More than just places to cook and eat, kitchens also reflect our cultural values and traditions. From the design features to the materials used, even the use of colour and decor, every aspect of a kitchen is informed by the culture of the society around it.
Come with us as we explore the design features, materials and colours of Morocco, Italy, France & Mexico, and then how you can bring all that into your kitchen…
Mexico
From the ancient Mayan and Aztec civilisations to the Spanish colonial era, Mexican culture is a melting pot of incredibly diverse influences. Often the central hub of the home, it is where family and friends gather to socialise, share meals, and celebrate life, and this sense of community is reflected in typical Mexican kitchens.
Mexican kitchens are known for their earthy, rustic feel, with clay and stone tiles commonly used on countertops, floors, and splashbacks. Terracotta pots and bold, colourful Mexican tiles add vibrant pops of colour, while natural wood furniture lends to the overall warmth and inviting atmosphere.
Warm colours such as reds, yellows, oranges are favoured, with jewel tones such as greens, blues, and purples used as accents. Large tables or islands create a social space within the kitchen, perfect for gathering with family and friends.
Morocco
With influences from the ancient Berber and Arab civilisations, alongside their adoption of particular Spanish aesthetics during their rule over Spain, Moroccan kitchens are an array of colour, patterns and functionality. Placing a high value on craftsmanship, these kitchens often have handcrafted elements, such as ornate metalwork or intricate tiling.
It is customary for meals to be eaten “family style”, with family and friends sitting around low, round tables eating together. Incorporating deep, bold colours such as fuscia, royal blue, deep purple and vibrant red, tempered with desert-coloured accents in sand, taupe, beige and shades of white. It’s not uncommon to find traditional Zellige tiles, hand-painted ceramics or cast-iron accents, creating a sense of luxury and sophistication that perfectly encapsulates the spirit of Morocco.
"Zellige factory-24116015119.jpg" by Dan Lundberg is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. "Moroccan Tiles Zellige.jpg by Orlysi is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
Italy
Despite being only a short trip across the Mediterranean Sea, Italian kitchens are incredibly distinct from Moroccan kitchens and reflect a rich culinary tradition and a deep appreciation for beauty, whether in a Tuscan farmhouse or Milanese apartment.
Often open and inviting, these kitchens offer plenty of space for people to gather, with features such as large dining tables, wine racks and serving areas. Family, community and heritage are vital in Italian culture, so it’s hardly surprising that these kitchens will often house family heirlooms and treasures, too!
Their cultural passion for food and community is palpable, favouring intense colours such as oranges, dark greens and pale blues to accent neutral and earthy tones paired with marbles and hardwoods; Italian kitchens are welcoming by design, with personality injected through heirlooms, multitudes of cooking utensils, equipment, and decorative hardware.
France
Classically elegant and dripping with rustic charm and understated sophistication, these kitchens are a sacred space where culinary excellence is pursued and cherished traditions are passed down from generation to generation. Well-equipped and well-organised, these kitchens are brimming with attention to detail, their cultural reverence for fine dining evident throughout.
French kitchens often feature large dining tables, wine racks and serving areas, but where they differ is in their use of timeless, neutral colours such as white, beige, grey or taupe that are then paired with subtle colours such as French blue, pale pink, light green or lavender.
Hardwoods and marble are typical choices, often paired with copper accents to create a warm, earthy, convivial atmosphere.
How these inspire us
We never use one-size-fits-all designs - that's the beauty of a bespoke Naked Kitchen - so whether your inspiration is Italian, French or Mexican, we can build a kitchen built for your life.
Our Hertfordshire Manor kitchen is understated and homely, boasting a warm ambience with Shaker cabinets and oak accents, ample light and sociable island seating. A gorgeous kitchen that wouldn’t look out of place in France or Italy!
Perhaps a touch more contemporary than our Hertfordshire Manor, our Pelham kitchen brings warmth and sophistication through yellow and walnut tones. With open shelving adding depth, brass fixtures providing shine and a patterned tile splashback captivates and draws you in. This gorgeous kitchen wouldn’t look out of place in Morocco or Mexico!
See Also:
The Frankfurt Kitchen - the kitchen that revolutionised modern design
Kitchens Unbound: Kitchen appliances through the ages
Kitchens Unbound: The Ancient Roman Kitchen
Design for Life: A contemporary kitchen in a Victorian townhouse by Jake Lai
