Some design mistakes are minor. Others you’ll notice every day. For Mark Bruce, Operations Manager at Kitchen Studio, helping homeowners avoid those regrets is a big part of the job.

Mark started out as a cabinetmaker and later became one of the country’s most experienced kitchen design educators. Now he brings that practical knowledge into homes every week, helping people avoid common pitfalls before it’s too late.

Don’t buy your appliances first
If there’s one thing Mark wants people to stop doing, it’s locking in appliances before they’ve seen a designer. “Firstly, don’t buy your appliances first,” he says. “Get your kitchen designed so the appliances are appropriate for the design.”

It’s a simple shift. But it changes everything. When appliances are chosen in isolation, they can limit layout options, clash with cabinetry or even require costly redesigns. A well-thought-out design puts function and flow first, then works in the right appliances around it.

Design for the way you cook
Your kitchen layout should reflect how you actually use it. If you cook often with a wok or large pots, for example, that affects where your hob should go and what kind of rangehood will work best. Mark says many people default to having the sink on the island, but that’s not always the best choice.

“If the hob is used all the time, perhaps the hob faces forward,” he says. In that case, you’ll need a powerful and quiet rangehood that suits an island setup. Options like ceiling-mounted or downdraft extraction can keep the space open without sacrificing performance. Your most-used appliances should take centre stage.

The quiet power of good ventilation
Ventilation is often an afterthought, but it should be a priority. A quality rangehood doesn’t just remove steam and odours. It helps keep your kitchen air clean, reduces moisture build-up and protects surrounding spaces from grease and noise.

Mark is clear on its importance. “You need the very best rangehood to get rid of all those pollutants out of your kitchen so you can enjoy that open plan living.”

That’s especially important in modern homes, where kitchens often open directly onto living and dining areas. Without good extraction, smells linger, steam drifts into soft furnishings and conversations are drowned out by fan noise.

It’s about how you live, not just how it looks
Too often, design decisions are made for aesthetics alone. But that rarely holds up in everyday life. Mark encourages homeowners to think practically and speak openly about how they use their space. What they cook. How they clean up. How many people are in the kitchen at once.

The more honest the brief, the better the result. And a good designer won’t just accept your wishlist. They’ll question it, refine it and help you get what you actually need.

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Disclaimer: This article is based on a podcast featuring insights from experienced professionals and is intended for general information and inspiration only. While we aim to share valuable guidance, please seek personalised advice from qualified professionals before making decisions about your property, finances, or renovation plans.