How Emily Henderson's kitchen cleverly integrates appliances – experts weigh in on its 'seamless' look

Interior designer Emily Henderson is often sharing aspiring glimpses into her home decor. Championing a modern and homely aesthetic, Emily's design tastes serve endless amounts of inspiration for design ideas that not only look great but are also incredibly functional. 

Testament to this functionality is her modern kitchen which cleverly disguises kitchen appliances, specifically two refrigerators and an ice machine, within the kitchen's sleek cabinetry. 

Ensuring large, often stark white kitchen appliances don't overshadow the decor, opting for panel-ready appliances offers a stylish kitchen storage solution that we're seeing embraced in kitchen layout ideas. 

Inspired by Emily's own kitchen, we spoke to the interior design experts to learn more about this design trend and how to channel the look. 

'Using panel-ready appliances in your kitchen can transform the space into a seamless and cohesive aesthetic masterpiece,' explains designer Stephanie Calderon. 'These appliances offer the remarkable advantage of allowing you to integrate them seamlessly with your cabinetry, as they are designed to accept custom panels that match the rest of your kitchen's design.'

Stephanie Calderon

Stephanie Calderon is the Owner and Principal Designer at Stephanie Calderon Interiors, a boutique interior design firm based in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company specializes in new builds, renovations and home furnishings. 

Designer Ladina Schöpf notes that the seamless look of panel-ready appliances is 'especially important in small kitchens and makes for a much more organized look within the whole room. This design not only enhances the aesthetic appeal of the kitchen but also maximizes the available space.'

Ladina Schöpf

Ladina is the founder of design studio LS Projects; specializing in architectural design and bridging the gap between aesthetics and practicality. 

There are a number of things to consider if opting for integrated appliances, as shared by Schöpf. The first thing to consider, she advises is the size of the appliances: 'Plan your kitchen while looking for the right size appliances. You might need to adjust the kitchen layout according to the sizes of the appliances you find.'

'Remember that built-in appliances offer a streamlined appearance and allow for better utilization of space. They can be integrated into existing cabinetry or customized to match the kitchen's design,' Schöpf continues.

Secondly, making sure to opt for panel-ready appliances is preferable for the best outcome: 'Panel-ready appliances can be fitted with custom panels that match the surrounding cabinetry, creating a harmonious and integrated look. This option is particularly useful if you want the appliances to blend seamlessly with the rest of the kitchen.'

Lastly, Schöpf advises that it's important to consider the placement of the appliances, paying careful consideration to where the most practical location for them is: 'When planning your kitchen layout, think about the placement of the integrated appliances. Strategically placing them near work areas will enhance functionality and ease of use.'

Refresh your kitchen with these decor pieces

While there are lots of kitchen companies that can help you create your own personalized and integrated appliance cabinetry – Emily's appliances are from Build with Ferguson and the cabinetry is by Unique Kitchens & Baths, you may also be inspired by the rest of Emily's stylish kitchen decor.

We've rounded up some similar smaller decor items for you to shop below to create a similar modern, but homey, look. 

While upgrading kitchen appliances and cabinetry can be a costly investment, it's an easy way to elevate a kitchen, hiding the potentially unsightly but necessary bulky appliances that can bring the look of a space down. Emily's kitchen is proof you can hide pretty much any appliance behind a door, and the result is a chic and seamless space that's super functional too.