A ‘quick’ Q&A with Amanda Aerin

Celebrity designer reveals tips for creating a great kitchen design

Published May 09, 2026  •  3 minute read

At this year’s Living Luxe Design Show, Amanda Aerin stands in front of a brightly lit onyx kitchen island on display at the ‘JennAir Boutique,’ an exhibit that was designed to ‘elevate the kitchen experience.

It was very hard not to notice, Amanda Aerin, designer, front and centre, at this year’s Living Luxe Design Show, held last month at the Toronto Congress Centre.
The influential interior designer and TV personality, known also for having a flair for designing unique trade show booth experiences, was honoured as this year show’s Women Entrepreneur of the Year, and on top of that, organizing a Made In Italy design competition. Aerin spoke with Sun Homes at the JennAir booth.

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Q: What is your design inspiration and what message are you conveying with this booth?

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A: It was important for me to create a ‘kitchen social club’ when it came to designing this booth. Although we have celebrated the kitchen as the heart of the home for years now, this has really come to the forefront of people’s thought processes more recently. When there is a lot of chaos going on in the world, we are turning inwards and we are inviting people into our homes and bringing people to the table. We are baking, we are making pizzas together — there really has been a resurgence in cooking and entertaining at home.

The mixing and matching of both traditional and contemporary styles, for example, using sleek appliances with wallpaper, can give the kitchen a curated feel.

Q: You are an advocate for the braver and bolder use of colour and different materials. How do you make it work at this booth?

A: I found that the juniper colour suite was a perfect jumping off point for this kitchen. Sometimes, appliances can be a bit of an afterthought. In this case, they are so beautiful, I wanted them to be a showcase, so I incorporated the green cabinetry around them which gives them a great built-in feel. Also, I used black, it gives a very luxe feeling and I love the matte finish as well. The fact too that each of the suites has interchangeable handles — we incorporate brass or bronze or stainless  — is perfect for people who love to customize. The metallic finishes were so luxurious that it actually added an interesting design layer to the overall look and feel of this space.

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Q: What design tips do you have for people who want to embrace this concept of hosting at home?

A: First, think of your kitchen as more of a lounge space. Mix and match materials that are both warm and durable to have things that are cleanable and beautiful. Second, think about great lighting, it’s important to have task lighting when you are cooking, then when you are hosting, you can switch to ambient lighting. Lastly, think about mixing styles both traditional and contemporary, for example, the use of sleek appliances with more traditional wallpapers can give it a very curated feel.

Rome, Italy served as the backdrop and inspiration of a Youth Designer contest held at last month’s Living Luxe Design Show.

Q: You also had a hand in this year’s Made in Italy designer contest, tell us about that.

A: My mind was blown by the level of presentation that young people came forward with. These emerging artists have less than five years of experience and it showed me that Canadian trade and talent is pretty incredible. With the Made in Italy theme, we were able to tie in the luxury feel using beautiful imagery — inspired by the hotels of Rome — along with colour palettes, some vibrant and some muted, to bring life to their spaces. The next generation is going to have an interesting way of looking at design, we are already seeing this trending. They love a hybrid: using new technology while incorporating traditional elements. I think that will be their sweet spot.

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