Designing for Life on the Go: Kevin McCloud’s Kitchen Blueprint episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 22, 2026 · 49 MIN

Designing for Life on the Go: Kevin McCloud’s Kitchen Blueprint

from Love Your Kitchen

Is the "Smart Kitchen" actually smart, or just full of useless functions? Discover why the "Kitchen Work Triangle" has evolved into other shapes with more sides and how to design for real life in a busy modern home. In this special episode, we debate the reality of modern design, why tactile buttons are making a comeback, and the architectural secrets to a kitchen that slows you down in a fast-paced world.In this special live panel episode of Love Your Kitchen, host Faye Newman is joined by a powerhouse panel including Grand Designs’ Kevin McCloud, Luke Wedgbury (Kitchen Specialist), and Daniel Hadley (MD of Smeg UK). They explore the tension between designing for "life on the go" and keeping the kitchen as the soulful hearth of the home. The panel debates whether smart appliances are a gimmick, the evolution of kitchen layouts beyond the 1940s triangle, and why authentic design matters more than chasing the latest trends.Work With Faye Looking to start your own kitchen renovation journey but not sure where to begin? We would love to help you bring your vision to life. Book a Kitchen Discovery Call with Faye today to discuss your project: 👉 www.fayenewmandesign.comKey Takeaways:Slow Living vs. Fast Life: Kevin McCloud explains why a kitchen should be a "hearth" that slows you down, not just a factory for food.The "Sink on Island" Debate: Why designers (and Kevin) often advise against putting a sink on the island and where it should go instead to hide the mess.Is the Work Triangle Dead?: Luke and Faye explain why the 1940s "Kitchen Triangle" has evolved into a "kitchen hexagon" and how to fix your flow for modern family life.The Smart Kitchen Reality: Kevin’s honest take on why he refuses to install more apps and why tactile buttons and simple functionality are making a comeback.Trends vs. Authenticity: Why you can either be "universally liked" or "authentic"—but not both—and how to choose colours that reflect your personality.Best Moments“I’ve officially said to every service provider on my phone that I’m not interested in installing any more apps... Just give me a switch!”“The pantry is the shed of the kitchen. It’s where the happy things live.”“You can either be universally liked by everybody, or you can be authentic. But you can't be both.”“I’m in a good mood when I’m cooking, and a bad mood when I’m doing the washing up—that's why the sink shouldn't be on the island.”About the HostFaye Newman is a freelance Kitchen Designer with eight years of experience in the industry. With a background in furniture design and a passion for creating spaces that reflect the essence of the home, Faye brings a unique perspective to kitchen design. Her dedication to client satisfaction and love for her craft shines through in every project she undertakes.Connect with Faye Newman Design: Visit: www.fayenewmandesign.com for kitchen inspiration and design resources. Now available to watch on YouTube! Don’t forget to subscribe here and click the notification bell for visual inspiration and expert advice. Follow us on TikTok @LoveYourKitchenPodcast for daily doses of kitchen design inspiration and behind-the-scenes glimpses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is the "Smart Kitchen" actually smart, or just full of useless functions? Discover why the "Kitchen Work Triangle" has evolved into other shapes with more sides and how to design for real life in a busy modern home. In this special episode, we debate the reality of modern design, why tactile buttons are making a comeback, and the architectural secrets to a kitchen that slows you down in a fast-paced world.In this special live panel episode of Love Your Kitchen, host Faye Newman is joined by a powerhouse panel including Grand Designs’ Kevin McCloud, Luke Wedgbury (Kitchen Specialist), and Daniel Hadley (MD of Smeg UK). They explore the tension between designing for "life on the go" and keeping the kitchen as the soulful hearth of the home. The panel debates whether smart appliances are a gimmick, the evolution of kitchen layouts beyond the 1940s triangle, and why authentic design matters more than chasing the latest trends.Work With Faye Looking to start your own kitchen renovation journey but not sure where to begin? We would love to help you bring your vision to life. Book a Kitchen Discovery Call with Faye today to discuss your project: 👉 www.fayenewmandesign.comKey Takeaways:Slow Living vs. Fast Life: Kevin McCloud explains why a kitchen should be a "hearth" that slows you down, not just a factory for food.The "Sink on Island" Debate: Why designers (and Kevin) often advise against putting a sink on the island and where it should go instead to hide the mess.Is the Work Triangle Dead?: Luke and Faye explain why the 1940s "Kitchen Triangle" has evolved into a "kitchen hexagon" and how to fix your flow for modern family life.The Smart Kitchen Reality: Kevin’s honest take on why he refuses to install more apps and why tactile buttons and simple functionality are making a comeback.Trends vs. Authenticity: Why you can either be "universally liked" or "authentic"—but not both—and how to choose colours that reflect your personality.Best Moments“I’ve officially said to every service provider on my phone that I’m not interested in installing any more apps... Just give me a switch!”“The pantry is the shed of the kitchen. It’s where the happy things live.”“You can either be universally liked by everybody, or you can be authentic. But you can't be both.”“I’m in a good mood when I’m cooking, and a bad mood when I’m doing the washing up—that's why the sink shouldn't be on the island.”About the HostFaye Newman is a freelance Kitchen Designer with eight years of experience in the industry. With a background in furniture design and a passion for creating spaces that reflect the essence of the home, Faye brings a unique perspective to kitchen design. Her dedication to client satisfaction and love for her craft shines through in every project she undertakes.Connect with Faye Newman Design: Visit: www.fayenewmandesign.com for kitchen inspiration and design resources. Now available to watch on YouTube! Don’t forget to subscribe here and click the notification bell for visual inspiration and expert advice. Follow us on TikTok @LoveYourKitchenPodcast for daily doses of kitchen design inspiration and behind-the-scenes glimpses. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

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Designing for Life on the Go: Kevin McCloud’s Kitchen Blueprint

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Eat to Live Jenna Fuhrman, Dr. Fuhrman Our health is our most precious gift and smart nutrition can change your life. Each month, join Dr. Fuhrman and his daughter, Jenna Fuhrman as they discuss important topics in the world of nutrition. Eat to Live will change the way you eat and think about food. French Your Way Jessica: Native French teacher founder of French Your Way Boost your French listening skills and test your comprehension with this one of a kind series of podcasts. Get the chance to listen to a real conversation between native speakers talking at normal speed AND customise your learning experience through carefully designed sets of questions (2 levels of difficulty) available for download at www.frenchvoicespodcast.com. All interviews also come with the transcript. French teacher Jessica interviews native speakers of French from around the world who share a bit of their life and passion. Where else would you meet in one same place a French yoga teacher based in Melbourne, a soap manufacturer from Provence, or a couple cycling around the world? That Hoarder: Overcome Compulsive Hoarding That Hoarder Hoarding disorder is stigmatised and people who hoard feel vast amounts of shame. This podcast began life as an audio diary, an anonymous outlet for somebody with this weird condition. That Hoarder speaks about her experiences living with compulsive hoarding, she interviews therapists, academics, researchers, children of hoarders, professional organisers and influencers, and she shares insight and tips for others with the problem. Listened to by people who hoard as well as those who love them and those who work with them, Overcome Compulsive Hoarding with That Hoarder aims to shatter the stigma, share the truth and speak openly and honestly to improve lives. Destiny Architecture® Meditations Heather Larson Bring your mediation practice into the Valueverse.

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This episode is 49 minutes long.

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This episode was published on January 22, 2026.

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Is the "Smart Kitchen" actually smart, or just full of useless functions? Discover why the "Kitchen Work Triangle" has evolved into other shapes with more sides and how to design for real life in a busy modern home. In this special episode, we...

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