An interiors expert has revealed the middle class kitchen gadgets that no ‘old money’ amateur cooks would actually buy – including pizza ovens, countertop mixers and wine fridges.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, Jordana Ashkenazi shared how ‘anything that feels overly showy, heavily branded or designed purely to impress’ makes the space feel more ‘like a showroom’ and feels too ‘new money’.
Instead, foodies with cash to spare would be investing in ‘quiet luxury’ items that get the job done and make life easier, but aren’t there as a centrepiece, explained the founder and design director of Element One House
‘Kitchens are starting to follow the same rules as fashion. Just like oversized logos across clothing have begun to feel a little try-hard, appliances that loudly announce their brand or try to be the focal point can tip into crass territory,’ she explained.
‘The most beautiful kitchens I see are quietly confident. They do not need to shout about labels or gadgets because the design speaks for itself.’
She stressed this does not mean gadgets are bad – but they need to serve an actual function. ‘What I am seeing from clients, particularly those designing long term homes, is a move towards hiding appliances rather than displaying them,’ Jordana shared.
‘Butler’s pantries, spice kitchens and even full secondary prep kitchens are becoming increasingly popular. You open a pantry cupboard and there is a hidden worktop with electrics plugged in, everything ready to use but neatly tucked away when the doors close.
‘Even in smaller city homes where space is limited, people are trying to keep worktops as clear as possible because cluttered benches quickly make a kitchen feel busy and dated.’ Read on to see which kitchen gadgets are more tacky than tactical…
Mark Wright and Michelle Keegan have shown off a pizza oven in their Essex mansion
Pizza ovens
Jordana: ‘If your garden’s main attraction is a pizza oven you use twice a year, it might be less about cooking and more about showing off.
‘They can be fun for entertaining, but they are bulky and often underused. In more understated homes, outdoor spaces focus on atmosphere and comfort rather than turning cooking equipment into a statement piece.’
Cocktail stations and permanent bar setups
Jordana: ‘If your kitchen looks more like a cocktail lounge than somewhere you actually cook, it might be time to dial the drama back.
‘In more timeless homes we often design cocktail cabinets that sit behind closed doors and open only when you are actually serving drinks, keeping the kitchen calm day to day.
‘And sometimes the best place for a bar is not the kitchen at all, but a formal sitting room or dedicated entertaining space where you can properly sit with guests and enjoy the ritual of pouring a drink in the right environment.’
Air fryers
Kate Ferdinand, who recently made the move to Dubai with her husband, has used an air fryer in a recent video
Molly-Mae Hague pictured using a Tefal ActiFry to cook breakfast
Jordana: ‘If your air fryer has its own shrine on the worktop, it might be time for a rethink. They are undeniably practical, but visually they dominate a surface.
‘In more refined kitchens, appliances like this live inside a pantry cupboard so they do not become the focal point.’
Oversized wine fridges as a focal point
Jordana: ‘A wine fridge should whisper luxury, not shout it across the room. Wine storage can be beautiful, but when it becomes the centrepiece it often feels more like a display than a lifestyle choice.’
Smart fridges with giant touch screens
Jordana: ‘If your fridge is louder than your cabinetry, the balance has probably tipped too far towards gadget over design. Oversized screens can dominate visually, whereas integrated refrigeration keeps the focus on the architecture of the kitchen.’
Built out coffee stations
The hidden coffee nook is a nice touch and works well visually, Jordana said
Jordana: ‘If your kitchen has turned into a full blown coffee shop, chances are the design has taken a back seat. Syrup racks, pods and multiple machines quickly create visual noise. Old money kitchens tend to integrate coffee machines discreetly into cabinetry instead of creating a display.’
Countertop ice machines
Jordana: ‘If you need a separate machine just to make fancy ice, you might be designing for Instagram rather than real life. Single purpose gadgets often take up valuable space and quickly lose their novelty.’
Neon LED strip lighting everywhere
Jordana: ‘If your kitchen lighting feels more like a gaming setup than a place to cook, it might be time to soften the mood. Lighting should enhance warmth and materials, not turn the room into a nightclub.’
Matching kettle and toaster sets
Lydia, who recently renovated her kitchen, also dabbled in DIY to bring her cosy pastel set-up to life
Jordana: ‘A colour matched toaster is not a design statement, it is just more visual noise. Perfect coordination can make a space feel staged rather than timeless. The quieter approach is to choose neutral pieces that blend into the kitchen rather than demand attention.’
Loud, heavily branded cookware
Jordana: ‘Buying one or two branded casserole dishes does not suddenly make a kitchen luxurious.
‘Pieces from brands like Le Creuset are beautiful and well made, but displaying them purely as status symbols can feel a little try-hard. True luxury is not about showing labels, it is about how the space works as a whole.
‘In more timeless kitchens, cookware is chosen for quality and longevity, not because it matches a colour trend or announces a brand name across the room.’
Giant stand mixers permanently on display
Jordana: ‘A stand mixer left out like a trophy says more about status than baking. These are beautiful tools, but when they sit permanently on the counter they start to compete visually with the kitchen itself.’
Dining and Cooking