Let's face it: There's zero chance you're renovating your kitchen annually. But still, as the (excuse the cliché) heart of the home, this room is obviously impacted by changing styles and trends in interior design. And if, like us, you're a little over the whole all-white-everything kitchen look, you'll want to pay attention to the trends on the rise in kitchen design, from cabinetry to countertops to layout (are islands out?!). Well, we tapped some of our most trusted sources to hear what they're already ordering for clients for installs next year. Read on for their most prescient predictions. (P.S. if you want to dig deeper into cabinetry predictions, check out our 2023 Kitchen Cabinet Trends here.)
"The kitchen island is having a renaissance," proclaims Linda Hayslett. "I think we'll see new shapes and a totally new mood." Take, for example, this riff in Shavonda Gardner's kitchen, where a traditional island is swapped for a multifunctional dining table, a switch we're anticipating seeing more of.
"I think we are finally seeing a return to dark stained wood cabinetry in the kitchen," opines Studio Dearborn founder Sarah Robertson, who opted for it in the bar area of this kitchen. San Francisco-based Katie Monkhouse agrees: "I'm pinning all the warm toned wood right now," she says.
Chicago designer Wendy Labrum doesn't mince words when it comes to her prediction: "Color! Marble! We're tired of basic and boring," she proclaims. Christopher Peacock certainly got this memo when designing the kitchen for this year's Kips Bay Dallas showhouse, where bold wallpaper, a graphic backsplash, and two-tone cabinets create a layered space.
Who says backsplash has to be white tile? In fact, this area can be the perfect canvas for a creative wall (especially if your kitchen lacks in wall space), and we're finally starting to see if used this way. In her design for the 2022 Whole Home, Whittney Parkinson added an antiqued glass panel to hers to open the space up while providing warmth.
"Striking cabinet colors! Blues, greens, mauves, saffron—anything other than plain white," predicts Molly Torres Portnof of DATE Interiors. In their design for the 2022 Brooklyn Heights Designer Showhouse, Baxt Ingui Architects looked to a mix of mauve and rose for an extra-special eat-in kitchen, as seen here.
If you do still want to stick to white, Nina Carbone foresees an increase in popularity of ivory—"not stark white" cabinets, which lend a warmer feel, like in this kitchen by DeVOL.
Another trend Carbone sees: "More cabinet millwork detail than just a simple, Shaker profile," she says. Whittney Parkinson designed these cabinets for the 2022 Whole Home with a double edged frame to spotlight the two-tone coloring.
Though it's not technically a kitchen, the lower curtains and inner-door fabric panels in this laundry room by Noel Pittman—popular elements in English country homes—are making their way to today's kitchens, where they add an element of softness to counterbalance marble, stainless steel appliances, and metal hardware.
"We are seeing more and more of our clients want bespoke cabinet hardware and custom details like metal grille inserts and brass shelving at bar areas," notes Nadia Subaran, founder and principal of Aidan Design. Subaran notes that, while clients pushed back on cost for these things int he past, they're now on board to invest in these special details.
"Mixing countertop materials," says Kristina Phillips of what's coming her way. "Like quartzite on the island and soapstone on the surround." Food Network star Molly Yeh made this work in her own home kitchen, where the baking area is cool marble, while the island is butcher block for prep and serving.
On the more technical side of trends, we're calling 2023 the year of the refrigerator drawer. Why waste space in your main fridge for drinks when you can install a secondary drawer, like Keia McSwain did in the media space of the Whole Home? Plus, meal prep is so much easier when people don't have to pop into the fridge every time they want a soda.
Though they've been touted as "the next big thing" for years, smart appliances are finally having their moment. Whether it's an all-around smart cooker, like the Brava oven, pictured here, or WiFi-connected appliances that add new features with constant updates, connecting your phone to your kitchen is finally worthwhile.
"Grow your own everything will take off next year," predicts House Beautiful's Director of Editorial Special Projects and savant on all things kitchens Carisha Swanson. As food prices grow and consumers are more aware of sustainability, herb and veggie gardens that allow for fresh produce will become a trusted part of the kitchen. (Designer Bunny Williams has been doing this for years—hear her tips on setting up a kitchen garden here).
The final trend we're anticipating going strong into next year? The outdoor kitchen. Covid-induced homeboundness amped up enthusiasm for these spaces over the past few years, and interest is only growing. (Read how to create your perfect al fresco kitchen here.)
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