From the working triangle to the show kitchen and the back kitchen, from Gaggenau to bespoke joinery: how a luxury kitchen is planned, what it costs and where the money goes.
In short
- Plan around how you cook and entertain: a show kitchen for guests, a back kitchen for the work, or one honest room that does both.
- Appliances are 20 to 30 percent of the budget: Gaggenau, Miele, Sub-Zero and Wolf, La Cornue or Lacanche for a statement range.
- A bespoke luxury kitchen costs from about 80,000 dollars to well over 300,000. Joinery and stone are where the money goes.
Start with the way you live
Before any appliance, decide how the kitchen will be used. Do you cook daily or entertain occasionally? Is it the family room or a working room? Will guests sit at an island while someone cooks? Do you want a show kitchen with a hidden back kitchen (a scullery or prep kitchen) for the mess? The answers decide the plan; the plan decides everything else.
Layout
The working triangle (sink, hob, refrigerator) still applies, with a maximum of about seven metres around it. Islands work from 2.4 metres in length and need at least a metre of clearance on all sides, ideally 1.2. Tall storage on one wall keeps the working walls low and calm. A back kitchen takes the ovens, the dishwasher, the pantry and the noise; the show kitchen keeps the island, a hob and a beautiful tap.
Appliances
Gaggenau for built-in ovens, steam ovens and induction with a design pedigree. Miele for reliability across the range. Sub-Zero and Wolf for American-style refrigeration and gas. La Cornue, Lacanche or Aga for a statement range cooker. Add a wine climate cabinet, a second dishwasher if you entertain, a boiling-water tap, a warming drawer and a vacuum sealer if you cook seriously. Appliances take 20 to 30 percent of the budget.
Surfaces and joinery
Worktops: honed marble (Calacatta, Arabescato) for beauty, knowing it will patina; quartzite (Taj Mahal, Mont Blanc) for marble looks with more resistance; stainless steel in the back kitchen. Joinery: painted timber for a classic room, oak or walnut for warmth, fluted or reeded details for texture, brass or bronze hardware. Bespoke joinery from a specialist (Plain English, Bulthaup, Boffi, Poliform, Minotti Cucine, Arclinea, or a local maker) is where the luxury lives.
What it costs
A high-end kitchen from a premium manufacturer: 60,000 to 150,000 dollars installed. A fully bespoke kitchen with stone, hand-made joinery and top appliances: 150,000 to 300,000 and beyond. The back kitchen adds 30 to 50 percent. Budget 10 percent for lighting, which is usually forgotten until it is too late.
Timeline
Design: two to three months. Manufacture: three to five months. Installation: four to eight weeks. A year from first sketch to first dinner is normal for a serious kitchen.
Questions people ask
How much does a luxury kitchen cost?
From about 60,000 dollars for a premium manufacturer kitchen to 150,000 to 300,000 or more for a bespoke kitchen with stone, hand-made joinery and top appliances.
What are the best luxury kitchen appliance brands?
Gaggenau, Miele, Sub-Zero and Wolf for built-in appliances; La Cornue, Lacanche and Aga for statement ranges.
What is a back kitchen?
A second, working kitchen (scullery or prep kitchen) behind the show kitchen, taking the ovens, dishwasher, pantry and mess so that the main room stays calm.
Share
