“Roundhouse designed my kitchen 13 years ago, and it still works brilliantly.”
– Yotam Ottolenghi

We always love to hear from happy customers, but few endorsements carry more weight than a returning client. When someone has lived with a bespoke kitchen every day for more than a decade, raised a family around it, cooked thousands of meals in it, tested recipes, hosted friends and truly worn it in, choosing the same kitchen company all over again speaks volumes. When that person happens to be an internationally renowned chef, restaurateur and food writer, it’s the ultimate vote of confidence.

The story began in 2013, when Yotam and his family commissioned Roundhouse to create a kitchen for their Georgian townhouse in north London. Built from our signature Urbo collection, it embodied the relaxed minimalism that has long defined our approach: calm, understated and tailored to real life. ‘The refresh was not about changing the fundamentals, I wanted to build on a design that had already stood the test of time,’ explains Yotam.

That idea of longevity sits at the heart of every Roundhouse project. Too often, kitchens are replaced because they’ve worn out or no longer suit the way people live. Here, the fundamentals were so well designed from the outset that there was no need to rethink them. The catalyst for this refurbishment then, wasn’t a failing layout or tired design. In fact, quite the opposite. After 13 years of daily use, the original Roundhouse kitchen was still doing exactly what it had been designed to do. ‘Everything is at my fingertips. The kitchen works intuitively, which makes cooking a pleasure,’ confirms Yotam. That, ultimately, is the measure of great design – it makes everyday life easier.

Yet there was one thing Yotam felt the space was missing: personality. The answer came in the form of a hand-painted splashback by artist Cecilie Maurud Barstad of Gilles & Cecilie Studio. Filled with references to family life, favourite foods and shared memories, the artwork makes the kitchen unmistakably his. ‘I wanted a kitchen that felt personal. The new splashback brought character and individuality that made the space my own,’ he explains.

Beyond the characterful tiles, the changes were subtle but carefully considered. Key storage around the oven wall was reconfigured, appliances were upgraded throughout, and new stainless-steel worktops introduced a professional edge, showing how to design a chef’s kitchen that still feels like home. One of the biggest practical changes was the move from gas to induction. For many chefs, abandoning gas remains a difficult leap, but Roundhouse co-founder Craig Matson persuaded Yotam to give the latest generation of induction technology a chance. The result has been transformative, and Yotam is now a firm convert. Faster, easier to clean and more energy efficient, his induction hob sits alongside a suite of new Gaggenau appliances and a Quooker tap, bringing the kitchen tech firmly up to date.

This refurbishment may have added a little extra colour, character and capability, but the original minimalist white cabinetry has remained untouched, a testament to the build quality and enduring appeal of a design that still feels as relevant after 13 years as it did on day one. ‘A simple, calm backdrop allows everything else to shine. That’s true in our restaurants, and it’s true in my kitchen. And then the tiles designed by my dear friend Cecilie Barstad bring some fun and character to the space,’ says Yotam.

And perhaps that’s the greatest compliment of all. Not that Yotam Ottolenghi chose Roundhouse once, but that after living with the kitchen every day for more than a decade, he chose Roundhouse again. 

Yotam Ottolenghi’s kitchen is proof that great design only gets better with age. Visit your nearest Roundhouse showroom to discover how we create kitchens designed around the people who use them, from relaxed family spaces to the ultimate chef’s kitchen at home. 

To learn more about the project, you can read the full Financial Times feature on the Ottolenghi x Roundhouse story here.