The kitchen is often defined as the heart of the home. Making the right choice is never straightforward. For those furnishing a newly built home or renovating existing spaces, one recurring question is: is it better to rely on a craftsman for a custom creation or opt for a modular solution?
The question itself is almost misleading, because it focuses on the executor or production system, when the real difference comes from:
- needs analysis
- space interpretation
- coherence between function, aesthetics and budget
- the ability to coordinate details
A craftsman can produce an excellent product, but without a clear project, they risk simply translating a non-optimized idea.
A modular solution can be extremely high-performing, but if chosen without an overall vision, it can turn out standard, poorly integrated, inconsistent with flows and architecture.
So what matters? The project is what truly counts and gives meaning to the technical choice.
Custom kitchens: when the project makes the difference
A custom kitchen isn’t just about centimeters. It’s about vision. It’s the ability to see possibilities where others see limits, to transform a difficult corner into a perfect pantry, to make aesthetics and functionality dialogue without compromise.
Personalization, space optimization, quality of finishes. These are the three pillars of a custom kitchen. But the real added value is the architect’s project.
The project: the fifth factor (the one that truly matters)
When talking about a kitchen budget, four factors are always considered: dimensions, appliances, finishes, number of compartments. In reality, there’s a fifth element: the project.
A good project studies how the kitchen is lived in. It understands the habits of those who use it (whether you cook a lot or little, if you like having everything on display or prefer to hide things), whether the kitchen is a passageway or the central space of the house. A good project doesn’t waste a single centimeter, doesn’t force habits into standard modules, doesn’t make you choose between beauty and practicality.
A well-designed kitchen exploits all available spaces without being oversized.
The project of a custom kitchen transforms measurements, materials and finishes into a space that truly works for those who live and use it.
When custom kitchen is the right choice
A custom kitchen is always decisive when the space is particular. Small, irregular, with high ceilings to exploit or niches to recover. But also when the space is large and there’s a need for something absolutely original.
Making good use of space is never a whim, it’s a necessity. A custom kitchen allows nothing to be wasted: no dead corners, no useless voids between modules. Even in reduced spaces, it’s possible to include everything necessary (cooktop, appliances, storage) and still achieve a welcoming environment to share moments with family and friends.
Materials and finishes: freedom of choice
Wooden kitchen
Customizing a kitchen doesn’t only concern measurements and layout. There’s a universe of materials to choose from to make the kitchen unique.
Matte, glossy or metallic lacquer. Natural or varnished solid wood. Stoneware, laminate, natural concrete, Fenix, Corian. Each material has its own personality, and the combinations are infinite. Design creativity finds its space here.
Custom or modular kitchen: the price difference
Today in our opinion, a custom kitchen can also be realized by a company that produces industrial kitchens and doesn’t necessarily have to be developed by a craftsman. It’s true, a custom kitchen costs more. We’re talking about a difference that can reach 30% compared to modular models with similar characteristics.
But the price must be read in context. A custom kitchen remains the best choice when the space is small or has a particular configuration. But also in large environments, for truly original solutions or those created for personal needs.
A well-conceived kitchen isn’t just furnishing, it’s property enhancement. The result isn’t just a beautiful kitchen, but a space that works perfectly for those who live in it. And when the project is done well, the kitchen stops being a problem to solve and becomes the heart of the home.