plenty of natural light, and layouts that flow seamlessly into living and al fresco areas. UK kitchens are more enclosed and architecturally detailed, with classic joinery, moodier palettes, and cosy, contained layouts suited to smaller floor plans and cooler climates,” says Luli Farrell, co-founder of ABI Interiors.
Contemporary gem
The Amber Apartment in the seaside town of Sopot, Poland, was designed by Together Studio to merge contemporary craftsmanship with natural tones reminiscent of the Baltic coast. The vibrant Pakistani onyx worktop and splashback add a pop of colour to the matt, handleless cabinets, while steel shelves, mounted on crushed stones, allow for displaying unique ceramics and décor.
The dining table and chairs, from Polish brand The Good Living, celebrate a commitment to local design, while the sculptural Siam pendant by Bover completes the zone, diffusing a soft, atmospheric glow.
Photography by Martyna Rudnicka
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“Polish homeowners value timeless materials like natural stone and solid wood, but they’re not afraid to mix them with contemporary finishes or statement lighting. There’s always a balance between elegance and warmth – a kitchen should feel refined, but still very much like the heart of the home,” says Sylwia Chwat, interior architect and co-founder of Together Studio.
“When we design international kitchens, our process starts with understanding the architectural DNA of the place. Whether it’s a city apartment or a Mediterranean villa, we draw inspiration from local culture, materials, and light.”
Form and function
Interior designer Veronika Viršičiūtė combined mid-century style with industrial influences in a period apartment in Vilnius, Lithuania. At the heart of the kitchen is a stunning deep green island with a spacious, lightly speckled Himacs Maui worktop. Equipped with storage, a built-in gas hob, oven, sink, and tap, it integrates all key functions of a cooking space into a single hub (with the fridge concealed in the wall behind the unit).
Slim, dark green cement tiles decorate the opposite side of the island, while a breakfast bar provides space for enjoying meals and joyful moments. Herringbone parquet, high ceilings, and period windows retain the architectural charm of the property.
Photography by Gerda Ramone
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“Lithuanian kitchen design is defined by a balance between functionality, minimalism, and architectural clarity. Rather than relying on decoration, it focuses on form, light, and proportion to create calm, intentional spaces. In this project, that philosophy is expressed through architectural simplicity. The kitchen island is designed as a solid, monolithic volume with clean geometry and no visual noise,” says interior designer Veronika Viršičiūtė.
“The colour palette remains subtle and natural, with texture becoming the main visual feature – the vertically tiled island surface adds depth and rhythm while maintaining a restrained aesthetic. Plus, an exposed hood is treated as a sculptural accent.”
Need more international kitchen inspiration? Click here for Mediterranean design ideas
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