Welcome to the era of Ozempic interiors, where designers are seeing a significant shift in the balance of power in home layouts.
Photography: Ruth Maria
From the hum of the fridge light to the whistle of the kettle, the kitchen has always been the home's social hub.
However, recent trends creeping into homes from across the pond are heralding the death of the kitchen. Weight-loss drugs are impacting the role the kitchen plays in the home.
While interior designer to the stars, Collette Ward, assures us that the kitchen is still king in Irish homes, she has noticed a shift in recent years that coincides with social-media-era trends.
The bedroom is getting a lot more action than usual, as are walk-in wardrobes and en-suites.
"Bedrooms were once viewed as a place to sleep and store your belongings. They have become so much more than that," Collette explains.
In the age of celebrities guiding us to sleep on apps and red light therapy, the bedroom has become a sanctuary for people, and their design choices reflect that.
And that's not the only lifestyle change that is tucking people away in their rooms.
The more body-obsessed we are becoming, the more clothes we will buy!
It comes as no surprise that closet space has followed suit.
"What we are seeing now is a switch in the second bedroom. People are converting them into a full walk-in wardrobe."
While Collette hasn't quite seen the American trend of mini-fridges to house weight-loss jabs, fertility treatments and face creams, cementing themselves firmly into the list of bedroom furniture staples, cabinetry is growing in popularity.
"Bespoke cabinetry is certainly in," Collette says. "Minimalism is in, and clutter is out."
Another area garnering more attention than ever before is the bathroom.
Traditionally viewed as a strictly functional space, the area has elevated its status.
"The bathroom has become a room of beauty," Collette says, acknowledging how vastly different the space is viewed now from a decade ago.
"Of course, it depends on the size of the property, but the bathroom is very thought-out nowadays. Whether it is the choice of tiles or panelling along the walls."
That said, the kitchen is still a firm fixture in every high-end home Collette designs.
"The kitchen sees the most life. We like to look good, but we also like to eat," she says of Irish people.
"We like to keep life balanced and certainly the kitchen remains the focal point of most Irish homes."
So don't convert your dining room into a walk-in wardrobe just yet!
Most importantly, Collette points out that she "doesn't do trends."
The interiors expert explains that you can add tweaks to reflect what's popular, but she advises against basing foundational design choices on fads.
"Ultimately, you want a home where everything works well under one roof. We come in at the planning stage and work with homeowners to make sure their design will stand the test of time. It's all about personal taste."
Collette Ward Interiors' Primrose Hill project demonstrates the points she is making. The pretty, pink London-based terraced residence, built in 1845, was revamped to include a vintage-inspired, pattern-happy dressing room. You can view one of her recent Irish projects, a new-build home in Mullingar, here.
The project has been nominated in two categories at the International Design and Architecture Awards 2026. Voting is currently open for the home (pictured above) here.
