Signature Spaces Designer of the Year 2025
Joanna Geddes-Campbell and Felicity O’Hare (Entry 2)
Entry for Signature Spaces Designer of the Year 2025.
This space reimagines the traditional pantry and utility layout to optimise flow, function, and form. We challenged the architect’s original layout by relocating the utility room to the rear entrance, directly addressing the family's daily needs and improving spatial logic.
Key design principles such as function-first planning, zoning, and user-centric circulation guided our approach. By placing the utility near the entry, we created a natural transition zone—a buffer between outdoors and indoors. This area handles clutter, wet gear, and storage without disrupting the rest of the home.
The pantry was then relocated further inside, designed with linear ergonomics in mind. A long, unbroken worktop runs the length of the space, providing generous prep space, clear workflow, and ease of access—ideal for baking and food prep.
Use of Materials and Texture
Material selection was both practical and sensory-driven. In the utility, we used hard-wearing, easy-clean surfaces ideal for heavy use and high traffic. Textured tiles in neutral tones help conceal dirt while adding depth and durability.
In the pantry, warm finishes and tactile surfaces create a more inviting, almost cocoon-like space where the client could "lock away" and focus on baking. Timber accents were introduced to bring warmth, while soft matte finishes on cabinetry reduce glare and keep the space calm and controlled.
The continuity between the two rooms supports their dual functions—one rugged and high-traffic, the other calm and focused—yet both sit harmoniously within the wider home palette.
Ability to Meet the Clients’ Brief
Every decision in this project was guided by the client's needs. The family, with young children and an active lifestyle, needed a space that worked hard behind the scenes. By reconfiguring the original layout, we delivered:
This solution created two highly functional spaces that blend seamlessly with family life, without sacrificing aesthetics or flow.
Creativity
The most creative aspect of this project was rethinking the spatial logic. Moving the utility to the back door may seem simple, but it significantly changed how the family interacts with their home. It introduced a transitional zone that acts as both a mudroom and utility, streamlining daily routines.
The pantry, meanwhile, became a purpose-built sanctuary—not just a place to store food, but a tailored environment for creativity and joy. Giving the client a space to bake, separate from the open kitchen, meant food prep could be done with intention and without visual clutter.
This layered thinking, where practicality and emotional experience come together, is where the design truly shines.