Interiors expert reveals what Meghan Markle’s ‘stark’ home interiors – seen on new Netflix cookery show – say about Duchess

An interior design expert has described the setting of Meghan Markle‘s upcoming Netflix cooking show, following the release of the programme’s trailer. 

When the Duchess, 43, revealed she was making the series, she promised viewers an intimate ‘at home with Meghan’ experience with ‘wonder in every moment’.

But as MailOnline revealed, she chose to film the eight-episode series ‘With Love, Meghan’ in a kitchen and home that isn’t her own – despite living around the corner.

She chose a sprawling estate just two miles from the £11million Montecito property she shares with Prince Harry and their children, Archie and Lilibet.

Now UK-based interior design expert Benji Lewis has shared his thoughts on Meghan’s aesthetic choices for the series with FEMAIL.

According to Benji, the kitchen used in the show features ‘minimal fuss but beautiful detail like the panelled walls in the staircase hall, the arts and crafts style cut out detail in the balustrading of the secondary staircase, and the bevelling on the kitchen door cabinetry for example’.

Describing this style, he suggested that ‘the vibe of the interiors Meghan has chosen to showcase herself against speaks completely to the recent quiet luxury trend’.

Although white is the dominant colour palate, there are some elements of pattern colour, though the designer noted that these are limited.

Meghan Markle (pictured) has filmed a cookery show with Netflix, recently releasing the trailer (pictured) for the series

The show was not filmed in the Sussexes’ Montecito mansion, but in a rented property not far from their home

He said: ‘Pattern is contained to just a couple of scatter cushions and the blue and white plate, otherwise it’s all about white walls, natural textural detail and occasional block colour, for example the blue banquette and a grey upholstered chair.’

According to Benji, the aesthetic is ‘possibly a bit more stark than [he] would have envisioned for Meghan.’

He opined: ‘I imagine that within her own home she uses neutrals more expansively in the same way she dresses – cappuccino tones with some bitter chocolate, cream, tan and charcoal; navy, an occasional splash of red and some soft pink.’

This, he noted, means the interiors shown in the trailer ‘are only suggestive of what she might veer towards decor-wise’.

One interesting detail Benji noticed was that the former Suits actress ‘incorporated an interest in preloved, with the vintage plate and the mid century style glass bowls’.

The minimalist decor style is congruent with the ‘no fuss approach to cooking […] being suggested in the kitchen’, he added.

‘Aside from a couple of wooden spoons and the decorative chopping boards it’s all very pared back,’ said Benji.

Among these pared back items are kitchen staples such as copper pans, worth around £200 to £600 and her favourite Vitamix E320 Explorian Blender, which is loved by countless other stars such as Miranda Kerr, Gwyneth Paltrow and Zac Efron but will set you back £450.

One of the few pieces featuring colour and pattern was this blue and white plate, which Benji described as ‘vintage’

Mid-century-style glass bowls (pictured) were another of the quirkier pieces used in the trailer for With Love From Meghan 

Donning the back of the stove you see a selection of black walnut chopping boards, which provide an easy aesthetic vibe to the kitchen but each one should cost about £60.

But using the island to prep food and serve from creates a welcoming vibe, whereby she’s facing into the room (rather than facing the wall) and able to share the culinary experience with her friends.’ 

The mansion where Meghan’s upcoming Netflix show was filmed last year, an idyllic $8million (£5million) estate nestled within a gated community, boasts eight acres of avocado trees and lemon groves and is owned by Montecito’s influential Cipolla family.

Tom and Sherrie Cipolla, fixtures in the high society circles of the American Riviera, are both in their 70s. They are prominent philanthropists with a $20million property portfolio, which includes a physical therapy practice with over $1.3million in annual sales.

Their 4,500 sq ft home, with four bedrooms and four bathrooms, has stunning French doors that open to a patio, lawn, and breath-taking mountain views.

And based on a trailer posted on her new Instagram account recently, it is the stage for Meghan to showcase her cooking and homemaking skills including a number of British-inspired recipes such as a classic Eton mess and a Victoria sponge.

In it she gives fans a sneak peek of her cooking, baking, cocktail making, flower arranging and party planning using its kitchen’s £15,000 cooker, £600 pans, £60 chopping boards and hosting friends across the property’s stunning rooms, garden and orchards. 

Meghan’s cooking show is not only part of her personal reinvention but also a key component in her $100million Netflix deal with Prince Harry.

Designer Benji Lewis also noted that Meghan (pictured) used an island for cooking, meaning she could face her guests while preparing her dishes

However, the reality has proven far more challenging than the fairytale narrative Meghan may have envisioned. 

A series of high-profile missteps and cancellations have cast a shadow over her post-royal ventures, leaving many to question whether her brand can recover.

From the axing of her Netflix series ‘Pearl’ to the discontinuation of her Spotify podcast ‘Archetypes’ and the still-unrealised promise of her lifestyle brand, Meghan’s attempts to reshape her public persona have met with limited success.

This comes as the Duchess launched her personal Instagram account yesterday with a video – filmed by husband Harry – of herself laughing on a beach near their home in Montecito.

Meghan’s foray into the lifestyle sector with American Riviera Orchard has encountered several obstacles.

Launched with the ambition to rival established brands like Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop, the brand focuses on home, garden, food, and general lifestyle products. However, it has faced trademark issues, staffing challenges, and delays in product launches.

In March 2024, Meghan filed for a trademark for American Riviera Orchard, followed by a soft launch on social media.

However, the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) rejected the trademark request due to inconsistencies in the application. 

UK-based interior designer described the decor shown in the trailer for Meghan Markle’s upcoming Netflix cookery show

Further complications arose when the food company Harry & David filed a protest, claiming that American Riviera Orchard is too similar to their own Royal Riviera trademark.

Additionally, reports have surfaced about difficulties in staffing. In August 2024, it was reported that 18 staff members had exited the business, and by November, a CEO had allegedly not been found to lead the brand.

Despite these setbacks, Meghan appears determined to continue her entrepreneurial journey. 

She has returned to social media, launching a new Instagram account on New Year’s Day with a beach video reportedly filmed by Prince Harry.

This move is seen as the beginning of a potential comeback year, with plans to premiere a new show on a streaming service and launch the American Riviera Orchard brand in early 2025.