Raison Home - Fiona Sneddon

Raison Home - Fiona Sneddon Specialising in Kitchens &Bathroom renovations, I’m passionate about making your dreams a reality.

I manage your project from start-finish including; in-home design consultation, 3D design VR experience, product supply, trusted trades & project management

When you’ve got limited floor space, utilising height is essential.Victorian properties are stunning, with character fea...
24/05/2026

When you’ve got limited floor space, utilising height is essential.

Victorian properties are stunning, with character features, sturdy walls and incredible ceiling heights. But in Victorian times the kitchen was designated to the cooks, so they were often smaller (in comparison to other room sizes!) and hidden at the back of the house.

When that’s the case, resituating or extending is a great option. The previous owner of this home did the latter, adding a light and bright dining area that opened up the space.

The new home owners however were looking to breathe new life into the kitchen which didn’t offer accessible storage, or the function to suit a young family.

This project wasn’t about reimagining the whole space, options were limited by the size, shape and position of the room. Instead it was about making considered decisions about what internals we’d use and the position of appliances to give them, for example, the much needed fridge and freezer space they were lacking.

We made every inch of cabinetry work harder both vertically and horizontally. Drawers were used to maximise function, larders introduced to improve accessibility and visibility of daily essentials and the biggest opportunity was making full use of the ceiling heights which were over 3m high.

You might think storage at that height isn’t practical, and you’d be right when it comes to the things you need to use day to day. What it is perfect for are the things you only use a few times a year: Christmas platters, appliances you might need to use one day, and the good crockery that’s too good to use.

There was a second element to this brief too, and that was to replace a glass panel with a door that had been added as a paritician to the back door entrance as part of the dining room extension - it was really modern, which sat in stark contrast to the style of the rest of the home. I therefore put pencil to paper and created a custom designed panel and door, taking inspiration from the original front door and glazing, to make sure it looked like it had always been there.

Considering the full space, and all its features is key to creating a design that will stand the test of time.

21/05/2026

How would you feel about putting your dirty dishes in a drawer?

For some it’s the ideal solution. If you tend to do your dishes by hand because you never quite manage to fill the dishwasher, it effectively allows you to do a half load.

These dishwasher drawers are designed to sit neatly within the cabinetry, each drawer operating independently, which means smaller loads can be run much more efficiently.

This is just a small example of why understanding every clients individual circumstances is essential. It allows me to make the right suggestions based on their unique needs and wants.

Appliance innovation is moving faster than ever, I look forward to seeing what comes next.

What about you? Do barely any dirty plates or so many you don’t know what to do with?

I’m curious...are you someone who’s constantly waiting to fill the dishwasher, or does it feel like there’s an endless stream of plates in your kitchen?

Let me know in the comments!

I was delighted to be trusted with this project.My client was a teenager who knew exactly what they wanted. They’d spent...
20/05/2026

I was delighted to be trusted with this project.

My client was a teenager who knew exactly what they wanted. They’d spent a huge amount of time looking at Pinterest and other sources of inspiration and had a really clear idea of how they wanted their bedroom to feel and look, down to the smallest detail. You’d be forgiven for thinking that makes my job simple. The reality is there’s way more pressure to get it just right! To be clear, I’m not complaining in the slightest. A teenagers bedroom is their haven, their escape from the pressures of school, friends, parents and general outside noise. It’s their safe space and sanctuary. So being invited in to that circle of trust felt like a privilege.

The original space was filled with furniture that had grown older with the kids, alongside a few additions added along the way - it has served them well but was time to make space for the new!

White is the new theme to create a bright, light and airy feel. Reconfiguring the space to allow more room for storage, making use of every inch of space, and a dressing table for the essential daily beauty routines and rituals. We added a customised shelf above the bed so their projector would be perfectly positioned to watch movies on the intentionally created blank wall above the dressing table. Hollywood mirrors were essential of course along with some additional display shelving.

These are the before pics and renders of the design - I can’t wait to share the photos of the actual room really soon!

Do your kids know exactly what they want for their room? Comment and let me know!

19/05/2026

Where did you go?

Hidden doors and concealed spaces are growing in popularity and definitely create a wow factory.

But they can actually solve a lot of practical design challenges too.

Integrating a hidden pantry, utility room, or secondary storage space allows the main kitchen to feel much calmer and more cohesive visually, particularly in open-plan layouts where there’s a lot happening within one space.

It means the more functional parts of day-to-day life can be tucked away without losing accessibility or storage capacity.

When done properly, these hidden elements should feel seamless, maintaining the flow of the design rather than interrupting it.

And whilst they do add a sense of surprise and personality to a space, they’re also a really good example of how thoughtful design can balance practicality with atmosphere.

Sometimes the best design details are the ones you don’t notice straight away

18/05/2026

One of my favourite parts of the design process is the moment clients see their kitchen design in VR for the first time.

Up until that stage, we’ll have discussed function, flow, layouts, materials, appliances and looked at renders and elevations. But, this is the point the client gets to walk into their new space. They can experience all those decisions first hand and most importantly make sure they’re still the right choices. It really is a game changer.

It allows us to experience the layout properly and assess the details that are much harder to consider on paper alone. Things like how much space there is around an island, whether a table feels too close to a walkway, or how different areas of the kitchen connect together.

Quite often, it’s the stage where the smaller refinements happen. Clients start interacting with the space more naturally, which helps us make decisions with much more confidence before anything is installed.

For me, VR isn’t about creating a “wow factor”. It’s a really valuable part of the design process because it helps ensure the final space not only looks right, but works properly for the people living in it.

It turns the design from something clients are imagining into something they can genuinely experience before the project moves forward.

If you’re starting to think about a kitchen project and would like to understand more about the process, I’m always available for a chat.

30/04/2026

One of the biggest advantages I offer my clients… I’m not tied to one supplier.

That might sound like a small thing, but it makes a huge difference to the end result.

If you’re working with a single supplier, your choices are limited to what they offer. That can shape the design before it’s even properly started.

I work the other way round. I start with you. How you use your space, what you need it to do, and how you want it to feel day to day.

From there, I source the most suitable products, materials and solutions to match that. Not just selecting from options in a catalogue, but sourcing what’s going to really work best for you. It means more flexibility, more choice and a design that’s genuinely tailored to your needs.

Sometimes that’s combining different suppliers, finding something a little less obvious, or simply making sure you’re not compromising on something important.

Because good design shouldn’t be restricted by what’s available in one place. It should be built around you.

Because at the end of the day... life starts at home.

29/04/2026

Pantries are becoming one of the most requested features in a kitchen… But they don’t all have to look the same.

This is a really lovely example of something a little different. Instead of solid doors, this pantry uses smoked glass with a metal frame. It turns what is usually a purely practical space into a real feature within the kitchen.

And what I like about this is the flexibility.

It could be a bar.
A coffee station.
A breakfast area.

Or simply a beautifully organised pantry. You still get all the practicality. Internal shelving, drawers below, everything within easy reach. But visually, it adds another layer to the design and breaks up long runs of cabinetry.

That said, it’s not for everyone. Some clients prefer everything tucked away behind solid doors, and that’s absolutely fine too. It always comes back to how you want your space to feel and function.

But if you’re looking to introduce a bit more personality into your kitchen, this is a great way to do it.

17/04/2026

One of the biggest surprises for clients when planning a kitchen…

Where the budget actually goes. It’s often not the big, obvious things. It’s the details that sit behind the design.

Appliances are a big one. It’s very easy to either under-budget or overspend here. There’s a huge range available, from entry level through to high-end, but the right choice really comes down to how you’ll actually use them day to day.

There’s no value in paying for features you won’t use. But equally, going too basic can sometimes limit how your kitchen functions.

It’s about finding the right fit for you.

The other area that’s often underestimated is what’s inside the cabinets.

We talk a lot about drawers being more practical than cupboards, and they are. But they do come at a higher cost. The same goes for internal storage solutions that make everything easier to access and keep organised.

These are the decisions that really shape how your kitchen works once it’s installed. That’s why I always focus on understanding how you live first.

What you cook and how often.
What you store and use daily.
What you need for christmas but can be hidden away again until the following year.
How often you shop and how much is fresh food vs frozen.

Asking the right questions and understanding the individual needs of the client is what allows me to work with them to help make the right decisions, spend where it matters, and avoid spending where it doesn’t.

A well-designed kitchen isn’t about spending more, it’s about spending well. And that’s where good design makes all the difference.

15/04/2026

If I had a penny for everytime the discussion turns to, “Where will we put the air fryer?”

It’s one of those appliances that gets used all the time, but no one really wants it permanently sitting on the worktop.

This is a great option to solve that 👇

A pantry cupboard that does more than just store food. You’ve got shelving, drawers for dry goods… and then a pop-out shelf with power inside.

So your air fryer is:
✔️ Easy to access
✔️ Ready to use
✔️ Completely hidden when you don’t need it

No lifting it in and out of cupboards. No clutter building up on your surfaces. No compromise between practicality and how your kitchen looks. This could of course also work for other counter top appliances, not just the airfryer
so a great option based on your individual needs.

It’s a small detail, but it makes everyday life that bit easier and that’s always the goal.

14/04/2026

The best part of VR isn’t just the person wearing the headset… It’s everyone else in the room watching it happen 👀

There’s always the quiet moment as the client orientates themselves and adjusts to the headset, then suddenly:

“Oh wow… this feels so much bigger.”
“Wait, can I walk over there?”
“Oh, I really like that!'
“I didn’t expect it to be as good as this…”

And then the conversations start. People leaning in, asking questions and pointing at things that us, as observers, can't see.

It then turns into a proper discussion, not just about how it looks, but how it feels to be in the space. One of my favourite moments recently was over something so small… the colour of a cupboard door.

Should it be white like the main door, or should it be grey like the walls. You can look at images, you can debate the options and consider if you think it'll work - the difference with the VR is ...it takes everything from “I think this will work" to “I know this works”

And that’s why all of my clients get the opportunity to experience their new space in VR before the design is committed to - because it's a game changer.

Address

5 South Charlotte Street
Edinburgh
EH24AW

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 6:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 6:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 6:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 6:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 6:30pm

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