Baz Ashmawy shares his recipe for a kitchen revamp

Currently mid-renovation, the TV and radio host talks about the practicalities, and finding inspiration by scrolling socials and showroom visits

Currently revamping his own kitchen, Baz Ashmawy became a well-known face to home renovation fans thanks to fronting TV series RTÉ's DIY SOS 'The Big Build Ireland', above left; The Panelling Centre Design, C1 Cascada Verde, right and below.

We have never had more kitchen inspiration at our fingertips. Instagram, Pinterest, TikTok, YouTube — an endless scroll of beautiful, spotless kitchens with pristine countertops and shelves holding artful bowls of lemons and 12 decorative clay pots. It is a rabbit hole — and if you’re planning your kitchen, it’s a great way to gather ideas for what you might like. It is also, if you’re not careful, a great way to get totally derailed and end up with a kitchen that just doesn’t work for your home or your life.

New research from The Panelling Centre bears this out. Nine out of ten tradespeople say social media is influencing kitchen design decisions — and not always for the better. The most common mistake they see (33%) is prioritising style over practicality. In a seeming contradiction, however, 77% of homeowners say storage is their top priority and that they would choose it over style.