Why did you leave the teabags on the counter? 🔍

You even left the kitchen dishcloth on the oven door!

The kettle has boiled, and the Bialetti is bubbling. Morning light is pouring through the east-facing window. Already, you have stepped outside to have a first-hand feel of the temperature this morning. You sink into the living room sofa and watch the steam rise from your cup through the low sunlight. It's peaceful. Just what you need before you get into gear for the day.

Kitchen design frequently prioritises practicality and accessibility, perhaps aiming to create functional zones (prep zone, cleaning zone, cooking zone) with even the most gruesome tools conveniently at hand or turning to the century-old 'kitchen triangle' rule (sink, refrigerator, stove). But a kitchen designed in this way will only sometimes feel like the heart of the home; too often, it can become a clutter of blenders, drying dishes and other things you need to attend to, noisily calling for your attention.

Our design approach sets out to manage the visual pollution of highly functional areas by eliminating as much clutter as possible. And where tools must be accessible and visible, you can use beautiful, contrasting materials to capture attention so that the devices are not the focus. In this case, our fantastic client chose all the materials and guided the layout. We only needed to work on the assembly of it all.

With careful design, you can conquer pots, pans and paraphernalia. Even busy spaces can be peaceful spaces, conducive to relaxation and calm. Functionality meets harmony.

How do you manage clutter in your kitchen, and can you leave the kitchen dishcloths out?