In Mexico, the kitchen is more than a space for cooking—it’s a vibrant reflection of artistry, heritage, and soul. Whether nestled in the heart of Mexico City or tucked away in the remote corners of the country, Mexican kitchens are as diverse as the landscapes that surround them. Through years of architectural exploration and design documentation, we’ve encountered countless examples of imaginative kitchen spaces that defy convention while honoring tradition.
From urban apartments transformed by artisan touches to rustic hideaways built from reclaimed materials, these seven standout kitchens offer a glimpse into the rich design language of contemporary Mexico. Each space tells a story—not just of architecture or renovation, but of deep cultural reverence and bold personal vision.
1. The Perforated Kitchen
In the bustling core of Mexico City, designer Laura Aviva’s apartment sets a striking tone with its intricate mesquite wood screen—hand-carved by Isaac Castañeda, a third-generation artisan. This defining piece serves not only as a decorative element but also as a symbol of the home’s connection to craft and history. The screen casts patterned shadows across the walls, creating a dynamic interplay between light, texture, and form—hallmarks of Aviva’s refined aesthetic.
2. The Aesthete’s Retreat
In the coastal town of Todos Santos, a minimalist kitchen embodies tranquility and poetry. This soulful casita, designed for a French aesthete, balances quiet elegance with casual warmth. Wispy curtains sway beside a pared-down dining setup, creating a timeless space that feels both intimate and ethereal. Laure Joliet’s photography captures the serenity perfectly, drawing viewers into a scene of stillness and subtle charm.
3. The Indoor/Outdoor Haven
Casa Tiny, a secluded rental inspired by Henry David Thoreau’s Walden, redefines simplicity. Here, the kitchen merges with the natural world: doors open fully to the outside, allowing for barefoot meals, hammock lounging, and uninterrupted views of the tropical landscape. The transition between indoor and outdoor is seamless, a celebration of elemental living and architectural openness.
4. The Salvage Kitchen
Artist Patricia Larsen’s kitchen in Pozos, a former mining town, is a masterclass in reinvention. Her 300-year-old home was once roofless, but now its kitchen radiates rustic ingenuity. Larsen stripped the walls to their original plaster, repurposed a roadside copper pot into a working sink, and curated a space filled with tactile imperfection. It’s a kitchen that feels lived-in, loved, and full of creative defiance.
5. The Bright Modernist
Atop a 1950s apartment building in Mexico City’s Colonia Roma Sur, shopkeepers Libia Moreno and Enrique Arellano created a vibrant, modern kitchen that glows with personality. Using powder-coated steel cabinets in bold green from the local design studio Rallé, they introduced a punch of color and durability. The open-plan design invites natural light and community, embodying the ethos of their shop, Utilitario Mexicano—practical, beautiful, and deeply local.
6. The Brutalist Playground
This Mexico City kitchen defies softness. Instead, it embraces the raw, heavy beauty of Brutalism. Designed by a creative couple, the space features exposed concrete shelving and custom-built appliance niches, forming a bold architectural statement. “It’s a little like living in a factory, but also a playground,” one homeowner noted. The juxtaposition of function and flair, weight and whimsy, makes this a singular, unforgettable space.
7. The Considered Addition
In Mérida, a colonial city in the Yucatán Peninsula, one couple revived a crumbling century-old building with care and creativity. Their kitchen, part of a thoughtful extension, features polished white cement floors and locally produced yellow pasta tiles—a respectful nod to the original tilework found throughout the home. Glass doors open onto a sun-drenched patio and pool, blurring the line between domestic and natural spaces.
These kitchens are not mere backdrops for meal prep; they are immersive environments, extensions of their owners’ values and visions. Whether hand-built from salvaged materials or executed with sleek modernist precision, each kitchen offers its own dialogue between past and present, nature and nurture, function and flair.
Mexico’s kitchens, as seen through these seven homes, remind us that great design doesn’t always follow rules—it listens to its surroundings, honors craftsmanship, and makes room for soul.
