Virtual Tour
We've all been there. You've spent hours scrolling through Pinterest, saving gorgeous kitchen images, and suddenly you've got a board with 247 pins of your "dream kitchen." But when it comes to actually making it happen, where do you even start? Let's talk about how to take that inspiration and turn it into a kitchen that actually works in your home.
First things first: look at all those saved images and spot the patterns. Are you drawn to light or dark colours? Modern clean lines or traditional details? Open shelving or sleek cabinets? Often, we save images that look beautiful but might not reflect what would actually work for our lifestyle.
Take a moment to separate the "looks pretty" pins from the "this would genuinely work for me" pins. That marble island might be stunning, but if you've got young children and red wine, it might not be the most practical choice.
Here's where we need to be honest. That massive kitchen with the walk-in pantry and island the size of a small car? It might not fit in your 3x4 metre space. And that's okay. The goal isn't to recreate someone else's kitchen exactly – it's to capture the feeling and style in a way that suits your home.
Consider your actual space, your budget, and how you use your kitchen daily. Do you cook elaborate meals every night or mainly reheat and make coffee? Are you naturally tidy or do you need plenty of hidden storage? These practical considerations matter more than achieving a Pinterest-perfect look.
This is where a kitchen designer becomes invaluable. We can look at your Pinterest board and understand what's drawing you in – maybe it's the colour palette, the layout style, or specific features. Then we can work out how to achieve that feeling within your space and budget.
A good designer will tell you what's possible and what might need adapting. That ceiling-height pantry might become a tall unit. That enormous island might scale down, but still give you the prep space and storage you need. We're not dream-crushers; we're dream-adapters!
Sometimes you can't have everything on your wish list, and that's where smart compromises come in. Maybe you can't afford that specific worktop material, but there's an alternative that gives you a similar look. Perhaps you can't fit a full island, but a peninsula would work beautifully.
The trick is prioritising what matters most to you. If cooking is your passion, invest in quality appliances and plenty of prep space. If entertaining is your thing, focus on layout and seating. You can always update smaller details later.
Your Pinterest board is a fantastic starting point – it shows you what inspires you and helps communicate your style. But the real magic happens when you work with someone who can take that inspiration and create something that's uniquely suited to your home, your life, and your budget.
Don't be disheartened if your kitchen doesn't look exactly like those pins. Often, the kitchens that work best for real life are the ones that blend inspiration with practical reality, creating something even better than you originally imagined.
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As a kitchen designer, I love creating a stunning space where life is easy and memories are made! If your kitchen needs upgrading, modernising or a complete renovation, let’s have a conversation and see what you could do with your space.
A new kitchen with a specialist design is more cost-effective than you may think – just get in touch with us today for a free in-store kitchen design consultation and we’ll show you how.
Emma Reed – Kitchen designer – 01792 712000
© 2026 Kitchens by Emma Reed Limited. Company number: 11451277. Registered office address: 1-2 Valley Way, Llansamlet, Swansea, United Kingdom, SA6 8QP.
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