1. Forgetting about lighting

Lighting is one of the most overlooked elements in kitchen design – but it has one of the biggest impacts on how the space feels and functions.

Too often, it’s left until the last minute – or worse, handed entirely to the electrician to decide. That’s when you end up with a beautifully designed kitchen that feels flat, cold, and awkward to use at night.

The best kitchens layer task, ambient and accent lighting to suit how the space is actually used and how you want it to feel.

We make lighting part of the design conversation from the start, helping them choose the right tone (warm vs daylight), ideal light placement, and whether smart or kinetic controls make sense for their lifestyle.

2. Following the kitchen triangle without question

You’ve probably heard of the “kitchen triangle” – the idea that the fridge, sink, and hob should form a neat triangle for efficiency. But it’s often applied without much thought.

Yes, the sink and fridge are two of the most-used areas – but that doesn’t always mean they should sit side by side. In many of our designs, I recommend placing the fridge slightly outside the main prep zone. Why? Because if someone else needs to grab a drink or a snack, they can do so without interrupting the flow of the kitchen whilst in use.

I think a kitchen should be designed around how it’s actually used, rather than following a set formula.

3. Ventilation

Ventilation might not be the most exciting part of kitchen design – but get it wrong, and you’ll notice fast. Without proper extraction, you’ll have lingering smells and sticky surfaces. Yet, it’s often overlooked in favour of aesthetics.

We always have an honest conversation about how you cook, so we can recommend extraction that works for you – and looks good. There are plenty of discreet, effective options, from sleek ceiling extractors to downdraft hobs that pull vapours away at the source. Done right, ventilation is quieter, cleaner, and makes your kitchen feel fresh every time you walk in.

4. Overlooking everyday accessibility

It’s easy to get caught up in the look of a kitchen but if it’s not comfortable to use, it’s never going to feel quite right.

One thing that often gets missed is accessibility. Wall units that are too high, awkward corner storage, ovens placed too low or too high – it’s all avoidable. But we find these details are rarely discussed properly.

That’s often because some designers are ‘too focused’ on selling, rather than helping clients choose what’s genuinely right for them.

Small, considered choices make a big difference to how a kitchen feels day to day.