Designers are urging a shift away from once-coveted kitchen trends, moving towards spaces that prioritize personality, practicality, and a lived-in feel over an ultra-polished, showroom aesthetic. Features like oversized waterfall islands, all-grey cabinetry, and completely handleless designs are being reevaluated by professionals who believe they no longer serve modern living as effectively.
Saskia Blyth, Founder and Creative Director of Blyth-Collinson Interiors, notes that the popularity of waterfall countertops, where stone cascades down the sides of an island, may be waning due to their heavy appearance and the significant material cost without added function. Instead, Blyth sees a trend toward softer, more architectural kitchens with selective use of beautiful stone, complemented by simple overhangs, curved edges, or contrasting materials.
Evolving Aesthetics
Ntola Obazee, Creative Director at Kutchenhaus, observes that the appeal of the all-grey kitchen, characterized by cool grey cabinetry and minimalism, is diminishing. She emphasizes that kitchens should reflect the personality of their inhabitants and suggests introducing warmth through natural textures, interesting hardware, and individualized color choices.
Similarly, Laura Hammett, Creative Director of Laura Hammett Living, states that the ultra-minimal, handleless kitchen has had its moment. Homeowners are now seeking more character, texture, and contrast. Tom Howley, Creative Design Director at Tom Howley, adds that hardware is becoming more integrated and architectural, with refined options like edge-pull handles in finishes such as burnished brass and polished nickel gaining favor. Al Bruce, founder of Olive & Barr, recommends the 'skinny Shaker' style for cabinetry, offering a slimmer, contemporary profile that adds detail without relying on ornate hardware.
Beyond the Showroom
Designers are also moving away from the idea of a perfectly coordinated, showroom-ready kitchen. Hammett advocates for kitchens that feel 'collected rather than prescribed,' incorporating decorative lighting, artwork, antiques, and unexpected details alongside functional elements. This approach encourages mixing materials and finishes and introducing items with history to make a kitchen feel more personal. The concept of the 'invisible kitchen,' where appliances and storage are concealed, is also being questioned in favor of spaces that prioritize practicality over pure aesthetics, functioning as well in daily life as they do in photographs.
Obazee points out that cluttered countertops, often filled with appliances, detract from both the kitchen's appearance and its functionality. She suggests integrating more features, such as taps offering boiling, chilled, and sparkling water, to reduce countertop appliance use and free up space for food preparation. "Kitchen worktops are becoming increasingly precious," Blyth noted.
Functional Lighting and Layout
Massimo Buster Minale, Founder and Creative Director of Buster + Punch, highlights the issue of poorly planned pendant lighting over islands. He advises designers to consider functionality, ensuring pendants are not hung too low, are spaced evenly, and are scaled appropriately to avoid disrupting sightlines. Dimmers are recommended to allow for adjustable lighting moods.
Misc. The traditional 'kitchen triangle' layout, which positions the hob, sink, and fridge within close proximity, is also being reconsidered. Bruce argues that this formula is outdated and does not reflect modern living, particularly with the rise of open-plan spaces. He suggests zoning kitchens based on actual use, creating dedicated areas for cooking, prepping, storing, and socializing, with islands often serving as social hubs.
Embracing Personality and Longevity
Finally, the trend of designing kitchens solely for resale value is giving way to more personal choices. Homeowners are increasingly confident in selecting finishes that reflect their own tastes rather than an imagined future buyer. This confidence is leading to greater use of color, with nuanced shades of pink, yellow, and deeper tones like aubergine appearing in luxury kitchens. Howley notes that people are "embracing more personality, colour and character." Hammett advises choosing materials, colors, and craftsmanship that will remain beautiful for years to come, suggesting that the kitchen of the future is one designed specifically for its inhabitants.