A Calming Kitchen

The kitchen is of course at the heart of the home's activities, but in today’s busy lifestyles, it can also be the space where we find calm and balance. With this in mind, I wanted to create a kitchen that feels like a gentle breath, welcoming, elegant, and calming to be in.

The starting point was the soft sage tone of the cabinetry. This colour, inspired by the muted greens of native foliage, sets a natural and soothing backdrop. Sage is subtle enough to work as a neutral, yet it carries just the right amount of character to keep the space from feeling bland. Its calming quality immediately grounds the room, encouraging a sense of ease.

To complement the cabinetry, I introduced slightly cushioned splashback tiles. Their smooth, rounded surfaces echo the feel of river stones, adding both tactility and a gentle organic rhythm. This detail may seem small, but it has a constant impact in a room we use every day. Kitchens can often be hard and angular, so the softness of these tiles helps balance that energy.

Timber accents were the next layer. Timber always brings warmth and humanity to interiors, and here it strengthens the natural story the kitchen is telling. Whether in shelving, flooring, or a simple trim, its presence creates a sense of connection to nature, an organic anchor that makes the room feel less manufactured and more lived in.

Finally, I introduced a touch of glamour with gold accents in the handles and tapware. Gold, when used sparingly, doesn’t scream for attention but quietly reflects the light and lifts the palette. In this kitchen, it transforms a practical detail into a little moment of luxury, ensuring the overall look remains contemporary and elegant.

The result is a space that feels refined yet welcoming. It is understated rather than showy, calm rather than cold. The palette is carefully considered but never rigid, planned to allow the kitchen to blend seamlessly with the rest of the home.

Ultimately, this design is about surfaces and finishes but above all it's about creating a place where a family can gather and feel at ease. A place to prepare food, share stories, or enjoy a quiet coffee in the morning. A space where calm living is not just a design idea but a daily experience.

James Treble is an ambassador for Planet Ark and firmly believes in sensible purchasing, recycling and creative re-purposing. James has three decades of accumulated experience in the Building Industry, Real Estate and Interior Design and regularly shares his knowledge and experience in adding value to properties through effective design & styling. Watch his free videos on YouTube, and follow him on Facebook and Instagram for more free information. Learn more from James' knowledge via his FREE online shows James Bought A House (a renovation) and James Bought A Guest House (a brand new build).