What first drew my attention to the “unfitted kitchen”, and thus starting a love affair with mismatched culinary spaces, was somewhat of an accident. Moving into our little cottage at the start of Covid lockdown, while it was only half renovated and without a kitchen, meant I had to get creative when setting up a temporary kitchen space.

Since our move was unexpected and last minute, I didn’t want to rush into getting a run-of-the-mill kitchen installed. My heart was set on a particular, traditional style of cabinetry for this cottage. And I was willing to wait until I could find someone to build it. That meant, however, creating an interim kitchen using furniture we already had.
An antique french oak buffet as a work bench. Two of our white cabinets as pantry and extra storage. And a small kitchen table in the centre. This little table became my meal prep area, and is still where I sit and prepare meals most nights. You can see more of it here and here.


Flexibility
Months after moving in, our magnificent Falcon Elise cooker arrived, so again I rearranged things. My husbands great-grandmothers old meat safe (which we’d restored) went next to the cooker. An antique shoe cupboard I bought at auction became added storage and a little bar area (very important!) in the corner of the room.



Functionality
What I realised during this period and process, was how much I love our unfitted kitchen and how authentic it feels. It’s simply about practicality and functionality, rather than appearances. It’s also made me appreciate the small things (like a decent sized working sink!), and forced me to ponder what truly makes a kitchen function well. Finding clever ways to store our kitchenwares, and displaying pieces I truly love, rather than hiding everything away behind closed doors. It reminds me of all those rustic and humble kitchens in old farmhouses in rural France, England and Italy. The ones where “nonna” and “maman” create fresh, seasonal home cooked meals for their families daily.

The more I went looking for these style of kitchens, the more I fell madly in love! Beautifully authentic, unique, imperfect spaces, filled with vintage pots and plates, baskets, fireplaces, vintage art, old and mismatched furniture for storage etc.
At the same time, it dawned on me that 95% of kitchens today are just slight variations of one another. And frankly quite boring. While an unfitted kitchen undoubtedly won’t suit everyone, or every home, I find myself yearning for a kitchen that’s unique. A bit more imperfect, and loaded with old-world charm. A kitchen that feels more like a beautifully decorated room, not a sparse workspace devoid of its inhabitants personality.
Inspiration
Some of my favourite examples of unfitted kitchens are below. You can see many more on my Unfitted Kitchens Pinterest board here.










Verdict
So, are you a fan of the unfitted kitchen look? Or, do you prefer the more streamlined, typical kitchen style that we mostly we see today? Regardless, I hope this has at least inspired you and made you think outside the box when it comes to creating your own dream kitchen.
There are definitely ways you can create a more paired back example of this style in your existing kitchen. Adding things like baskets, artwork, lamps or wall lights, plates on the wall, or even ditching the overhead cupboards and opting for open shelves. If you want more inspiration on unfitted/deconstructed kitchens, head over to my Unfitted Kitchens board on Pinterest!
Hope you all have a great week!
Nicki xo
I love the unfitted kitchen
It allows the personal touch of your own design elements within your cooking space .
It’s not the cookie cutter kitchen or the cold industrial look which leaves me uninspired!
Totally agree, Cathy. Most kitchens nowadays leave me uninspired too which is why I’m such a fan of unfitted kitchens 🙂
I now have a style…my kitchens have always been unfitted…❤ old and new…not perfect but cozy
Thank you for this. I was just reflecting on the modern obsession with counter space (really wasted space and a magnet for clutter) and was so pleased to see that you do some of your meal preparation at the kitchen table. My grandmother had maybe 2 square feet of countertop in her kitchen, and yet she turned out tasty meals every day, relying on the large work surface of the kitchen table. Unfitted kitchens are so personal and beautiful. Yours is all that and more. Thank you for sharing yours.
I’m trying to renovate our 1900 kitchen to an unfitted electric functional space due to preference of aesthetic & more practical cost vs. wall to wall cabinetry. I’ve collected an old store counter & wood/glass four fronts in hopes to have cabinet boxes made for them. I’m keeping my parlor wood-stove fir warmth & unexpected power outages. 🤞Hoping my plan works the way I envision it.
Ok, but what is a meat safe – please tell me more!
My oh my! I googled ‘unfitted kitchens’ and stumbled upon you eloquent, glorious ramblings. I’m a Food Journalist and Absolutely Loathe fitted kitchens. My heart beats to the song of glorious treasued processions josling for space with essential yet beautiful tools that have lasted the generations and we’re turned on a lathe of love. You have made me immensely happy to know that I’m neither alone, nor mad. We don’t Have to follow the vagaries of fashion do we? Bravo you!
Hi Ruth, apologies for the late reply. I am SO thrilled that you not only love this post but that you also share the same love for “unfitted kitchens”! I am so in agreement with you – there is just something so charming, intriguing, and homely about an unfitted kitchen and I just wish we would see more of them. The European’s seem to have it figured out and I see so many in Italy, France, Poland etc. I think I need to do another post as have lots of people share the same passion! Nicki
Love the looks – just the thing I want 😀
I love these kitchens. Never heard the term unfitted but it is the style I have used in my home and have always been my matra to decorate with the things you love not from a magazine or pinterest photo. Anyone who walks into our house can immediately tell our interests and I think our homes should reflect who we are. Thankyou for affirming this.
Thanks Kathy and love that you share this aesthetic & style also! When I wrote the post I wasn’t sure if it would be popular but it’s quite the opposite! I think we all need a reprieve from the identical kitchens we see today, and spaces that are much more unique and interesting (and clever).
Agree, so many if the all white kitchens look the same from one up the next. I think it’s easy to get caught up with trends & I often remind myself choose what I’ve lived forever: aged woods, soapstone, brick, stone, etc.
Thank you for your post. It makes me feel that I am not alone! My kitchen was just a room with a sink under the window, and a cooker in the corner! I did buy a second hand run of cupboards and work surface, but with advent of a navy preloved aga from eBay, I got rid of it! Everything is moveable in my kitchen, apart from said sink and aga. I can clean behind everything, and recycle to my heart’s content. None of our cutlery matches. The walls are tongue and groove in Farrow and Ball eggshell slipper satin, with mismatched blues on different cupboards and curtains. All the surfaces are wood…but different from each other! The room dates from 1690’s, but the closest I can explain it to you is that it’s probably more 1890’s….art deck, William Morris! After all, nothing ever matched for him!!
Hi Desiree, sorry for the slow reply. You kitchen sounds like a dream, and I have to admit when you were describing it, I just thought “ahhhh, I want to see this beautiful colourful kitchen!”. It sounds so charming, warm and authentic – and utterly unique to boot. I’m just obsessed with kitchens like yours and think there should be more of them (and less where everything it built in, put away, and clinical).
I adore unfitted kitchens. But don’t fool yourself, it IS just as much about appearances.
This is the exact style I’m trying to explain to my designer. We’re renovating our kitchen. I told her I want an “unkitchen.” I had her take out all the uppers in the design. I’m on the hunt for vintage and antique pieces to replace planned built-ins. I feel so much more comfortable in a less formal kitchen.
Sounds like we have similar taste and I love the look too. Feels less structured and contrived. I think you’re in the right track with your designer so good luck!
I love your eclectic style! May I ask where you found the 2 white cabinets that you use as a pantry and extra storage?? Any and all specific into would be appreciated. Thanks for sharing!!
Hi Joyce,
Thanks for the kind words! We actually bought those cabinets off a local friend and they had them custom made sorry. I get asked SO often about them and have had quite a few offer to buy them. Sorry can’t help but I must admit I love vintage or antique cupboards so if you see once you like consider getting it painted. Often some old brown cupboards/cabinets just need a paint to give them a totally different look. Nicki 🙂
Love your style and the pics are nice good choice
of kitchen love it all 😀
Thanks Raewyn! A slight departure from my kitchens past, but living in this little cottage has me really exploring new design ideas. Love that Max Rollitt kitchen especially. xo
Loved this post Nicki!
Oh thanks, Brooke! So glad. Have been wanting to do a post on this for a while now.