In Profile:
Snug Kitchens

Name: Nick McColgan
Company Name: Snug Kitchens
Position Within Company: Director
Website: https://snugkitchens.co.uk/

Tell us a little about your background in design:
My route into design has been shaped as much by lived experience as by formal training. I began my career in boat building, where precision, structural logic and material integrity are essential. That early grounding instilled a respect for craftsmanship, durability and clarity of thought that continues to inform my work today.

I later moved into high-end kitchen design, including time at Poggenpohl London, where I was exposed to rigorous planning, architectural integration and the importance of restraint in design. However, a defining moment in my life came outside of the studio. During a sailing sabbatical, I experienced a serious near-death incident at sea. It was a moment that forced a complete reassessment of priorities, purpose and how I wanted to spend my working life.

That experience fundamentally changed my relationship with design and sharpened my focus on what truly matters. When I returned to the UK, I founded Snug Kitchens with a very clear intention. I did not want to build a conventional kitchen showroom business driven by volume or trends. Instead, I structured Snug as a design-led studio, deliberately limiting the number of projects we take on so that each one receives deep attention, careful planning and genuine collaboration.

The way Snug Kitchens operates is a direct result of that philosophy. We work closely with families and their chosen team of architects, interior designers and builders to understand how homes are really used. Storage is planned item by item. Layouts are shaped around movement, light and behaviour. Materials are chosen for longevity and ageing, not initial impact alone. Kitchens are designed as part of the wider architecture of the home, not as standalone statements.

My background in making, combined with that pivotal life experience, has led me to value calm, clarity and honesty in design. I believe kitchens should feel inevitable rather than imposed. They should quietly organise daily life, support connection and endure well beyond fashion cycles.

Snug Kitchens exists to create those kinds of spaces. Thoughtful, grounded and deeply human.

Name five key themes to consider when approaching design in the future.:
Holistic view
Craftsmanship with use of honest materials
Adaptability
Longevity over trend
Quiet beauty

If you could offer one piece of advice when it comes to designing, what would it be?:
Never design in isolation. Always consider the wider space, how rooms connect, and how people move between them. The most successful interiors feel cohesive because every element is designed as part of a larger whole, not as a standalone feature.

How important are The International Design & Architecture Awards?:
The International Design & Architecture Awards are important because they recognise thoughtful, well-resolved design that genuinely improves how people live. They celebrate quality, craftsmanship and longevity, helping raise standards and encourage a more considered, holistic approach to design.

What projects are you currently working on?:
High-value residential kitchens integrated into architect-led renovations, often involving heritage buildings, complex family briefs and bespoke joinery developed specifically for each home.

What was your favourite project to work on and why?:
My favourite projects are those where careful planning fundamentally changes how a home is used. In particular, kitchens where we’ve been able to rethink circulation, storage and spatial relationships to reduce friction in daily family life.

One recent project stands out where the brief wasn’t about creating a statement kitchen, but about making a complex household function more calmly. By reclaiming underused space, carefully zoning activity and designing storage around the family’s actual belongings, the kitchen became easier to live with, more intuitive and far less visually demanding.

I find these projects most rewarding because the success isn’t immediately obvious in a photograph. It reveals itself over time, in how naturally the space is used and how quietly it supports everyday routines. That, for me, is where good design proves its value.

What was your most challenging project to work on and why?:
The most challenging projects are those that demand the greatest level of judgement. We work across both heritage buildings and newly planned spaces, but our design approach remains consistent: understanding context, anticipating behaviour and resolving complex briefs with clarity and restraint.

Whether working within an existing architectural language or shaping a space from first principles, the challenge lies in creating kitchens that feel inevitable rather than imposed. This requires careful consideration of proportion, circulation and materiality, ensuring the kitchen supports modern living without overwhelming its surroundings.

I enjoy these projects because they demand thought rather than decoration. They require us to balance function, atmosphere and long-term use, often for busy families with overlapping routines. When successful, the result feels calm, intuitive and deeply settled.

We actively seek this level of challenge. It is not something to overcome, but the reason we do what we do.