What is Bespoke Kitchen Design? Let’s Dig Deeper and Tour Lovely Examples!

“Bespoke” is one of those upper crust Britishspeak adjectives which was formerly associated exclusively with fashion yet became increasingly paired with interior design, food, and even water. (Made-to-measure water seems like a bizarre stretch…no wonder the adjective irks as many folks as it pleases these days!). What is Bespoke Kitchen Design? Let’s Dig Deeper and Tour Lovely Examples! unpacks the concept, answers common questions, clarifies how it varies from custom kitchen design, and shares glimpses of exceptional projects.

Seeking kitchen design inspiration? START RIGHT HERE where you’ll discover a slew of inspiration to pin.

My favorite kitchens are almost exclusively timeless and tranquil in style, and those design qualities can be expressed in a myriad of styles. My own kitchen is simple, classic, and serene and was executed by us on a tight budget since we had an entire house to renovate.

Another non-bespoke kitchen we recently gave a facelift was the blandest cookie cutter builder-grade space before we gave it love.

Today, we’ll dream a little. We’ll indulge in a bit of fantasy as we admire and note a host of refined qualities at work in bespoke kitchen design. (Because if you’re a design freak like moi, you may see an extraordinary kitchen and think…hey, that gives me an idea!)

What is Bespoke Kitchen Design? Let’s Dig Deeper and Tour Lovely Examples!

Photos: Artichoke.

What is the origin of the term ‘bespoke?’

The NY Times asked entymologist Michael Quinlon about the origin of the word “bespoke” which has been around since 1583.

What is the definition of bespoke?

In the Oxford Dictionary the word is defined as “(of goods, especially clothing) made to order.”

(adj.) “custom or custom-made, made to order,” of goods (as distinguished from ready-made), 1755, the same sense is found earlier in bespoken (c. 1600), past-participle adjective from bespeak in its sense of “speak for, arrange beforehand,” which is attested in bespeak from 1580s.

How is bespoke related to fashion?

You have to travel back in time to 17th-century when tailors stored fabric for tailoring and suit making in their homes or shops. If you were a customer and commissioned a suit, you selected your fabric, and it became known as ‘spoken for.’

So bespoke denotes not just a custom design by the tailor but an entirely original product for the customer based on the customer’s choices and needs.

To Accompany Us as We Soak Up Bespoke Inspiration

Why is the term bespoke controversial at times?

I was surprised to learn “bespoke” pushed so many buttons dependent upon where you land in internetland. Googling bespoke design fetches recurrent references to ‘snob factor’ as well as suggestions that bespoke is simply a marketing ploy to bait naive folks into overspending on their project.

How expensive is bespoke kitchen design?

Bespoke designs obviously come with a higher price point because of how much more attention, labor, planning, crafting, and time they require. For example, rather than a short discussion with a kitchen designer about which cabinet will hold your spices and where said cabinet will be installed relative to the range, a bespoke kitchen design would likely explore the nature of the spices you routinely use, the species of wood for the cupboard, the dimensions required for storage, and detailed construction issues.

What is meant by ‘bespoke kitchen design?’

A kitchen with bespoke design is one which has been carefully planned with meticulous detailing to be completely unique for the client, customized with function, finishes, and aesthetics to suit the needs and desires of the homeowner.

The success of a bespoke kitchen design relies upon: communication between the client and design professional, innovation and creativity for bringing design plans to life, craftsmanship, expertise, and artistry of team members, a healthy budget, and commitment to excellence.

More Tenets of Bespoke Kitchen Design

Bespoke kitchen design is highly personalized.

Meticulous attention to detail is an important distinction of bespoke kitchen design.

Bespoke kitchen design involves the finest quality materials.

A Bespoke Kitchen Design Relies on…

…experienced artisans who contribute to the creation of bespoke kitchen designs.

…careful listening to clients since the design must function exclusively for their needs.

…a team including kitchen designers and cabinet makers.

More Glimpses of a Variety of Bespoke Kitchens

Luxurious Bespoke Kitchen Design in Tuscany

Bespoke Scullery

Even more lovely kitchen design inspiration can be savored here, here and also here.

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Peace to you right where you are.

-michele

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