Irish interior designer, Sara Cosgrove shares her kitchen dos and don’ts, and why one appliance in particular, the NEFF venting hob, is influencing how modern kitchens are being designed.
As open-plan living becomes the norm in Irish homes, the kitchen has taken on a whole new role, somewhere to cook, yes, but also to gather, chat, work and spend time together. It’s no longer just about how a kitchen looks, but how it works day to day.
Why Irish kitchen design is changing
“The kitchen is no longer a separate room,” says Sara Cosgrove. “It’s part of how we live.” And with that comes new challenges, how the space flows, how it connects to the rest of the home, and how it feels when you’re actually in it. In open-plan layouts especially, everything is on show. Sightlines matter. So does noise, lighting and how easily people can move around the space.
It’s why more designers are stepping back and thinking about the kitchen as a whole, not just cabinetry and finishes, but how everything works together.
Start with appliances like a venting hob in your kitchen design
One of the biggest shifts Sara sees is when appliances are considered at the start of the kitchen design process.
“Appliances should be treated as architectural components, not afterthoughts,” she says. “If you leave them until the end, you’re compromising your layout from the start.”
When they’re planned early, appliances help shape the space, improving flow, simplifying layouts and creating cleaner lines.
That’s where more integrated solutions are coming into their own, including NEFF’s venting hob, which combines cooking and extraction in one.
So, what exactly is a venting hob?
A venting hob is a hob with built-in extraction. Instead of a traditional overhead extractor, steam, grease and odours are pulled downwards at source, directly from the cooking surface. The benefit? You’re not dealing with a bulky canopy overhead, which can interrupt sightlines and make a space feel more closed in.
NEFF’s venting hob takes this a step further, with features like an Automatic Air Sensor that adjusts extraction as you cook, so everything runs quietly in the background. For open-plan kitchens, it’s a small shift that makes a big difference.
The good news is, there are lots of venting hob options from Neff Ireland. Here are just two that are worth a look: The NEFF N70 Induction Hob is 80cm wide with an integrated ventilation system. This frameless hob has 4 cooking zones, and you can combine two zones when you're using larger cookware. The filters are easy to remove and clean in your dishwasher, and you can also monitor the hob on your phone through Home Connect. The NEFF N90 Induction Hob comes in low-maintenance, but classy Matt Black, making it easy to wipe clean. With its Flex design, you can choose the side trim and Twist Pad Flex from a range of four colours.
With the Neff venting hob, there's no bulky canopy overhead, which can interrupt sightlines and make a space feel closed in.
Sara Cosgrove’s kitchen design dos and don’ts
✔️ Do design your kitchen for real life
Before anything else, think about how the kitchen is actually used. Who cooks? How often? Where do people naturally gather?
✔️ Do plan appliances early
Getting appliances locked in from the start helps avoid awkward layouts later on and gives you more freedom with the overall design.
✔️ Do choose finishes that can handle daily life
Kitchens get heavy use, so finishes matter. Matt surfaces, like NEFF’s matt black venting hob, are not only sleek but practical too, with fewer fingerprints and easier cleaning.
❌ Don’t design for looks alone
A beautiful kitchen that doesn’t function properly won’t stand the test of time.
❌ Don’t overlook appliance placement
Small details, like where appliances sit, can have a big impact on how easy the space is to use every day.
❌ DON’T treat lighting as an afterthought.
Layer task lighting, integrated cabinet lighting, ambient and accent lighting
The venting hob is a great solution for an island, allowing extraction without ruining the flow of the space.Can you switch to a venting hob if you’re not redoing your kitchen?
Many people are wondering, can you still switch to a venting hob without a full renovation? In many cases, yes. NEFF’s venting hobs come in a range of sizes, from 60cm up to 90cm, which means they can suit everything from more compact kitchens to larger island layouts. And because many models offer recirculating options, they don’t always require external ducting, making them easier to incorporate into an existing setup.
If you’re already planning to update your worktop or appliances, it’s often a natural point to consider making the switch.
As always, it’s worth speaking to a kitchen designer or appliance specialist early to understand what will work best in your space.
For anyone planning a kitchen, whether it’s a full redesign or a simple update, the takeaway is the same: start with how the space works, not just how it looks.
If you’re looking for inspiration, NEFF’s Home of Innovation in Dublin is a great place to begin. You can see the venting hobs in action, explore different options up close and get free advice from the experts.
Join House and Home and Sara Cosgrove at the House of Innovation
If you've been dreaming of adding new appliances to your kitchen, designing a new kitchen, or want to come to a fun event and meet Sara Cosgrove and the House and Home team, grab your ticket for the Spring Kitchen Masterclass. It's on Saturday April 18th, 2026 from 11am to 1pm at the House of Innovation in Dublin. Discover kitchen trends you can apply to your own home and get a chance to chat to Sara and find out all about must-have kitchen appliances (without the sales pitch). Only 50 places available with a goodie bag for everyone. Get your tickets on Eventbrite now.
