Why the best kitchens start with real life – Inside Millie Turner's design philosophy

We spoke to interior designer Millie Turner, founder of Millie Turner Designs, about her philosophy of creating homes – and kitchens – that reflect the people who live in them…

“...What matters most to me is how the space feels when you’re in it. Comfort, character, and functionality all have to come together...”

Naked have worked with Millie Turner on a number of kitchen projects, most recently the Barnes kitchen, a beautiful space that blends traditional farmhouse warmth with a contemporary urban edge. We love Millie’s approach to interior design – making spaces that reflect the real lives of the people that will use them – and we thought it was high time to find out more about how she does it.

Here’s our Q&A…

Tell us a bit about Millie Turner Designs...Millie Turner Designs began quite organically. I started out freelancing, gradually building up a portfolio and client base, and in 2020, right at the start of the pandemic, I took the leap and officially launched the studio. It’s grown steadily since then, we now have a team of seven working across a wide range of projects, from full renovations to smaller decorative schemes.

I’m most energised by projects where the client trusts the process and is open to something a little unexpected, whether that’s a bold colour choice, a vintage find, or layering in textures in a way they might not have imagined. Those are the moments when the design really comes alive and feels truly personal.

How would you describe your overall approach to interior design? What’s most important to you when you're designing someone’s home?

My approach is about blending timeless and contemporary elements to create spaces that feel warm, personal, and lived-in, never too perfect or staged. I want a home to feel like a reflection of the people who live there, not like it’s been plucked from a showroom.

What matters most to me is how the space feels when you’re in it. Comfort, character, and functionality all have to come together. I always think about how someone moves through their day-to-day life and how their space can support that, while also sparking a bit of joy and inspiration.

When you’re designing a room, how do you balance making it personal to the client but also cohesive with the rest of the house?It starts with really understanding the client, their lifestyle, taste, and the emotional response they want from the space. From there, I look at the overall flow of the home, both visually and practically. Mood boards help hugely in keeping a consistent thread throughout, even if each room has its own personality.

Sometimes we anchor a room around a special piece, a vintage rug, a piece of art, or even a fabric the client loves, and build the scheme from there. The key is ensuring the tone, materials, or palette speak to what’s happening in the rest of the home, so everything feels intentional and connected without being overly matchy or formulaic.

What was the brief for the Barnes kitchen?The brief was to design a kitchen that felt like the true heart of the home, warm, welcoming, and functional for busy family life, but with a calm and elegant feel. The clients wanted it to be beautifully made and full of character, but not overly decorative. It needed to balance form and function effortlessly, with plenty of clever storage, space to cook and gather, and a natural flow that worked day to day.

We focused on tactile materials, soft tones and thoughtful detailing to meet those needs, building a space that felt both grounded and quietly refined.

How would you describe the finished style? It has that lovely balance of farmhouse charm and contemporary urban edge…Exactly that, we wanted to capture a modern interpretation of classic farmhouse style, but with a tailored, urban edge that felt right for a London home. The oak cabinetry brings warmth and softness, while the stone surfaces, aged brass hardware and clean-lined joinery elevate the space and add polish.

We played with contrast in a subtle way, the deep olive island, the gently arched larder cupboard, the textured wall tiles, all of which bring visual interest without making the space feel busy. It’s a layered, tactile kitchen that feels both timeless and lived-in, but still fresh and current.

Tell us about choosing the palette and materials.The palette was all about warmth, texture and longevity. We knew we wanted natural oak to be the hero, it adds so much softness and depth, and from there, everything else was chosen to complement and enhance that. The green on the island grounds the space and gives just enough contrast to feel interesting, while still sitting quietly within the scheme.

The glazed brick tiles were added to give the walls some texture and movement without overwhelming the cabinetry. Every material was chosen not just for how it looked, but how it would age and wear, we wanted it all to feel better with time.

The island is such a strong feature. How did you approach its design?The island was designed to be the anchor of the kitchen, both practically and visually. It’s where food prep happens, where the children perch for breakfast, and where friends gather with a drink while something’s on the hob. So the layout had to work really hard for flow and function.

The green adds weight and definition without stealing the show, and the fluted detail on the cabinetry brings a subtle rhythm that catches the light beautifully. It’s one of those pieces that quietly pulls the whole space together.

"...There’s something incredibly rewarding about creating a space that looks beautiful but also makes daily life easier and more enjoyable. When a client tells me the kitchen has become their favourite room in the house, that’s the best compliment I could hope for.

What do you think makes a kitchen truly work for family life?It’s all about balancing function with comfort. A kitchen has to work hard behind the scenes, with clever storage, durable materials, and a layout that supports the flow of daily life, but it also needs to feel like a space people genuinely want to spend time in.

For family life, I think zones are key: a place to prep, a place to sit, a spot where kids can do homework or chat while dinner’s cooking. Storage needs to be accessible and intuitive, especially when there are multiple people using the space. But beyond the practicalities, a family kitchen should feel warm, lived-in and welcoming, not precious or overly styled.

If you can create a space where people naturally gather, linger, and feel at ease, that’s when you know it’s working.

Why did you choose to work with Naked Kitchens on this project?We first worked with Naked Kitchens back in 2020 on one of our early projects, and the outcome exceeded all expectations. So when it came to this kitchen, it felt like a natural fit, particularly as the client’s budget aligned well with Naked’s offering. They strike a brilliant balance between affordability and bespoke detailing, which is quite rare at this price point.

The quality of their cabinetry is excellent, it stands up to everyday family life and still feels beautifully made. For this project, we had a vision for a bespoke curved fridge-freezer housing, which many other companies couldn’t deliver. Naked made it happen, which was a big deciding factor for us.

This was actually the second project we’ve worked on with them this year, and both times the collaboration has been seamless. Their team really understands our design intent, communicates brilliantly with both us and the client, and brings everything to life exactly as envisioned, something we hugely value when choosing suppliers.

What role does colour play in your designs?Colour plays a huge role in our designs, it sets the tone and mood of a space and has the power to completely transform how a room feels. That said, we tend to use colour in a considered and layered way, rather than bold statements for the sake of it. I’m drawn to palettes that feel timeless and grounded, with warmth and softness at their core.

When it comes to kitchens, I always start with the architecture and light, how the space feels naturally, and then build a palette that enhances that. I often lean into earthy, organic tones and pair them with natural materials like timber, stone or brass so the space feels calm but full of character.

Even with more neutral schemes, we like to include depth and contrast, whether that’s through a darker island, tonal cabinetry, or unexpected accents. The goal is to create something that feels cohesive, considered and comforting, a kitchen you want to spend time in, not just look at.

Finally, what do you love most about designing kitchens?

Kitchens are the heart of the home, so designing them always feels like a real privilege. It’s where people gather, connect, unwind, whether it’s weekday breakfasts, Sunday roasts, or late-night chats with a glass of wine.

What I love most is finding that perfect balance between beauty and function. It’s such a technical space, with so many practical considerations, but it also offers endless opportunities to bring in texture, warmth and personality. Every detail matters, from the way the light hits the worktop to how a cupboard opens or a handle feels in your hand.

There’s something incredibly rewarding about creating a space that looks beautiful but also makes daily life easier and more enjoyable. When a client tells me the kitchen has become their favourite room in the house, that’s the best compliment I could hope for.

Explore the Barnes kitchen portfolio page here and see more of Millie Turner’s work at millieturnerdesigns.com

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