Wiltshire


<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-dark-blue-country-kitchen-aga.jpg" alt="olive-madison-dark-blue-country-kitchen-aga" class="wp-image-41942" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-dark-blue-country-kitchen-aga.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-dark-blue-country-kitchen-aga-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-dark-blue-country-kitchen-aga-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-dark-blue-country-kitchen-aga-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<p>A kitchen might be the hardest working room in the house, but that doesn’t mean it can’t look beautiful too. The challenge, of course, is creating a space that still works just as well in ten years’ time &#8211; after countless rushed breakfasts, muddy dogs, teenagers raiding the fridge and glasses of wine with friends around the island.</p>



<p>That’s exactly where bespoke cabinet maker Matthew Wyeth comes in. Through his Salisbury-based company <a href="https://www.olivemadison.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Olive Madison Bespoke Kitchens</a>, Matthew designs and crafts handmade bespoke kitchens. And with more than two decades of cabinet-making experience behind him, he’s learnt exactly what makes a kitchen people genuinely love living in. Here, he shares the biggest kitchen design mistakes to avoid, the features worth investing in and the clever details that make all the difference&#8230;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-hand-painted-kitchen-detail-shot.jpg" alt="olive-madison-hand-painted-kitchen-detail-shot" class="wp-image-41948" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-hand-painted-kitchen-detail-shot.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-hand-painted-kitchen-detail-shot-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-hand-painted-kitchen-detail-shot-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-hand-painted-kitchen-detail-shot-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-the-biggest-kitchen-design-mistakes-people-make"><strong>What are the biggest kitchen design mistakes people make?</strong></h2>



<p>People often don’t think ahead to the future. For example, you might have three small kids now, but soon you’ll have three big teenagers milling about in the space. For a forever kitchen, it pays to think ahead to how the space will be used in the years down the line.</p>



<p>Remember too that investing a bit more now will pay dividends later. For example, timber worktops may look beautiful and seem more cost effective, they are often a false economy. Over time they stain, split and crack – they don’t last. You have to maintain them too, and most people don’t have the time. A granite, quartz or marble may cost a bit more up front, but it will last and be much less hassle.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-tell-us-a-kitchen-design-non-negotiable"><strong>Tell us a kitchen design non-negotiable&#8230;</strong></h2>



<p>The work triangle is common knowledge in kitchen design, and it really does matter. Your sink, your fridge and your oven are the core of your kitchen, and you ideally want to achieve a working triangle between them, because it makes the space very efficient. When people compromise on this, it tends to be a source of regret. It might sound like a luxury problem, but if you’re constantly having to walk to the other end of your kitchen to get things out of the fridge, it does become a real pain.</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-luxury-banquette-kitchen-dining.jpg" alt="olive-madison-luxury-banquette-kitchen-dining" class="wp-image-41949" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-luxury-banquette-kitchen-dining.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-luxury-banquette-kitchen-dining-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-luxury-banquette-kitchen-dining-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-luxury-banquette-kitchen-dining-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-if-you-re-designing-your-forever-kitchen-where-do-you-start"><strong>If you’re designing your forever kitchen, where do you start?</strong></h2>



<p>The first thing to think about is what style of kitchen you like. Does a sleek, modern look appeal, or do you prefer a classic Shaker style? With a bespoke kitchen the world is your oyster, so have a look on <a href="https://www.olivemadison.co.uk/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">our website</a> or <a href="https://www.olivemadison.co.uk/instagram" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">instagram</a> and find out what appeals to you.</p>



<p>When we design a kitchen for a client, one of our first questions is how you use the space. Perhaps you’re a baker, you have a big family or you love to entertain. Those things will also help shape your decisions and, ultimately, the design.</p>



<p>When I meet a client, I’ll also ask for their non-negotiables. That might include a range cooker, a dishwasher, a food larder or even a pull-out bin. We can then prioritise those things, and work everything else around them.</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-other-false-economies-should-people-avoid"><strong>What other false economies should people avoid?</strong></h2>



<p>I’m a big believer in the expression ‘buy cheap, buy twice.’ Off-the-peg kitchen cupboards serve a good purpose, but they won’t be as well-constructed as a bespoke cabinet. Ultimately, they’re not built to stand the test of time. Your kitchen cabinets are the foundations of your kitchen, and the better the foundations the longer it will last. &nbsp;</p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-full"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" width="1500" height="1000" src="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-pantry-storage-bespoke-kitchen.jpg" alt="olive-madison-pantry-storage-bespoke-kitchen" class="wp-image-41953" srcset="https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-pantry-storage-bespoke-kitchen.jpg 1500w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-pantry-storage-bespoke-kitchen-800x533.jpg 800w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-pantry-storage-bespoke-kitchen-1000x667.jpg 1000w, https://dev.muddystilettos.co.uk/wilts/wp-content/uploads/sites/19/2026/06/olive-madison-pantry-storage-bespoke-kitchen-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px" /></figure>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-kitchen-storage-ideas-are-worth-investing-in"><strong>What kitchen storage ideas are worth investing in?</strong></h2>



<p>Larder cupboards are incredibly popular – if you can fit one into your kitchen, it’s a must. Throw open the double doors and you’ve got a toaster and coffee machine inside, plus loads of food. They keep clutter off your work top and it’s amazing how much you can fit inside them. The doors also fold back in on themselves, which means they don’t take up valuable space when they’re open.</p>



<p>Deep drawers are also great for storage, because they make everything easily accessible. They also get less bashed about than cupboard doors, because they don’t get thrown open in the same way. &nbsp;</p>



<h2 class="wp-block-heading" id="h-what-are-the-biggest-benefits-of-a-bespoke-kitchen"><strong>What are the biggest benefits of a bespoke kitchen?</strong></h2>



<p>The biggest benefit is the freedom it allows &#8211; you can have what you want, where you want. A bespoke kitchen is tailored to suit your exact requirements, and it lasts. At Olive Madison, our kitchens are bespoke down to the millimetre, which means we can fill even the most awkward space as efficiently as possible.</p>



<p>You also have complete control over the style and the colour – our clients can choose from literally thousands of shades. Everything is hand-painted in the workshop and the finish is incredibly robust.</p>



<p><strong>Looking for a bespoke kitchen? Contact Olive Madison <a href="https://www.olivemadison.co.uk/contact-us" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">here</a>.&nbsp;</strong></p>


Cooking up a dream: How to design a kitchen you’ll love forever

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