Kitchen Design Trends That Are Shaping Modern Homes

April 2, 2026

The kitchen continues to be the heart of the home — and today’s design trends reflect a balance of style, function, and comfort. From bold aesthetics to thoughtful functionality, these trends are defining what modern kitchens look like in 2026.

Warm & Textured Materials

Natural materials like wood, stone, and textured finishes are dominating kitchen design. Rich wood tones paired with matte surfaces add depth and warmth, moving away from ultra-slick, cold finishes.

Statement Islands

Kitchen islands are bigger and bolder than ever. Think mixed materials, seating for gatherings, and integrated storage or appliances — turning islands into multifunctional focal points.

Curved & Soft-Edge Cabinetry

Straight lines are giving way to softer silhouettes. Rounded cabinets, archways, and curved islands create a welcoming, organic flow.

Mixed Metals & Finishes

Gone are the days of matching hardware. Designers are blending metals — like brass with matte black or brushed nickel — for a layered, personalized look.

Hidden Tech & Integrated Appliances

Appliances are seamlessly integrated for clean lines. Smart features — from touchless faucets to app-controlled ovens — continue to rise, blending convenience with sleek design.

Bold Color Choices

White kitchens aren’t disappearing, but color is making a comeback. Deep greens, navy blues, and even warm terracottas add personality without overwhelming the space.

Open Shelving & Curated Displays

Open shelving keeps kitchens feeling spacious and personal. Styled with meaningful pieces, it’s a chance to showcase cookware and décor in an intentional way.

In essence, modern kitchen design combines warmth, functionality, and personality — creating spaces that aren’t just beautiful, but truly lived in.

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Wood Kitchen Cabinets are Popular Again!!

February 19, 2025

For years, we’ve worked to eliminate the presence of grainy oak kitchen cabinets from the 1980s, and as an affordable solution, we’ve transformed them with paint. Nevertheless, natural and stained wood cabinets are becoming increasingly popular in kitchens, which is understandable; the warmth of wood in a home is hard to resist.

 

The contemporary style showcases drawer and door fronts that boast clean lines, utilizing reclaimed or sustainable wood, often complemented by open shelving instead of upper cabinets. Some designs embrace a rustic flair, using barn or reclaimed wood for cabinet fronts.

 

 

In the discussion about painted versus wood kitchen cabinets, some designers deem all-white kitchens trendy, but I disagree. I think a kitchen featuring white cabinets will consistently evoke a sense of freshness and cleanliness, making it timeless. I have a white-painted kitchen, and I adore every aspect. One cannot dispute the appeal of a classic. White or black paint on cabinets will always look appealing; combining white and wood is another refreshing option.

 

Wood cabinetry has become a highly sought-after feature in both new and renovated kitchens due to its natural charm. While metal cooktops, hoods, and appliances provide cleanliness and convenience, they can make a kitchen feel less inviting on their own. Combining these sleek metals with warm wood creates a striking contrast and harmony in a contemporary kitchen environment.

 

 

 

 

 

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Cabinets doors home interior decorator reclaimed wood wood

Kitchen Accessories

November 16, 2023

Are you looking to redo or update your kitchen? Then you know that kitchen renovations are costly…. but most cost comes from all the extras we put into the cabinets. And why wouldn’t you want that? They are some great extras that you will fall in love with.

My advice to you is to make a list of what you need because it’s easy to go over budget on these extras driving the cost of your renovation right out of your budget!!

Check out these extras…..


 

 

 

 

As you can see there are many extras that you can install in your kitchen. These “extras” are what drives the cost up. So be thoughful on what you want and good luck!!

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Senior Citizen Apartment

February 2, 2023

This past summer, I was hired to design a senior citizen apartment. She was moving from her current home into a new senior development and wanted a “WOW Factor!”. Her words, not mine.

I met with my client and her daughter and went to work. First, I went and measured the space and took pictures. Then I made a floor plan. This is important because it allows me to see what items are going where and, most importantly, the size it requires. After that, we set a date and went shopping. Sometimes my client does come with me when I shop.

Here is the floor plan. I estimated what size would work. This way, when I shop for the item, I know the size of the item. We were shopping for a living room, dining room,  and kitchen.

We bought all the furniture at Raymour and Flannigan since she wanted fast delivery and had a budget she needed to work with. So we did the complete shopping all in one day.

 

Safe to say she definitely got the “wow” factor!

 



 

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Painting my Door BLACK!

July 28, 2022
As we all know, black and white color themes are trending right now. We see black windows as the hot new trend. But how about black interior doors? I have seen them, and I love them. So I decided I was going to paint all my interior doors black. Now that is a commitment because changing them back into white would be a bit of a nightmare. But like I always tell my clients, trust the process. 

It started with my front door. It was black, and I thought, why not paint them all black? 


Entryway

 Master bedroom

Office

Spare Bedroom

Basement

Kitchen

Hallway

So glad I did. I love the way it turned out; so elegant and classy.

Entryway

Master Bedroom

Spare Bedroom

Office

Kitchen

I even did the bathroom!

Hallway

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Adding a Countertop in my Kitchen

June 16, 2022

Until I can remodel my kitchen, I’m on a mission to create beautiful spaces using what I have. My kitchen had an area that was not usable. At the time, I had the cat litter, water dispenser, and recycle bin in that space. I was not thrilled. I wanted to create a place to use, so I decided to add a countertop.

The first thing I had to do was locate a wood countertop. Thank goodness Home Depot had them. I measure to see what would fit in that space. Then I had to measure the height and ensure all the brackets were leveled. Perfection!

 

 I had to make sure the stools would fit under the countertop.

 

Once the countertop came in, I stained it a beautiful rich color. Love it!

 

 

The final step before was sealing the countertop to protect the wood. I use EZ-DO since it’s food-safe.
It was time to install the countertop and anchor them in. I had some help with that since it was a bit heavy. I loved the result, and I now had a place to eat and an extra countertop workspace.

 

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Lisa’s New Living Room

May 19, 2022
Lisa is a client I have been working with for a few years. It started with her children’s bedroom, basement den, master bedroom, kitchen, and dining room. So it’s safe to say we work well together. But, of course, after doing all those rooms, the living room was looking a bit old and shabby—time to update.

Here are some before pictures. As you can see, it’s outdated. We removed the heavy drapery that was obsolete. The sofa has seen better days. There wasn’t anything that we wanted to keep. 




As you can see, the design mixes rustic with traditional and contemporary. It’s lighter, brighter, and a lot more appealing design. 

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Black Tile Backsplash

October 14, 2021

Black is having its moment in the spotlight. It seems black is popular in just about in every design, from doors to gutters, to kitchens, black is definitely having its time in the spotlight.

So why not a black backsplash? Perhaps you’re thinking it may be too much, but you can add sparingly. Enough to make a statement but not be too overpowering.

Take a look at some of these designs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Alternative Upper Kitchen Cabinets

June 24, 2021

In the past upper cabinets in kitchens have always been closed doors. But in the past few years, there’s been a trend towards open shelves. At first, there was some resistance to that trend, but nowadays, more homeowners are incorporating some form of open shelves in their kitchen design, even if just a small area. It’s definitely a more creative way to design.


I personally love the look.
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