Too Many Cooks (1959) is one of Lucienne Day’s most beloved designs, created as part of a series of tea towels for the Irish linen company Thomas Somerset. With its stylized, abstracted figures of cooks arranged in a balanced, rhythmic composition, the pattern is a perfect example of Day’s ability to blend everyday themes with modernist elegance. Rather than capturing a chaotic kitchen scene, Too Many Cooks plays with repetition and symmetry, giving it a refined, decorative quality with a quiet sense of humor.

The design’s impact was recognized beyond the tea towel market—Too Many Cooks was awarded a prestigious Design Centre Award in 1960, cementing its status as a standout piece in Day’s celebrated career. Even today, its crisp lines and thoughtful arrangement make it a timeless example of mid-century textile design at its best.