Interior Design

Notes on Design With Mary Graham

Mary Graham shares her insights on kitchen design, tile placement choices, lighting strategies, and the appeal of unfitted kitchens.

Kitchens

How to make the most of a dark kitchen?

Open shelving is a practical way to lighten a dark kitchen. By replacing solid upper cabinets, it reduces visual weight and allows more wall and light to remain visible, creating a sense of openness. It also offers functional display space for glassware and ceramics, turning everyday items into decorative accents while breaking up large areas of dark colour.

Choosing a countertop, we often opt for marble over other materials like quartz or wood. Marble’s natural sheen and veining adds elegance and introduces a reflective quality that helps bounce light around the room. Its organic patterns add depth without overwhelming.

Coloured or patterned window treatments are an opportunity to inject personality and warmth, we prefer them gathered off the glass to preserve precious daylight.

Should you put a sink on the kitchen island?

Placing a sink on the island often leads to clutter, piles of washing-up and wasted workspace, making the island far less useful and far less beautiful. Instead, treat the island as a freestanding piece of furniture, perhaps with interesting legs, bold materials or a beautiful colour. Keeping it clear makes the space more practical and visually appealing.

A great option to avoid putting a sink on the island is to use a pot filler over your cooking area. Another feature that helps to keep surfaces tidy is an instant hot water tap. It's a great idea if you're after tidiness and convenience, as it keeps the worktop clear of kettles and trailing cables while providing boiling water on demand. However... I am very old fashioned and love the process of boiling a kettle, especially when making a cup of tea, so a hot water tap is not for me!

Is hardware worth the investment?

Hardware is one of the most frequently used elements in a kitchen, so it is not the place to economise. Investing in high quality handles and fittings ensures longevity, improves daily use and instantly elevates the overall feel of the room. Even the simplest joinery looks far more refined when paired with well-made hardware.

The same principle applies to taps. A well designed tap is more than a finishing touch; it is a hardworking feature that you will use countless times each day. Functionality and a design that complements the rest of your kitchen.

Flooring deserves the same consideration. The more wear a material receives, the more hardwearing it needs to be. For this reason, we often choose tumbled limestone, which combines durability with timeless character, and for me personally, a timber floor that just gets better with age is a great option for a kitchen.

Why does lighting matter so much in a kitchen?

Lighting is absolutely essential in a kitchen. It is not only about visibility but about creating the right balance of softness, atmosphere and precision. The most effective schemes layer different types of light: ambient lighting for overall warmth combined with focused task lighting for safety and efficiency.

Pendant lights above islands or dining areas add a welcoming glow and a sense of intimacy, while task lighting ensures you can chop and prepare with confidence.

Picture lights are a clever choice as they double as elegant wall lights while casting illumination onto your worktops. We tend to avoid under cabinet lighting , but if well designed it can provide practical brightness without the harsh glare of artificial strips, making your surfaces both beautiful and usable.

Where do tiles belong in a kitchen?

Tiles are a great way to bring colour and decoration in to a kitchen and can be used as much or as little as you want. If you are worried about tiles dating then just use them behind the cooker or the sink where splashes are unavoidable. In a period home Delft tiles can work beautifully, whilst a simple glazed rectangle is always a classic choice for a more modern property. Balineum tiles are our "go to" for interesting decorative tiles that can really elevate a space.

If you really don't want to use tiles then consider, marble, powder-coated glass, sheet metal, or lightly antiqued mirror as alternative backsplash options.

Do you prefer a fitted or unfitted kitchen?

A fully fitted kitchen can feel efficient, but too many wall cabinets often create a closed-in and uninviting atmosphere. Our preference is usually to go for an unfitted or partly unfitted approach which is far more charming and practical. The key is to keep storage while separating the elements. One generous freestanding cupboard can hold as much as several wall units, yet allows the room to feel open and breathable. This arrangement makes everything easier to see and reach while creating a more welcoming, characterful kitchen. We will often use an antique piece to add interest and character whilst not compromising on practicality.

A favourite feature is the freestanding island, which clients are requesting more and more. It offers flexibility, adds personality and can become the centrepiece of the room without overwhelming the space.