Waterside Kitchen Design Inspiration: Coastal & Lakeside GUIDE
The universal truth about waterside homes is that the view is paramount, whether it’s a sweeping ocean vista or a serene freshwater lake. Whether by saltwater or freshwater, the best waterside kitchens evoke a sense of harmony with their surroundings.
But how do you design a waterside kitchen that balances the everyday needs of the homeowners whilst making the most of the indoor/outdoor lifestyle? Are there specific design characteristics and rules, and if so, what are they and why?
In this article, we will explore these questions and more with the help of Hobson’s Choice Designer Guy Foan.
Living – Family, friends and everyday life.
Being able to share the experience of living by the sea or a lake with family and friends is often one of the best reasons for owning such a property. This means the kitchen will need to be adaptable, capable of working efficiently for larger numbers of people for short periods.
Footfall, seating, large-scale cooking, storage requirements, prep space, appliance noise levels, and specific kitchen workflows all play a part in designing the most suitable layout. Everything must work together.
We have created many different kitchens designed to accommodate an indoor/outdoor lifestyle and social events, regardless of location. In these circumstances, Guy Foan recommends:
Casual seating arrangements around an island or peninsula for guests to gather.
Incorporating storage on the reverse of the island for glassware and crockery, making it easy to lay the table without entering the working area.
Create a separate coffee and tea station using a pocket door arrangement, making it easy for guests to serve themselves.
Allow for plenty of worktop prep space so cooking responsibilities can be shared without compromising the ergonomics of the kitchen.
The inclusion of oversized or double appliance arrangements to provide plenty of cool storage, cooking and cleaning functionality.
Crafting the Look
Many different styles of kitchens will look attractive within a waterside setting, from the clean lines of contemporary furniture to the more classical, decorative look of shaker-style furniture.
When it comes to selecting materials, colours and tones, the environment often plays a significant role. Whether through inspiration or the reality of the environmental conditions.
Generally, saltwater coastal homes face harsher conditions than their lakeside counterparts due to the salty air, sand, and strong sunlight, which can accelerate the appearance of material ageing.
Materials + Finishes
Guy advises caution with the selection of solid woods, dark timbers and veneers such as walnut or cherry. Like any piece of wooden furniture, UV light will gradually fade the surface. It also has the potential to dry out materials, causing unwanted movement. Over time, this can be seen as curving or warping.
Depending on the orientation of the room, a highly reflective surface choice may also require some thought. Glossy lacquers, glass and metallics can act as great ways of bouncing light into a room, brightening the overall ambience. However, they can also create unwanted glare if the position has not been checked against the movement of the sun through the day.
In spaces which experience dust and sand buildup, more care may be needed when cleaning to avoid adding fine scratches and marks to delicate surfaces. As Guy explains, ”In a case like this, the choice of clean, flat surfaces, without the more decorative mouldings of classical kitchen furniture, could be beneficial.”
For waterside homes, Guy recommends matte finishes to reduce glare and maintain a calm aesthetic. “Light, earthy, and pastel tones complement the natural surroundings and help keep spaces feeling cool and inviting. Light timbers such as oak or beech offer durability and a subtle, natural look whilst reducing the likelihood of UV light fade.”
A Hobson’s Choice kitchen often combines material palettes for visual interest, texture and durability. Guy notes that “High-quality laminates with matte finishes, like bulthaup Oak Structure White or bulthaup Gravel, are practical choices, especially for coastal environments.”
For a touch of sophistication, aluminium surfaces in muted shades like sand-beige gold can be used to great effect without excessive shine. Equally, ceramic fronts can provide additional resilience in more demanding settings.
“When planning the final look and feel of the kitchen, we wanted it to blend seamlessly with the rest of the home while evoking the natural beauty of the sea, the pebbles, and the stones that surround us. We were fortunate that Hobson’s Choice offered a palette that allowed us to choose colours that perfectly aligned with our vision.”
- Sarah Gothard
Worktops
There aren’t really any differences when choosing a worktop for a waterside home in comparison to any other sort of property. Natural stone, marble, laminate or stainless steel don’t feel the effects of strong UV light levels in the same way wooden or painted surfaces may.
Lighting
Creating the right environment for cooking, dining, and relaxing is an important element of any kitchen design proposal. With advancements in downdraft extraction technology, ceiling extractors have become a thing of the past.
Nowadays, the ceiling space is home to decorative lighting, offering a place to create a focal point and masking the spotlight array still required for good working light.
Layouts
In a kitchen designed to provide a sociable environment, the furniture and appliances would be orientated to enable the cook a view looking into the space. This allows them to converse with guests face-to-face and feel included in activities.
However, when the exterior view becomes the priority, the design rules of an open plan kitchen may be adjusted.
As an example, in this south coast property, in contrast to the typical rules, the kitchen island and cooktop position the user’s view towards the sea, not the lounge.
With any indoor/outdoor space, there will be a natural foot flow as people move around. Understanding and mapping it against the furniture layout is important when designing the kitchen.
Maintaining a separation between the prep/hot working zone of the kitchen and people moving around will prevent unnecessary crossover. Particularly when young children excitedly heading out to play on the water have no awareness of the immediate danger.
In this example, the island forms a barrier, giving the cook plenty of space to work and an unobstructed flow between rooms.
Open plan spaces also tend to lack wall space, resulting in a kitchen with reduced storage opportunities. In addition to maximising the kitchen island storage, having a side kitchen area, a utility or a walk-in pantry can be incredibly helpful. These are the places where extra prep space is available and ‘occasional items’ can be stored. These may include large serving dishes, small appliances, cleaning materials, dry ingredients, etc, etc.
In this example, a supplemental side kitchen and pantry provide space for catering, keeping the main kitchen within the open plan space free for drinks and nibbles.
Personalising Your Waterside Kitchen
Creating a kitchen for a waterside home is more than an aesthetic exercise. It’s about respecting the unique challenges and opportunities presented by the environment and tailoring a space that fits your lifestyle. Coastal kitchens may benefit from materials and finishes that resist salt air and glare, while freshwater homes have slightly more flexibility.
As Guy Foan reminds us, the most successful waterside kitchen designs strike a balance between beauty and practicality, seamlessly integrating indoor living with the stunning external environment. Whether your home overlooks crashing waves or a peaceful lake, the goal is a kitchen that is durable, timeless, and intimately connected to its surroundings; reflecting your way of living now and well into the future.
