The world economy is facing recession, thousands of staff in the securities industry are facing redundancy, but some investment bankers are still finding time to worry about spending up to £1m (€1.2m) renovating their kitchen.

While most bankers will feel lucky to get a bonus at all this year, the chief operating officer of one investment bank and head of Asia at another are among a group of wealthy clients who have had their kitchens redesigned by an award-winning British designer who uses what he calls "neuroscience" to create a domestic utopia tailored to their personality.