Jennifer Sheahan: What Ballymaloe taught me about designing a better kitchen

'While I’m not planning to rip my kitchen out and start again, there are certainly some things I picked up that will help me create a better workflow'

The kitchens at Ballymaloe Cookery School, left; Jennifer Sheahan during the Rachel Allen-taught course, centre; and top right, the cottage accommodation for students.

As an avid amateur baker and lover of all things food-related, I have wanted to do a course at Ballymaloe Cookery School for years. I had a Big Birthday a while back, and I put the word around that anyone who wanted to get me a present I would love couldn’t go wrong with Ballymaloe vouchers. 

I always have the course list tab open on my laptop, so when a two-and-a-half-day “Baking with Rachel Allen” course appeared, I snapped it right up.