Designing with Intention: Kitchens
The Kitchen as a Living Canvas
As a designer and artist, I approach kitchen design the same way I approach my paintings — through layers. Light, texture, balance, and emotion.
In my view, the kitchen isn’t just a workspace. It’s the soul of the home — where stories simmer, rituals unfold, and design is deeply felt. Whether I’m designing a Guest Haven for Thuúla or designing for a client, I always return to one principle: beauty and calm are born from intentional choices.
Balance: The Root of Calm
Balance is the quiet force behind every space that feels grounded. In kitchens, that means tuning into proportion, layout, and symmetry — not as rules, but as rhythms.
Think: open shelves that don’t overwhelm, counters that feel spacious but not sparse, and forms that hold visual weight with grace. Balance is how a kitchen breathes.
“When everything belongs, nothing screams for attention. That’s the kind of peace I design for.”
2. Texture: Where the Soul Comes In
Glossy surfaces can sterilize a space — texture brings it back to life. A kitchen infused with texture feels warm, inviting, and deeply human.
I love mixing wood with matte ceramics, soft linen with cool marble, handwoven baskets beside polished Brass. It’s in this layering that a kitchen tells its story.
“Texture is what invites touch — and where touch lives, so does emotion.”
3. Light: The Mood Maker
Light is where magic happens. Natural light is ideal, but I always think in layers:
Ambient to soften the room
Task to support functionality
Accent to add drama or intimacy
Handmade pendant lights, dimmers for soft mornings or evenings, and the glow of a single bulb over the chopping board — lighting isn’t just design. It’s emotion.
“I don’t design with light. I design with shadow, softness, and the way light moves.”
4. Functionality: The Invisible Art
Good design should feel effortless. Every drawer that glides smoothly, every cupboard you can reach without strain — this is design that cares for you.
Kitchens should adapt to your rituals:
A quiet tea nook
A space for children to help cook
Open shelves for market-fresh produce
Designing for real life — not just magazine spreads — is where beauty and usefulness hold hands.
Closing: The Kitchen as Ritual Space
At Thuúla and in my own home, I don’t just design kitchens — I create spaces for connection, nourishment, and slowness.
The intentional kitchen is one where everything has purpose — and that purpose is rooted in how you live, how you feel, and what you love.
Your kitchen should feel like a breath of fresh air.