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As the days grow longer and natural light fills the home, the kitchen becomes the centre of summer living.
A thoughtfully designed summer kitchen allows you to move easily from preparing food to hosting friends and family, creating a space that feels open, sociable and calm. At John Lewis of Hungerford, we believe a bespoke kitchen should reflect not only your home, but how you live within it, particularly during the moments that matter most.
In this guide, we share our expert approach to designing a kitchen that works beautifully for summer entertaining and beyond.
No two homes, or households are the same. That is why every bespoke kitchen we design begins with understanding how you use your space.
Whether you enjoy relaxed weekend brunches, informal family suppers or larger gatherings with friends, your kitchen should support effortless hosting without compromise. A bespoke approach ensures every element, from layout to storage, is considered with purpose.
Creating a luxury kitchen should feel as seamless as the finished space itself. Our process is designed to guide you with clarity and confidence.
Your journey begins with a one-to-one consultation with one of our experienced designers. We take the time to understand your space, your preferences, and how you like to entertain.
Using detailed 3D full colour visuals, we explore layouts, materials and finishes, allowing you to see how your bespoke kitchen will come together before it is made.
Each bespoke kitchen is crafted in our Oxfordshire workshop by skilled artisans, combining traditional joinery techniques with modern precision. This ensures not only exceptional quality, but also complete flexibility in design, allowing us to tailor every detail to your home.
We offer full transparency and visits to our workshop are available should you wish to see the process your kitchen undergoes as it is handmade by our skilled carpenters.
Our experienced installation team oversees every stage of the fitting process, ensuring a considered and precise finish.
From cabinetry and worktops to lighting and final details, your designer remains on hand throughout, providing reassurance from start to finish.
Summer invites a softer, more expressive approach to colour. Muted greens, warm neutrals and understated blues bring a sense of calm while still adding character. Painted cabinetry or a statement island can introduce colour in a way that feels both timeless and considered.
We love the fabulous, bold cabinets of this country, Shaker kitchen, finished in vibrant Brooklands.
One of the most effective ways to enhance your kitchen for the Summer is to blur the boundary between indoors and out.
With wide sliding or bi-fold doors and a simple, open plan layout, the kitchen becomes one continuous area for cooking, eating and spending time together.
This kitchen layout works well for family life, keeping everyone connected while still giving children the freedom to move in and out. It’s just as good for entertaining, with guests able to gather comfortably across both spaces.
A common challenge in many kitchens is the separation between cooking and hosting. A bespoke kitchen island resolves this, creating a central point where guests can gather while you prepare food. Incorporating seating transforms the island into a relaxed space for conversation, drinks and informal dining.
Clutter is often the biggest barrier to effortless entertaining.
Bespoke pantries, integrated cabinetry and considered internal storage allow everything to be organised and easily accessible, without interrupting the visual calm of the space.
Our bespoke pantries come as individual free-standing items or a fitted piece as part of a full kitchen design. The interiors can be adapted to your needs, including the addition of a marble ‘cold’ shelf, solid oak drawers and door-mounted spice storage. Additionally, sockets and lighting can be added so that small appliances can be used, creating a functional workspace.
Light is fundamental to the feeling of a summer kitchen. Pale finishes, natural materials and reflective surfaces help to enhance available light, while skylights and glazed doors further open the space.
If you feel that now is the time for a clean slate, a top-to-toe white or off white kitchen is a great way to start afresh. Reinvigorate your kitchen design with a bright and breezy white colour palette, with light-reflecting cabinetry that allow natural light to fill the room. Another benefit of shades of white is that they help to create the illusion of space when applied to walls, kitchen cabinetry and countertops, making them ideal for small kitchens.
While inspired by summer living, a well-designed kitchen should work beautifully all year round.
By focusing on layout, light and longevity, your kitchen becomes a space that adapts from bright mornings to cosy evenings and everyday moments to special occasions.
If you are considering a kitchen designed for entertaining, our team is here to guide you.
For further ideas, take a look at our inspiration section, which showcases our core kitchen ranges, all of which can be tailored to fit your lifestyle and personal tastes. If you have any questions, please contact our knowledgeable team to be put in touch with an experienced designer who can guide you towards the perfect bespoke summer kitchen.
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