Celebrities are renowned for investing vast sums, often reaching millions, into their luxurious mansions, with state-of-the-art kitchens frequently serving as a centrepiece. However, despite access to unlimited budgets for the finest culinary appliances and wares, it appears that genuine taste cannot simply be purchased. An interiors expert has now provided her professional assessment, categorising which A-listers opt for 'showy' and 'classy' designs, and which prefer 'traditional' and 'polished' aesthetics.
Geri Halliwell: A Dated Country Feel
Geri Halliwell, the former Spice Girl, has long been associated with traditional, rustic tastes, and her kitchen reflects this preference. The 53-year-old has showcased her culinary space on YouTube, highlighting farm-inspired decor and granite worktops, all adhering to an all-white theme reminiscent of her iconic wardrobe.
Jordana Ashkenazi, founder and design director of Element One House, commented: "Geri Halliwell's kitchen feels cute, quaint and very lived in, with a clear country-house feel. It's warm and homely, but also a little dated, lacking the glamour expected from a former Spice Girl. While the granite worktops may have been updated, the cabinetry and handles feel older, needing a lift through updated hardware and lighting to modernise without losing charm."
Verdict: Dated
Mollie King: A Safe Modern Design
Mollie King, 38, displays a sleek, ivory-hued kitchen with modern lighting fixtures, offering a clean and fresh aesthetic that is currently on trend.
Jordana said: "It's a really lovely kitchen with an open-plan layout, generous breakfast bar, and clear zones perfect for cooking and socialising. However, the all-white cabinetry and worktop feel flat and mid-range. A chunkier worktop in contrasting stone would elevate it significantly, adding character and a premium feel."
Verdict: Safe
Jamie Oliver: Authentic and Lived-In
Jamie Oliver revealed his real kitchen during a pandemic cooking show, featuring an exposed brick wall and wooden wares that create a cosy, rustic atmosphere.
Jordana explained: "Jamie Oliver's kitchen is warm, friendly, and full of life with a relaxed, farmhouse-eclectic feel. It looks genuinely loved and lived in, rather than styled for perfection. The colours and tones feel comforting and joyful, making it unmistakably British and authentic."
Verdict: Authentic
Nigella Lawson: Traditional with Eclectic Charm
Nigella Lawson's kitchen is filled with knick-knacks and ceramics, creating a snug and layered environment that feels thoroughly enjoyed.
Jordana noted: "Nigella Lawson's kitchen feels lived in and loved, with hanging pans and well-used cookware adding warmth. However, the eclectic mix of elements verges on chaotic, with some pieces feeling timeless and others dated. A gentle update could bring cohesion without losing its distinct personality."
Verdict: Traditional
Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan: Showy and Modern
The sleek modern set-up in Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan's £3.5 million Essex mansion includes a techy kitchen with dark cabinetry and an oversized island.
Jordana observed: "Mark Wright's kitchen is extremely modern and polished, designed to read well on camera. The dark palette gives a masculine, heavy feel, and the marble-effect surfaces appear showy rather than refined. It reads more as a bachelor-pad kitchen, prioritising visual impact over warmth."
Verdict: Showy
Lydia Bright: Inviting and Thoughtful
Lydia Bright recently renovated her kitchen, incorporating DIY touches to create a cosy pastel set-up with pale green tones.
Jordana praised: "Lydia Bright's kitchen feels soft, inviting, and thoughtfully done. The pale green tones are gentle and calming, with well-considered layout and detailing, such as the canopy area. It strikes a balance between pretty and practical, suiting her aesthetic perfectly."
Verdict: Inviting
Molly-Mae Hague: Curated and Luxurious
Molly-Mae Hague's kitchen commits to a neutral palette with tasteful greys, featuring a white marble dining table and two chunky marble islands.
Jordana commented: "Molly-Mae's kitchen is undeniably impressive, with an excellent layout for socialising. The curved banquette breakfast area softens the space, and the contrasting marble adds depth. However, the chandelier feels gaudy, slightly cheapening the otherwise refined look."
Verdict: Curated
Emma McVey: Polished and Timeless
Emma McVey's kitchen uses a palette of black, white, and gold, with marble worktops and a statement range cooker adding character.
Jordana said: "Emma McVey's kitchen feels incredibly well considered and beautifully executed. The marble worktops add character and contrast, while the tiling and range cooker provide texture and interest. It balances traditional British style with modern cleanliness, feeling high-spec and timeless."
Verdict: Polished
Chloe Sims: Showroom Sleek
Chloe Sims' kitchen features light, neutral tones and a hidden coffee nook, creating a sleek, glossy appearance designed to be photo-ready.
Jordana noted: "Chloe Sims' kitchen is sleek, glossy, and well put together, with clean lines and high-shine finishes. The hidden coffee nook is a practical, Instagram-friendly touch. However, the materials feel too beige and subtle, blending together without enough contrast or depth."
Verdict: Showroom
Lucy Mecklenburgh: Disjointed and Confusing
Lucy Mecklenburgh's kitchen combines marble and wood finishes, but the execution lacks cohesion, with cabinetry that appears plasticky and flooring that clashes.
Jordana explained: "Lucy Mecklenburgh's kitchen tries to do too many things at once, leading to a disjointed feel. The cabinetry reads cheap and laminate-heavy, and the flooring doesn't harmonise with the modern units. With better detailing and material choices, it could have felt more elevated."
Verdict: Disjointed
Amanda Holden: Over Styled and Theatrical
Amanda Holden's kitchen boasts a modern design with a white breakfast bar, grey cupboards, and statement lighting, but it feels overwhelming due to competing elements.
Jordana observed: "Amanda Holden's kitchen is expensive and high-quality with a fantastic layout for entertaining. However, the styling is overwhelming, with loud statement lighting and tonal clashes in cabinetry. The gold detailing pushes it into blingy territory, making it more likely to date."
Verdict: Over Styled
Binky Felstead: Overloaded with Competing Elements
Binky Felstead's kitchen, showcased on Instagram, features an oversized fridge and large island, but suffers from a loud colour palette and excessive lighting.
Jordana said: "Binky Felstead's kitchen is clearly expensive and solid, with a great layout for hosting. However, the blue tones clash, and the gold detailing and multiple statement lights create visual busyness. More editing and restraint could have made it timeless."
Verdict: Overloaded
Kate Ferdinand: Plain and Inoffensive
Kate Ferdinand's kitchen is filled with cabinets and optimised for storage, featuring a bright, white finish that feels safe but lacks personality.
Jordana commented: "Kate Ferdinand's kitchen is perfectly fine and safe, with classic cabinetry and a functional layout. However, it feels very stock standard and neutral, lacking memorable features or wow factor. Some colour or accessories could add needed personality."
Verdict: Plain
Millie McIntosh: Charming and Personal
Millie McIntosh opted for a warm dusky pink kitchen, showcasing how good design doesn't require huge budgets but thoughtful choices.
Jordana praised: "Millie McIntosh's kitchen is warm and considered, with a pinky tone executed beautifully. The wooden flooring and gentle lighting add cohesion, making it feel lived-in and loved. It's a refreshing change from trend-led designs, full of personality and charm."
Verdict: Charming
Chloe Ferry: Clashy and Trend-Led
Chloe Ferry's kitchen features wooden flooring and cabinetry, but the similar tones compete, creating a muddled and generic appearance.
Jordana explained: "Chloe Ferry's kitchen has expensive-looking flooring, but the cabinetry feels flat and laminate-heavy. The combination of woods is too similar yet not harmonious, leading to a clashy effect. It feels trend-led and likely to date quickly."
Verdict: Clashy
