Dekton Sabbia, the worktop chosen for the ideal kitchen of renowned chef Matt Ryle

Matt Ryle has become a true celebrity in the United Kingdom thanks to his delicious classic recipes, which he creates with common and affordable ingredients. With his straightforward yet dedicated cooking style, the chef champions something quite rare these days: that what is needed to elevate a dish to exquisite levels is to give it time and let the process work its magic.

Trained at a French culinary school, Ryle turned his first recipe book, 'French Classics', into an instant bestseller. However, those who prefer to taste them without stepping into the kitchen can also visit Maison François, his London brasserie with all-day dining.

But the chef doesn’t live in the capital; he resides in the county of Berkshire. There, he has a house with a garden where he has designed his dream kitchen, which reflects much of the recipes he prepares: it is warm, welcoming, and somewhat classic, but with the robust and modern touch provided by high-quality appliances and cutting-edge surfaces like Dekton.

Dekton has been used in several areas of Ryle's home: the striking island, the worktops in the interior and exterior kitchens, and the shelves in the bar area. In all cases, the chosen colour was Dekton Sabbia, an attractive chromatic reinterpretation of Italian travertine, with veins running through each piece in a random and colourful way, filling them with nuances.

The choice of the same classic, soft, and textured tone for each application visually unifies the space and demonstrates the versatility of Dekton: its high resistance to stains, scratches, and high temperatures makes it an ideal material for a high-use kitchen, while its low water absorption and stability against UV radiation ensure optimal performance outdoors as well.

For the chef, who values both beauty and functionality, this combination of technical durability and visual coherence allows the surface to perform equally well indoors and during relaxed moments around the bar or in the garden. And there are many such moments, as Ryle loves hosting. In fact, his recipes are designed to be enjoyed in a communal setting: 'It’s food made for big tables, for sharing. It’s food that makes you happy,' explains the chef himself.

When designing the kitchen, Ryle considered all the meals he prepares daily, where he performs each step, and what needs each element should meet.

“When I was designing this kitchen, the kitchen of my dreams, I knew it had to perform like a professional one: it had to be durable and withstand a demanding pace, so the choice of worktops was very important to me. I wanted them to have a spectacular look, resembling natural stone, but at the same time, I wanted them to withstand my way of cooking. As a chef, I demand a lot from my work surfaces, and Dekton resists scratches, heat, and doesn’t absorb any liquids, which was very important to me because I always cook with wine, with staining spices… And I’m always pushing heavy pots on it. Dekton was exactly what I needed in my kitchen,” concludes Ryle.