Carefully Curated: At Home with Honey

Creating your perfect home, especially your kitchen, can feel like a daunting task, and often requires a significant investment, whether you’re building from scratch or renovating. To help inspire you, we’ve asked some of our talented team members to design their dream kitchens, covering everything from colour schemes to essential design elements.

Our team brings a wealth of experience, having explored thousands of beautifully designed Real Stories and knowing our STORI ranges inside and out. This expertise enables them to provide valuable guidance before you engage with your preferred retailer.

First up is our Marketing Executive, Leah. She manages our social media channels (be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook!) and oversees our Real Stories projects. Known for her exceptional organisational skills, love of minimalism, and devotion to Honey, her corgi, Leah shares her vision for creating her dream kitchen and utility space, with Honey’s needs in mind.

Describe your dream kitchen.

My dream kitchen is a space that perfectly blends style and function, shaped by my experience working in the industry and observing some truly amazing kitchens. It’s designed for everyday life with my husband and dog, Honey, in mind – homely, comforting, and cosy.

My ideal space would be a large kitchen and dining area, perfect for both cooking and entertaining. The space would be filled with natural light from large windows and French doors opening up onto a patio area, bringing the outdoors in.

The look I would go for would be minimalistic yet inviting, with a large statement kitchen island that serves as the heart of the space for food prep, cooking, and baking, as well as entertaining.

A connecting utility room would be ideal for storing cleaning products and offering even more storage. I’d also love a designated space for Honey – her bed and for food storage, so everything feels practical and ready for daily use while maintaining a tidy, fuss-free environment.

What cabinetry & colour(s) would you opt for?

For my dream kitchen, I would choose Zola Soft-Matte and Tavola cabinetry for a sleek and modern look. The slab door design of these ranges would give my space a clean, minimalistic feel that I love, while the contrasting finishes of the soft-matte and woodgrain will add warmth and texture to the space, making it feel more inviting.

I’d go for a contemporary colour palette with Graphite for Zola Soft-Matte and Weathered Silver for Tavola. The Graphite finish on the handleless rail system would tie everything together, giving the kitchen a sleek, linear appearance that’s both modern and practical.

For the utility cabinetry, I’d keep it simple with Zola Soft-Matte in Graphite, which would maintain consistency across the space and ensure everything feels cohesive. Plus, the soft-matte finishes would be easy to clean and maintain, which is key for a functional space.

What key design features would you include to achieve your aesthetic?

The most important functional elements I’d consider for my dream kitchen would focus on both efficiency and practicality while keeping everything tidy and organised.

Integrated appliances would be a top priority for me, as they help create a seamless, fuss-free space that doesn’t feel cluttered. I want the kitchen to look streamlined and modern, with appliances blending perfectly into the cabinetry.

Storage space would be key to maintaining an organised kitchen. I’d love plenty of deep drawers, full-height cabinetry, and clever storage solutions, such as the VS SUB Larder, for storing cleaning products and Honey’s accessories. I’d also include a larder cupboard with dovetail drawers, for functional storage that keeps kitchen essentials easily accessible but hidden away.

With Honey being such a big part of our daily lives, I’d love to have a dedicated space for her, including a cosy dog bed and feeding station in a convenient space, without interrupting the flow of the kitchen.

All of these elements together would ensure that the kitchen is as functional as it is beautiful – ready for everyday use while keeping everything organised and easily accessible.

How would you style your space?

I would style my dream kitchen with a clean and minimalistic approach, focusing on simplicity while adding warmth and personality. The base would be a neutral colour scheme, bringing subtle pops of colour with muted greens to create a calming, organic feel that contrasts against the darker tones.

For the countertops and splashback, I’d love a contemporary, marbled surface (13) that adds a touch of elegance without overpowering the space. A stylish matte black tap (5) would complement the colour scheme and enhance the modern, streamlined look.

To keep the space looking fuss-free, I’d choose minimalistic styled pieces for the countertops, like a sleek kettle and toaster (2 & 3) that fit the overall aesthetic. I’d bring in a pop of colour with crockery (4), soap dispensers (8) and tea towels (6) – small touches that add personality without creating clutter.

Lighting fixtures (10) would be simple yet impactful, a brushed metallic finish would be ideal to tie in with the overall theme. For the dining furniture, I’d go for modern, black pieces – a dining table with matching benches (1) for a clean, contemporary vibe. Sleek bar stools (14) around the kitchen island would add a polished, cohesive feel.

Honey’s space is just as important, so I’d include a cosy dog bed (12) and a stylish feeding station (11) that blend seamlessly with the rest of the space. To add warmth and personality, I’d include a statement clock (9) to break up the minimalism. Family pictures (7) would bring that personal, homely touch, making the space feel lived-in and loved without disrupting the clean, organised look.

This combination would give me a kitchen that’s timeless, practical, and reflective of our family’s style – perfectly balancing form and function.

Accessory Shopping List

1. Dining Table | Dusk
2. Toaster | Next
3. Kettle | Next
4. Crockery | Denby
5. Tap | Plumb World
6. Tea towels | Amazon
7. Picture frame | TK Maxx
8. Soap Dispensers | Asda
9. Clock | Etsy
10. Lighting Fixture | Wayfair
11. Dog Feeder | Wayfair
12. Dog bed | Dunelm
13. Countertop | Cosentino
14. Bar Stools | Cult Furniture

Explore More with STORI

Looking for more inspiration? Visit the Real Stories section of our website to see some recently completed projects by our network of approved retailers throughout the UK & Ireland.