It was a trip to the city of Jaipur in India that sparked the idea for food author and Guardian columnist Meera Sodha’s new kitchen. ‘I visited Jaipur, which is known as the Pink City, back in June 2025,’ says Meera. ‘There was so much creative energy, and I felt so alive there that I wanted to bring that energy and those colours into my new kitchen where I experiment with and test recipes, and do my writing and hosting.’
With this vivid but undefined vision in her head, Meera turned to Neptune to help her translate it into an efficient, workable kitchen-diner that captured the joy and vibrancy she wanted to replicate. ‘Neptune was very open to helping me turn my Jaipur dream into a kitchen space,’ explains Meera. ‘I put together a ‘moodboard’ (which was really me uploading my holiday photos onto Pinterest), and from that, kitchen designer Hannah Goodall, based in Neptune Swindon, suggested colours and materials that might work.’
The kitchen space itself didn’t have many interesting features to work with apart from two large windows that flooded the room with light, so Meera looked to mixing kitchen collections and colours to bring interest to the room. She selected Suffolk cabinetry for the cooking area, with a large island for food prep, complemented by more freestanding pieces from the Borough collection, including a Borough pantry, in the dining area. ‘I liked the simplicity and elegance of Suffolk and the fact that it feels timeless,’ says Meera, ‘coupled with the versatility of the Borough pantry and extendable dining table, which is in a beautiful soft, pinky oak that works well with the colour scheme.’
That colour scheme was the subject of debate between Meera and Hannah. Originally, Meera had wanted to paint all the fitted elements in Burnt Sienna, as it felt so close in tone to the earthy pinks of Jaipur. But Hannah suggested having the island in the lighter, softer Potter’s Pink to give some depth to the space, adding in aged brass handles by Armac Martin for their warmth and texture.
The layout of the space took time and consideration to get right. ‘The design is based around human use and ergonomics,’ explains Meera. ‘I’m left-handed so we ensured that I’d be able to access dishes and ingredients from the most convenient sides, and we worked through situations such as the best layout if I’m cooking and someone needs to lay the table or access the sink.’
Meera’s non-negotiables included a Neff hob with a recessed self-extractor fan so that she could do away with an overhead model. She has also wanted a marble-effect worktop but with her constant work commitments, she needed something extremely robust. ‘I’d thought I wanted a neutral work surface but then visited Neptune Wimbledon and saw this deeply veined Calacatta Viola-style quartz in one of the kitchens and it changed my mind. It looks so beautiful and brings pattern into the scheme.’
In the dining area, which doubles as Meera’s recipe writing space, she chose the 8-seater Wycombe table that extends to seat twelve, coupled with rush-based Wycombe dining chairs. ‘Having freestanding pieces in the dining area gives it a distinct vibe,’ says Meera. ‘It feels more like a living space, and I like knowing that I can move the pieces around or take them with me when I move. And the concealed fridge and freezer in the Borough pantry is handy when you’re at the table and want to top up glasses with ice or cold drinks. It’s a surprise, fun element for guests.’
With the refurbishment now complete, Meera is back cooking up new recipes. ‘It is fun and energising but also a calm and orderly place for me to work in,’ she adds. ‘I’ve already invited people over for team meetings and lunches and I’m organising my first kitchen party, safe in the knowledge that while the kitchen looks beautiful, I don’t have to worry about wear and tear as it is extremely robust.’
