Designing a kitchen is never easy, and the less space you have to work with, the more difficult it can become. You see, the smaller the space, the more crucial each decision becomes, and nowhere is that more true than with your tiling. This is what will bring color, personality, and life into your kitchen, and, if you choose well, it can even help make your space seem bigger. The only question is: what size tiles are best for a small kitchen?

For anyone familiar with the struggle of designing a small kitchen, this is likely a question you've already spent some time pondering. And, chances are, you've heard arguments for both sides. To some, a smaller tile for a smaller space seems like a logical choice. However, others will argue against this design decision, warning of the countless grout lines and cluttered look that can come with these smaller format tiles. Instead, they'll encourage the use of larger tiles. It can quickly begin to feel like a minefield, and without any proper guidance, it's easy to lose yourself in the debate.

Which is exactly why I went straight to the experts to settle it once and for all. Despite what the internet would have you believe, design is personal, and what works for you may not be the same as what works for others. So, the experts haven't just given their personal preference for the size of kitchen tiles to use in a compact space; they've also shared exactly what effect you'd get from a small tile, as well as what you would achieve with a larger one, so you can weigh the options up for yourself.

The Effect of Large Tiles in Small Kitchens

Much of the discussion surrounding large vs small tiles in small spaces will come back to one thing: grout lines. Choosing the right tiles is all about coming to grips with grout, and with larger tiles, you'll have the benefit of fewer of these visual disturbances.

As Damla Turgut, whose tile brand, Otto Tiles, is favored by many designers and architects alike, explains, "Large format tiles can help bring a sense of calm to a small kitchen because there are fewer grout lines breaking up the surface." In small spaces, frequent grout lines can quickly overwhelm the space, becoming the standout feature above the tiles themselves, which is exactly why, for so many experts, larger format tiles are the more desirable option.

"In most kitchens, there's already a lot going on," adds Damla. "You've got kitchen cabinetry, lighting, built-in appliances, small appliances on the worktop and all the everyday items that come with actually using the space." With all this pre-existing, unavoidable visual stimulation, a calmer effect will usually benefit the space more.

Larger tiles allow for a more continuous, unbroken expanse of material, introducing a more relaxing atmosphere — and in small kitchens, where the space can so quickly feel cramped and cluttered, this will be all the more important. As Ca'Pietra's resident tile expert, Grazzie Wilson says, "They make a surface feel broader and less broken up, so they are especially useful in a narrow galley kitchen or a kitchen where there is already plenty going on."

However, this is not to say there's no room for error with a larger format tile. Rob Whitaker, from Claybrook Studio, says that while larger tiles can often give a cleaner finish, "If grout lines land awkwardly, you might be better with a smaller tile that will give a more structured and complete pattern which won’t jump out."

The trick lies in the understanding that in small kitchens, bigger isn't always better, with Damla saying, "If the tile is too oversized for the room, it can work against you." Explaining this further, Lesley Taylor, who founded Baked Tiles after working as an interior designer, says, "In a narrow room, an oversized tile may leave you with thin slivers along both sides or a series of obvious cuts around an island."

The Effect of Small Tiles in Small Kitchens

Starting with the obvious, the smaller the tile, the more grout lines there will be. In practice, this can result in an overly cluttered finish. "A kitchen is already a busy place, but in a compact kitchen, that extra level of detail can make the space feel very fussy," explains Damla.

Plus, grout lines don't just present aesthetic issues; they can raise some practical ones, too. Grout lines require constant maintenance to keep them from looking dirty and worn-out, making them a far less effective choice for anyone hoping for a low-maintenance kitchen.

However, small tiles aren't all bad. As Leah says, "Small tiles can be incredibly useful when you want to give a compact kitchen some identity. They follow corners and uneven walls more easily, and they are perfect for bringing detail to the area between the worktop and wall units."

Many of our favorite kitchen tile trends include smaller-format tiles, and they can bring a far more detailed, characterful look than you'd achieve with a larger slab tile.

Grazzie echoes this point, saying, "Small tiles bring more movement and more personality, which is exactly why I love them on a kitchen splashback." They offer more opportunity to experiment with patterned tiled layouts, like the popular plaid tile trend, or even a classic checkerboard effect.

The Best Tiles for Small Kitchens

So, what size tile comes out on top? Well, as you may expect, the answer is entirely dependent on both the space you're working with and the effect you're hoping to achieve.

For example, in long and narrow kitchens, Rob suggests using larger, rectangular tiles for your kitchen flooring, as this can help to create the illusion of more space, adding that "laying them in a linear way can make the room seem longer," too.

Generally speaking, when it comes to kitchen floor tiles, a larger format will be a smarter choice, allowing for a greater sense of flow and continuity in the room. However, when it comes to your wall tiles, the answer will change entirely.

With features like splashbacks and smaller areas, there's more freedom to explore a wider variety of tile shapes. The issue of grout lines will be far more prominent when it comes to your kitchen flooring than it is for your kitchen walls, so feel free to experiment with mosaic tiles and other finishes on these smaller, more detailed areas.

For the best results, the experts recommend purchasing various tile samples, in a wide range of sizes and finishes, so you can see how they'd look in your space before you commit.

Color is important, too, and there are three kitchen tile colors to avoid, according to designers, when designing your space.

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There was a time when a kitchen implied a space for a hob, an oven, a dishwasher, ample cabinetry, and, of course, a fridge. Nowadays, you're lucky if you can find more than two of these features in the tiny rooms modern homes are passing up as kitchens. Luckily, our experts know some tricks for working around this, especially when it comes to squeezing a fridge into your small kitchen.

You may have thought your tiny kitchen meant waving goodbye to all of your previous kitchen expectations, including a full-length fridge. Leaving you, instead, to make do with what you've got, squeezing in as much as you can into the limited space you've got to work with. But with the right layout, your small kitchen doesn't need to feel like a bad deal you have to work around.

The trick is knowing exactly where to place each and every appliance, and understanding why it makes the most sense there, too. With our expert approach under your sleeve, you'll never have to worry about squeezing everything you need into your kitchen again, particularly when it comes to the fridge.

The Spot Experts Recommend Placing Fridges in Small Kitchens

When it comes to the best fridge placement for small kitchens, there is one clear winner. Interior designers and kitchen experts alike agree that for the most cohesive kitchen layout, placing the fridge at the end of the run of cabinetry will always offer the best results.

"In a small kitchen, every decision must earn its place," explains designer James Compton. "I always recommend positioning the fridge at the end of a run or within a bank of tall units to maintain an uninterrupted worktop and create a smoother cooking workflow."

As one of the largest kitchen appliances you'll include within your space, it can be very easy for your fridge to interrupt the flow of your space, making it feel awkward and disjointed. But by placing your fridge at the end of a run of kitchen cabinetry, you can help mitigate this problem, allowing the worktop to flow continuously without breaks or interruptions.

Not only do the experts recommend placing it at the end of a run, but for optimal positioning, they specify the end closest to the entrance of the kitchen. "Keeping it close to the entrance also means people can access it without walking through the main preparation area," explains James.

So, if you're planning where to position kitchen appliances in your tiny kitchen, try saving the end of your worktop closest to the entrance for your refrigerator.

Why Is This the Best Placement?

So, what exactly is so great about this placement? Well, there are a few different aspects that make this layout so useful for kitchens with limited space.

First of all, by positioning the refrigerator at the end of a full run of cabinetry, you can maintain as much usable surface area as possible, which should always be a top priority when designing a small kitchen. As Maria Ramirez, from BB Interiors, says, placing the fridge at the end of a full run of cabinetry works to "keep valuable preparation space clear and helps a small kitchen feel more open and spacious."

In smaller kitchens, it can be tricky to maintain a generous amount of kitchen worktop space, as it can quickly become filled up with countertop kitchen appliances and other clutter. But by placing your fridge at the end of a full run of cabinetry, you can help to increase the surface area of your kitchen, making prep work far easier.

In addition to this, by placing your fridge next to a clear run of worktop, you can help to simplify the process of filling your fridge, providing yourself with "a landing place for the groceries without having to move through the whole kitchen," says designer Neha Gupta, from NU Curations.

As one of the most frequently used features in your kitchen, it's important to place your fridge in a spot that is easily accessible to all, which is exactly why so many designers recommend the space closest to the kitchen entrance.

"This scheme prevents people from retrieving snacks and drinks from passing through the cooking zone, which would disrupt the lead cook’s workflow," explains Kanika Bakshi Khurana from Kanika Design. "It also moves this large appliance out of the core circulation route to unclog this key path, eliminating the bottleneck of spatial congestion," Kanika adds.

In busy households, where people are constantly running into the kitchen to grab a snack or fill up their glass, you'll benefit hugely from keeping the fridge in a spot closer to the entrance, allowing the kitchen to continue to function normally without the constant shuffle of human traffic.

Plus, this positioning helps maintain the most popular kitchen layout trick of all: the working triangle. In small kitchens where movement can often feel awkward or stilted, the working triangle becomes all the more important, offering a streamlined flow of movement to follow throughout the cooking process.

With this layout, Neha explains, "The refrigerator should form one corner of the work triangle (Fridge-Sink-Range)," simplifying the design process for you and making for a more logical, practical kitchen design.

Biggest Fridge Placement Mistakes to Avoid

Even if you do follow this rule, there will still be some crucial small kitchen layout mistakes for you to avoid in order to get it right.

For example, while it's best to have your fridge close to the entrance, Maria suggests avoiding placing the fridge in a corner, "as restricted door opening can make drawers and shelves harder to access and reduce the appliance’s usability."

Similarly, Neha says, "Do not position the fridge opposite the sink to avoid traffic conflicts; or in a deep alcove without ventilation, don't ignore door swing, and center-wall placement."

It's also important to note that this layout may not be equally suited to all kitchens. For example, in galley kitchens, where space is particularly narrow, your fridge is best placed "against the wall end as opposed to positioning it between walls. You will have a continuous prep area on the opposite side," says Neha.

In L-shaped kitchens, you'll get the most out of your space by placing the fridge on the shorter wall, leaving the longer run for prep space and other appliances.

The Best Fridges for Small Kitchens

Of course, there's no one-size-fits-all rule when it comes to designing kitchens, and what the experts recommend may not work in your space. For example, in particularly small designs, where there is no space for a fridge in the kitchen, the experts often recommend placing the appliance somewhere else entirely.

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If your refrigerator doesn't find itself in a built-in cabinet connected to your culinary console, chances are you have an irritating slice of lost counter space between this appliance and your cooking worktop. This Acrylic Kitchen Gap Board from Amazon bridges the gap without the hassle of renovation.

Not only will it remove a pesky dirt magnet from your kitchen worktop, but it'll also offer up additional storage to make the most of your space. And since it doesn't require any drilling, you can install it on your own.

So, here's how it works and some alternative options to choose from.

More Kitchen Storage Additions

Another clever, albeit more effortful kitchen idea I'm obsessed with right now is modern sawtooth cabinetry. It makes customizable storage as simple as a shuffle of a shelf.

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Wallpaper in a kitchen used to sound faintly reckless, like white carpet or silk curtains in a nursery. And by reckless, we mean bonkers. But with smart placement, decent ventilation and a little strategic glass, paper-based wall coverings can prove a perfectly reasonable option for the heart of the home.

Wallpaper also gives modern kitchen ideas something sleek cabinetry alone can’t always deliver — color, shape, and joyfulness. A few rolls can bring joinery to life, turn an awkward wall into the best seat in the house, or persuade a cavernous extension to relax and chill.

The newest kitchen schemes aren’t treating wallpaper as a decorative afterthought, either. They’re pulling cabinet colors from it, using its direction to flatter the architecture and even drawing attention overhead. Ready to get papering? These eight rooms demonstrate exactly how to do wallpaper in the kitchen.

1. Change Direction

Scale matters when the pattern is going around corners and up into the roof. A print like Pondicherry Paisley in Maize from 36 Bourne Street is small enough to behave almost like texture from across the room, but close up it has all the charm and irregularity of a traditional motif. Its diagonal repeat gives the space a subtle visual current that neatly counters the strong horizontal lines of the glazing and kitchen.

“The beauty of a directional print is that it guides the eye,” says interior designer Samantha Todhunter. “In this kitchen, this diagonally running paisley print leads your eye up towards the skylight, making the architecture feel taller, lighter and more expansive. There’s something delightfully retro about traditional paisley, but this print’s minute scale allows it to sit perfectly in this more contemporary space.”

Continuing the wallpaper over the ceiling removes the hard stop where walls usually end. That uninterrupted surface makes the skylight feel almost carved from a patterned shell, while the sunny maize color warms the incoming daylight and sharpens the contrast with black cabinetry and window frames.

2. Pick One Spot

A panel of wallpaper can operate like an oversized artwork, especially when its edges are framed by tall cabinetry and a change of wall color. Cole & Son’s Savuti from the Ardmore Collection brings animated monkeys, birds, and foliage into this jewel-toned kitchen, but its restricted footprint prevents the figurative print from fighting with the heavily veined stone countertops.

"Wallpaper is a great way to introduce personality and character into a kitchen, but placement is key,” says Sofia Bune Strandh, founder and CEO of Sola Kitchens. “I always recommend using it away from the main prep and splash zones, so it remains beautiful for years to come.”

Think about steam as well as obvious splashes: a powerful extractor and decent ventilation matter in a room where paper, heat, and moisture coexist. “If you'd like to incorporate wallpaper behind a sink or hob, protecting it with a sheet of toughened low-iron glass allows you to enjoy the pattern without worrying about everyday splashes and stains,” Sofia adds. Low-iron glass is the key detail here; its extra clarity avoids the faint green cast of regular glass, which can impact the colors beneath.

3. Find Common Ground

In a kitchen containing purple-stained cabinetry, rippling stone, metallic fish-scale tiles, carved cornicing, and botanical lighting, wallpaper could easily become one flourish too many. Instead, Pierre Frey’s Praslin is what makes the eclectic mix click in this kitchen by Extreme Design with design by interior designer Aimée-Shirin Daruwala.

Its elongated diamonds introduce enough geometry to stand up to the strong cabinetry, while its softened plum, green, and cream palette touches several materials without matching any of them exactly.

The repeat also supplies a steadier rhythm behind the sculptural pieces. It creates a patterned horizon around the room, allowing the glossy island, hand-forged pendants, and decorative hood to remain singular moments within one composition.

That’s the maximalist lesson worth stealing: kitchen wallpaper doesn’t always have to be the loudest element. Choose a design that contains the room’s main color families, and it can act as connective tissue, making a collection of fiercely personal choices feel intentional rather than accidental.

4. Look Up

The ceiling is often the only uninterrupted plane left in a cabinet-heavy kitchen, making it prime territory for pattern (or wallpaper). Rule of Three’s Mosaic wallpaper adds a pale, cloudlike layer above this tailored scheme and draws attention to the room’s full length, without stealing focus from the serious sweep of quartzite below.

“Wallpapering the ceiling isn’t simply about adding pattern overhead,” says interior designer Kelly Hohla. “By choosing a design that shares the same soft, organic movement as the quartzite countertops, this kitchen feels richer and more cohesive, without introducing another competing pattern that could make it too chaotic.”

Notice that the surfaces rhyme rather than match: the paper has a looser, airier motif, while the stone brings density and depth. Warm timber frames and smoky blue doors sit between them as a visual pause, preventing the room from becoming one continuous gray swirl.

5. Follow the Thread

When the kitchen wallpaper has this much personality, the cabinetry needs to join in the fun. House of Hackney’s Artemis in Blush sets a warm, uplifting backdrop, while olive fronts provide a comparatively solid base. Clean-lined cabinetry stops the florals tipping into country-kitchen territory, giving the scheme a sharper, more contemporary edge.

“Once the client had chosen the House of Hackney wallpaper, we looked for ways to weave it into the kitchen rather than letting it sit separately," recalls Leila Touwen, co-founder of Pluck. "Echoing the coral on the handles and plinths creates a thread of color that quietly unifies the whole scheme.”

The trick is knowing when to stop. Olive cabinetry anchors the room, allowing the yellow steelwork and blue roof beams to join the mix without tipping it into chaos. It’s an eclectic palette, but the clean, clearly defined blocks of color keep it feeling deliberate.

6. Frame the View

In a galley kitchen, the far wall already acts as a natural focal point, so concentrating pattern there exaggerates the room’s length and gives the eye a rewarding destination. Here, House of Hackney’s Hollyhocks in Spring makes the most of that visual pull, its dense, meadow-like repeat creating a deliberate burst of abundance beyond the pale pink cabinets.

“A window can be a handy moment to break up a run of a busy wallpaper," says Leila. "The view, the change in perspective, gives the eye somewhere to rest, while the pattern around it almost frames the garden like a living artwork. It feels colorful, but never overwhelming.”

Keeping the side walls practical and relatively plain also prevents the smaller space from feeling overstuffed. The black-and-white floor supplies enough graphic contrast to carry the wallpaper’s impact back through the room, so one wall does the decorative work of four.

7. Mine the Print for Colors

Wallpaper can hand you a two-tone cabinet scheme without the usual hours spent sweating over paint charts. Here, Cole & Son’s Satara wraps the room in dark foliage, ochre leaves, and prowling big cats, giving the classic architecture a deliciously exotic edge. Rather than compete with it, the furniture uses two blues to separate the cooking and storage run from the brighter prep and seating island.

“The easiest way to make kitchen wallpaper feel intentional is to borrow from it," says Richard Moore, creative director at Martin Moore. "You don’t need to match the dominant color — often it’s the supporting shades that create the most interesting scheme. Here, the cabinetry picks up two of the blues hidden within the print, giving the whole room a natural sense of cohesion.”

The darker shade advances into the foreground while the paler blue recedes against the walls, making the zoning legible without resorting to an obvious light-versus-dark split. Brass hardware picks up the wallpaper’s warmer notes and stops the blues feeling chilly.

8. Go Off-Grid

Where repeating patterns bring rhythm, murals paint a picture. Here, Designers Guild’s Arjuna Leaf Viridian rises from dense leaves into a near-black canopy, creating the illusion of depth behind an otherwise streamlined kitchen. Because the artwork has a clear horizon and vertical movement, the wall reads less like decoration and more like an opening onto a gorgeous landscape.

The simple oak cabinetry and monolithic island wisely stay out of its way. Pale flooring and a white ceiling provide breathing room, while the island’s dark face borrows just enough from the mural’s shadowy ground to anchor the two halves of the space.

“Nothing transforms a kitchen quite like a floor-to-ceiling mural," says Charlotte Wright of Hobson’s Choice, Bath. "More immersive than a repeating wallpaper, it turns an ordinary wall into a piece of art that completely changes the atmosphere of the room."

"For the best result, have the design scaled to your exact wall dimensions, taking cabinetry and architectural details into account before it’s printed,” she adds.

The best wallpaper trends aren’t trying to turn kitchens into living rooms or bedrooms; they’re enhancing what makes these spaces interesting in the first place, be it strong architecture, expansive walls and beautifully crafted joinery.

And as for outdated wallpaper trends, the only truly stale move is treating pattern as something that must stay safely beyond the kitchen door.

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There are countless issues that arise when you live with a kitchen that's the same size as a shoebox. Of course, there's the lack of storage, but then there's also the added struggle of minimal prep space, too — both of which combine to make every mealtime feel like an uphill battle.

But the one thing I miss above all else in my tiny kitchen is the presence of an island. Typically, the focal point of the design, it functions as both a prep space and a dining counter, and often includes storage space to boot. It's the ultimate do-it-all kitchen feature, bringing order, structure, and focus to sprawling kitchen layouts. But, without the space, we tiny space owners have to find other small kitchen storage ideas to do the trick, and, not to blow my own horn, but I've just found the best one.

At under £100, the Kaylo Metal Kitchen Trolley from Habitat is a no-brainer buy for anyone struggling to make the most of their cooking space. Much like an island, a kitchen trolley provides an additional surface space for you to make use of, as well as plenty of extra storage. The trolleys are small enough to fit in your little kitchen without overwhelming the space, but even better yet, thanks to the handy wheels, you can easily scoot your storage out of the way when you need a little extra room, too.

While these designs are absolutely ideal for renters, if you're looking for something slightly more permanent-feeling, but just as good for small spaces, we have plenty of alternative kitchen island ideas for you to explore.

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Trends in design change as quickly as the weather, with a new hot material or style popping up every time you refresh your feed. But if there's one thing that's remained consistent across the trends of the past few years, it's the idea of balance. We're all obsessed with finding the sweet spot between minimalism and maximalism, modernity and tradition, and subtlety and drama. And that's exactly what this latest kitchen trend is all about.

A progression from the 'quiet luxury' kitchen trend that just about took over the internet last year, this new iteration is all about turning things up a notch, while still retaining that degree of restraint and elegance. "A quietly dramatic kitchen is one that feels elevated and memorable without relying on bold colors or a lot of decorative elements," shares Lynn Berney, one-third of LTA Interiors. "The drama comes from beautiful proportions, luxurious materials, thoughtful lighting, and subtle details. It's sophisticated, timeless, and calming rather than loud," adds fellow co-founder, Alexa Evans.

Rather than revolving around current trends, this style is all about creating a design that feels completely timeless in its finish. Letting materials lead the way, a quietly dramatic kitchen makes a statement without rubbing it in your face. These are designs that make a lasting impression, not a fleeting impact. Here's how.

What Is a 'Quietly Dramatic' Kitchen?

It's set to become the leading style for modern kitchens this year, but what exactly do we mean when we talk about 'quiet drama'? Though the term may sound oxymoronic, it's actually referring to a concept we're all likely familiar with. Think of it as an Oscar-winning performance — subtle, yet impactful. It's not always about doing the most; sometimes it's what you don't do that makes the biggest difference.

"A quietly dramatic kitchen doesn't demand attention; it earns it," argues interior designer Justine Wolman. These spaces likely won't be the super bold, colorful kitchens or ones with crazy statement features. Instead, they build intrigue with layered restraint.

Rather than one bold, focal feature, "A quietly dramatic kitchen focuses on small details," says Coco Greenblum, from Studio Coco Greenblum. This could be something as small as a decorative countertop edge or an ogee backsplash; it's about little touches that build up a richer, more intriguing whole.

Balance remains at the heart of this style. As Alexis Pew, from Kaminski + Pew, says, "A quietly dramatic kitchen is defined by restraint balanced with moments of impact. That impact can come from a stone backsplash with great movement, a patinated metal hood, or a theatrical light fixture. The trick is to balance those moments against a neutral backdrop and to be selective — pick the backsplash, light fixture, or hood, not all three."

Understanding the importance of restraint is key to achieving this look. This doesn't mean you need to design a super minimalist kitchen; it's just about knowing where to hold back, and where to run wild.

This means there's still plenty of space to make bolder choices, so long as they are used alongside other, more muted features. For example, designer Sarah Tract says, "You can have a statement color like a butter yellow but when it’s consistent throughout the cabinetry, millwork, trim and other details it reads soft and beautiful without being overwhelming. On paper a yellow kitchen is quite dramatic, but in person the space is cohesive and calming."

What Features Make Up a 'Quietly Dramatic' Kitchen?

There are a few core design features that come together to create this 'quietly dramatic' look. It's not about one kitchen tile trend or a specific light fitting; it's more about the general attitude and approach you bring to the design.

First, and perhaps most crucial for achieving that 'quiet' factor, is the art of restraint. Explaining what this thoughtful restraint can look like in practical terms, Justine lists: "Clean architectural lines, warm natural materials, integrated appliances, and a palette that feels tonal rather than high-contrast." These seamless, understated design choices come together to create an effortlessly elegant effect.

"You'll often see oversized plaster range hoods, full-height stone backsplashes, custom millwork, soft curves, and lighting that feels sculptural without overpowering the room," she says, "Every element has intention, but nothing competes for attention."

If restraint makes up the 'quiet' part of this design style, it's through contrast that the drama is built. "A rough plaster hood next to polished stone. Soft white oak against dark bronze. Clean kitchen cabinetry paired with something handmade," describes designer Alexis Vitale. It's these little moments of contrast that can really bring a room to life. The seemingly opposing materials or finishes sitting alongside one another create tension in your design, which, when done right, translates into visual intrigue.

Contrast is not the only way to create some drama, though. In these kitchens, you can benefit from pushing the boundaries a little bit, incorporating design ideas that are less expected, or doing what designer Rachel Sherman refers to as 'surprise and delight'.

Explaining the concept behind this, Rachel says, "For example, instead of three pendant lights over an island (expected), it’s three mini flushmounts. Or, instead of a kitchen island with storage, it’s an island with a metal column base." These small, unexpected breaks from tradition are exactly what make these kitchens so exciting to look at.

Above all, though, this style is about creating depth, moving away from the curse of flat, boring kitchens, and stepping into a more intriguing, developed design space. "I think it's all about layering," argues Coco. "Warm woods, sculptural (antique) lighting, interesting stones, and subtle architectural details all work together to create depth. Every element feels intentional, but nothing competes for attention. It's the accumulation of thoughtful details, not one singular statement, that creates the drama."

How to Style a 'Quietly Dramatic' Kitchen

So, how do you go about creating a 'quietly dramatic' kitchen?

Well, first of all, you'll want to spend some time thinking about the kitchen materials you choose to include in this design. This trend is all about subtle, natural materials and building up drama through texture and tonality, so your materials can end up doing a lot of the heavy lifting.

At LTA Interiors, the team prioritizes materials that feel organic and timeless, says co-founder Tracy Gould. Their favorites include light woods, "such as white oak or rift-cut oak, which bring warmth without overwhelming the space," as well as "natural stones with subtle movement, such as honed marble, quartzite, or limestone-inspired surfaces, which add depth while maintaining a serene aesthetic." The natural texture and tactility of these materials introduce a subtle drama into your kitchen that can be hard to replicate with synthetic materials.

Justine echoes this point, saying, "Natural materials are essential because they age beautifully and add depth." In her designs, this often looks like wood cabinetry, paired with natural stone kitchen worktops, and other textural additions like "plaster or limewashed finishes, unlacquered brass, handmade ceramic lighting, and textured fabrics like a beautiful linen." Mixing these softer, matte finishes with cooler, hard ones, like stone, also helps create the contrast mentioned earlier.

The designers tend to opt for a tonal kitchen color scheme to build depth in the design. "Keep the palette tonal, using different shades of the same color family rather than stark contrasts," suggests Tracy. This works particularly well with a neutral kitchen color, like a warm beige or cream-toned finish, though you can also experiment with some more surprising tones here.

"Playing with scale is another great way to introduce drama," says Kevin, from Kaminski + Pew. Playing into Rachel's idea of 'surprise and delight', Kevin suggests challenging expectations through scale. "Choose larger-scale light fixtures if the space can support them, or extend the backsplash all the way to the ceiling to increase visual interest," he says. "It's all about creating impact, just in a subtle way."

The one piece of advice that almost all the experts echoed in some form was a return to the art of restraint. "Resist the urge to make every element a statement. Invest in a few beautiful materials, keep the palette restrained, and let craftsmanship shine," says Coco. Instead of allowing for various competing features, allow one to take center stage, she argues.

Similarly, Kevin says, "Focus on one defining moment to create impact — whether it's the countertop, the kitchen lighting, or the hood, but not all three. This draws attention to the space while highlighting a thoughtful design detail."

It's this idea that is central to the whole style of 'quiet drama' — a restrained, thoughtful approach to design, where individual parts come together to create one balanced whole.

Get the Look

If you like this style, you'll probably also be a fan of our collection of traditional kitchen decor pieces, which are perfect for adding some more character to your space.

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There was a time when painting the upper cabinets light and the lowers dark was considered wildly original. Then everyone copied it. Don't get me wrong, it still looks good, but the once-radical formula has become a bit too safe. Today’s most interesting kitchens are finding entirely new places for that second color hit, using the contrast to shape architecture, disguise scale and create moments that unfold gradually rather than all at once.

The latest kitchen color ideas aren’t about neatly splitting the room at waist height. Instead, they’re placing a second finish exactly where it has the biggest visual payoff — across a pair of full-height cupboards, inside a pantry or as little more than a painted outline. It’s less about following a formula and more about giving cabinetry personality.

Whether you’re drawn to rich timber, playful paint or dramatic color drenching, these projects prove two-tone kitchens have become infinitely more sophisticated. Here’s how the designers are rewriting the rules.

1. Repeat, but Be Subtle

Not every second color needs equal billing. One of the easiest ways to make a two-tone kitchen feel more sophisticated is to use the contrasting finish sparingly, allowing it to pop up once or twice like a visual callback. Just enough repetition in the interior design provides a sense of purpose, without making the whole room feel overly coordinated.

Winnie Tam has nailed it in this smart space. “We used a rich, dark timber finish to anchor the full-height cabinetry, then subtly reintroduced it as a grounding detail as the magazine rack of the island,” explains the founder and director of 28 a.m. “This intentional repetition creates a seamless visual cohesion across the space, allowing the lighter surfaces to breathe while ensuring the island feels perfectly connected to the primary units.”

2. Draw the Line

Two-tone doesn’t have to be poured on by the bucketload. In fact, one of the freshest interpretations uses remarkably little paint at all. Designed by Sarah Peake of Studio Peake and brought to life by bespoke kitchen maker 202 Design, this white and green kitchen scheme uses color almost like pinstriping, tracing the profile of each cabinet door to create subtle contrast while emphasizing the craftsmanship of the joinery.

“This approach shifts the focus from color blocking to detailing. Instead of separating the kitchen into two contrasting halves, the green detailing traces the profile of the white cabinetry, giving the joinery greater definition while introducing two-tone color in a far subtler way,” says Benjamin Kempton, founder of 202 Design.

Because the contrast sits around the edges rather than across whole doors, the cabinetry feels lighter and more refined. It’s an elegant way of introducing a second color without letting it dominate the whole room.

3. Hide Your Boldest Color

Rather than splitting the kitchen itself into two contrasting finishes, the designers at Herringbone House gave the second color a room of its own. Cabinetry painted in Herringbone Paints Canteen Blue forms the calm outer shell, while the walk-in pantry beyond is wrapped in the richer Herringbone Paints Lindsey Lapis, creating a bold focal point framed by glazed screens.

“We wanted to rethink the traditional two-tone kitchen. Instead of applying two finishes across the cabinetry, we concentrated the bolder colour inside the pantry. Framed by the glazed screen, it creates depth and a sense of discovery every time you look through,” explains William Durrant, owner and director of Herringbone House.

Looking through the steel-framed glazing creates layers of depth, making the pantry feel almost like a stage set beyond the main kitchen. The stronger color has real presence, but because it’s visually separated from the working space, the overall scheme is calm and restrained.

4. Flip the Formula

For years, two-tone kitchens almost always followed a horizontal line — darker below, lighter above. But there’s no reason contrast has to work that way. Turning the idea on its side creates a completely different effect, drawing the eye across the room rather than dividing it in half.

It’s a particularly useful trick in kitchens with lots of full-height cabinetry, where introducing a second finish vertically subtly changes how you read the room. “Rather than keeping all the tall cabinetry in one finish, we echoed the darker timber of the island on two full-height cupboards. This creates a visual rhythm across the elevation, breaking up the run and allowing those pieces to read more like standalone dressers than fitted units,” explains Richard Moore, creative director of Martin Moore.

5. That’s a Wrap

Two-tone kitchens don’t have to begin and end with the cabinetry, as this total jewel-box of a kitchen proves. “Rather than treating two-tone as a simple contrast between cabinet colours, we looked at how the palette could influence the entire space. Walnut flooring with bespoke inlays of J’Adore pale green quartzite echoes the matching quartzite backsplash, allowing the palette to flow throughout the room,” says interior designer Róisín Lafferty. “The bronze-toned mirrored ceiling and backsplash reflect the mint and walnut throughout the space, giving the scheme greater depth and transforming the kitchen into an immersive environment.”

It’s a shift in thinking as much as aesthetics. Instead of asking where a second cabinet color should go, consider where else the palette can appear. Repeating one or two key materials around the room creates a stronger sense of identity than introducing a string of unrelated finishes, especially in small kitchens where visual clutter can quickly take over.

6. Use Two Tone to Zone

As kitchens have become part of larger open-plan living spaces, cabinetry has had to work harder than ever. It’s no longer just about storage — the joinery itself can help organize the room, subtly distinguishing one area from another while maintaining a cohesive overall scheme.

“For this open-plan kitchen-living-dining extension, we wanted to create a sense of spatial definition while maintaining the social heart of the home as a single, generous room. The green cabinetry establishes the cooking area, while the complementary blush tone defines the transition towards living and relaxing. It’s an interpretation of the two-tone kitchen, where colour becomes a tool for spatial zoning as much as a decorative choice,” says Charles Tashima, founder of Studio Tashima.

Instead of relying on walls or changes in flooring, using contrasting cabinetry creates a natural shift in atmosphere as you move through the space. It’s a thoughtful approach that gives each zone its own identity while ensuring the kitchen still feels fully connected to the rest of the home.

7. Take It Overhead

The ceiling color is often the forgotten part of the palette in a two-tone kitchen, left white almost by default. Carrying wall color overhead changes the proportions of a room completely, blurring where the walls end and creating a more immersive backdrop for your color switch.

“Sometimes when a room is naturally dark and north-facing, it is tempting to make everything light and bright, paint the cupboards in creams or whites and have lots of lighting," says Helen Parker, creative director of deVOL Kitchens. "Well, we did the opposite in here, we went for dusky pink on the walls and rich dark blue Shaker cupboards, in the hope of creating a really moody atmosphere. Dark can be dingy and dull but more often, if embraced, it can create a magical space."

Feeling inspired? Next, discover why brown kitchens are having a major moment, explore the beauty of tonal kitchen color schemes, or see which timeless kitchen colors designers never tire of.

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I know it's going to be a good day when my matcha's microfoam looks rich and velvety. And this morning ritual has taken on a whole new light since I discovered this sweet Matcha Station from Urban Outfitters.

Coffee nooks have been a thing forever, and it feels like matcha corners are finally getting the love they deserve. These countertop organizers allow you to make your love for this earthy green beverage a part of your culinary vignette, in tune with the rise of matcha-inspired cafés.

So, here are some ways to rope this therapeutic beverage ritual into your design and how to curate a matcha station you'll actually use.

Matcha Station Stylings

Since I like my matchas refreshingly chilled in this sweltering weather (and otherwise), I can't stop thinking about how game-changing this dedicated ice fridge would be. To keep up with other designer necessities for a cool summer home, subscribe to the Livingetc newsletter.

There have been various waves of wellness-related fridge trends over the years — there's been the beverage fridge and the skincare fridge, to name a few. But now, we're entering our newest fridge era. Introducing: the supplement fridge.

Not simply a new kitchen appliance trend, the supplement fridge reflects a wider shift in our attitudes towards health and wellness over recent years. "It started as a practical way to store supplements that genuinely require refrigeration," comments Becki Hawkins, registered nutritional therapist, founder of FIT Nutrition & Testing Clinic, and head of nutrition for Champneys. But now, she says, "it's become part of the wider wellness trend, with beautifully organized fridges stocked with everything from probiotics and omega-3 oils to gut health shots, electrolyte drinks, greens powders and functional beverages." And don't forget the fact that GLP-1s also require you to store them in the fridge, too.

These fridges are markers of something larger than themselves, indicating a level of commitment to wellness that has become both a core facet of people's identities and a status symbol. But before we can make a true judgment on this latest trend, it's important to dive into what they are, and more importantly, whether you actually need one.

What Is a Supplement Fridge?

Let's start by taking a look at what we actually mean when we talk about supplement fridges.

As the name would suggest, these appliances are installed with the sole purpose of storing and preserving various supplements and wellness products. As the wellness industry has developed, we've become increasingly interested in understanding how certain vitamins and supplements work, and have adjusted how we use and store them accordingly, and as such, we've landed on the supplement fridge.

"A 'supplement fridge' is an exclusive appliance for storing those supplements and wellness products that need to stay chilled to ensure their efficacy," explains Dr. Farhan Abdullah, medical director of Magnolia Functional Wellness. These products include, but are not limited to, certain probiotics, peptides, liquid supplements, and medications like GLP-1s. "A supplement fridge allows you to safely store and keep all of your cold-sensitive items away from common food items," says Dr. Farhan.

More often than not, these fridges take the form of small, undercounter units, designed to sit beneath your kitchen worktop or bathroom vanity. However, as Greg Hughes from Sub-Zero & Wolf notes, "These fridges are also available as refrigerated drawers as well as standard undercounter refrigeration," so they can easily be designed to be disguised in your bathroom storage or cabinetry, too.

Why Are They Becoming More Popular?

Over the past two years, Sub-Zero & Wolf has noticed a tenfold increase in inquiries for these types of fridges, and they're popping up all over the house, from bedrooms and bathrooms to modern kitchens alike. But where, exactly, has this sudden interest come from?

Well, there is one glaringly obvious explanation: the rise of GLP-1s. Despite having been on the market in some form for several years now, it's only in the past few years that medications like Ozempic and Wegovy have fully infiltrated the mainstream, with an estimated 7% of the population having used the drug as of May 2026. As a protein-based medication, these injections require refrigeration, which no doubt plays a large part in the popularization of the supplement fridge.

But it's not just GLP-1s that are stored in these devices, as Greg explains: "As wellness routines have become more sophisticated, the sheer volume of temperature-sensitive products people now use daily — from skincare to supplements to GLP-1 injectables — has grown to the point where dedicated, correctly-tempered kitchen storage has become a staple for our clients." This reflects the practical necessity behind these designs, allowing people to maintain their product at the temperature it needs to be at.

But, Becki explains, there are two different motivations at play here. "The first is practicality," she says. "Some supplements genuinely benefit from refrigeration. Certain live bacteria (probiotics), liquid omega-3 oils after opening, and some specialist liquid formulations are best kept chilled to maintain their quality and potency."

The second, however, explores the wider rise of the 'wellness fridge' as a concept. Although they may feel rather 'extra', Becki shares, "I actually think there's something positive behind this trend. When healthy choices are visible and easy to access, people are generally more likely to stick to them. We've seen the same with fruit bowls on kitchen worktops or preparing healthy snacks in advance. If opening your fridge reminds you to drink your kefir, take your probiotic, or reach for a gut health shot instead of a sugary drink, that's not necessarily a bad thing."

There is, however, a more performative aspect to it, too. "These types of trends in the social media space have turned wellness environments into curated lifestyle displays; therefore, having a specific refrigerator for your supplements seems like an upscale component to maintaining a healthy lifestyle," says Farhan.

Do You Need One?

Now, to the real crux of the matter: do you actually need a supplement fridge?

Well, as you may expect, the answer will depend on what exactly you're looking to get out of it. If your concern is storing your supplements and medication in the correct conditions, you'll be glad to know that your regular fridge will do just the trick.

Farhan explains, "A household refrigerator is completely sufficient for storing your refrigerated supplements and/or medications as long as you follow the manufacturer's recommendations for temperature ranges and protect the products from extreme temperatures and freezing."

There's nothing a supplement fridge can do in maintaining potency and efficacy that your regular fridge cannot do, so don't feel you're doing anything wrong by keeping your supplements in your regular fridge.

The benefit of a supplement fridge comes down to convenience more than necessity.

As Greg explains, "A standard kitchen fridge isn't designed with these products in mind, and it's rarely located where they're actually used." Because these appliances are typically smaller, the idea is that you can install them anywhere, not just in your kitchen.

"The bathroom is fast becoming a private wellness space," he says, as shown by the trend for spa bathrooms, "and a supplement fridge means these products are kept at the right temperature exactly where they're used, rather than in a kitchen fridge elsewhere in the house. It's as much about convenience and routine as it is about preserving efficacy."

By positioning your fridge in the spot where you'd typically take your morning supplements, you introduce more ease into your routine, removing those small moments of friction that can quickly detract from any relaxing energy you've attempted to cultivate in your routine.

For more dedicated fridges taking center stage in this year's trends, ice fridges are the coolest luxury to add to your kitchen in 2026.

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My Victorian flat in Jersey City had very little floor space, and I quickly learned that fitting a piece into a room is not the same as making it work. I made mistakes too, choosing furniture that was either too small to be useful or too large for the way I actually lived.

This is the challenge behind many small kitchen ideas. We often choose furniture based dimension alone, when it should also create storage, add worktop space or adapt to different needs. A trolley can become extra prep space, while tall shelving or a slim cabinet makes use of height without crowding the floor. Often, the smartest way to solve common small kitchen problems is with one well-chosen piece that does several jobs at once.

As a Design Lab by Livingetc stylist, I’ve received many Find requests for furniture that works harder in smaller spaces. A freestanding cabinet is a perfect example. Use it as a coffee station, tuck away appliances, glasses and pantry essentials inside, then style the top as you would a dining room sideboard with a portable lamp, a tray, baskets or even a few books. That balance is what makes practical storage feel like a considered part of the home, rather than something added simply because it fits.

If you are renovating, it is also worth exploring the different ways to maximise a small kitchen extension before deciding on the furniture. For an easier update, I would also consider slim storage that will not overpower the room, especially where every centimetre matters.

And there is plenty more where this came from. Sign up to the Livingetc newsletter for more stylist advice, thoughtful shopping edits and design ideas.

Fit for entertaining, while designed for family life; overflowing with storage, yet simultaneously seamless and clutter-free; highly functional, yet also warm and inviting — these are all the often opposing things we come to expect from our kitchens nowadays, and yet, somehow, this design managed to do all of them, and more.

A modern space within a traditional Victorian terraced home, this kitchen extension feels thoroughly timeless, interweaving elements of the home's period origins with contemporary touches. "The kitchen sits within a traditional Victorian terrace, but the rear extension introduces a distinctly contemporary character," Greg Daulby, senior designer at Cor Domi, says. "Flooded with natural light and defined by generous ceiling heights, the extension presented an opportunity to create a kitchen that felt modern whilst remaining sympathetic to the original home."

Designed by Cor Domi and Project London, this south-west London kitchen renovation epitomises exactly what we all hope for from a kitchen today. Full of texture and warmth, with a welcoming, open layout and masses of hidden storage, this project is a masterclass in intentional design.

The Brief

Perhaps the most universal desire when designing a kitchen is for the room to become the central hub of the family home, and this project is no exception. "The client wanted the kitchen to become the true heart of the home, a sociable, convivial space where cooking, dining, and entertaining could happen simultaneously," shares Greg.

Primarily a family home, though also frequently used as a hub for hosting, Greg's clients wanted both possibilities to be equally supported by the design, with plenty of space for younger children to move around and feel at ease, while still feeling sophisticated enough to welcome their friends in, too.

It's always easier to plan out a kitchen renovation timeline when there are clear ideas from the beginning, and that was certainly the case in this project. "From the outset, there were several key requirements that shaped the design," says Greg. And primary among these was a large, central kitchen peninsula, used to create "a natural gathering point for cooking, casual dining and conversation."

In addition, Greg adds, "The client was also keen to incorporate a comfortable banquette seating area to encourage more relaxed everyday use of the space, blurring the line between kitchen and living." With seating at both the peninsula and the dedicated banquette dining area, this kitchen is as suited to large dinner parties as it is to intimate family meals.

"Kitchen storage and functionality were equally important," says Greg. Wanting to keep the kitchen as tidy and uncluttered as possible, they opted for a concealed walk-in pantry behind pocket doors and direct access to the utility room through this hidden cabinetry.

Set within a modern extension of a traditional Victorian terrace house, Greg explains, "The architecture played a significant role in shaping the joinery. Rather than treating it as a series of standard cabinets, we designed the furniture to respond directly to the volume of the space, using changes in height and proportion to emphasise the full-height ceilings and create a more architectural composition."

The result is a room that feels beyond time, with elements of Victorian and contemporary design seamlessly interweaving with one another.

The Process

Intentionally avoiding any reliance on popular kitchen trends that could quickly fall out of style, the vision for this design came about more naturally. "The design evolved from the material palette rather than a particular style or trend," explains Greg.

"From the outset, we wanted to create a calm, tactile environment where the richness came from texture and craftsmanship instead of bold color or ornamentation," he says, and with plenty of natural materials and a warm, earthy color palette, they achieved this with ease.

As a fundamentally functional space, optimal usability was, of course, a priority when developing this design. They spent time considering exactly where to position the kitchen appliances and mapping out how the space would most likely be used to ensure a kitchen layout that felt intuitive and seamless for the clients to live in.

"Natural light was another key driver of the design," says Greg. "The extension benefits from two generous rooflights and large glazed doors, flooding the space with daylight throughout the day. Rather than competing with this, we selected a soft, neutral material palette that reflects the light and enhances the sense of openness, resulting in a calm and inviting atmosphere."

A minimalist approach to the kitchen lighting allowed for the existing natural light to remain central to the design.

As an open-plan kitchen, cohesion was crucial. But, to ensure it never felt too monotonous, Greg says, "We introduced moments of contrast through the client's carefully curated artwork and a striking natural stone peninsula, which acts as the focal point of the room while adding depth and character to the otherwise restrained palette."

In addition to the client's requests and desires, the team had to take note of the structure itself, adapting the vision to suit the requirements of the space. For example, "Exposed steel beams formed part of the structure, so the cabinetry had to be meticulously detailed around them, allowing the joinery to feel completely integrated."

The Design

Perhaps the most enviable feature of this space, at first hidden from view, is the generously sized walk-in pantry. Concealed behind a wall of kitchen cabinetry, a pocket door opens to reveal this extra space, designed to store any kitchen appliances and other clutter.

"The location of the pantry entrance was fixed architecturally, so rather than allowing it to interrupt the flow of the kitchen, we embraced it as part of the overall composition," explains Greg.

"We created a full-height wall of bespoke joinery that conceals the pantry entrance within the cabinetry, allowing the elevation to read as one continuous architectural element. This approach not only creates a much calmer visual language but also provides the opportunity to introduce additional storage throughout the run, ensuring the design is as functional as it is refined."

Although the design in its final form looks thoroughly intentional, there were a fair few compromises that had to happen to arrive there.

The most significant example of this was the island. As Greg explains, "Like many clients, the original brief centred around a large island, but once we assessed the proportions of the room, it became clear that a freestanding island would have resulted in compromised circulation and an inefficient working layout."

Instead, Greg chose to rework the island into a peninsula, attached to the perimeter wall at one end. By doing this, they were able to create the same focal point that an island offers, without impacting the overall layout of the kitchen.

Opting for a neutral kitchen color palette, this design was all about letting the materials do the talking. "We kept the material palette deliberately simple, allowing texture and quality to take center stage," says Greg.

The lacquer-finish cabinets provide a warm, smooth backdrop for the rest of the design, allowing the bold, veined kitchen worktops to be the main focal point. Although the monochromatic, veined surface looks like marble, it's actually made of porcelain, allowing for a more durable, low-maintenance kitchen design. "They capture the elegance of natural stone while offering exceptional durability for everyday family life," adds Greg.

Counteracting the hard, cool finishes on the cabinets and counters, warm brass kitchen hardware, and Clayworks plaster walls bring a tactile warmth that spreads across the room.

The foundation of warmth and tactility in this design comes from the softly mottled, warm-toned walls that wrap around the room.

To create these plaster-effect walls, Greg used a Clayworks plaster, supplied by Surface Design London. This finish, he says, "Brings a beautiful sense of depth and movement to the space."

For a more cohesive effect, Greg opted for a near-identical shade for the cabinetry, too. "We selected the wall finish first, before choosing a complementary paint color from Little Greene for the cabinetry to ensure the two materials worked together harmoniously," he explains, which was Little Greene's Rolling Fog.

This, paired with the sage green upholstery and wooden details of the banquette area, makes for a sophisticated yet welcoming effect.

As gorgeous as a glass kitchen extension can be, there's one major issue with them, and anyone living with one will be all too aware of that issue at the moment: heat. Luckily, these heatwave-proof house extension tips will save you from that dreaded greenhouse effect. And for even more helpful tips and ideas, subscribe to our newsletter.

Large, lofty cabinets seem like such a blessing at first glance. But if you use them as they are, sans shelves and all, you're probably wasting some precious storage space. That's where these Extendable Tension Shelves from Amazon come in handy.

Organizing kitchen cabinets is made so much easier with these adjustable shelves. Like any tension rod, you can extend the shelf until it fits snugly across the width of your cabinet. And then, once it's firmly in place, you can double your storage by treating it as a built-in shelf.

While I wouldn't put anything particularly weighty on these shelves, it's all about optimizing your cabinets for maximum use. And with a touch of reorganizing, you'll find yourself with a less chaotic counter and a calmer culinary space. So here's how it works and some great alternatives to shop, too.

More Kitchen Storage

Don't stop with just in-cabinet organizers. Try magnetic baskets to add storage to your fridge and modern sawtooth cabinetry for adjustable shelves.

And for more design inspiration to make the most of any space, subscribe to the Livingetc newsletter.

Choosing kitchen cabinet handles is the finishing touch, even sometimes referred to as the 'jewelry of the kitchen' — it’s often the decision that can make or break an entire scheme. The right hardware can bring a classic shaker kitchen right up to date, add warmth to cool-toned cabinetry, or introduce just enough contrast to give a pared-back design some personality.

And while keeping up with the latest kitchen handle trends can help to inspire your choice, finding the right finish for your cabinet color is just as important.

While there are no 'rules', certain color combinations consistently stand out for all the right reasons, and some pairings have become designers' favorite go-tos simply because they complement undertones, balance contrast, and suit the overall mood and style of the space.

So, whether you’re planning a full renovation or a quick kitchen update, we’ve spoken to the experts, who’ve suggested the most popular pairings of cabinet color and handle finishes, helping you narrow your list to the perfect choice.

Olive Green x Brass

Olive green cabinetry has become of the most enduring kitchen colors.

As, Tom Revill, creative director and co-founder of Plank Hardware, tells me, “It just makes sense.” Striking the perfect balance between timeless and on-trend, it’s warm, it’s earthy, and really versatile, conforming to any interior style.

“It has the kind of depth and maturity that most neutrals can only aspire to — earthy without being muddy, bold without being shouty,” Tom recommends pairing it with heirloom brass, a softly brushed brass finish for ample character from the warm golden tones that deepen at the edges and contours.

“It doesn’t try to be perfect, which is exactly why it works so well against green cabinetry. The two share the same earthy, organic register.”

Pale Blue x Satin Brass

Icy blue kitchens have quietly become a designer favorite, offering a much softer alternative to classic white or saturated blue, while bringing subtle color into the space without feeling stark or overwhelming.

To keep the look feeling warm rather than cool, the finish of the hardware matters just as much as the kitchen color, and Tom suggests satin brass strikes the perfect balance, injecting warmth, class, and tranquillity. “Pale blue is the cabinet color that interior designers specify, and homeowners second-guess," he says, "usually until they see it fitted, at which point the second-guessing stops permanently. It’s airy and considered in equal measure, with a quiet confidence that works in both modern and period kitchens.”

“Satin brass is its natural counterpart," he continues. "Where polished nickel would read too cold against pale blue and antique brass too heavy, satin brass sits right in the middle.”

It’s soft, muted gold with a delicate sheen, rather than a shine, bringing warmth without the weight, which is exactly what pale blue needs to stop it feeling washed out. “The result is a kitchen that feels considered and calm, without tipping into the anonymous.”

Navy Blue x Nickel or Chrome

Navy blue kitchens are still a go-to for creating a sophisticated scheme that feels both sophisticated and timeless. As a deeper, more dramatic shade, it can actually carry a variety of hardware finishes quite well.

While brass would most likely be what first comes to mind, Gareth Hull, design lead at Hendel & Hendel, suggests looking beyond the obvious. Nickel and chrome offer a fresher alternative, bringing a crispness and contrast that stops the deep blue from feeling too heavy while complementing the clean lines of a modern kitchen.

“Navy is a much stronger cabinet color, so it can take a more confident handle,” says Gareth, “Nickel and chrome are very strong choices with navy, and I think they are sometimes overlooked. They give navy a sharper, cleaner feel and can work beautifully in a more tailored kitchen, especially if there is marble, quartz, pale worktops or silver-toned appliances in the room.” Choosing nickel or chrome will make the space feel smarter and a little less expected.

Aubergine x Unlacquered Brass

For anyone looking to move beyond the popular greens and blues, aubergine offers a rich, cocooning kitchen color trend that’s full of depth.

It’s a confident choice, and so it serves hardware with just as much presence. According to Tom, unlacquered brass is the perfect partner for this bold color choice, adding warmth and evolving beautifully over time.

“Unlacquered Brass is a living finish. Fresh from the box, it’s a bright, warm gold," Tom says. "Over months and years of use, it deepens and develops a patina that’s entirely its own. Against the cool, purple-toned depth of aubergine cabinetry, that warm gold doesn’t just contrast — it glows.”

These two elements genuinely make each other better.

Butter Yellow x Polished Nickel

Butter yellow is definitely an underestimated kitchen color, and probably not the first to come to mind, but its growing popularity proves that softer, more characterful shades are most definitely creeping back in. This yellow kitchen idea is a warm, sunny welcome that can almost feel quite traditional — it offers a sense of charm while still feeling fresh and intentional.

Now, when it comes to the door jewelry, your instinct may say to put it with a warm brass, but Tom suggests taking the opposite approach: “The temptation with yellow is to lean into the warmth and reach for brass. I’d resist that. Polished nickel is the smarter call," he explains. “Its high-shine, mirror-like surface reads crisp and cool against butter yellow, creating a contrast that stops the kitchen from feeling too sugary or one-note.”

He compares it to using the same logic as pairing a warm outfit with cold metal accessories — the contrast sharpens everything up. Polished nickel has a subtle warmth of its own, too, so it never feels cold or clinical.

Natural Wood x Black

Light natural wooden cabinetry brings something very different to a kitchen scheme — its beauty comes from its grain, texture and natural variation in tone, meaning choosing hardware is less about matching a shade and more about complementing the character of the wood. For a more defined, contemporary look, black handles can create a striking juxtaposition that adds structure and a modern twist. However, Gareth suggests that warmer metals such as bronze can also be a natural fit, enhancing the organic qualities of the timber.

“I would always look at the type of timber before choosing the hardware. Pale oak, ash, and walnut all behave very differently with metal finishes. With pale oak or ash, black handles can work really well if you want definition, giving the cabinetry a clear outline and stopping the kitchen from feeling too pale or washed out. That said, black is quite a strong choice, so it works best when there are other darker details in the room, such as lighting, stools, appliances, or a darker worktop.”

If this isn’t quite suited to the rest of your space, Gareth recommends bronze, aged brass or burnished brass to give natural wood a warmer, more crafted feel. “They sit very comfortably with the grain rather than cutting across it," he says. "I think that is often the better route if the kitchen is designed to feel soft, warm and tactile.”

Dark wood x Bronze or Brushed Brass

With darker timber kitchens, such as walnut, the most successful hardware tends to be finishes that complement the warmth of the timber without creating too much contrast.

Gareth recommends avoiding anything too bright or high contrast. "A deeper bronze, dark brass or brushed finish tends to feel more refined because it has enough presence, but it does not distract from the timber itself," he says. "With wood, the handle should add touch and weight, not compete with what the material is already doing."

Allow the timber to remain the focus by adding a subtle detail with a sense of craftsmanship.

Sage Green x Aged Brass

Sage green kitchens are definitely a popular choice when it comes to color trends. Its ability to bring color, natural energy and be so versatile is unique – able to shift from modern to traditional depending on the setting and finishes alongside it.

“If you pair it with something too shiny or yellow, it can very quickly become a bit sweet, or a bit too country," Gareth explains. "That is not necessarily wrong, but it is not always the look people are aiming for now."

“I tend to prefer sage with aged brass, burnished brass or a soft bronze," he adds. "Those finishes have enough warmth to bring out the green, but they also have a bit of depth, which stops the cabinetry from feeling too pretty. It gives sage more weight and makes it feel a little more grown-up."

One important thing to remember is brass works, but the tone of the brass matters. Gareth suggests a softer, aged finish will usually look far more expensive than a bright gold handle.

Warm Off-White x Brass, Bronze or Nickel

Warm. off-white cabinetry is one of the most adaptable choices for a kitchen, offering a softer alternative to a stark pure white and creating a timeless backdrop for a range of design styles. However, the shade is subtle, and so the handle finish can have a significant impact on the overall feel of the space.

Gareth suggests leaning into the warmth of off-white cabinets: “For a warmer off-white, I would often look at aged brass, burnished brass or bronze. These finishes sit naturally with creamier cabinet tones and work well with timber, stone, and warmer wall colors. They give the kitchen character without making it feel traditional for the sake of it."

For a fresher, cleaner feel, he suggests, “Brushed nickel is a great alternative if you want the kitchen to feel fresher. It gives off-white cabinetry a little lift, particularly if the kitchen has a cooler worktop, stainless steel appliances, or a more classic shaker door. It is softer than chrome, but still clean.”

The important thing with off-white is to decide what role you want the handle to play. If you’re looking for warmth, brass and bronze are best, whereas nickel will sharpen the space up and black will add contrast. “None of those is wrong, but they each create very different kitchens.”

Just as expected, there’s no single handle finish that works for every cabinet color, it all comes down to the ambience you want to create. As Tom says, “It’s not really about what ‘goes together’ — it’s about what you want your room to feel like.” While hardware is often one of the last decisions made in a kitchen project, he believes it’s a detail that quietly transforms the entire scheme. “Pick a colour, pick a finish, commit to it. The hardware will do the rest.”

Massimo Buster Minale, founder and creative director of Buster + Punch, agrees that the right hardware is about more than practicality. “Adding a sharp accent with dark hardware, such as black or brushed metal, helps to define strong architectural features and strengthens the overall kitchen design, bringing visual interest and definition to the space,” he says. The combination of soft pastels and metal finishes blends a sense of subtle nostalgia with contemporary design, grounding the kitchen without making it feel overwhelming.”

Whether you opt for the warmth of aged brass, the crispness of polished nickel, or the bold contrast of black, the kitchen material trends not only affect the looks of your cabinetry but also the mood you want in your space. It really is the smallest details that make the biggest impact.

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Brown has spent years lurking in the background of kitchen design, popping up in walnut islands and butcher’s blocks while sage, navy and greige hogged the spotlight. Not anymore. From muddy mushroom tones to rich chocolate hues, brown is making a distinct comeback, and it’s bringing a welcome dose of warmth with it.

Perhaps it’s a reaction to years of cool minimalism, perhaps the fashion crowd got there first, or maybe we’re just craving spaces that remind us of our grandma’s house — just with better lighting and marble countertops. Either way, today’s brown kitchens feel anything but dated. Think glossy plum-brown walls, earthy paint colors with pink undertones, and dark stained timber that celebrates grain instead of hiding it. These are kitchen color ideas that feel layered, tactile, and full of personality.

The truth is brown isn’t really one color at all. It can lean red, gray, olive, or caramel, and it pairs happily with everything from polished stainless steel to dramatic marble and warm brass. Whether you’re considering a full cabinet makeover or simply looking for a fresh alternative to sage green, these ideas prove brown deserves a place back on the kitchen moodboard.

1. Below Deck

Brown doesn’t have to swallow a kitchen whole to make an impact. In fact, one of the smartest ways to use it is to keep the richest shade below the countertop (and eyeline), where it naturally grounds the room without making it feel smaller.

Here, cabinetry painted in deep mahogany brown gives the perimeter units real presence, while crisp white upper cabinets stop the look from tipping into overly traditional territory. Add warm brass hardware and brown/gold-streaked marble to this two-tone kitchen, and suddenly the contrast feels fresh rather than formal.

"Brown is far more nuanced than people often realise," says Kasia Piorko, founder and design director of Kate Feather Kitchen Design. "Shades like Farrow & Ball’s Mahogany carry red undertones that change beautifully throughout the day, creating a depth that flat grays and blacks simply can’t achieve."

2. Global Influence

Brown’s biggest design flex is how brilliantly it partners with texture. Swap cool minimalism for woven natural fibers, patterned textiles, and warm metallics, and suddenly the color takes on a worldly, well-traveled feel. Here, the muddy warmth of the cabinetry, in Farrow & Ball’s London Clay, is echoed in woven lighting, bold Roman blinds and brass accents, giving the scheme a distinctly global influence that’s rich in character without tipping into theme.

"The whole space here has elements of the Moroccan aesthetic and Berber leanings, and that’s my happy place," says interior designer Mhairi Coyle. "I added a beautiful cornice and carried it across the windows to hide the top of the bold print blinds, which are brown to tie in with the cabinetry.” To root the kitchen in its space, Mhairi sourced oversized brass and natural abaca pendant kitchen lighting from Visual Comfort.

"What makes this color so great is that it’s a muddy, pinkish brown, so it works well against the more masculine, cold feel of the stainless-steel worktop," she adds. "It keeps it sharp and cool but still warm and homely."

3. Go Cocooning

A brown color-drench doesn’t have to feel heavy. The trick is treating the room as a complete envelope rather than stopping and starting the color from one surface to the next. Here, brown-stained cabinetry meets glossy plum-brown polished plaster that wraps seamlessly over the walls, extractor hood, and ceiling, blurring the boundaries between architecture and joinery. Brass hardware and marble surfaces catch the light, ensuring the rich palette feels atmospheric rather than enclosed.

"We wanted to create a jewel box kitchen that was not only a nod to a space that could have been in the home when it was originally constructed in the early 1900s, but also to make you feel alive and intimate with the materials, textures, fixtures, and the overall experience," explains Kristen Peña, owner and principal designer, Kristen Peña Interiors.

That immersive effect is reinforced by a decorative ceiling treatment by Caroline Lizarraga, adding another layer of handcrafted character without feeling overly nostalgic.

4. Old-World Charm

Brown is one of the few kitchen cabinet trends that genuinely improves with age. Where crisp white highlights every knock and navy can quickly show wear, sludgy, earthy browns embrace the inevitable bumps and scrapes of family life, developing character rather than looking tired.

Patrick Williams of Berdoulat leans into that philosophy by borrowing a practical decorating detail from historic service spaces. "I love the ‘below stairs’ aesthetic," says the author of The House Rules. "It’s prominently influenced by practicality. Here I’ve used a tideline, which you often see in historic kitchen spaces, pantries, sculleries and the corridors between them.

"The lower portion of the wall is sacrificial, able to take the scuffs and scrapes of trays being carried. Edward Bulmer’s London Brown takes damage so well — it’s all welcome patina in my opinion."

5. Create Flow

If you’re introducing brown cabinetry into an open-plan kitchen, don’t let it stop at the cabinets. Repeating the same earthy tones elsewhere in the room helps the kitchen feel woven into the wider living space rather than reading as a separate zone.

That’s exactly the approach Albion Nord took with this Chelsea Barracks apartment. The cabinetry picks up the rich walnut of the dining table and bar stools, while bronze accents and softly glowing opal glass pendants reinforce the palette without feeling overly coordinated.

"The dark, earthy colours that we’ve embraced here have been carried through from the open-plan living and dining area," explains Camilla Clarke, founder and director of Albion Nord. "It felt right to connect the two spaces through palette and material choices."

Those repeated brown notes become visual stepping stones that lead your eye around the room. "The warmth of the darker shades brings a cohesive unity to the space, complemented by the hanging pendant with its opal glass diffuser, chain and ceiling rose fitting," she adds.

Brown is particularly good at this because it already exists naturally in so many materials — timber flooring, dining furniture, leather upholstery and woven textures all become part of the same conversation.

6. Ground the Room

Mid-tone brown cabinets add depth beneath pale walls, stopping light-filled kitchens from feeling washed out. Brown doesn’t have to mean deep, dramatic shades. Softer, mid-tone hues deliver just as much warmth with a lighter touch, making them particularly effective in rooms where you want to preserve a bright, airy feel.

"In this vaulted annex kitchen, we needed to keep the walls and ceilings a lighter shade — Farrow & Ball’s School House White — so it didn’t feel enclosed," says interior designer Rebecca Wakefield. "Using brown on the units helps ground the room, adding warmth and depth that’s punctuated by orange accents."

The chosen cabinet color in question, Farrow & Ball’s Mouse’s Back, is one of those elusive shades that’s difficult to pin down. Sometimes gray, sometimes taupe, sometimes unmistakably brown, it shifts throughout the day, proving the color has plenty to offer beyond dark chocolate and espresso tones.

7. Fresh Contrast

Brown cabinetry feels noticeably fresher when it’s balanced with cooler, lighter finishes. Introducing crisp contrasts keeps this palette from feeling too rooted in tradition and gives the eye somewhere to rest.

"Brown has a wonderfully grounding quality, but it needs contrast to keep it contemporary," explains interior designer Shannon Eddings. "The warmth of the cabinetry — in Benjamin Moore’s Woodacres — and timber ceiling here is offset by clean white walls and appliances, and crisp marble countertops, creating a scheme with plenty of depth that still feels fresh, airy and modern."

The secret to decorating with brown is treating it like any other covetable shade, not a relic of the ‘70s. Stop thinking of it as muddy or murky, and start seeing it for what it really is: a warm, versatile color that’s every bit as desirable as green or blue.

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They say your tastes change over time, but if there's one thing I don't think I'll ever grow out of, it's my love for ice. Perhaps more accurately defined as a borderline obsession, my need for ice has been the object of much fascination throughout my life, but, if the newest kitchen appliance trend is anything to go by, I'm no longer alone in this devotion.

I'll be honest, I've yet to meet a freezer that can keep up with my ice intake. Even in the dead of winter, I go through more ice each day than my measly ice tray can keep up with. So, when I heard whisperings of a dedicated ice fridge hitting the market, it's safe to say my interest was piqued. A never-ending supply of ice sat right in my kitchen? Never having to suffer through a half-warm iced coffee again? This is the stuff dreams are made of — particularly in these hot summer months.

And it's not just perfect for ice-freaks like me, for passionate hosts, I'd go so far as to say this is a must-have item. Nothing ruins a party faster than finding out the host is all out of ice. But with this genius machine in your back pocket, there's absolutely no risk of that happening. But before we get too excited, let's establish exactly what an ice fridge really does, and why they're so different from your regular freezer.

What Is an Ice Fridge?

When we talk about an 'ice fridge', we're referring to appliances with the sole purpose of supplying ice. More often than not, these look like small fridges designed to sit beneath your kitchen worktop, though you can also find plenty of countertop appliances with the same function.

Perhaps the best example of this type of product is Sub-Zero's Designer Undercounter Ice Maker. One of the newest additions to the kitchen appliance brand's product range, this petite fridge uses a patented ice distribution system to ensure an even and steady supply of ice at all times, while cutting down on maintenance and upkeep.

"A dedicated ice maker is engineered for producing a consistent supply of high-quality ice," explains Jeff Sweet from Sub-Zero. Using consumer insight data, Sub-Zero designed this machine to produce the most desirable ice shape: a 1.25" clear cube. Continuing, Jeff adds, "It includes a patented ice distribution system that eliminates uneven ice distribution to maximize usable storage without manual intervention, while an ultrasonic sensor accurately measures ice levels unaffected by the environment, so consumers can forget the inconsistency of freezer trays or freezer ice systems."

This design, and others like it, differ from regular freezers in their production process. As Chris Grundy, senior product manager at Haier & Hoover UK & Ireland, explains, "Traditional freezers rely on manual ice trays, which take time, occupy valuable freezer space, and only produce limited quantities of ice. A dedicated ice-making system is designed to deliver a continuous supply whenever it's needed."

This style of system can also be found in premium freezers, such as Samsung's Bespoke AI Series 8, which comes with a plumbed-in ice dispenser, or Haier's FD 90 Series 7, with its Auto Ice Maker.

"Many premium systems also produce cleaner, more consistent ice that's ideal for everything from chilled soft drinks to entertaining guests. It means you're not planning ahead or running out halfway through a gathering; the appliance simply takes care of it for you," says Chris. "It's another example of how premium refrigeration is moving beyond food preservation to supporting modern lifestyles and reducing everyday effort."

Why Are They Trending?

So, why are they trending at the moment?

Well, not to state the obvious, but we're going through a bit of a heatwave as of late, so it should really come as no surprise that people are more keen than usual to bring some ice into their kitchen setups.

But even beyond recent weather reports, this trend reflects a wider shift in what we expect from our modern kitchens. As Chris explains, "They're no longer simply spaces for cooking; they're places to entertain, socialize, and enjoy everyday moments. That means consumers are looking for appliances that offer greater convenience while also elevating the whole experience."

It's the same reason we're seeing a growing appetite for home bars and outdoor kitchens; people are actively designing their spaces around the idea of hosting, and investing in items that not only they will enjoy, but that their guests will, too.

"At the same time, there's been huge growth in home entertaining, at-home coffee culture and premium drinks, whether that's iced coffee, mocktails or cocktails," adds Chris. Post-pandemic, not only are people hosting more, but they're hosting better, too. And what better to assist you in that pursuit than your own never-ending supply of ice?

"Dedicated ice makers are growing in popularity as home entertaining continues to evolve and consumers place greater value on hospitality-driven kitchen design," agrees Jeff. "Rather than relying on traditional freezer ice trays or slow-producing built-in freezer ice systems, homeowners want a more reliable, always-ready supply of high-quality ice that supports everyday use and entertaining. In luxury kitchens especially, ice is no longer an afterthought but part of the hosting experience. Sub-Zero designed its new Undercounter Designer Ice Maker specifically with this shift in consumer needs in mind."

One of the biggest secrets to being a good host is knowing how to make your life easier, and this type of device offers exactly that. "Having a fridge that can produce a consistent supply of quality ice on demand removes one of those small daily inconveniences and makes the kitchen feel more capable and luxurious," says Chris.

Do I Need One?

Knowing whether a dedicated ice fridge is a worthy investment for you will come down to a few factors.

First of all, you need to think about whether it will solve an issue for you. For frequent hosts or large families, it can be hard to maintain your ice supply with a regular freezer, and you may often find yourself running out. If that problem is familiar to you, an ice fridge might just be the answer.

If you constantly have people in and out of your home, this kind of appliance can be a no-brainer. "It supports entertaining, keeps up with busy households and removes the need for countertop ice makers or overflowing ice trays," says Chris, "It's a feature that works quietly in the background but makes a noticeable difference whenever you're hosting friends, enjoying an iced coffee on a warm day or simply wanting perfectly chilled drinks on demand."

While some may think of this as an unnecessary luxury, experts suggest it won't be long until features like these become regular fixtures in all high-tech, luxury kitchens. As Chris says, "As kitchens become more connected and lifestyle-led, features like integrated ice production are becoming part of the expectation for a truly premium home, rather than an occasional luxury.”

And for more 'cold appliance' trends to add to your kitchen, the latest kitchen cooling tech will help you survive summer heatwaves in style.

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There was a time when bright white and light gray dominated kitchens, featuring in every moodboard and renovation, but today’s most interesting and exciting spaces are embracing something much richer and more exciting. I’m talking about the espresso off-black kitchen that, I think, can win over anyone who’s anti-dark kitchens. The classic dark palette swaps a stark flat black for a dark and handsome vision with charm. Balancing timeless elegance and luxury, it lures us in.

Black is an effective design choice; however, for its dynamic qualities. “Black is at its most elegant when used as a canvas to allow other bold natural materials, like veined marbles and warm timbers, to shine,” says Magnus Nilsson, lead designer at Blakes London. He says, “In this context, black softens and works as a gentle complement to what nature provides.“

However, it's not a great or practical choice if you're worried about fingerprints, dust, and general durability, necessarily.

As homeowners continue to seek kitchens that create atmosphere as well as function beautifully, espresso off-black has emerged as one of the defining kitchen color trends in contemporary design. Rich, timeless and endlessly versatile, it’s a shade that brings deep warmth without overpowering a space.

Here are some of the best examples proving exactly why this trend is here to stay.

1. Cool Calm Balance

If you like a clean, crisp kitchen, this one by The Vawdrey House is for you – cool, smooth materials on the walls and floor, a leather banquette seating booth area to dine in, which is tonally complementary to the rest of the kitchen, and then there's the dark, warm cabinetry. Dark, but not quite a black kitchen.

From warm amber tones to ash black, the cabinetry's natural variation is what brings warmth, nature, and depth into this spacious kitchen. Sophie Chapman, associate and interior designer at The Vawdrey House, explains, "The combination of natural materials and the darker colour palette creates an interior that is enduring but also a statement." She says, "Black wood cabinetry is also a nod to the quiet luxury trend, which has been in high demand over the past couple of years, especially when paired with sleek hardware, elegant worktops and other interesting textures such as concrete or natural stone."

Sophie suggests how these dark tones are growing in popularity for kitchen schemes, showing a shift towards richer and more dramatic interiors. "Dark wood kitchens offer depth and authenticity thanks to their tonal, natural grain, tactile texture and craftsmanship."

2. Material Sandwich

Off-black and dark brown are both superb bases for highlighting certain materials, surfaces, or other colors. See here how well the dark modern cabinetry stays sleek and subtle, framing a special accent material, which tonally ties in with the rest of the kitchen.

Oli Webb, Director at Cullifords, suggests they're seeing more and more appreciation for natural stone in rich brown and off-black tones as a kitchen marble trend, particularly where the veining becomes a real design feature. "These darker palettes add depth and drama, but it's the movement and warmth within the stone that keeps the space feeling inviting rather than stark. It's a timeless look that works beautifully in contemporary kitchens."

3. Traditional Works

Of course, this color can work in a traditional kitchen just as well as a modern one. Personally, I love a dark wood in a traditional setting, and it will always be my first choice; however, this Blakes kitchen shows how it can be brought right up to date when paired with surrounding details such as sleek marble countertops, off-white walls and adjacent cabinetry, and the modern handles in black bring everything up to date.

Magnus explains Blakes' view on these dark tones, especially within a wood kitchen. "We tend to shy away from strong blacks, preferring softer blacks and charcoals, either as a stain on a timber finish which shows the texture and veining of the timber beneath, or as a painted finish for a bolder look."

There are three different wood tones in this kitchen, and it's the perfect trio to enhance the dark island — a subtle focal point styled really well.

Perhaps that's the secret to the espresso off-black kitchen: it's not about creating a space that feels dark, but one that feels layered, warm and full of character. Whether it's stained timber that celebrates the grain beneath, beautifully veined stone or tactile fluted details, these kitchens prove that off-black is less about a color and more about creating some true depth.

When you're weighing up dark vs light kitchens, lighter kitchens will always have their place, there's something undeniably timeless about this richer palette. Sophisticated without feeling stark, dramatic without overpowering a room, this espresso tone has a way of making every surrounding material sing. And if these kitchens prove anything, it's that choosing colors you genuinely love will always outlast any passing trend.

If you dream of a slick, seamless kitchen, where there's a place for everything, and everything is in its place, no clutter or mess to be seen, this is going to be the design for you.

Set in South East London's Grove Park, this minimalist kitchen captures exactly what we mean when we talk about the minimalism of today. Gone are the days of high-gloss cabinets and all-white everything — in 2026, we're searching for a way to blend the softness and warmth we all value so much with that pared-back simplicity that makes this style so appealing to begin with. It's part of our ever-evolving view of kitchens — no longer simply a place of pure functionality, these spaces have taken on a whole new meaning, and how we design them reflects this change.

"In the modern luxury home, the kitchen has evolved far beyond a place for mere food preparation. It is the heart of the home, a sanctuary of order, and a canvas for architectural expression," explains Jayne Everett, creative director of Naked Kitchens, and the mind behind this design. It's this shift, this evolved vision, that led the way in this design, says Jayne. "Our recent project at Grove Park exemplifies this shift, proving that a kitchen can be both a minimalist masterpiece and a highly practical workspace."

Explaining exactly how she found that balance and the design tricks that got her there, this is how to create a minimaluxe kitchen of your own.

The Brief

Minimalist design with maximum practicality, this kitchen renovation project was all about finding the perfect balance between these two pillars. Forming the basis of the design, the desire for a sleek, seamless space brimming with storage was what informed Jayne's decision-making throughout the process.

It always helps to step into a project with a thorough understanding of what you're looking for, and that was certainly the case with Jayne's clients for this home. "The initial brief for Grove Park was clear: create a space that felt integrated into the home’s existing architecture while providing a calm, uncluttered environment," says Jayne.

Reflecting the growing trend for kitchens that step beyond our rigid ideas of what a traditional kitchen should look like, Jayne says, "The clients wanted a kitchen that would disappear when not in use — a 'living kitchen' where the lines between utility and relaxation were blurred."

This idea undoubtedly gained popularity in open-plan kitchens, where creating a sense of fluidity and unity across your floor plan is all the more important, but now we're seeing a desire for kitchens that pass as living spaces, or bars spreading across homes of all layouts.

One of the most effective ways to achieve this is by limiting the heavy, harsh forms that typically dominate in function-first rooms, such as kitchens and bathrooms. Instead, designers opt for earthy color palettes and curved edges, helping to soften the fundamental harshness of these spaces.

This, however, was just one of three priorities that Jayne's client had for this project. The list was as follows: "Maximum storage, a clean, unobstructed aesthetic, and the introduction of soft, organic forms to contrast with the home’s sharper structural lines," all of which came together to form the design we see today.

There was also, of course, a focus on how the clients intended to use this space, taking their lifestyle and routines into account, and adapting the design to support these habits. As in other aspects of the design, balance was key. "The design needed to cater to a lifestyle that values entertaining and daily family life equally, requiring an open layout that still offers dedicated zones for different activities," says Jayne.

What Makes a Kitchen Look Minimalist?

Despite what you may think, designing a super slick, minimalist kitchen isn't always easy. It's not just a matter of doing less; it's about knowing how to build character and depth while still keeping things pared back. There's a difference between a kitchen that looks bare or sterile and one that looks seamless. And it's in that balance that the magic lies.

"Creating a seamless kitchen that remains practical is a delicate balancing act," explains Jayne. You'll need to find ways to remove visual clutter while maintaining optimal practicality. Luckily, Jayne knows a fair few ways to achieve exactly that. "Our favorite techniques involve integrating appliances behind custom push-to-open and pocket doors," she says.

A combination of an appliance garage and a pocket door breakfast station, this kitchen storage trend is a must-have for any storage-heavy, seamless kitchen, and is something practically every organized kitchen will have in some form. The ultimate clutter-minimizer, this style of cabinetry hides bulky appliances and keeps your kitchen worktops nice and clean. And it doesn't have to be custom-built either; something as simple as this Bamboo Appliance Slider on Amazon can instantly add more structure and organization into your kitchen.

"By planning every inch of the internal storage — from bespoke cutlery dividers to dedicated appliance cabinets — we ensure that everything has a home," comments Jayne. This is, arguably, the most crucial element to designing a kitchen that always looks tidy: "A seamless aesthetic is only as good as the internal organization behind it; if the drawers are messy, the illusion of minimalism fails," she says.

Not only do these generously sized kitchen cabinets provide plenty of space to store all your kitchenware, helping to keep your kitchen looking as organized and seamless as possible, but the push-to-open mechanism removes the distracting kitchen hardware from the equation, leaving you with a crisp, blank canvas that opens up to reveal a generous amount of hidden storage.

Explaining the thought behind this choice, Jayne says, "We opted for a fully handleless design to emphasize the architectural beauty of the cabinetry itself. By removing hardware, we allow the eye to glide across the surfaces, creating a seamless, monolithic effect that elevates the kitchen from a utilitarian space to a piece of bespoke furniture."

The Most Common Mistakes in 'Seamless' Kitchens

"The most common problem people run into with seamless kitchens is the risk of the space feeling cold or sterile," shares Jayne.

It's an unfortunately easy trap to fall into when designing a kitchen that's intentionally minimalist; there's such a fine line between what looks slick and seamless and what looks sterile. It's something you often see in modern white kitchens, where the bright color and straight lines combine to create something that feels straight out of a hospital.

Luckily, it's not too hard to avoid this error. "The key to overcoming this is introducing warmth through material choices and kitchen lighting," says Jayne.

You'll want to look for ways to introduce texture, warmth, and softness into your design without detracting from the fundamental minimalism at its core. For Jayne, this often takes the form of materials rich in natural texture, like in this kitchen, where "natural walnut combined with our earthy Wild Heather color, tactile stone worktop, and layered lighting schemes" creates an inviting atmosphere without busying the space, and still maintaining a lovely, seamless effect.

But this can be done in smaller, more subtle ways, too. Even something as simple as this Wooden Cutting Board from H&M can help to warm up your space.

The Best Tips for Designing a Seamless Kitchen

But it's not just about adding warmth and texture; in this design, there were countless little tricks and clever decisions that came together to create the end result.

Perhaps most crucial of all was the way in which the kitchen storage was designed. To create a space that is both seamless and super-practical, storage is everything, and this is something Jayne knew heading into the project.

Explaining how she did it, Jayne says, "To maximize storage within a seamless, handleless aesthetic, we moved away from standard cupboards in favor of deep, oversized drawers." In doing this, Jayne was able to maximize the usable storage in the kitchen, removing the 'dead space' issue you typically find with deep cabinets, where the back part is almost entirely inaccessible — unless you bring in something like these Expandable Pull-Out Cabinet Organizers from Amazon.

By swapping out cabinets for kitchen drawers, Jayne was able to introduce more structure to the organization, while ensuring no storage space went to waste.

"However, the true secret to this design lies in 'hidden functionality'," adds Jayne. "We curated the internal landscape of every unit with precision, utilizing bespoke inserts, tailored cutlery dividers, and dedicated areas for small appliances." In this careful consideration, mapping out what goes where and kitchen drawer planning for each and every inch of space, ensuring every item had a home, Jayne was able to eliminate the stress of trying to organize the kitchen post-renovation.

This is perhaps the most useful tip of all when mapping out your kitchen renovation timeline; by designing your storage with a fully formed idea of what will go where and planning it accordingly, you can guarantee a well-organized finished space.

"By integrating all major appliances behind custom joinery fronts, we were also able to preserve the clean, monolithic lines of the room while reclaiming the full vertical height of the cabinetry for pantry storage," says Jayne. "Essentially, we treated the internal space as a precision-engineered workspace, ensuring that the kitchen remains a serene, uncluttered canvas while functioning with high-capacity, high-efficiency organization."

After being, hopefully, filled with inspiration for creating your own minimalist kitchen, these are the minimalist kitchen decor pieces a stylist recommends for adding subtle character to a pared-back space.

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I don't know if anyone's mentioned it, but it's been rather hot lately. Luckily, the new trend of instant-cooling kitchen tech is here to offer us some much-needed relief from the heat.

In all seriousness, though, with the way the UK has reacted to the recent heatwave, you'd think we've never experienced summer before. It's no understatement to say the country comes to a halt as soon as temperatures climb above 25 degrees; we're simply not equipped to handle the heat. At least, not without some assistance. And it's not just your trusty fan that will help you through these sweaty days; the latest cooling kitchen appliance trend, quite frankly, couldn't have come at a better time. From dedicated ice-fridges to perfectly chilled water at the touch of a button, these new advancements in kitchen technology are heavy on the chill factor.

But these aren't just fair-weather friends; these appliances boast features that will come in just as handy in the cooler months as they will through summer. Designed not just to keep you cold through the heat, these special features also help maximize the longevity of your ingredients and offer you more control over your kitchen technology. It may be hot outside, but the future of kitchens is looking cooler than ever.

1. Elevated Ice Experiences

What is, famously, cooler than cool? Ice cold. And finally, kitchen appliance brands have caught on to that sentiment, as shown by the dedicated ice fridge trend.

In the summertime, nothing can instantly ruin my day quite like a depleted ice tray. At any summer gathering, whether that be a sophisticated garden party or a slightly less sophisticated World Cup viewing party, there is a direct correlation between how good a time people had and how well stocked your ice tray is.

Understanding the significance of this, Haier's newest refrigerator launch, Horizon, boasts next-level ice production. Labeled the 'bar experience', the Horizon is equipped with a dedicated ice production system, offering up a selection of shapes and sizes for you to enjoy your ice in. "The Horizon Collection represents a decisive step in our evolution within the cooling category," says Daniele Pugliese, head of cooling, Haier Europe. By offering different types of ice available at your demand, the Horizon introduces a small, everyday luxury into your modern kitchen, elevating your morning iced coffee and weekend cocktails to new heights.

What's clear from this trend is that ice is no longer seen as one homogeneous category. People have clear preferences for particular styles of ice and are more than willing to invest in them. Just look at the growing interest in nugget ice makers, like the Euhomy Nugget Ice Cream Maker (available on Amazon); the countertop appliances with the sole purpose of providing you with a constant supply of tiny, crunchy nuggets of ice, just like you'd find at your favorite fast food chain.

LG has hopped onto the trend, too. Not only does the new Ice Solution System, as included in the LG InstaView American Fridge Freezer (available at John Lewis), offer you the option of cubed, crushed, and craft ice, but with the LG ThinQ smart system, you can control the production of ice directly from your smartphone, so you never have to come home to a half-empty ice drawer.

2. Keeping It Crisp and Chilled

A room-temperature Pinot Noir may hit the spot in the winter months, but as soon as the sun is out, I like my wine light, crisp, and most importantly, perfectly chilled, and this cooling kitchen trend promises exactly that.

Wine fridges are nothing new; in fact, they've become somewhat of a staple in many luxurious kitchens, but this new tech takes this kitchen feature to the next level. Like having a sommelier under your kitchen cabinets, the latest wine fridges boast super-sensitive temperature tempering, ensuring each bottle is kept at its optimum serving temperature, so you can have the perfect pour, every time, and it is undoubtedly one of the most genius things a wine fridge can do.

Gaggenau's newest wine cabinet, part of the Vario Cooling Expressive Series, is fitted with 'Sommelier Sensor Technology'. This tech uses infrared sensors to identify the type of wine, and adjusts the temperature accordingly, using its smart lighting system to notify you when the wine is ready to be served. Alternatively, you can also hook the fridge up to a smartphone app, so you can stay on top of your wine stock.

3. Freshness That Lasts

According to the 2024 Food Waste Index Report, each European citizen wastes a yearly average of 130kg of food, and in the summer months, when higher temperatures turn food bad even faster than normal, this problem becomes even more prevalent. Which is exactly why so many modern refrigerators are designed with integrated freshness preservation systems.

"When temperatures spike, a big risk is food spoilage. Modern innovations like dual cooling circuits, where the fridge and freezer operate on entirely separate air systems, have become essential," says Louise Marshall, from Liebherr UK. "By preventing dry freezer air from entering the fridge and vice versa, food remains hydrated and stays fresh significantly longer. This is particularly useful during a heatwave when humidity can impact fresh produce, resulting in wastage and an increase in food bills."

In Haier's Horizon fridge (available on AO), the newly developed NutriBank technology promises to maintain the freshness of meat and fish for up to five times longer, without the need for freezing. By extending the life of your fresh produce, this fridge can help reduce unnecessary food waste, offering you more time to make the most of your ingredients.

Alongside the NutriBank, Horizon also uses an Active Fresh Zone system, which uses humidity to preserve fruit and veg for longer, too. These new developments, Daniele says, "combine science, proprietary technology and design to create a range capable of addressing people’s real needs: preserving better, organizing better and enhancing everyday life in the kitchen."

Similarly, Gaggenau's new Vario Cooling refrigerator boasts a new Professional Freshness System. By relying on independent motorized dampers, this fridge claims to be able to create numerous scientifically calibrated microclimates across the fridge, helping to preserve the freshness of each individual ingredient.

4. Cooling Treats on Demand

There's no better way to cool off on a hot day than with a sweet, icy treat, and the newest wave of kitchen tech means that making your own summertime refreshments from the comfort of your own home couldn't be any easier.

I mean, really, who needs an ice cream truck when you have your own Ninja Slushi maker sitting on your kitchen worktop? Or, of course, the iconic Ninja Creami (available on Amazon). With these machines, you can stay cool all summer long, armed with the most delicious, homemade icy desserts.

Plus, when you make these desserts yourself, you can easily skirt around the questionable ingredients used in the shop-bought alternatives. As nutritionist Emily English says, "I love a sweet treat, and I really don’t buy into the idea that you have to cut things out or be miserable to be healthy.

"The Ninja CREAMi gets me genuinely excited for my post-dinner dessert. I enjoy ice cream in a way that supports my health, and even my yogurt bowl can become soft serve, which feels like such a win." Thanks to these clever appliances, there's no reason why your summertime ice cream can't be a daily occurrence.

5. Coolness Guaranteed

By now, we're all familiar with the idea of living with a boiling water tap. But did you know the concept can be applied to cold water, too? Now, I'm not talking about your regular, kitchen sink cold water. No, these taps promise icy-cold, chilled water whenever you want it. Which, if the temperatures carry on like this, is pretty much constant.

Take the Quooker CUBE, for example, the smart system that offers chilled, filtered, and sparkling water, all from one tap. Similarly, the Hyco Zen Ice Tap range has options for both cold and chilled water, so you don't have to waste precious fridge space storing up bottles of water.

Icy drink not enough to see you through this heat wave? Don't worry, we've got plenty more ideas for keeping you cool. Just take a look at Shark's newest launch, a clever cooling fan in an on-trend color. It's the perfect addition to a humid bedroom. And for more design ideas, sign up for our newsletter.

I know I'm not alone when I say I spend a worrying amount of time fantasizing about my future dream home. And although the vision has evolved and adapted over the years, the layout of my bedroom changes, or the way I envision my garden looking, the one thing that has remained constant in this fantasy is the presence of a breakfast nook in my kitchen.

There's something that feels so nostalgic about it, reminiscent of the sitcom family homes we all grew up with on screen. But, as I've grown older, the reality behind these designs has set in a bit more. With their custom-made, built-in banquette seating nature, the breakfast nook of my dreams isn't exactly going to come cheap. Not to mention the fundamental incompatibility with this design and living in a rental.

Luckily, though, I've found the next best thing. The Habitat Loxley Corner Dining Set perfectly recreates the elevated look of a custom-built-in dining area, without any of the fuss. Just pop it in the corner of your room, and just like that, you have a designer-look dining nook for a fraction of the price.

Alternative Styles

Not exactly the style you're looking for? I've selected six more options to suit various styles and budgets.

It should go without saying that I'm a huge fan of the look of a built-in, snug banquette design, but this doesn't mean they're foolproof to pull off. There are plenty of seemingly small, yet surprisingly significant details that can completely change the whole feel of the design, so knowing the banquette seating mistakes to avoid is crucial before committing. And for more design tips, subscribe to our newsletter.

If a kitchen island is the glamorous centerpiece around which you gather with friends, then a breakfast nook is the unassuming staple that quietly lifts your everyday experience.

Seeing you through the first meal of the day, your afternoon coffee perk-up, and perhaps a work meeting or two, this everyday hero deserves a little design love — and these schemes demonstrate how it can quickly become a clever modern kitchen idea with a well-chosen palette and a few unexpected twists.

From banquette seating to small space solutions, these breakfast nook ideas show how designers turn this functional element into a design moment.

1. Table Manners

Without a point of focus, a breakfast nook can fade into the background of a kitchen scheme — but not in this space by Studio MUKA. Centering it around an eye-catching Dirk van der Kooij table, partners Zabie Mustafa and Neda Kakhsaz made sure that this corner packed a punch.

2. In Suspense

As far as kitchen lighting ideas go, including a pendant "creates interest, warmth and human scale to bring the focus down to the table height," says Jennie Bishop, founder of Bishop Studio.

"This pendant felt appropriate for the 1960s-era home and is simple enough to not overwhelm the space. The kitchen's stone countertops are of a quartzite that reminds us of a Japanese watercolor, so the textured pendant complemented that perfectly."

3. Perch and Partake

Make it easy to edge right up to the action with a chic breakfast bar — brilliant for everything from an intimate dîner à deux to sociable soirées that allow the cook to chat to guests, the space-savvy example seen here by Sucher Studios make a brilliant case for including one in your kitchen design.

4. Space Station

"Banquette-style breakfast nooks allow for a space-saving mix of chairs and built-in seating," says Susie Atkinson, founder of Studio Atkinson, who included her own Craftmaker's chair alongside fixed seating here. "Banquette seating hugging the wall is often a better use of space than rows of chairs on either side of a dining table."

5. Bijou Bistro

Small kitchens can still have space to sit — it just takes clever design planning. "A breakfast table should take up little room while still being comfortable and easily accessible," explains Rudy Faissal, one half of Milanese-based design firm Lit Studio. "In this case, we made use of the niche between the units and inserted a bench, pairing it with a simple round table and striking red and black stools."

6. Add an Icon

If you like your breakfast sprinkled with pizzazz, add an iconic photographic print as a backdrop. Interior designer Jessica Schuster chose an image of Jackie Onassis in a ski mask and sunglasses, captured by Harry Benson on the slopes in 1968. As with anything that involves Jackie Onassis, we're taking notes.

If you're considering a built-in seating arrangement for your breakfast nook, then it's worth knowing the banquette seating design mistakes that people often make, so that you can avoid them when planning, as well as understanding what designers suggest you do instead.

Our newsletter is packed with ideas for every room — sign up here to get it delivered straight to your inbox.

We love to see a good redemption arc, and no material has gone through quite so much of a transformation as Veneer. Once the object of snobby disdain, looked down upon as the budget replacement for the real deal, veneer finishes were seen as far from a luxurious choice. When we heard "veneer," our minds instantly conjured images of cheap, flimsy MDF cabinets with a peeling layer of wooden veneer on top. And although that stereotype still exists, it's not what we're talking about today.

See, over recent years, designers have given a new meaning to veneer cabinets, and we're seeing this kitchen cabinet trend pop up in some of the most striking, intriguing design projects around. These finishes are bold, sporting swirling, often psychedelic patterns. They're eye-catching, yet still elevated, feeling at once completely unique and still subtle enough to live with every day. But it's not just their pleasingly transfixing patterns that have triggered the veneer renaissance. In this age, designers are as concerned with the sustainability of the materials they use as they are with their appearance, and luckily for us, these patterned wood veneers are scoring tens across the board.

Unlike a traditional solid wood design, a veneer cabinet receives its signature finish from one thin sheet of wood, stretched out across an alternative, durable inner core. With brands like ALPI leading the way, we're ushering in a new age of wooden veneers, one marked by innovation, exploration, and pure joyous design creativity. And these spaces show exactly how to put the material to work for kitchen cabinets that make a serious style statement.

1. Burl and Blue

Perhaps the precursor to this trend, for the past year or so, burl wood has been the hottest material in interior design. Seen in all the chicest restaurants in London and all the most desired design collections, designers are enamored by the vintage nostalgia evoked by this swirling, patterned wood.

It was exactly this retro feel that drew designer Piotr Lucyan from ArtUp towards this finish. Reminding him of the opulent design of the Art Deco style, Piotr saw this material as a way to refer back to eras past, without stepping into full period-dressing. "I see it almost as a quotation from history: a subtle reference that brings depth and character without making the interior feel historical," explains Piotr. But as much as this material evokes the past, there is also something strikingly modern about it, too. "As someone passionate about art history, I enjoy incorporating gentle echoes of past eras into my projects in a way that feels relevant today."

In the 19th-century townhouse featured above, Piotr finds a way to seamlessly weave in design features from various periods, while creating a final design that feels undeniably contemporary. Punctuating the neutral kitchen color palette with vibrant pops of an electric Yves Klein blue, Piotr brought life to this open-plan kitchen design.

Pairing the burl wood cabinets with a variety of textured finishes, Piotr shows just how versatile this patterned material can be. "What makes it special is that it creates a very distinctive visual effect while remaining surprisingly predictable in the way it works within a composition," he says. "In design, I think that balance is incredibly important. Although the pattern is rich and expressive, it pairs beautifully with a wide range of materials and color palettes, making it much more versatile than many people expect."

While many may find the boldness of this pattern intimidating, this elegant design shows just how balanced it can look when used with confidence: "When thoughtfully integrated into the overall composition, it can bring warmth, personality, and timeless character without overwhelming the space," shares Piotr.

2. Pops of Red

Of all the ways to include unexpected red theory in your kitchen, this has to be one of the coolest. With the cherry red, swirling pattern of ALPI's iconic Sottsass pattern used across the oven hood, and then again as a punctuating circle decorating the warm, wooden cabinets, this bold design shows exactly how to make a big impact in a small kitchen.

Designed by Wojciech Nowak from Noww Studios, in this project, the material formed the foundation that the design grew out of. "My design process is based on selecting materials that inspire me," he explains, adding, "Marquetry is a beautiful craft, and I wanted to use this technique in this kitchen."

Using the cabinets as his canvas, Wojceich used this material to construct a geometric artwork of types, placing all the focus in the kitchen directly onto the lower cabinetry. "The lower cabinets are the main element of the kitchen, and by using only base cabinet fronts, we were able to keep the visual focus on the lower section. The marquetry is sparing in detail, but it makes a great impact thanks to the large planes of varied veneers," he says.

With the limited space available in this room, it was crucial to maintain balance while also introducing character and intrigue. To do this, Wojciech ensured the accompanying materials and colors were relatively understated. For him, this type of marquetry is at its best when used as a "refined accent," noting, "It acts like a painting, so it needs to be carefully balanced."

3. Colorful Contrasts

Moving away from the neutral color palettes that have dominated the previous designs, in this colorful kitchen by Casale Casale, ALPI's Sottsass brings even more life to the already exciting design.

In this kitchen, designer Federica Demo was keen to create more visual complexity while still maintaining a core minimalism to the architecture of the design. "The patterned veneer offers exactly this: a texture that is already design, not mere finish," she explains.

Unlike other materials, there is a sense of completion behind this veneer finish, speaking entirely on its own, without the need for any supporting features. "We are interested in materials that carry an intrinsic depth, and that shift the perception of space in a subtle, progressive way," says Federica, and in this kitchen, this pattern does just that. "It becomes the internal rhythm of the kitchen, giving the whole its identity without the need for embellishment."

By incorporating such a bold, vivid material into the core structure of the design, Federica removed the necessity for further embellishment. "The surface introduces movement, creating a dynamic yet discreet presence. The overall effect is that of a composed, tactile, and layered kitchen, where the material becomes the primary expressive element rather than an added ornament," she explains.

4. Faded Italian Glamour

A brilliant example of how to pattern clash in your interiors without it feeling overwhelming — in this kitchen, psychedelic swirled cabinets pair beautifully with gorgeous terrazzo floors, for a design that feels layered and bold, yet still chic.

"For this kitchen, we wanted to create a unique concept that would resonate with the solid terrazzo flooring in this area of the apartment," explains designer Marie Deroudilhe.

Inspired by her client's love for the bold, whimsical style of the Memphis movement, in this kitchen, "This wood veneer designed by Ettore Sottsass emerged as the obvious choice."

Ettore Sottsass, the mind behind the patterned veneer seen in so many of these designs, was a leading figure in the Memphis movement, and this patterned veneer captures the fundamental essence of this era of design.

Punctuated by the shiny, blue-glazed lava stone used on the kitchen worktop and backsplash, this gentle color brings a refined elegance to the room. To Marie, this combination felt nostalgic, capturing the energy of faded Italian glamour, "The effect is almost cinematographic," she says.

5. Mid-Century Modernism

In this minimalist mid-century modern kitchen, the patterned veneer cabinets bring just enough movement and intrigue to elevate the design, without detracting from the natural beauty of all the warm, wooden finishes.

"For me, patterned veneer is interesting because it sits somewhere between a natural material and a graphic surface," explains Krzysztof Matuszewski from Matuszewski Studio. "It has the warmth and tactility of wood, but at the same time it brings a stronger rhythm, almost like a textile, stone pattern, or architectural drawing."

In this kitchen that is so dominated by wood, the patterned veneer brings something new to the table, while still feeling close enough to the surrounding materials. It brings a decorative touch to the space, without removing any of the all-important functionality, and in simple kitchens, this becomes all the more important.

"What is unique about patterned veneer is that it gives depth and movement to very simple forms," notes Krzysztof. "Even if the kitchen fronts are flat and minimal, the surface itself creates a visual layer. It can make a kitchen feel warmer, more bespoke, and more expressive without adding unnecessary details."

Because of this, the finish works particularly well in kitchens with clean, simple architecture and minimal detailing. "The material is already strong, so I would usually pair it with simple cabinet forms, calm proportions, and precise junctions," explains Krzysztof. It can work beautifully in modernist, contemporary, mid-century inspired, or slightly eclectic interiors."

6. Elevated Simplicity

In this bright, airy kitchen, the burl-veneered island brings some texture and warmth to the space, providing a more grounding presence.

With its curved edges and terrazzo countertops, this island was already a focal point of the design, but for designer Ewa Soboczynski, the material was the finishing touch that took the island to the next level. "We were looking for a material that would not simply cover the form, but actively engage with it," she explains. Deciding on a vintage-inspired burl pattern from ALPI, Ewa says, "The structure and rhythm of the ALPI veneer wrap around the island in a very natural, almost sculptural way, allowing the material and the geometry to complement one another perfectly."

The veneer wrap brings a greater sense of weight and presence to the kitchen island, transforming it into a true centerpiece for the design. "It becomes a warm, tactile, and luminous object: expressive, but not overpowering; decorative, yet deeply architectural," says Ewa.

We're all for materials that combine eco-friendly benefits with bold, striking design; it's exactly what we love about so many of the sustainable material trends we're seeing at the moment. To stay up to date with all the newest, hottest materials and design trends, make sure to subscribe to our newsletter.

I still find myself thinking about the kitchens I grew up in. The island, or more often just the table, was never really “styled” in any deliberate way. It was simply whatever had been used that day left out: a bowl of fruit, a jug, maybe a candle that had somehow stayed there. I think that instinct for gathering things naturally has stayed with me, it just feels a bit more considered now when I approach a kitchen island.

As kitchen island ideas have evolved beyond purely practical worktops, they’ve become much more than practical worktops — they're the social heart of the home and now designed to feel like standalone pieces that can be styled and lived around, rather than just fixed units for cooking and prep.

I like to start by anchoring the space with a tray or oversized bowl to give the eye somewhere to rest. If your kitchen opens into a living or dining area, echo colors or materials from those spaces so the island feels connected rather than separate.

From there, introduce height. I love the sculptural ceramic vase by M&S home paired with a few branches or a favourite flower arrangement. It helps break the long horizontal line of an island and brings movement into the room.

An Anchor to Ground the Composition

Create height to break the horizon line

The Details That Make It Feel Like Home

A kitchen island might be one of the hardest working areas in the home, but it doesn’t need to feel purely practical. The right pieces can soften those straight lines, add height and create a small moment that feels beautifully connected to the rhythm of the space.

If you're inspired by this collection but would like something tailored to your own home, Design Lab by Livingetc can help. Send us your brief and budget, and we'll source three to five shoppable pieces that work with your kitchen, your style and the way you live.

For more ideas that elevate your space, subscribe to the Livingetc newsletter.

It may not be the most glamorous aspect of your design, but your kitchen flooring does a lot of heavy lifting. It is, quite literally, the foundation of your space, setting the tone for everything that rests upon it. The right flooring color can bring your room to life, establishing a basis of character to build the rest of your design on. But choose the wrong flooring color, and designing the rest of your kitchen will be a never-ending uphill battle.

Although it's unlikely to be the decision that sits at the forefront of your mind when designing a kitchen, overshadowed by materials and colors for your countertops and cabinets, your kitchen flooring plays a highly significant role in the overall design of your space, not just from an aesthetic standpoint, but from a practical one, too. Your kitchen flooring color will have a huge role to play in how low-maintenance your space is; it's the surface that will bear the brunt of the majority of spills and splashes that will happen in your kitchen, so choosing a finish that's more forgiving will go a long way.

Plus, unlike the color of your cabinetry, changing up your kitchen flooring is far from a quick job, so you'll want to make sure you make the right decision the first time around, so you don't come to regret it later. To help you with that, these are the colors our experts recommend you avoid at all costs, as well as what they'd suggest using instead.

1. Flat Grays

Just ten years ago, you'd be hard-pressed to find a chic, modern kitchen that didn't have this flooring color, but in 2026, it's a shade most experts will warn you away from.

You'll be familiar with the look we're talking about, "That slightly blue, concrete-ish gray that once felt like the practical answer to everything," as Grazzie Wilson from Ca'Pietra so aptly describes it.

Once loved for its neutral finish, today, the shade feels overly stark and fails to bring any of the warmth and personality we crave in our interiors. "In a kitchen, it can be a bit of a mood-hoover. It takes the warmth out of timber, makes painted cabinetry look colder than it needs to, and can leave the whole room feeling more like a utility zone than the place everyone naturally ends up leaning against the kitchen island with a glass of something," Grazzie says.

And it's not just Grazzie that feels this way; Fiona Ginnett, from Holte, also lists this shade as one of the ones she'd be quick to recommend against, saying, "I tend to avoid stark, cool-toned flooring, as it can feel a little cold and clinical, particularly in kitchens with limited natural light." It goes against the essence of what we want our kitchens to be nowadays. "As the heart of the home, a kitchen should feel warm, welcoming, and full of character, so I generally gravitate towards flooring that adds depth and a sense of timelessness to the space," she explains.

But it's not just aesthetic reasons that keep the experts from using this material; it's also notoriously hard to care for, and will make your whole kitchen feel far higher-maintenance than it needs to, despite what you may believe. "The funny thing is that people often choose it because they think it will be easy to live with, but a very flat gray can show every crumb, paw print, and splash with surprising enthusiasm," says Grazzie. And in the kitchen, where spills and messes are practically inevitable, the last thing you want is a floor you have to be precious about.

2. Monochromatic Designs

As chic as a monochromatic look can be, when it comes to your kitchen, a full color-drenching moment isn't always the best way to go.

"I would probably swerve anything too matchy-matchy with the kitchen units. You know the sort of thing: navy kitchen cabinets, navy floor; sage cupboards, sage floor; suddenly the whole kitchen looks like it has joined a club and forgotten to invite any other colors," says Lesley Taylor, interior designer and founder at Baked Tiles.

There's an obvious appeal behind this design choice. In theory, a one-color finish feels very striking and modern, but in practice, it can often end up falling slightly flat.

The key to this type of design is a degree of restraint, and once you bring in matching floors, that goes out the window. As Lesley explains, "Floors cover a huge amount of space, so once you have committed to that much of one shade, the room can start to feel a bit heavy, a bit flat, and very hard to change your mind about."

It also leaves you with very little room for the space to evolve. Painting over your cabinets after the next kitchen cabinet trend is one thing, but ripping up your flooring every time you're in need of a change is quite another, and you may come to regret choosing such an un-versatile shade.

3. Dark, Stained Woods

Although dark wood kitchens have been one of the most popular trends of the past year, according to experts, this style works better on your kitchen cabinets than for your flooring.

According to Darwyn Ker, from Woodpecker Flooring, as beautiful as dark wood floors can look at first, over time, you'll likely grow to regret this choice, "because kitchens are hardworking spaces, darker tones can make dust, crumbs, scratches, and everyday marks slightly more visible."

On top of this, a dark floor can often make a space feel narrower and more compact, which is particularly problematic for small kitchens. They also work better in rooms with plenty of natural light, or else you run the risk of ending up with a room that feels dingy and uninviting.

Unlike the other shades, though, this is not a color that experts feel should be avoided at all costs; it's more about ensuring it's suitable for your space before committing to it. As Darywn says, "It is not that dark wood should never be used, but it needs to be a conscious design decision. A kitchen floor has to work with real life, so it is worth choosing a tone and finish that suits the way the room will be used every day."

4. Bright Whites

While all-white kitchens were once seen as the height of sophistication and style, nowadays, experts tend to favor slightly warmer, softer colors, moving away from the sterility you so often find with a flat white finish.

Not just limited to the early 2000's, this style persists today, although the experts seemingly would rather it didn't. It's a style Damla Turgut, founder of Otto Tiles, is far more familiar with than she'd like, saying, "I live in Miami now, and a lot of condos and apartments use very large format white porcelain tiles throughout. They're often chosen because they feel luxurious and sleek and are seen as a versatile foundation for a scheme, but I just find they can feel really impersonal and lacking in character."

A common feature in new builds and characterless renovations, these sleek white tiles bring a sterile harshness that is difficult to mitigate, no matter how many warm tones and natural materials you bring in. It can also create a harsh contrast when paired with an earthy color palette, looking awkwardly out of place and forcing you to follow suit with more cool, bright finishes.

They also couldn't be less practical, showing every last spill and scuff. "Kitchens are such high-traffic spaces and probably require more regular cleaning than any other room in the home. Depending on the material, white floors can show everything from dirt and stains to watermarks and mop marks," says Damla. To make matters worse, if you opt for a porous, natural stone, like marble, the marks won't just show up more prominently, but they'll likely create stains that are impossible to remove.

5. Pure, Jet Black

Another past-favorite, often found in super modern, industrial kitchens and swanky bachelor pad design, a pure black floor has since dropped in popularity, losing the appeal it once held.

Much like with a bright white, this harsh, intense shade can often come off as overly clinical and uninviting in kitchens, missing all the character and personality we tend to crave in a room that's typically designed as a communal, gathering space.

But, while white promises the ability to open up a space, making it feel brighter and more expansive, the darkness of black flooring will have the opposite effect, making a narrow kitchen feel even more suffocating.

While you may think black would be a more forgiving shade, hiding any muddy footprints and tomato pasta splashes, you'll quickly find that this is not the case. In fact, the darkness can actually serve to highlight any mess, making it even more obvious.

Now we've covered all the colors to avoid, it's time to explore the ones the experts are loving at the moment instead; these three kitchen flooring colors are set to be the most popular choices for 2026.

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The best kitchens are those that are designed to actively support the lifestyles of the people living in them. Finding little ways to integrate your daily routine into your space is what makes it feel truly personal, and, for me, nothing exemplifies that more than my dedicated coffee station.

Much like the rest of the population, my day does not begin until my first coffee has been consumed. It's an integral pillar of my routine, something I look forward to every day, and often, embarrassingly enough, go to sleep thinking about. So, when I was designing my kitchen, I knew a dedicated coffee bar was an essential addition. What I didn't realize, however, was just how expensive it was to create one of these from scratch. As it turns out, those stunning, built-in coffee cabinets I see all over Instagram don't come cheap, and my dream of a pocket-door breakfast station was quickly dampened. Luckily, I found the next best thing: this Coffee Station Organizer on Amazon.

With the same chic elevated look as all the custom-built cabinets I'd been lusting after, but at a fraction of the price, I think I struck gold with this find. And you'd never guess I got it for less than £50.

Alternative Options

If this design isn't exactly what you're after for your space, I've rounded up a few different styles that are also easy on the wallet.

While you're designing your ideal coffee nook, these are the six things every coffee nook should have for a stylized, streamlined space.

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In 2026, we're moving away from stark contrasts and towards palettes that feel softer, more immersive, and altogether more considered — especially in the kitchen. Instead, we're opting for more tonal kitchen color schemes, layering variations of the same hue, or neighboring shades on the color wheel, to create spaces that feel effortlessly cohesive.

The result of this emerging kitchen color trend is spaces that don't need to rely on bold color clashes or statement moments to make an impact; instead, interest comes from subtle shifts in tone, depth, and saturation.

"I think tonal schemes are becoming increasingly popular because people are looking for kitchens that feel softer and more integrated with the rest of the home," says Ruth Milne, founder of Studio Milne. "Open-plan living means kitchens are no longer purely functional spaces, and using analogous colors creates a more relaxed atmosphere while still adding depth and interest.

"Layering different tones of a similar hue is also a great way to introduce color without the space feeling overwhelming or trend-led," she adds. From earthy ochres and terracottas to layered blues, greens, and warm neutrals, tonal kitchen color schemes create a sense of visual flow that feels both contemporary and timeless.

These six tonal kitchen color schemes prove that when it comes to color, the most sophisticated spaces work in harmony rather than stark contrast.

1. Soft Pink, Burgundy, and Oxblood

Tonal kitchen color schemes don't have to mean using different strengths of the same paint color. This kitchen highlights a more sophisticated take on tonal decorating, layering a spectrum of warm, red-infused hues rather than relying on a single color throughout.

Tonal palettes built from neighboring hues within a color family create far more depth and visual interest than a straightforward color-drenched scheme. Soft blush pink walls provide a gentle backdrop to cabinetry finished in a rich aubergine-burgundy tone, while the dramatic marble introduces deeper notes of oxblood, chocolate, and plum.

Because every shade shares the same underlying warmth, the palette feels cohesive rather than contrasting, creating a cocooning effect that blurs the boundaries between individual surfaces. It's a look that feels particularly relevant for 2026, as designers move away from stark color pairings in favor of nuanced, atmospheric schemes that bring depth, richness, and a sense of quiet luxury to the kitchen.

"Tonal kitchens are resonating so strongly because people are increasingly drawn to spaces that feel warm, immersive, and cohesive, rather than a collection of competing finishes and features," says Rachel Collard, director of R&Co Design Studio.

"Soft pink-burgundy hues in particular offer a sense of depth and character without overwhelming a space," she adds. "Rich, earthy and surprisingly versatile, they pair effortlessly with natural stone, timber and metal finishes to create kitchens that feel timeless, considered and deeply connected to the architecture of the home."

2. Sage, Celadon, and Moss Green

Give sage a truly modern twist by creating a tonal space that's contemporary yet comforting. The tonal kitchen color scheme above shows the softer side of tonal decorating, layering a collection of gentle green hues that feel both fresh and restorative. Pale sage cabinetry forms the foundation of the scheme, while the celadon-glazed backsplash and muted blue-green floor tiles introduce subtle shifts in tone that add depth without disrupting the room's sense of cohesion.

Beyond the kitchen, moss-green upholstery echoes the palette, creating a seamless connection between cooking and living spaces. The overall effect feels calm, airy, and quietly sophisticated — a perfect example of how tonal kitchen color schemes can create visual interest through nuance rather than contrast.

As biophilic design continues to influence interiors, these layered greens offer a contemporary way to bring the outdoors in. "Rather than relying on contrast, the scheme uses closely related colors to create a calm and cohesive feel," says Ruth Milne of Studio Milnes. "The kitchen cabinetry is painted in a soft, muted green, paired with blue-green glazed tiles, checkerboard flooring in complementary tones, and warm neutral walls. Natural oak joinery and copper handles add warmth and texture without disrupting the palette."

3. Mushroom, Taupe, and Griege

Proof that tonal schemes don't have to be wildly colorful kitchens to make an impact, this palette layers warm neutrals to create depth in a way that feels both contemporary and timeless.

The pairing of Benjamin Moore's Soft Chamois on the walls and Farrow & Ball's Purbeck Stone on the cabinetry creates a gentle progression that draws the eye around the room without introducing visual interruption. The effect is serene, sophisticated, and deeply architectural, allowing the natural materials, traditional joinery, and quality of light to become the focal points.

"The subtle interplay between the walls and the cabinetry creates a beautifully layered, tone-on-tone palette that feels both timeless and inviting," says interior designer Marie Flanigan.

"Soft Chamois brings a gentle warmth to the room, while Purbeck Stone introduces a slightly deeper, grounding contrast that defines the millwork without feeling heavy," she explains. "Together, the two hues create a sense of quiet sophistication, allowing natural light, texture, and craftsmanship to take center stage while giving the kitchen a calm, cohesive character."

As kitchens continue to evolve into more restful, considered living spaces, this kind of nuanced neutral palette is emerging as one of the most enduring interpretations of tonal kitchen color schemes.

4. Forest Green, Teal, and Sage

This kitchen showcases a more playful interpretation of tonal kitchen color schemes, layering neighboring shades of green and blue to create a scheme that feels vibrant yet harmonious. It's a chic example of tonal decorating that moves beyond a single color family and into what designers would call an analogous palette — colors that sit side-by-side on the color wheel.

Benjamin Moore's Rosepine grounds the cabinetry in a rich forest green, while the island, painted in the deeper teal-blue Stained Glass, introduces contrast without disrupting the palette's overall cohesion. Softer accents of sage-infused Paris Rain on the wall echo the cooler undertones running through both colors, creating a seamless visual flow across the space.

Because each shade sits adjacent on the color wheel, the effect feels naturally balanced rather than high-contrast, proving that tonal decorating can be just as impactful with bolder hues as it is with neutrals. It's a look that perfectly captures the direction of kitchen design for 2026: layered, characterful, and deeply connected to nature-inspired color palettes.

"Because of their close relationship, these colors work beautifully together to create a harmonious and easy-to-live-with look," says Helen Parker, Benjamin Moore. "Blue and green remain a popular pairing, often found together in nature, making them a naturally balanced and timeless choice for kitchen design."

She adds: "Consider pairing forest green cabinetry with a teal-painted island, then echo these tones through carefully chosen accessories, artwork, or statement lighting to create a scheme that feels layered and intentional."

5. Ochre, Clay, and Terracotta

Take a sophisticated approach to tonal kitchen color schemes by layering a palette of sun-baked hues that gently orbit around yellow. In the welcoming kitchen above, Farrow & Ball Scallop 311 introduces a soft, chalky warmth to the upper walls, while Marmelo 316 brings a richer terracotta note that grounds the scheme.

Within the pantry nook, Duster 319 and Dibber 312 deepen the palette further, introducing mustard and olive undertones that add depth without disrupting the overall harmony. Because each shade shares the same earthy warmth, the transitions feel effortless, creating a kitchen that feels immersive, inviting, and full of character.

It's a perfect example of how tonal kitchens are evolving beyond monochromatic color schemes, embracing neighboring hues to create spaces that feel both expressive and beautifully balanced.

6. Powder Blue and Sky Hues

Tonal kitchens bring energy to a space while still feeling remarkably cohesive, as seen in this inviting kitchen above. Benjamin Moore's Palace Blue wraps the walls in a vibrant sky-blue shade, while the cabinetry shifts to a softer sea-glass tone that introduces subtle variation without breaking the palette.

The result is a layered wash of blue that feels bright, uplifting, and deeply connected to the natural world beyond the window. Rather than relying on contrasting colors, this blue kitchen creates interest through gentle shifts in tone and saturation, allowing the eye to move effortlessly around the room.

It's a perfect example of how tonal color schemes are evolving for 2026, embracing hues in a way that feels immersive, optimistic, and sophisticated rather than overwhelming.

In many ways, tonal decorating feels like the natural evolution of color drenching - softer, more nuanced, and infinitely adaptable.

By layering related shades throughout a space, these kitchens achieve a richness that feels sophisticated rather than showy, allowing materials, craftsmanship, and architecture to shine.

The beauty of the approach lies in its versatility: whether your palette is warm and earthy or cool and calming, tonal schemes create a sense of cohesion that transcends fleeting trends.

If 2026's kitchen trends are teaching us anything, it's that color doesn't have to shout to make a lasting impression.

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The idea that hardware is the jewellery of the home has taken off lately, and for good reason. The perfect finishing touch; the right hardware can instantly elevate your entire kitchen, bringing the right amount of tactility and shine to the space. Equally, though, the wrong hardware can have the opposite effect, ruining all the hard work you've done with your design, leaving you with an underwhelming, and dare I say, cheap-looking kitchen.

While it's easy to get distracted by kitchen hardware trends, eye-catching styles, and sparkling finishes, the biggest mistake people make when choosing their hardware actually has nothing to do with that, experts tell me. In fact, this surprising slip-up revolves around the one aspect you may not have even stopped to consider: scale.

That's right, apparently, the biggest error people make is a lack of consideration for the dimensions of their handles and pulls, and how they relate to the rest of the space. It's easy to assume hardware comes in as one-size-fits-all, but beware: an awkwardly oversized or undersized handle can be the very thing that takes your kitchen from chic to cheap. Below, experts reveal more, along with how to get your kitchen hardware right.

Why Size Matters With Kitchen Hardware

What exactly are we referring to when we talk about the scale of your kitchen hardware? Is there a particular size we should all be choosing? And why are so many of us making the same mistake?

Well, as Gareth Hull from Hendel & Hendel explains, this issue most commonly results from a lack of forethought and improper planning. Too many of us leave hardware until last, focusing instead on decisions like the kitchen worktops and materials. "I understand why it happens," says Gareth, "because layout, cabinetry, worktops, and kitchen appliances tend to take up most of the headspace, but handles and knobs are the pieces you touch every single day, so they need more thought than that."

As the most tactile element of the room, kitchen handles will dictate not just how your space looks but your experience of using it, too. "The effect is that a kitchen can feel slightly off, even when the bigger decisions are strong," Gareth explains. "A handle might be too small for a pantry door, a knob might feel awkward on a wide drawer, or a finish might sit uncomfortably against the cabinetry, and those details become very noticeable because you interact with them all the time."

This problem can go either way, too. "Handles that are too small can feel lost on larger drawers, while oversized pieces may overwhelm more delicate cabinetry," says Richard McGrail, CEO of Armac Martin.

When the hardware you choose doesn't work in harmony with your kitchen cabinets, it can make your entire design feel incongruous, and ultimately, cheaper. "Kitchen hardware should always act in conversation with the surrounding elements of the home, complementing the wider scheme without dominating or fading into the background," he says.

It's all about taking a wider lens to your design, viewing no element in isolation, but as part of one, continuous whole. This considered, holistic approach is the key to achieving a striking, modern kitchen.

How to Choose the Right Size Kitchen Hardware

Luckily, this is an easy mistake to fix (or avoid). Ideally, it's best to start thinking about hardware at the beginning of your kitchen renovation timeline. Take some time to consider how you will use the space and what will feel most natural.

"Think about where your hand naturally falls, how a drawer feels when it opens, whether the handle has enough weight for the door or drawer it is fitted to, and how the finish works against the cabinet color, worktop, and light in the room," says Gareth. It's all about choosing hardware in connection with the other elements of your design and understanding how they will interact with one another.

Explore different options, testing them against one another to hone in on what works best. "Always test samples on the actual cabinet door, look at them in natural light and, most importantly, hold them in your hand, because good hardware should feel as good to use as it looks," says Gareth. Seeing how your hardware looks against your cabinetry before you commit is one of the easiest ways to ensure you aren't opting for a handle that's the wrong size.

Although this may seem like a minor detail in the grand scheme of your kitchen design, it's the finishing touch that will dictate just how seamless and balanced your kitchen looks. As Richard notes, "The smallest design details can deliver great impact, so it’s important to carefully consider proportion and scale in relation to your cabinetry to achieve a cohesive aesthetic."

Shop Kitchen Hardware

Hardware has gone through quite the transformation in the last few years, from what was once a boring, functional detail into what can now be the highlight of the space. Take the coloful cabinet pull trend, for example, where brighter, bolder, and contrasting hues add a spark of life into a kitchen.

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Every kitchen needs a backsplash to protect walls from cooking spills around the hob and water splashes in the sink zone.

So yes, kitchen backsplash ideas need to be functional, but the right one also injects serious style into your space. And as someone who has written about kitchens for a very long time, it's cool to see how the humble backsplash has become an important design detail of every kitchen. Of course, like every element of your interior, kitchen backsplash trends do shift over time.

"A backsplash used to be treated as the bit you dealt with once the kitchen was almost finished," says Grazzie Wilson, head of creative at Ca’ Pietra, "but that approach is starting to feel dated. For 2026, the strongest kitchens are taking the surface behind the hob or sink much more seriously, using it to connect the worktop, cabinetry, and wall color rather than letting it sit there as a separate strip."

That’s not to say kitchen trends in backsplashes change quickly — far from it. But it’s useful to know what designs and materials the experts are choosing to stop your kitchen from looking dated.

"Backsplash trends don’t disappear overnight, but in 2026 there are several styles that we are using less often because clients are favoring quieter, more integrated kitchens," explains interior designer Juliette Byrne.

So whether you’re at the start of a new kitchen reno – or if you fancy a mini upgrade – here are 5 kitchen backsplash ideas the experts are avoiding in 2026 and what to do instead.

1. Busy Mosaic Tiles

Panels of teeny-tiny mosaics were once our go to for adding texture and color behind the kitchen counter. But in 2026 a mosaic backsplash looks busy and dated, say the experts.

"For years, glass and stone mosaics were very popular," says interior designer Juliette Byrne. "They were often used to add visual interest to otherwise simple kitchens. Why they’re falling out of favor is because they can make a kitchen feel visually cluttered."

Numerous grout lines can also be notoriously difficult to keep clean.

"Instead opt for slab splashbacks in the same material as the countertop," adds Tom Howley, creative design director at Tom Howley kitchens, "which creates a more seamless elevated look with fewer visual interruptions."

Otherwise, choose an understated stone for the counters and introduce a more distinctive or statement stone on the backsplash. Consider the latest kitchen marble trends.

"This contrast can bring added character and visual interest to the kitchen," explains Chelsea Tallentire, sales designer at Makers. "For longer runs, bookmatching the stone is worth considering and creates a striking focal point that highlights the natural veining and pattern of the material."

2. Short Upstands and Tiled Panels Behind the Hob

Small areas of tiles — either a short upstand or a tiled panel behind the cooker — made sense for keeping costs down, saving time on installation or bringing in a modest amount of color without committing to a bigger area.

But in 2026, a small backsplash is starting to look tired and unfinished — it feels more like ticking a box than a considered design choice.

"A backsplash set only behind the cooker or sink can feel fragmented," says Collette Black of Inglis Hall. "We like to carry the stone worktop up the wall so the material runs uninterrupted from surface to surface. The result is clean, considered, and sophisticated."

"A small panel often draws attention to its own limits," agrees Lesley Taylor, interior designer and founder of Baked Tiles. "Instead of feeling like a proper part of the kitchen, it can look like a practical patch added to protect the wall, which immediately makes the tiles feel secondary. It also tends to interrupt the eye, particularly when it sits alone behind the hob with a painted wall around it."

Stretching your backsplash might not seem like a big deal, but it’s a design shift that will instantly transform your space from dated to seriously chic.

"A small strip of matching kitchen worktop behind the counter can look unfinished," agrees Kunal Trehan, interior designer and founder of Touched Interiors. "A full-height backsplash is becoming the preferred choice for a more luxurious feel."

The key is to commit to your chosen tiles or stone and cover larger areas of the cooking run — even the entire wall.

"A small upstand or a token row of tiles can make a kitchen feel broken up," says Grazzie at Ca’Pietra, "whereas taking the same material higher, choosing a slab with movement or using tiles in a way that feels properly built into the room gives the whole space far more ease."

3. Shiny Finishes

Shiny glass and mirrored backsplashes have become outdated kitchen trends, and for good reason, according to the experts.

"Mirror and glass had their day — it was a gorgeous trend, but it’s now waning," says Jayne Everett, creative director at Naked Kitchens. "Against today’s warmer, more tactile kitchens, that high-shine look is starting to feel a little cold."

"Shiny brick tiles as a backsplash have had such a long run in kitchens, but that very familiarity is what is making them feel tired for 2026," adds Grazzie at Ca’Pietra. "The issue is not the brick shape itself so much as the gloss: that hard, reflective surface can make a kitchen feel colder and flatter, particularly when paired with a sharp grout line or very uniform finish."

So instead of the crisp and clinical high-shine look, the experts recommend warmer, more natural materials for the backsplash. Forget shiny finishes that bounce light around the room; instead, try materials that absorb light. Or subtle glazes that allow the light to ripple across the backsplash.

“We’re seeing clients move toward stone slabs and textured, handmade tiles instead,” adds Jayne at Naked Kitchens, “surfaces that feel enduring rather than of the moment.”

4. Overly Patterned Tiles

Tiles are a great way to inject some wow into a kitchen, but using overly decorative tiles for a backsplash can often be a bad choice.

"Too many colors or patterns can date quickly — they can dominate and feel too much," says Helen Parker creative director at Devol Kitchens. "Instead, go for a low-key tile or pattern but use it in an inspirational way."

"Heavily patterned feature backsplashes used purely as a decorative statement are feeling quite dated now," agrees Katerina Tchevytchalova, founder of K’Arte Design. "Homeowners are increasingly choosing calmer, more integrated surfaces that create a sense of longevity."

Swap highly decorative styles for an interesting tile shape (such as a scallop) or a feel-good texture — whether that’s a velvet-smooth stone backsplash or a beautifully glazed tile with a handmade quality.

"When it comes to tiles, I recommend irregular Zellige tiles," says Chelsea at Makers. "They continue to be a favorite for a kitchen backsplash, for their rich texture, subtle variation, and handcrafted character."

"Customers are looking to natural stones and hand-painted tiles to bring an organic and artisanal feel to the space," agrees Claire Birkbeck, kitchen designer at Neptune.

5. Wall-to-Wall White

The all-white kitchen backsplash has definitely gone out of style for 2026 say the experts – whether that’s standard subway tiles or bright white stone with grey veining.

"The problem is not the material itself," says Simon Mayhew, founder and interior designer at TXTURED, "the issue is that this particular look has been replicated so many times across so many price points that it no longer communicates anything about the space."

"Many designers are moving away from the highly predictable white subway tile with contrasting grout," adds interior designer Juliette Byrne. "It’s losing momentum because it became overused. Brick now looks very familiar too."

When the rest of the kitchen scheme is quiet, a backsplash with genuine character – say a dark natural stone or handmade tile with movement – can anchor the room without overwhelming the space

"White with grey veining can’t do that anymore — it has been used so much that it has lost its voice entirely," adds Simon at TXTURED.

Kitchen backsplash trends evolve slowly over time and it's important to choose a material and style with longevity that reflects the design story of your kitchen. Get in touch with a local tile specialist, a kitchen showroom or interior designer who can help figure out what colour and design will work best for your overall kitchen (in terms of style and practicalities) now and in ten years' time.

"Many designers now treat the backsplash as an extension of the architecture rather than a decorative accent," adds Juliette Byrne.

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Call me picky, but I can't stand the idea of an eyesore kitchen appliance. Especially since I live in a studio with a small kitchen that would require me to keep my air fryer on display. And no design has had enough of an impact to convince me to give up some open counter space... until Our Place's Wonder Oven.

In all honesty, it's the best-looking oven I've seen to date, and its multifunctional design only makes it more impressive. And having spent hours scrolling the virtual aisles, I can confirm that it's one of the most stylish home appliances in the Amazon sale right now.

But is the Our Place Wonder Oven worth it? Here's what you need to know before you decide if it's the perfect fit for your small kitchen. And why it's one of the only air fryers I'd ever leave on display.

So, what makes the Our Place Wonder Oven so special? Firstly, it is a truly hardworking kitchen appliance. This type of oven allows you to air fry, bake, roast, toast, broil, and reheat. So, instead of losing space to an old and potentially unstylish air fryer, oven, toaster, and microwave, you could invest in this 6-in-1 appliance.

Now, it's worth noting that the Wonder Oven's capacity and size make it perfect for a small kitchen and similar portion styles. So, if you're cooking a larger meal or hosting a family-style dinner, you might not be able to get away with just this Wonder Oven. Unless you live in the US, in which case, Our Place has released a Wonder Oven Large as well as the Wonder Oven Pro for even loftier hosting responsibilities.

However, to that note, if, like me, you live in a studio and are likely to use the Wonder Oven for solo meals or smaller portions (up to three people), this is a brilliant and beautiful space-conscious option.

And, of course, the biggest selling point, on par with its functionality, is its look. I never thought I'd ever refer to an air-frying toaster oven as beautiful, but it is at that. And if you're not especially drawn to the pretty 'Spice' finish, one of these colorways is sure to appeal to your interior palette.

Alternative Ovens and Air Fryers

More On Sale From Our Place

FAQs

Which Color of the Our Place Wonder Oven is Best for Modern Kitchens?

Overall, I find that the 'Spice' Wonder Oven is the most stylishly versatile. It's minimalist enough to blend into a space, but the slight terracotta finish gives it some character.

If you're a maximalist, the 'Blue Salt' Wonder Oven is dopamine decor at its most functional. And if you're a true minimalist, then the 'Steam' Wonder Oven will fit right into your home.

Can the Our Place Wonder Oven Replace an Air Fryer?

Yes, the Our Place Wonder Oven can replace your air fryer. In fact, according to reviews, it's best known for its air frying and toasting abilities, alongside its other cooking styles.

If you're based in the US, then I feel it's my responsibility to tell you that another wishlist item of mine is on sale right now — the Our Place Dream Cooker. And if, like me, you're waiting until it hits the UK market, the Crocs x Our Place collab will tide you over in the meantime in all its butter yellow glory.

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Keeping a tidy kitchen isn't always easy, but it is always worth it. There's nothing worse than seeing a beautifully designed space ruined by a mess of washing up in the corner, and even the most thoughtfully designed drying racks can still take up far too much of your precious kitchen counters.

This becomes particularly problematic in shoebox kitchens, where there simply isn't enough space to fit a bulky drying rack, and all the rest of your countertop essentials. It's an issue I myself am far too familiar with, which is why I'm constantly on the hunt for smart solutions to this seemingly unshakeable problem. And my latest find, this Small Triangle Roll-Up Dish Drying Rack from Amazon, may just be the best one yet. Designed to sit snugly right in the corner of your kitchen sink, this clever design offers you more surface area to use as you see fit, without eating into your existing countertop space.

The best solutions for small kitchen problems revolve around finding ways to increase the functionality of the 'dead space' in your design, sneaking some extra storage into those corners that would otherwise go unused and unappreciated. And that's exactly what this design does so well.

Equally Clever Alternatives

If you're still searching for ways to get your kitchen in the best shape possible, it's worth taking some time to learn about the design mistakes that make your kitchen look messy; some of them may surprise you.

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Drying racks aren’t high on my design agenda — when buying one, I think predominantly about affordability and whether it does the job. As a result, it's often an eyesore, takes up significant counter space, and never quite has room for an entire load. The result is a sporadic display of half-dry dishes lurking above a puddle of water on my counter.

The answer, I've learned, is to lift your drying rack off the counter and balance it over the sink instead. And this Teak Wood Roll-Up Dish Rack from Amazon does exactly that with thoughtful design. It sits on top of the sink, creating space for your dishes to dry, while excess water falls straight down the drain.

Designed with versatility in mind, the rack extends your counter space and can also double as a meat-thawer, colander, or even a way to water plants. Plus, you can also conceal dirty dishes beneath it until the dinner party is over. And, once you're done, unlike wire drying racks, this one rolls up and tucks neatly in a cupboard.

Want more where that came from? I've found just the thing.

If you have a smaller kitchen, trading your drying rack for a space-saving design can streamline your space. And if you want more like this, there are so many IKEA kitchen storage buys, including stainless steel rails and countertop organizers, that can double, if not triple, your kitchen storage.

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I'm always pro-dishwasher, but there are certain things that you just don't want to risk chucking in the machine; it only takes one jagged, misshapen whisk to accept that fact. Which leaves you with the inevitable task of some good, old-fashioned hand-washing.

It's not that the act of washing up itself is particularly laborious or troublesome; it's more so what comes after it. I don't know about you, but I don't particularly love the look of a tea-towel full of wet utensils cluttering up my kitchen countertops. For one, it's not particularly attractive, and even worse, it requires so much space that it can easily end up taking over your kitchen counters. Plus, as I'm sure you're already aware, it's far from the most effective drying method, either, with the underside of your utensils left sitting on a damp, moist towel, which is particularly problematic for your wooden utensils.

So, after one too many warped and splintered wooden spoons, I realized I needed to find a new method. Something that takes up less space and actually dries my utensils effectively. And I found just the thing. The Metal Kitchen Utensil Holder With Diatomaceous Earth Base, which you can buy from Amazon may look like just any utensil holder, but it has a secret ingredient that gives it that magic touch. The diatomaceous earth base, discreetly hidden at the bottom, absorbs all the excess water, leaving you with perfectly dry utensils in little to no time. And if you need any more convincing, it's only £20 on Amazon. I don't know about you, but that's a no-brainer buy in my books.

If you're looking for more ways to organize your kitchen, we've got you covered with our expert guide to maximize space and minimize clutter.

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Very few kitchen colors strike the balance between trend-led and timeless quite like terracotta. Earthy, warming, and endlessly versatile, it’s a shade that designers continue to utilize endlessly. This isn’t because it’s “having a moment”, it’s because it’s never truly gone away; however, it's fair to say, designers are choosing it more commonly right now. Rooted in nature and with historic value, it undoubtedly always brings warmth, character, and an effortless sense of comfort to interiors.

In the kitchen, arguably one of the most lived-in spaces of the home, these kinds of qualities feel especially relevant, and perhaps something you may not always receive with other kitchen color trends. Terracotta is rich without being overpowering, and it's super versatile, working across styles from rustic Mediterranean schemes to sleek contemporary spaces, as well as traditional cozy farmhouse. All are creating a welcoming ambience right from the beginning, encouraging people to stay and enjoy.

The above is exactly why designers tend to return to it time and again, and with so many beautiful interpretations emerging right now, narrowing down the best examples was no easy task, let me tell you. However, ahead, we’ve gathered the terracotta kitchens that get it exactly right, along with the designer's insight on how to introduce this timeless shade into your space.

1. Muted neutrals

A kitchen designed to feel warm, grounded, and inviting while still maintaining a refined contemporary look, and ample character — this is a strong example to begin with. “Terracotta was the perfect choice because it adds depth and character without feeling overly bold or trend-driven,” say Paulo Valcic and Stefan Relic, founders of Rôck&Villa.

“What we loved about using terracotta here was the way it softened the overall space," the designers add. "The color works beautifully with the natural stone and textured materials, giving the kitchen a richer and more layered feel. It also changes subtly throughout the day depending on the light, which gives the space a lot of atmosphere.” What more could you want for a kitchen? The terracotta almost becomes a neutral kitchen color itself — it gives elegance, yet relaxed and lived-in.

The combination of the darker terracotta cabinetry and the sculptural stone, along with softer furnishings, helped create a balance between functionality and warmth. The result is a kitchen that feels both timeless and expressive, full of personality, while still incredibly practical for everyday living.

2. Cabin Warmth

This kitchen within the ski cabin featured a lot of natural wood, so designer Brynne Flowers, founder of John Martine studio, felt the need to inject the exact right amount of color to bring it to life. “I love terracotta as a whole. It’s a color with so much history behind it, centuries-old pottery and tile floors that only get better with age.”

She explains how they wanted a subtle nod to the rustic setting without leaning too heavily into a traditional barn red, and terracotta was the perfect fit for both the client and the space. The lines shape the cabinetry nicely and break up the solid color, a bespoke detail you don’t see very often, and linking the color to other movable elements like the kitchen lamp, shown here, only solidifies the cohesion within the space.

3. Mixing materials

Layer upon layer, this terracotta and wood kitchen is made up from lots of natural materials, lending itself to match with a terracotta element. “We opted for an earthier version of terracotta for this space," designer Abbie Naber, of A. Naber Design, explains. "The brown undertones work well with the oak, and because the tone isn't too bright and saturated, it has longevity and staying power."

"We chose for the cabinet color to stand out and then pulled back on the other materials in the space," she adds.

4. Take It in a Retro Direction

Terracotta can lean retro, rather than rustic, too, as it does in this kitchen, where lines are cleaner and more streamlined. "We chose the color for its warm, earthy tone, which perfectly complements the retro elements found throughout the interior," says co-founder Katarzyna Długosz. "The clients were open to a strong color accent in the space, and given the overall warm palette, tobacco was a natural choice. It creates a comforting atmosphere that also honors the building’s historic character."

5. Bright and bold

One thing all of the above terracotta kitchens have in common is their earthy stance. So, what about the brighter, bolder, more colorful kitchen? Well, as Zoë Feldman, Founder of Zoë Feldman's Design, explains, "Terracotta has an earthy quality, but it can also be quite bold and saturated, so pairing it with natural materials is what keeps it feeling grounded and sophisticated. I love it with honed stone, wood, and aged brass because those elements soften the intensity and give the kitchen a timeless feel.”

As this kitchen demonstrates, the brighter end of the terracotta spectrum creates an entirely different mood — more energetic and playful than its muted counterparts, it brings a confident burst of color while remaining warm with organic character. Proof that whether you lean towards soft clay tones or rich sun-baked hues, this shade can adapt to suit a broad range of kitchen styles.

What makes terracotta such an enduring kitchen color isn’t just the warmth and versatility it holds, but its ability to feel at home in almost any setting. You can go ahead and pair it with rustic timbers, sculptural stone, or sleek contemporary finishes, and it brings a guaranteed sense of depth, lived-in character, and sophistication that few other shades could match.

As these designer-led spaces prove, terracotta is far more than any old passing trend. Its connection to natural materials, craftsmanship, and the landscape gives it a truly timeless quality that will continue to resonate, even as trends evolve. So, if you’re looking for a color that feels both comforting and considered, terracotta may be one of the most compelling choices, which is sure to look just as good years from now as it does today. And to round out your palette? Look for the best colors that go with terracotta, too.

Cooking outdoors isn't just an enjoyable experience during the summer; on days when it's swelteringly hot in your home, it's a deal-breaker. You don't want to have to heat an oven or turn on a gas hob when the kitchen is already boiling.

However, if you're only working with a small garden, patio, or courtyard, incorporating an outdoor grill can be difficult, especially when you value style. Those good-looking Sub Zero & Wolf gas grills and Big Green Eggs are space-eaters.

That has been my problem with my own tiny courtyard, but where I've been stuck with a less-than-aesthetic BBQ. However, I've had my eye on one of Kasai's Japanese Konro grills for a little while. I first spotted them on a UK cooking show called Great British Menu, where top chefs often use them to grill food indoors.

But I haven't only been lusting over them because they're chef-approved; this outdoor kitchen trend is also kind of beautiful. Made from British-made stainless steel and a natural, flameproof mineral, they're at once elevated, but a little lo-fi.

I tested out Kasai's Little Konro grill from Amazon (which you can also buy from John Lewis), the second smallest of the six grills the brand has, to see how it compares to cooking on a standard grill. If you're in the States, you won't be able to buy this British-made design, but something like the Bincho Grill, also on Amazon, offers a similar premise.

What Is a Konro Grill?

A Konro grill is a simple BBQ at first glance, but it's designed in a way to make heat consistent and optimize the flavor from cooking on charcoal. The natural mineral blocks (that look a little like cork) are made from diatomaceous earth, and trap heat, radiating it up to food.

The shape is designed for small cuts and skewers, and the shallow depth puts the food close to the heat source, giving you better control over the cooking and more intense charcoal flavor — one of the reasons chefs like to use them.

How Do You Use a Konro Grill?

A Konro grill is used much like other BBQs, but there's more focus on how you arrange the charcoal. It's height in the grill will affect how much heat is applied to the meat and how quickly it will cook.

You start with your firelighters, then layer on some kindling, before adding your charcoal. Konro grills are classically used with a Japanese charcoal called binchotan. It has a higher temperature than normal charcoal and is known for its clean burn, so it doesn't give the food any acrid taste. You can use binchotan in other BBQs too, but it's a little more expensive (around £40 for a box from Amazon, for example)

Is it easy to use? I'm not the most accomplished BBQer, but it's a relatively simple thing to set up. However, what I did learn is that the food cooks quickly when the heat really gets going. Surprisingly so. It is also all about a confident charcoal setup and making sure it's evenly distributed so you get even cooking across the entire span of the grill top.

One thing you'll have to consider is how and where you're going to locate your grill for cooking. I have a small outdoor coffee table that makes this grill perfect for sitting around and cooking as a group activity. Or else, it's an ideal choice if you have something like an outdoor kitchen without a grill built in.

Affordable Alternatives

They might not have the same material qualities as Kasai's Konro grill, but these budget options offer a similar style approach.

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For the most part, our flooring color tends to be one of the least visually exciting aspects of our kitchen design, rarely receiving the same level of thought and intention as our counters or cabinets. In doing this, though, we're underestimating the role flooring colors play in design, preventing our kitchens from ever reaching their fullest potential.

Your kitchen flooring is, quite literally, the foundation of your design. It's what sets the tone, providing a base for the rest of your kitchen to bounce off. With the right kitchen flooring color, your entire kitchen springs to life, adding a sense of character and depth that you'd never get from your old, chipped tiles. Of course, it has a practical function to fulfil, and it's only natural to seek out the most durable, low-maintenance choice. But this shouldn't have to come at the cost of a stylish kitchen.

The color of your kitchen floors deserves as much care and consideration as you'd give to any other feature in your home, but if you need some inspiration to get you started, I've asked the experts to share their favorite flooring color to use in modern kitchen projects, and their answers did not disappoint.

Deep Blue

The biggest kitchen flooring mistake we see time and time again is the overwhelming tendency to play it safe. Sure, a grey stone tile can look fine, but it's far from a statement feature, and we'd even go so far as to say it's a kitchen floor color you should avoid. Once you take the step to explore outside of the box, you can find countless ways to create a space with far more personality and character than you could ever achieve with your regular old flooring style.

This is an attitude Damla Turgut, founder of Otto Tiles, has been championing for years now. As she says, "At Otto Tiles we've never been afraid of color and pattern, so while there's always a place for a beautiful neutral floor, we're particularly drawn to patterned floors that introduce movement and personality."

Despite what you may believe, there are flooring options that go beyond a block color or a checkerboard effect. A patterned finish may sound intimidating, but it needn't be. So long as you work with a balanced, consistent color scheme, the end result can look supremely elegant and natural.

One of the best colors to work with when using this style is a dark blue; it's softer and more interesting than a pure black or grey, but it still feels practical and neutral.

"One of my favorite looks at the moment is a new deep inky blue geometric stripe with a kind of ruffled edge, like a ribbon. I LOVE striped floor tiles — but this is a fun take on it; it's so directional and graphic," comments Damla.

When contrasted with a brighter cream or white shade, a dark blue tile can bring a grounding depth to your space. It also makes it easier to explore patterns while retaining a sense of restraint within your design.

To ensure your kitchen never feels overwhelming, it's best to keep the rest of the room relatively muted in comparison. "I would allow the floor to become the focal point and keep the surrounding palette relatively pared back," suggests Damla, adding, "It works really well with warm timber cabinetry, natural stone worktops like terrazzo, and soft neutral walls. The contrast between the strong geometry underfoot and more tactile natural materials creates a kitchen that feels contemporary, super confident and full of personality." With a dark blue base on the floor, these soft, neutral kitchen colors offer a more balanced effect.

Honeyed Hues

"If you want a kitchen floor that feels genuinely sophisticated rather than simply safe, my recommendation this year is a warm, honeyed oak," shares Aris Lazdans, design and trends expert at Karndean Designflooring.

While wooden flooring is always a classic choice, there is something particularly current about the warmth of a rich, golden oak. It captures the essence of the interior design trends of the moment, with all its texture and amber-toned hues.

It's become a reliable favorite for many an interior designer, a go-to base to build their designs up from. And, as Aris says, "There is a reason these tones keep gaining ground." Reflecting the leading goals and desires in design today, Aris notes, "They bring a sense of quiet luxury that cool greys and stark whites can't quite manage, and they make a kitchen feel considered and inviting the moment you walk in."

It's a reflection of our general move away from cool-toned materials and overly harsh finishes, and the growing appetite for warmer, more lived-in interiors. And this is something you should be playing into within your design, according to Aris. "For styling, I would lean into the warmth rather than fight it," he says. "Honey Oak looks beautiful against creamy or putty-toned cabinetry, with brass or aged-bronze hardware to echo the golden undertones."

There are endless options for creativity with this color, too. You could go for a simple, straight plank finish, or if you're keen to bring more character to your space, Aris says, "The parquet-style diamond layout brings instant grandeur to an open-plan kitchen-diner and creates a natural focal point." But no matter the wood floor type you choose to go for, this honeyed oak finish will fill your room with a comforting warmth.

Creamy Colors

You may instinctually think that cream flooring in the kitchen sounds like a recipe for disaster, especially for those of us living with mucky pets and even muckier children, but this doesn't have to be the case. So long as you choose the right materials, cream flooring can be both a practical and beautiful choice to use in your kitchen,

The cream flooring of today looks a little different to what we once knew, too. It's less pristine, less polite than it once was. "The version that feels interesting now has a little more earth to it, a little more history, and none of that flat, one-note beige feeling," says Grazzie Wilson, from Ca'Pietra.

By opting for natural material finishes, filled with texture and movement, the effect is more varied and rich than it would otherwise be. For example. Grazzie says, "In limestone, cream becomes something far more nuanced; it catches the light softly, warms the room from the ground up, and gives a kitchen that lovely sense of ease that cooler stones and sharper whites do not always allow."

With a soft, warm neutral base on the floor, you're offered the freedom to explore a wide array of colors for your kitchen cabinets. Though, if you do choose to use a natural stone, they tend to pair particularly well with earthy color palettes, like muted greens, pale stones, and chalky tones.

Your kitchen flooring is a big commitment, so it's well worth taking some time to research how to choose your kitchen flooring and which option will work best for you.

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I'm yet to meet anyone satisfied with the amount of storage they have in their kitchen. From four-storey homes to studio apartments alike, it's seemingly impossible to be satisfied — the more you have, the more you fill it, and the more you need. And while this affects us all, no one knows the pain quite like those living with a cramped, shoebox-sized kitchen.

However, all is not lost. To overcome your small kitchen storage woes, you just need to find smart, space-saving solutions — designs that maximize your space, rather than eating it up — and these Magnetic Basket Organizers on Amazon do exactly that. Handily sticking straight onto your fridge, with no installation needed, these clever baskets are a tiny kitchen lifesaver, and, even better yet, you can get them for less than £15.

So if you barely have enough space to fit your pots and pans, let alone all your ingredients, these handy (and strong) baskets are the genius way to a clutter-free kitchen in seconds.

Alternative Options to Shop

If these baskets aren't quite what you're looking for, I've selected more clever and stylish options to choose from too.

Designing a small kitchen doesn't need to be a massive headache, so long as you know the right tricks, it can easily be your favorite room in your home. If you need some tips to get you started, take a look through our list of ideas on how to make your kitchen feel bigger. And for more design ideas, subscribe to our newsletter.

Kitchens have corners — that’s a fact. But not many of us know what to do with these awkward spaces other than install a corner cabinet, chuck in some kitchen bits and pray you’ll be able to find them when you need them. But the experts have a whole host of clever design tips to overcome tricky kitchen corners. Sometimes that might mean eliminating corner cabinets altogether with an alternative layout.

But if corner cabinets are necessary (as they often are in small kitchens), our design bods also have cool ways to organize a corner cabinet so it works hard. "Corners in kitchens are a fact of life; it’s just a case of how you deal with them," says Jayne Everett, creative director of Naked Kitchens. "Some avoid them by opting for a galley layout or a single run of units with a parallel island, while others — particularly those working with a smaller footprint — embrace them to make full use of the space."

The key, say the experts, is finding the best way to create usable, well-organized corners, rather than simply sticking with a standard corner cabinet that seriously underperforms. "Corner cabinets earned a reputation for awkward, hard-to-access storage because older kitchen designs often used them poorly," explains interior designer Juliette Byrne. "Examples include deep dead corners, tiny doors leading to huge, inaccessible spaces, and Lazy Susans that waste vertical space. In those situations, the corner cabinet became the least useful storage in the kitchen." So it’s time to turn the dreaded corner cabinet into a super useful part of your kitchen; here’s how the experts do it — no cutting corners involved.

1. Eliminate corners with a galley kitchen

A galley kitchen layout consisting of two parallel banks of units is one way to avoid corners altogether, say the experts.

"Instead of turning the corner, we often stop short and form two separate runs, keeping everything within easy reach," says William Durrant, owner of Herringbone House. "Any apparent loss of storage is mostly perception; usable storage will always serve you better than nominal storage you come to dread."

"Two runs of cabinets facing each other means no corners at all, which allows for more storage flexibility," agrees Al Bruce, founder of Olive & Barr. "It’s a great option for smaller kitchens, allowing you to use every bit of wall without any wasted space."

Alternatively, a freestanding island unit and a straight run of cabinets create the same linear layout without any corners to design around.

"A straight run and large island means you can avoid tricky corner cabinets as the island can accommodate the storage that would have been on the other run of cabinets," says Claire Birkbeck, kitchen designer at Neptune. "It can also make the space feel bigger as you’re not enclosed by runs of cabinets."

2. Zone your kitchen to avoid corners

Zoning your kitchen layout is one of the cleanest ways to bypass the corner conundrum, according to the experts.

"I love designing a straight, unbroken run of low-level base units running wall to wall," explains interior designer Lara Clarke. "Instead of wrapping the cabinetry around the bend, we place the full-height larder units and appliance housing on an adjacent wall, leaving a deliberate, breathing gap between the two zones."

This way, there are no tricky corner cabinets to resolve, and your zoned space gets an effortless and functional flow.

"A single linear run of units with an island, combined with a shorter secondary linear run, is often the most functional and visually resolved solution," adds Brani Hadzhi, creative director and co-founder of Multiliving Scavolini Store. "It also allows you to position tall cabinets, fridge, ovens, and freezer as a distinct bank on their own, which gives the kitchen a clear hierarchy and improves both flow and proportion."

3. Swap a corner cabinet for drawers

Love 'em or hate 'em, when it comes to kitchen corners, it’s about making them work properly — and sometimes a set of drawers is a far more usable feature than a corner cabinet, making your kitchen storage more accessible.

"One strategy I use is to eliminate the corner cabinet entirely and use wider drawers on either side instead," explains Katerina Tchevytchalova, founder of K’Arte Design. "Deep drawers are generally far more ergonomic and practical than reaching into the back of a corner unit. It’s always more important to maximize usable, practical storage than to have lots of storage a homeowner rarely accesses because it’s too awkward to reach."

"A standard corner cabinet can create deep areas that are difficult to reach and wasted space in the back with items that get forgotten," agrees interior designer Juliette Byrne. "That’s why a cabinet that technically holds more but is difficult to access may function worse than a smaller, easily reached drawer."

4. Install a countertop cupboard instead

Wrapping a wall cupboard around a corner is generally never a good idea. "You’ll create very little additional useful storage and instead get overloaded with claustrophobic wall cupboards,” adds George Glasier, co-founder of Pluck.

So when a corner situation can't be avoided, consider fitting a countertop cupboard instead. This style of cabinet sits directly on the counter and creates extra storage with a cleaner silhouette.

"This not only reduces the sense of dead space visually, but it also provides storage that is far easier to access," explains William.

Add space-saving bifold doors so you can access what’s inside without eating into valuable countertop space. It's a super popular way to turn a dead space into a designated breakfast station.

"Bifold dressers make for the perfect appliance hideaway, while ensuring you can still access things easily," adds Isabella Pacelli, junior sales designer at Roundhouse.

5. Make the switch to open shelving

Open shelving is another brilliant answer for a tight corner, say the designers. "With no doors needing room to swing open, every inch of the worktop below stays usable," says Jayne Everett of Naked Kitchens.

You'll also get really useful shelving storage to stash your bowls, plates, mugs, etc. "Modern solutions such as simple deep shelving or pull-out spice racks can make these spaces highly usable," adds Tom Howley, creative design director at Tom Howley bespoke kitchens.

"The challenge isn’t the corner itself — it’s ensuring access and storage are well considered."

6. Create a walk-in corner pantry

We love kitchen pantries, and an awkward corner is a great opportunity to create something really special.

In fact, corner walk-in pantries take less space than you’d expect and offer so much flexibility with floor-to-ceiling storage.

"We have developed a walk-in corner pantry which turns the problem on its head," explains William. "Rather than reaching in, you step inside, and an awkward space becomes a room of its own."

"One solution I tend to avoid is the diagonal corner pantry," adds Chelsea Tallentire from Makers. "While practical in some situations, it can protrude into the room and interrupt the flow of the design. I find that alternative pantry configurations like an L-shaped arrangement or walk-in pantries often deliver a more elegant result. And you get a kitchen that feels both highly functional and visually composed."

7. Cut back on corners with an L- or U-shaped kitchen

Corner cabinets are traditionally awkward spaces to design, say the experts. But sometimes your room layout means corners are unavoidable, especially in a smaller kitchen.

That’s when designers opt for a classic L-shaped kitchen layout with one corner, or a U-shaped kitchen with two.

"Corners are often a necessary part of an L-shaped or U-shaped kitchen, so the goal is to make them work efficiently rather than eliminate them," says Tom Howley. "Modern solutions such as pull-out spice racks or simple, deep shelving can make these spaces highly usable."

"For smaller kitchens, it may be that every inch of countertop is necessary and a corner cupboard can’t be avoided when designing a U- or L-shaped layout," agrees George. "In this case, embrace the cupboard! It can be useful extra storage for items that we all have in our kitchens, perhaps bulky and infrequently used appliances or serving bowls."

8. Maximize corner cabinets with clever internal fittings

When corner cabinets are unavoidable, the key is to optimize storage inside with clever internal mechanisms.

"Pull-out corner systems, LeMans units and rotating shelves all provide much better accessibility than traditional fixed shelving, so the space genuinely earns its place," says Katerina.

"A corner with no pull-out solution is, in practical terms, a dead space," adds Brani of Multiliving Scavolini Store. "It can look resolved from the outside but quietly frustrate you for years. What a pull-out does is prevent that corner from turning into a deep cavity that works against you every time you need something from the back."

Something like this Warmiehomy Blind Corner Pull Out Kitchen Storage Organizer on Amazon would do the trick.

Remember, kitchens come in an array of shapes and sizes and often come with extra challenges like quirky-shaped rooms, odd proportions, and corners. "When in the planning stages, establish these elements and discuss with a designer how to make the most of them," adds Al at Olive & Barr. "It may be that a tricky corner provides the ultimate kitchen larder, or could offer the space for a dining nook, flanked with floor-to-ceiling cabinetry."

In small kitchens, in particular, storage space is often limited, so seek out opportunities to incorporate extra shelving and cabinetry wherever possible.

Another idea you could try is the 'magic kitchen corner' to save you from losing any more items to the dreaded corner cabinet.

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From moody, deep tones to bright pops of color, there's plenty of room for experimentation when it comes to your kitchen tiling.

When so much of your kitchen design revolves around practicality and durability, your tiles feel like the one place you can really bring some personality into your space, not just through color, but through the texture and materiality, too. Even in the most simple, neutral kitchens, a colorful tile can provide all the depth and complexity your space needs, breathing life, movement, and visual intrigue. And as kitchen trends evolve, so too do the tile colors designers are choosing.

This year, the experts are favoring warm, gentle neutrals, with a heavy reliance on the colors you'd find out in nature. Gone are the days of a flat white finish or a cool gray subway tile; nowadays, we're seeking out texture and movement in tiles, with colors to match. These are the kitchen tile colors to keep an eye on.

1. Warm Browns

In a stark contrast to the bright white kitchens of the 2010s, over the past few years people have increasingly turned towards moodier, darker kitchen tile colors, and it's easy to see why. There's a quiet confidence in a dark kitchen; an understated elegance that feels cozy and inviting, especially when you opt for a deep, red-toned brown.

For many, burgundy has become the tile color of choice. "There is a richness to this deep, wine-toned hue that feels grown-up and warm without tipping into anything heavy or dated," notes Simon Mayhew, founder and interior designer at TXTURED. It signals a desire for more depth and character in our homes, says Simon, who adds, "After years of cool grays and safe off-whites, clients are craving rooms with real personality, and a saturated berry shade delivers that instantly."

Similarly, Grazzie Wilson, from Ca'Pietra, notes, "Brown is having a very good time in kitchens, and quite right too. After years of playing it safe with pale, polite tiles, people are remembering that caramel, coffee, and cocoa shades can do something rather clever: they make a kitchen feel instantly warmer, more lived-in, and far less showroom-like."

Though you could opt for a color-drenched effect, Simon prefers letting the tiles do the talking, keeping the rest of the room neutral. "The trick is teaming it with a warm neutral rather than letting it work alone," he says. "Pairing wine with a chalky shade like canvas, ideally in a chequerboard, gives the eye somewhere to rest and lets light bounce around the space, so the color reads as inviting rather than enclosing."

My favorite approach is to build a color story around the tiles, pairing them with other warm, textural finishes and materials, for a richer, more all-encompassing look. This can work particularly well in dark, wooden kitchens, where the two materials complement one another, enhancing the beauty of both.

2. Earthy Neutrals

If there's one kitchen tile color palette that has ruled them all for the past few years, it's an earthy color scheme. "One of the most popular tile colors at the moment is soft, tonal natural neutrals that add texture and depth to a kitchen, without overwhelming it," agrees Alex Main, director at Main.

Stone, clay, mushroom, and greige all offer a subtle warmth that feels more interesting than a flat white finish, while maintaining that light neutrality.

They're also super easy to design around, Simon adds. "Thanks to their versatility, this soft color palette creates a neutral backdrop, allowing other elements of the kitchen to take center stage," he shares. If you're planning a statement color for your kitchen cabinetry, this could make for a brilliant tile option.

3. Sky Blue

As much as I love a warm, earthy color palette, there's something about a fresh, sky blue shade that I also can't get enough of. Though you may assume it will be overly cool and uninviting, in reality it has the opposite effect, providing a refreshing, calming atmosphere, which is especially welcome in the kitchen.

It's a kitchen tile color trend Damla Turgut, founder and creative director of Otto Tiles & Design, has also noticed lately. "In the US in particular, everyone is loving light blue zellige right now," she shares. "It feels just so fresh and uplifting, but it’s not too vibrant."

When done well, a blue kitchen can feel like a complete breath of fresh air, invigorating yet comforting and far more intriguing than a classic white finish. And in a zellige finish in particular, this kitchen tile color trend can benefit from the way the uneven, glossy tiles catch the light, bringing even more life and movement to the shade.

4. Deep Greens

"One color we're seeing increasingly used in kitchens is deep green," notes Sophie Chapman, associate and interior designer at The Vawdrey House. In line with our desire for colors that refer back to nature, a deep, forest green feels more grown-up than the uber-popular sage green kitchen of the past, while still offering that pleasant, calming effect.

"It brings depth and character without feeling overly bold and works particularly well alongside natural materials," says Sophie. It's a surprisingly versatile shade, too, working well across various design styles and color palettes.

There's also a longevity to this color that makes it a particularly appealing choice for homeowners. "Green has a timeless quality that allows it to feel both contemporary and established, which is perhaps why it continues to resonate with homeowners looking for longevity rather than short-lived trends," Sophie adds.

5. Terracotta

Not a new kitchen tile color trend by any means, terracotta is a classic in Mediterranean design, but according to experts, the way we use this material is changing. "Terracotta is one of those tiles people think they already know. It has spent years being cast as the lovely rustic floor tile, usually somewhere warm, with a jug of olive oil nearby. But the really exciting thing now is seeing it climb the walls," explains Sophie.

Moving beyond its typical use, terracotta wall tiles are becoming a growing trend in warm, rustic kitchens, where the color provides a lovely base for the rest of the design to bounce off.

Despite the material's prominence in more traditional settings, when used as a wall tile, it can feel surprisingly fresh and modern. "You still get all the warmth, but because it is on the wall, it becomes part of the kitchen’s everyday backdrop rather than just something underfoot," adds Lesley Taylor, founder of Baked Tiles. "The color is a big part of that, of course; those baked clay tones sit somewhere between apricot, rust and paprika, which makes them brilliant at warming up timber, stone and metal finishes."

There's a natural effortlessness to a terracotta finish, full of imperfections and tonal differences; it signals a more laid-back, relaxed design approach and can help balance harsher, cooler finishes in your kitchen.

While keeping up with the latest kitchen tile color trends is helpful, ultimately, it's best to choose something you will still be happy with in several years to come; with that in mind, these are the three kitchen tile colors to avoid if you want your space to be timeless and stylish, according to experts.

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The term 'galley kitchen' finds its origins at sea, a phrase used to describe the narrow strips of cooking space found on ships. It's no surprise then that they aren't typically considered the most desirable of kitchen layouts. But with the right design tips, you can easily take your galley kitchen from feeling like a cramped corridor to the luxurious gathering space you'd hoped for.

There's no denying it, designing a long, narrow kitchen isn't the easiest of tasks, but that doesn't mean that it's a hopeless battle, either. It's all about knowing how to make the most of the space you have available and making sure your design choices help to open the room up, as opposed to choosing finishes that draw attention to the limitations of your layout. In galley kitchens, natural light will be your best friend, as will airy finishes and discreet storage solutions. It comes down to finding ways to make your room feel as welcoming as possible, no matter the dimensions.

So, if you're ready to leave the days of a dingy, corridor kitchen behind and welcome in a new style of galley kitchen, our expert tips are here to help.

1. Lead Towards a Focal Point

When you're designing your home, a tip that almost any architect will give you is to pay attention to sightlines. Thinking about the way your home will look from various angles can help you design it with more intention and clarity, and in no space is this tip more valuable than in a galley kitchen.

Galley kitchens are characterized by their long, narrow dimensions, which can easily make them feel poky or cramped. With nowhere else to land, your eyes immediately fall towards the furthest end of the room. Understanding this and adapting your design to reflect this fact can be the key to a brighter, more inviting design.

To do this, Matt Loader, director at Loader Monteith, says, "Keep sightlines open and create a visual connection to another room or the garden. Having something to look towards instantly makes the kitchen feel less enclosed." You want to offer a continuous path for your eyes to follow, so they aren't immediately met with the end of the kitchen.

"If possible, creating a focal point at the end of the kitchen — a garden view or a window seat like in Origami House — helps draw the eye through the space and makes it feel larger," Matt says.

2. Play With Contrast

It's easy to get bogged down with the practicalities of designing a small kitchen, focusing more on the storage and appliances than on the design. But the right design ideas can make all the difference to the feel of your space.

One tip Fiona Ginnett from Holte swears by is playing around with contrast: "Rather than using the same finish throughout, consider introducing a darker color on one side of the kitchen and a lighter color or material on the other," she says.

It may seem counterintuitive to use dark colors in a small room, but when paired with a contrasting, brighter shade, it can actually help to open up your space. As Fiona explains, "This helps draw the eye across the space and creates a greater sense of width and expansiveness."

The trick, Luke Ellis from Joyn Kitchen says, is to save the darkest shade for the furthest point of the room. He says, "If you want contrast, apply it to the wall at the far end of the kitchen: a deeper tone there draws the eye forward and makes the space feel longer, not narrower. Avoid anything too dark on the side walls, which will tighten the corridor feel."

It doesn't just have to be done with color, either; even using a contrasting texture or finish can introduce enough intrigue and visual balance to achieve the same effect.

3. Prioritize Natural Light

Above all else, the number one tip any designer will give you when designing a galley kitchen is to squeeze in as much natural light as you possibly can. The ultimate antidote to a cramped space, a healthy dose of bright sunlight pouring into your room will immediately bring life into your kitchen.

There are many ways you can incorporate this into your design, with Matt saying, "Rooflights, glazed doors or internal windows can make a huge difference in a narrow space." It may require some additional structural work, but it will be well worth it.

You will also want to make sure that any natural light present is given the opportunity to fully spread across the room. "Keeping sightlines open and allowing daylight to travel through the room will always help a narrow space feel larger and more inviting," adds Fiona.

4. Reflective Surfaces Are Your Friend

One consistent theme running across these design tips is the emphasis on opening up the space and finding ways to create the illusion of greater depth and width than there actually is. And nothing creates this illusion better than a bit of reflection.

"Mirrors, reflective surfaces, and considered, atmospheric, as well as task lighting, are your best friends when designing a galley kitchen," shares Amy Hicks, lead designer at Blakes London.

A mirrored surface allows the light to bounce off it, shining back through the room and opening up the space. A convenient win for lovers of the stainless steel kitchen look.

But stainless steel is far from the only way to bring this idea into your design. Amy says, "We love using foxed or antiqued mirror as a splashback as it instantly introduces depth and creates the illusion of a wider, more expansive space. Where possible, glazed display cabinetry with internal or back lighting can also add both visual interest and layered depth."

As Amy mentions, your kitchen lighting can also play a key role in this, and discreet, integrated backlighting and under-cabinet lights, like these LROLTEF Under Cabinet Kitchen Lights on Amazon, can be a great addition to a galley kitchen.

5. Keep The Palette Bright

The materials and colors you use in your galley kitchen have everything to do with the overall feel of the space. A dark kitchen may be moody and cozy, but in a galley layout, it's guaranteed to feel cramped and claustrophobic.

This doesn't mean you have to commit to an all-white kitchen, though. In fact, Luke would suggest avoiding it altogether, saying, "Light, warm neutrals on the cabinets keep the space from feeling enclosed — but be sure to avoid actual white. A slightly warmer tone like soft stone or warm putty reads as airy without feeling clinical. Natural light woods work beautifully too, bringing warmth and texture without adding visual weight."

Softer, neutral kitchen colors will create a more relaxing feel than a stark white, which can often come across quite clinical. This is an assessment Rachel Davis from Harvey Jones agrees with, too, saying, "Warm neutrals, soft greens and muted blues all work beautifully, bringing character without overwhelming the room. Rather than relying on bright white alone, layering subtle tones and natural materials often creates a more inviting and sophisticated result."

These subdued, light neutrals will still reflect light in the way you need in a galley kitchen, but they also make for a comforting, welcoming space. Opting for colors that make rooms feel bigger is the best port of call in galley kitchens, so light, bright neutrals will be your best friend here.

The Best Colors For Galley Kitchens

To ensure your galley kitchen is the best it can be, designers share the galley kitchen mistakes they see all the time, so you can avoid them when planning or know what to do instead if you're already making them.

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If there's one material that has prevailed in the world of luxury kitchen design, it's marble. Perennially stylish, this natural stone has a timeless charm that will never fall out of fashion and is as beautiful and lusted-after today as it was back in Ancient Greece.

But while the material itself is immune to the ever-changing trend cycle, the ways in which we use it in our homes are less persistent. When you hear 'marble kitchen', it's easy to simplify it to a slab countertop and maybe a matching backsplash, but this is just the beginning; designers are constantly finding new ways to use the ancient material in their designs. Plus, with such a vast array of different varieties becoming increasingly accessible, you can find finishes far beyond the classic white slabs you know so well.

Whether you want a full marble-drenched look or to use it as a subtle accent, marble will never fail to take your kitchen to the next level, elevating your design to more luxurious heights. And according to design experts, these are the biggest marble trends defining luxury kitchens this year.

1. Richly Veined Slabs

By far the most frequently mentioned kitchen trend amongst designers, 2026 will be the year of bold, dramatic marble finishes. We're leaving subtlety behind and instead opting for statement-making slabs — think rich veining and bold, contrasting colors.

"We’re seeing a growing appreciation for marbles that feel a little less expected," says April Graves, from Aria Stone Gallery. "Rather than looking for perfection or uniformity, designers are embracing stones with movement, depth, and a stronger sense of identity."

Having supplied the marble for several luxurious kitchen projects, April has plenty of authority to report on the defining marble trends of the moment, and according to her, "Dynamic white marbles with colorful veining have been getting a lot of attention lately over more traditional white selections such as Calacatta or Calacatta Borghini."

Why? "Materials like Calacatta Rosato and Calacatta Monet Vintage offer layered, colorful veining and subtle shifts in tone that bring warmth, depth, and character to a space while still feeling timeless," she says.

Greg Walton, co-founder and director of Studio McW, agrees. "We're seeing an increase in the use of bold marbles with dramatic, colourful veining, rich purples, deep greens, burgundy tones, paired with natural solid and veneer timbers," he says. "Homeowners are increasingly drawn to characterful varieties like Violetta, or Calacatta Viola, which reads as expressive and individual, challenging the safer, muted white and grey tonal options."

These vibrant stones bring color, life, and movement, providing far more personality and excitement than any subdued, neutral stone ever could. Plus, because they make such an impact, the rest of the design can take a bit of a backseat.

As Lewis Buckley, designer at Harvey Jones, explains, "The beauty of statement marble lies in allowing the material to become a focal point. We recommend pairing heavily veined marble with beautifully crafted cabinetry in muted, timeless shades rather than competing with bold colors or excessive detailing."

2. Marble-Drenching

First came color-drenching, shortly followed by tile-drenching, then wood-drenching, and now, the natural next step, and by far the most luxurious: it's time to embrace marble-drenching.

Typically reserved solely for a single feature, such as a kitchen worktop, design experts expect to see a more liberal use of the material in this year's kitchen, for a bolder, statement-making effect.

"I think we'll see en masse marble, where it's the encompassing material of the space, and not just the benchtop," predicts interior designer Shona McElroy, of Smac Studio.

A symptom of a growing appetite for experimentation, this look pushes the boundaries of what we expect kitchens to look like. Explaining this shift, Shona says, "I think with more and more images coming at us on a daily basis, clients are more open to new and exciting things they haven't seen before."

3. Tones of Purple

While designers note that colorful veining will be particularly popular this year, more specifically, they're expecting a rise in purple-toned marbles in modern kitchen design.

Decorating with purple in deeper, darker hues has become much more popular, and in its natural form, it can bring a dramatic sense of depth and warmth to a kitchen. Thankfully, several types of marble offer this effect.

"Calacatta Viola is becoming increasingly popular in designs, with a nice variation being Calacatta Viola Monet for a softer look," says Isabella Pacelli from Roundhouse. "A great way of styling this stone is with rich dark colored cabinetry and dark timbers — especially walnut. It feels very luxurious and also quite timeless."

4. Stacked Edges

When it comes to kitchen finishing touches, it is often the tiniest details that can make the biggest difference, and no trend is more testament to that than uniquely decorative countertop edges.

While there are several finishes to choose from, Annie Burrows from Blakes London says a stacked edge will be the standout choice this year. "Stacked marble worktops are an increasingly popular marble design detail," she argues. A lot of that has to do with the specific requirements needed to bring it to life. "Only possible with natural stones, this subtle detail adds layers and dimensions to a design as well as a subtle nod to the sophistication of the materials used," she explains.

"Squared-off stacked edges are best with subtle offsets to veining," she adds. "This highlights the layering of the marble, creating a bold, sculptural detail that highlights the beauty of the stone itself."

5. Pairing Marble With Timber Joinery

Interior design trends today are all about playing on the warmth and movement of the natural world, and nothing delivers that more than marble and wood side-by-side.

Both already rich in natural movement and texture, when combined, the surfaces help balance one another out. Studio McW's Greg Walton explains that, "The timber acts as an emollient, softening what might otherwise feel ostentatious and brings an honest, tactile quality that grounds the composition."

The cold, hard nature of marble can oftentimes impact the overall feeling of your kitchen, making it less inviting. But when paired with a warm, textured wooden finish, this coldness is counteracted, leaving you with a more welcoming look.

6. Warm-Toned Stones

"The marble trend I think we will see coming through most strongly in kitchens this year is a move towards warmer, more expressive stones," shares Grazzie Wilson from Ca' Pietra.

As we move away from the cool grays that once dominated our kitchens, designers are noticing an increased interest in stones with warmer hues, with Grazzie highlighting the popularity of "marbles with creamy bases, honeyed undertones," specifically.

It's a marble trend Smac Studio's Shona McElroy has noticed too; "I'm also seeing a lot of bolder yellows and golds coming through as well in stones," she adds.

These golden tones bring an instant warmth to your kitchen that can be hard to get with other marble varieties and look even more beautiful when paired with other warm finishes like brass hardware and antiqued metallics.

Shop Marble Kitchen Trends for 2026

Can't quite justify a statement marble trend in your kitchen for whatever reason? Don't stress — there are alternatives to marble that let you flex the same design muscle. "We're seeing the rise of translucent quartzites and onyxes," says designer Shona McElroy, of the natural stones that offer enchanting translucence that feels lighter and softer than a classic marble.

Plus, unlike marble, quartzites are known for their durability, making them a better choice for low-maintenance kitchen worktops, too.

And for more ideas and inspiration, subscribe to our newsletter.

It’s interesting the kinds of questions homeowners tend to ask first about their kitchen. The truth is, we seem to get a little hung up on the look and the pretty details, forgetting how important the actual functionality is.

So, we asked the experts which questions we really should be asking — either ourselves or our designers and contractors — to ensure our kitchens function as easily and as well as possible for those living there.

From gaining a better understanding of what you want to change and why to the things you might never have thought about at all, these questions will get you closer to the beautiful yet practical modern kitchen you're looking for.

1. Are you designing around the traditional ‘work triangle’ — or around how your household actually lives?

According to Anita Lang, founder and creative principal of IMI Design, the traditional kitchen 'work triangle' was designed for a different era, so this can be a bit of a dated way to think these days.

“Today, I often find myself designing for families gathering around the island, children doing homework nearby, couples cooking together, and guests lingering over a glass of wine,” she says. “Understanding how your household lives is often more important than following a formula.

"Your layout may require entirely different thinking, such as incorporating multiple zones and individualized accoutrements.”

2. Does your kitchen have zones that work independently of the cooking area?

A dedicated beverage or coffee station positioned away from the range cooker means guests, kids, or anyone else can move freely without ever crossing the chef's path and getting in the way.

Anita says, “Most people never ask for it, yet everyone who has it wonders how they lived without it.” It's definitely worth some consideration.

3. Have you thought about what your children need from the kitchen beyond mealtimes?

This may not be your first thought, but Anita assures us that young families can benefit enormously from a snack or drink station positioned low and away from the stove.

She says that having something children can access independently without ever entering the cooking zone is a really handy element of the kitchen — safely allowing a little independence, but often a decision most people make too late.

4. Does a serious home cook need a different kitchen entirely than someone who primarily entertains?

This is an interesting one, because often a kitchen is designed and built to what it should be like, but actually it needs to be designed for the people living there using it. Anita answers this one with confidence, suggesting the use of zones.

“Yes. A prolific chef needs unobstructed flow between prep, range, and refrigeration — purpose-built zones with everything exactly where it belongs.” She explains that an entertainer needs an open, generous layout where guests feel included without disrupting the work or being too close; it’s a little uncomfortable.

“One solution to solve both is a front show and entertaining kitchen with the functionality of a back kitchen connected with seamless flow.” This is becoming more and more of a must in modern kitchens, because it allows for separation when needed, and a bit more of a working area.

5. What do I dislike about my current kitchen, and are we actually fixing it?

It’s easy to look past struggles with the existing kitchen when a new kitchen is pending and brings such excitement. But Charlotte Butler, kitchen design manager at BK Eleven, warns you can learn a lot from existing issues.

“Before thinking about new colors or door styles, it’s worth making a very honest list of what doesn’t work in the existing kitchen.” Is the dishwasher too far from the sink? Is there never enough prep space? Do children’s homework, pets, coats or paperwork keep landing where you need to cook?

It may not be what you want to focus on, but Charlotte reminds us that a redesign is the perfect moment to correct those frustrations, but only if they are named at the beginning. Otherwise, it is easy to create a more beautiful version with the same problems, leaving you with regrets about your investment.

6. Do I have enough clear countertop space where I actually need it?

A kitchen can look generous on a plan but still feel awkward if the countertop space is located in the wrong places. People often focus on having a large kitchen island or a beautiful run of cabinetry, but the most valuable countertop is usually the space beside the hob, sink, and fridge, because that is where food is unpacked, prepared, plated, and served.

“A well-designed kitchen should give you space to put down hot pans safely, unload shopping without blocking a walkway, and prep without having to move everything from one side of the room to the other,” says Charlotte.

7. What clearance do I need between the island and the wall cabinetry?

Clearance around an island is one of the details that will determine whether a kitchen is functional. As a guide, Charlotte recommends at least one meter between the island and the surrounding cabinetry, as this allows drawers and doors to open properly while still leaving room to move.

“In busier family kitchens, or where there are appliances such as a dishwasher, oven or fridge opening into the walkway, 1100mm to 1200mm can be more comfortable, particularly if more than one person will regularly be using the kitchen at the same time.”

She also suggests, “It is also worth avoiding the temptation to make the gap too generous, as once you go much beyond this, the island can start to feel disconnected from the rest of the kitchen.” This means the room becomes less efficient to work in and less valuable in general.

8. Where will the dishwasher sit in relation to the sink, bins and crockery storage?

Dishwasher placement has a huge effect on the daily flow of a kitchen. Ideally, it should sit close to the sink for ease of scraping and rinsing, near the bins for clearing plates, and within easy reach of where crockery and glassware are stored, so unloading does not become a walk around the kitchen.

This really is an essential part of the kitchen to consider. Charlotte recommends always asking whether the open dishwasher door will block a walkway or stop someone from reaching the sink.

9. Where will small appliances live when they are not being used?

Small appliances are often what make a kitchen feel cluttered, even when the design itself is beautiful. Most of us have more than just a kettle and toaster now, so it is worth being honest about what you use every day — whether that is a coffee machine, air fryer, blender or food processor, and where those pieces are going to live, as they can be rather sizeable machines, some of them.

“A breakfast cupboard or appliance cupboard can be a brilliant way to keep the worktops calmer, but only if it is planned properly, with sockets in the right place and enough space to use things without having to drag everything out. The aim is not to hide everything away for the sake of it, but to make sure the pieces you rely on are easy to reach without taking over the room.”

10. Have I planned enough sockets, and are they in the right places?

Sockets are one of those details that are easy to underestimate until you are living in the kitchen. It is worth thinking through where you will actually make coffee in the morning, where the toaster will sit, whether you ever work at the island, where phones tend to charge, and which appliances you use often enough to keep out rather than pack away.

We always advise planning sockets alongside the kitchen layout, because once you know where the sink, hob, prep space, and storage are going, it becomes much clearer where power is needed. It may be worth positioning some within drawers for things like phone chargers to keep some wire-free areas for a cleaner look.

Kitchen renovations can be one of the biggest investments you'll make in a home, so the conversation shouldn't stop at colors, countertops, and cabinet styles. The questions above may not be as glamorous as you want your kitchen to be, but they're often the difference between a kitchen that simply looks good and one that genuinely works. Ask them early, and you'll be way ahead of the game, likely to end up with a space that feels effortless to use, no matter how your household lives, cooks, and entertains.

There are also some things to prioritize in your kitchen renovation if you want to add value to your home, according to experts.

For more design ideas for your kitchen and beyond, subscribe to the Livingetc newsletter, and all the latest will be delivered directly to your inbox.

Considering my partner is the cook in our relationship, I'll admit that I've never really thought too much about what our kitchen hob looks like — he gets the bigger say, and that tends to prioritize specs over style. But recently, I was invited to visit SMEG HQ in Guastalla, Italy, and while strolling through the brand's gallery-like showroom, it suddenly dawned on me that I'd been sleeping on this seriously big design opportunity.

Specifically, it happened while I watched a demonstration of the kitchen appliance brand's newly launched (just this week, in fact) Isola range. Designed in collaboration with Milano-based Stefano Boeri Interiors (the award-winning studio founded by architect and designer Stefano Boeri), the collection includes induction hobs with integrated extraction, sculptural suspended hoods, and a lighting rail — SMEG's first foray into lighting.

While gas hobs tend to be more architectural (there is more 'hardware,' after all), I was quite taken by the sleekness of SMEG's Isola cooktop. When not in use, it settles seamlessly into the kitchen's design, opening the space up to the abundance of activities it plays host to in 2026. But when switched on, the design is far from invisible and has a few particularly striking features that actually make it quite hard to look away.

Combining anodised aluminium with stainless steel, matte black finishes, and black glass, SMEG's Isola cooktop taps into the textural surfaces we're seeing a lot in kitchen trends right now. Some parts bounce light, while others carry a sense of weight and gravitas; every inch feels architectural, though — and very intentional.

But apart from its obvious style, its specs make it an easy sell to my partner, too. You can choose between the Flat (£1,299), Alta (from £1,699), and the Alta Pro (from £2,699), but it was, of course, the latter that wowed me the most. Not just for the sleek lighting strip that runs around its perimeter, but the motorized downdraft system that rises and lowers at the touch of a button, helping to remove steam, smoke, and unwanted odors while you cook.

"This allows for added kitchen flexibility, too," SMEG's product manager, Richard Mackey, tells me, "with multiple options for where the hob can be placed within the kitchen, thanks to it not being limited to where a separate hood would traditionally be."

Then there's SMEG's VIVOscreen tech — a five-inch touchscreen display that includes automatic pot detection and lets you control multizone cooking and adjustable power settings. You can even set it to specific tasks like boiling water for pasta. Cool, huh?

Apart from the hobs, SMEG's new Isola range also includes suspended hoods (from £2,499) and a lighting rail (from £1,999), which, honestly, feel more like sculpture than functional kitchen appliances. Fitted with its own adjustable lighting, I honestly confuse the suspended hood for an architectural kitchen pendant light.

Then there's the lighting rail, which is 'gesture-controlled' and lets you switch both intensity and the warmth of the light, depending on whether you're hosting or doing homework beneath it. Again — specs meet style. Both are set to launch a bit later in July 2026.

Speaking to the design of the new collection, Stefano Boeri says he wanted to go against the grain. "We imagined hoods and hobs not only as advanced technologies, but as elements capable of furnishing space through the balance of color, form, and light," an official statement reads.

If I took anything away from my trip to SMEG HQ to learn more about the brand, it's that true beauty is often about simplicity, and while SMEG's products are by no means 'simple,' the quiet tech and clever innovation you don't always see make them so easy to integrate into your life; it's effortless, and what's more beautiful than that?

SMEG's Isola collection is the perfect example. It can preempt what you want, respond to subtle gestures, and be seamlessly integrated into your life, the way you want to live with it. "It allows design to shape experience," says Richard. "It represents a more holistic approach to the modern kitchen and reflects the changing role they play within the home today."

For more ways to futureproof your cooking space, this year's kitchen appliance trends show how appliances are shaping our day-to-day culinary experiences for the better.

And for the rest of your design inspiration, subscribe to the Livingetc newsletter, and all the latest will be delivered directly to your inbox.

It seems that for some, tidiness comes naturally, as if they were born with an instinct for what should go where. At their homes, there is nary a cup out of place and every cupboard and drawer is meticulously organized; their bookshelves are probably color-coded or alphabetized. And then there are the rest of us. Falling firmly in the second camp, that casual, easy tidiness has always seemed like the ultimate aspiration to me. And in no place do I feel that envy more than in the kitchen.

It's by no means something I'm proud of, but I'd be lying if I claimed to keep a perennially tidy kitchen. I can get it into a perfectly presentable state when needed, but the majority of the time, my kitchen leans towards the chaotic side. And even after a thorough tidy-up, it still doesn't seem to have that flawless quality I see in the homes of others. In fact, it's not until I'm confronted with a spotless, perfectly organized kitchen that I become fully aware of my own inferiority. And after one too many run-ins with countertop perfection, I'm ready to begin my ascent to tidiness.

And, as I've recently discovered, it's not entirely my fault that my kitchen looks the way it does. According to the experts, the reasons behind a messy-looking kitchen can often fall on specific design flaws, as opposed to a personal failure on the part of the homeowner — which was exactly the news I was hoping to hear. So, to help me in my journey, the experts have laid out exactly what is keeping my kitchen from looking its best, and what I need to do to change it.

1. Your Appliances Are Left Out

There's nothing I find more exciting than a new, stylish kitchen appliance. There's a certain thrill in treating yourself to a new, hopefully life-changing cooking gadget — a feeling I know many home chefs can relate to. And, in my mind, what's the point of investing in the best if you can't have it out on display? But, according to the experts, this is one of the most classic mistakes you can make.

"Kitchens with appliances on show always look less considered and messier, even if you've chosen the most beautifully designed toasters, kettles, and coffee machines," claims Reuben Ward, lead designer at Blakes London.

No matter how chic the appliance, the presence of a bulky machine on your worktops will always detract from the design.

This doesn't mean you need to rid yourself of all your kitchen gadgets; it just means you need to find the right way to position your kitchen appliances. An appliance garage, for example, is a favorite among designers, as is a pocket door breakfast bar, perfect for hiding away your coffee machine.

For the best results, Reuben recommends hiding appliances away in "a dedicated appliance cupboard or garage complete with an internal worktop and integrated plug sockets so that appliances are easily accessible and usable in their dedicated storage space."

Freeing up your countertop space is the first, and arguably the most important step in achieving a tidier kitchen. But you don't have to leave them completely clear — tasteful touches like an elegant fruit bowl or a kitchen plant can help to elevate your design even further.

2. Your Storage Is Too Standard

If you think of kitchen storage as a one-size-fits-all design choice, you're already on the wrong path before you've even stepped foot in your home.

"One of the biggest mistakes we see is a lack of bespoke storage, and by this, I mean bespoke storage tailored to daily routines," explains Bronwen Lee from Harvey Jones.

The kitchen is an inherently personal space, and it should be designed to reflect as such. Your lifestyle choices and daily habits will dictate the way you use your space, so it only makes sense to design with this fact in mind.

"When everyday items don't have a designated home that fits into the way you use the kitchen, worktops quickly become cluttered with appliances, paperwork, and household essentials," says Bronwen.

This can look slightly different for everyone — if you're a passionate tea drinker, perhaps it would make sense to include a dedicated tea drawer or, if you're big into wellness, maybe you could consider carving out a space specifically for storing supplements.

3. You're Using Open-Shelving Wrong

The enemy to a tidy-looking kitchen is visible clutter, and what could make clutter more visible than exposed, open shelving? Opting for open shelves instead of closed cabinetry immediately makes you vulnerable to a whole new degree of messiness, and you'll have to be as aware of keeping not just your countertops organized, but your wall shelves, too.

This is not to say you should reject this style of shelving entirely; it's more about the way in which you use it. As Bronwen explains, "A common issue is relying too heavily on open shelving; while it can look beautiful when styled carefully, it often ends up displaying visual clutter if there aren’t enough drawers to hide things away." It's all about finding those perfect, stylish, and functional shelf decor pieces, instead of just loading them up with whatever you can't find space for elsewhere.

When used as a purely decorative feature, open shelving can be a beautiful addition to your kitchen; however, as soon as it needs to pick up the slack for the rest of your kitchen design, you'll notice your space feels more cluttered and overwhelming to be in.

4. Lack of Zoning

It's all too easy to design your kitchen as one, continuous space, with a singular, shared function running across. However, as Matthew Sanders of House of EM explains, "Without designated areas, kitchen worktops tend to accumulate additional activity zones like a spot to put mail and keys, appliances or utensils, which makes the whole space feel cluttered."

These extra, additional functions and kitchen activities may seem too irrelevant to even factor them into your design. However, the truth of the matter is that these little things make up part of your daily routine, and integrating them into your home will allow them to feel more seamless, and not just like small, daily inconveniences that create even more clutter.

Another great example of this is those grotty dog beds that can so often end up shoved into the corner of your kitchen. As Bronwen points out, "Pets can be an overlooked mess creator too, which can actually be a really fun part of designing a kitchen." To help mitigate any pet-related clutter, she says, "Creating a designated pet corner near a back door and a utility sink helps to keep muddy paws and cleaning products tucked away and out of the main kitchen area."

5. Your Orientation is Off

Something you may not consider that could be affecting the way your kitchen looks is less to do with how you organize your space, and everything to do with how you orient it.

One of Matthew's top tips is to spend some time thinking about how your kitchen will look from various angles in your home. He says, "Orient the kitchen carefully in the space, and how it is viewed from other rooms and the entrance. Show its best side, and be careful not to let it dominate the space."

If your kitchen is the first thing you see as soon as you step through your entryway, it's likely that any mess will feel more obvious — you want to find a way to ensure your guests only see the highlights, so that the messy reality can go unnoticed.

For more tips for a clutter-free space, these are the things people with tidy kitchens always have that will help you keep the mess at bay.

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Once treated as a purely functional feature, the kitchen island has evolved into one of the most expressive elements in the room.

As we've seen in the latest kitchen island design trends, increasingly, designers are treating islands less like an extension of the cabinetry and more like a freestanding piece of furniture; a focal point that can introduce kitchen color trends, character, and a sense of individuality into a scheme.

Whether it's a rich teal, an earthy brown, or a sophisticated burgundy, the right shade can help anchor a kitchen while reflecting the mood you want to create. These are the kitchen island color trends designers are embracing right now — hues that feel fresh and current, but with the timeless appeal needed for a space you'll love for years to come.

1. Take it up a Notch with Teal

If navy has long been the safe choice for adding color to a kitchen, teal feels like its more expressive successor.

Sitting somewhere between blue and green, it brings depth and richness while feeling softer and more organic than traditional navy.

On a kitchen island, teal creates a striking focal point that still behaves almost like a neutral, pairing effortlessly with everything from warm oak and walnut to brass, marble, and natural stone.

It also taps into the growing appetite for nature-inspired shades, offering a fresh, contemporary alternative to darker blues without sacrificing their timeless appeal.

In spaces flooded with natural light, teal can feel vibrant and uplifting, while in moodier schemes it takes on a sophisticated, jewel-like quality that instantly elevates the room.

Try leaning into peacock or petrol-toned teals that feel moodier yet warming, as seen in the beautiful kitchen by Prospect Refuge Studio above.

2. Bet on Burgundy for a Rich, Warm Focal Point

There's been a wider move towards richer reds, wine tones and aubergines in interior design — and the kitchen island is definitely a great place to add the hue.

The shade feels directional yet inviting, and looks especially good paired with brushed steel, chrome, or dramatic marble.

Burgundy introduces warmth but can also create a luxurious “cocktail bar” mood and works surprisingly well as an island because the central placement stops it from feeling too oppressive.

"The kitchen island is the ideal opportunity to get creative with color," comments Al Bruce of Olive & Barr. "Consider contrasting colors. Why not opt for an island in a bold, nature-inspired shade and choose softer tones for the rest of your kitchen cabinets?

"Deep reds such as wine and oxblood are making a bold return, especially on statement islands."

They look great paired with butter yellows, as seen above, or dusky pink. Play with texture too, by adding wooden shelving in dark oak or walnut and a contrasting work surface.

3. Bring a Joyful Feel With Creamy Butter Yellow

"The island is the heart of the kitchen, and using a soft, buttery yellow turns it into a welcoming focal point," says Aga Węgrzyn of FRØPT.

"It adds character and a "pop" of personality without overwhelming the entire room, making it the perfect piece to experiment with color."

Butter yellow has quietly become a go-to hue for many designers, thanks to its subtly optimistic ambiance. It's also surprisingly timeless when muted and earthy, ideal for making an island feel like a true centerpiece.

Aga adds: "It pairs beautifully with natural oak or walnut wood tones, which ground the lightness of the color with warmth. If you prefer a cooler look, white or cream marble countertops (with subtle gray or gold veining) provide an elegant, high-end finish."

4. Try a Shot of Espresso Brown

Brown is definitely having a resurgence, but the key to nailing it this time around is richness and warmth rather than flat chocolate tones.

A deep, charcoal brown adds drama more softly than black and feels enveloping and architectural at the same time.

It works beautifully with brushed nickel, aged brass, walnut tones, and travertine, and gives large islands more presence and weight.

"Dark browns and butter yellow make for a very traditional look or pair with a soft pale blush for a very feminine and gentle look," says Helen Parker, creative director of deVOL.

5. Choose Chalky Powder Blue for a Bright, Light Vibe

A softer, slightly nostalgic counterpoint to all the earthy tones currently favored, a chalky powder blue brings lightness without defaulting to white.

It works particularly well in kitchens with natural oak, European-inspired kitchens, or spaces with lots of natural light.

"We used a cheery blue on the kitchen and kitchen island in this London project," says Beth Dadswell, of Imperfect Interiors. "The house was gloomy when the owners bought it, and it already had the dark gray floor tiles.

"As we weren’t replacing the kitchen, we had to find a color that would work with the existing materials and blue range cooker, and Farrow & Ball Selvedge gave it the feeling of being on holiday."

When it came to the hardware and other materials? "We added brass handles, a warm white worktop and a Moroccan Zellige tiled splashback to add some contrast and texture to the dark floor and the floaty sheer curtains, which also added to the bright and breezy feeling of summer."

While kitchen trends may come and go, the most successful island colors strike a balance between personality and longevity.

Whether you're drawn to earthy greens, rich teals, or warm, grounding neutrals, choosing a contrasting shade for your island is a simple way to add character without committing to an entire room of color.

As the heart of the kitchen continues to evolve into a space for gathering, entertaining, and everyday living, a thoughtfully chosen island hue can help ensure it feels every bit as beautiful as it is functional.

And for more design ideas for your kitchen and beyond, subscribe to the Livingetc newsletter, and all the latest will be delivered directly to your inbox.

If you're planning a kitchen renovation, you've likely already fallen down the rabbit hole of the dreaded kitchen triangle debate. For some, it's an absolute essential. The non-debatable backbone to every good kitchen design. And to others, it's an outdated, overrated old wives' tale — a rule that should've been abandoned long ago.

It can all get rather heated, not to mention thoroughly overwhelming for someone simply trying to find the best layout for them. At the crux of the matter, though, is not the concept of the 'working triangle' itself, but how exactly you do it. Because, despite how fervently people protest against it, there's a reason this layout has been sworn by for so many years. It introduces logic and flow into your kitchen, and so long as you know the mistakes to avoid, it can be the key to a functional and well-designed space.

But before we can dive into the kitchen work triangle mistakes people are making, let's outline what exactly the term means. "The working triangle is a classic kitchen planning principle that positions the sink, hob and refrigerator within easy reach of one another, creating an efficient route between the three most frequently used areas," explains Claire Watson from Harvey Jones. "While kitchens have evolved considerably, the principle remains relevant because it helps reduce unnecessary movement and creates a more intuitive cooking experience. Designed to flow with real routines, the kitchen feels effortless to use, whether you're preparing a quick breakfast or hosting family and friends." And with that, these are the five mistakes you might be making and how to fix them.

1. The Points Are Too Far Apart

Now, this may not be the most relevant for those with small kitchens, but for larger spaces, it's not always a case of 'the more room, the better'.

As Claire explains, "A common mistake is placing the three points too far apart, which can make the kitchen feel disconnected."

When you have plenty of space to work with, it can be hard to know how to use it. It may seem as though it should be easier to design a larger room than a smaller one, but in kitchens, it can often go the other way, and to use up the available space, people end up leaving huge gaps between each of the three elements, rendering the 'triangle' essentially useless.

The whole point of this type of kitchen layout is that it introduces a logical flow to your cooking process — the three elements work in circularity, acting as parts of a whole. However, once too much space is introduced between the three, this sense of flow ceases to exist, making your kitchen feel even more awkward to use.

2. Poor Appliance Placement

Knowing where to position your kitchen appliances is an oft-underestimated aspect of designing a kitchen — it will affect not just how your space looks, but how you use it, too. The wrong appliance placement can throw off the whole flow of your kitchen, especially when it interacts with your working triangle.

Ethan Greenfeld, from Ethan Charles Design, says this is one of the most common mistakes he sees. More often than not, he says, this takes the form of appliances intersecting with the primary walkways of your kitchen.

Describing why this is such a problem, Ethan says, "While you’re cooking, it is best to be away from the main traffic of the kitchen, if possible. Imagine having to take something out of the oven while someone has to squeeze behind you to get to the refrigerator, all while the oven door is open. That is neither the safest nor the most efficient setup."

Your appliances should be spaced apart so that all can be used at the same time, if needed, without causing any issues.

3. Forgetting About Prep Space

In theory, the kitchen triangle should account for the majority of your kitchen needs. You've got the oven, fridge, and sink all ticked off, luring you into a false sense of security in your layout. There is, however, one crucial aspect missing: prep space.

Without adequate prep space, your kitchen will constantly feel overflowing with mess, and every dinner will feel like a battle for surface space.

In fact, prep space is so crucial that designer Michelle Accetta argues, "If the triangle were a square, this would be the fourth leg!"

It's all too easy for your kitchen worktop to become cluttered, with space needed for your appliances and all-important decor pieces, too. So much so that once all your kitchen finishing touches are in place, there is often barely any space left for a prep area.

"Some kitchens I see chop up the counter space so there is not one area with ample space to do all your chopping and prep," notes Michelle. But having a dedicated prep space doesn't detract from the triangle; it supports it, allowing it to function at its best.

4. Awkward Islands

Perhaps the most common mistake of all, designers say, is the issue of the kitchen island. Instead of being used to support the triangle, islands are often placed smack bang in the middle, completely blocking the flow of movement between the three points.

Your kitchen island will play a key role in your kitchen design, no matter the layout. It acts as a central hub for activity in the room, offering an anchor for people to gather around, but because of this, it can easily dominate the space, overwhelming your design and interrupting the all-important working triangle.

Once an island is placed in between the triangle, it becomes a hindrance rather than a help, and your kitchen will likely suffer because of it.

5. Forcing Flow, Not Following It

The whole point of the kitchen working triangle is that it should make your life easier, so if at any point you feel as though it's making your modern kitchen harder to use, you've already made a mistake.

It doesn't have to be a one-size-fits-all design; the working triangle should look different depending on whose home it's being used in, so feel free to adapt and alter the design to best support your specific space and needs.

"Rather than treating the working triangle as a rigid rule, it should be interpreted into a bespoke layout to suit the space and lifestyle of the homeowner," says Claire. To get it right, she says, "Ensure there is a clear route between the key zones, while also allowing enough room for multiple people to use the kitchen comfortably."

Making mistakes with the working triangle isn't the only thing that could be making your space harder to use — these small kitchen layout mistakes are what designers say you need to avoid to ensure you make the most of your compact footprint.

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If there's one thing that Our Place pots and pans are known for, it's good looks. So when the cookware brand drops a fresh new color or finish, we pay close attention. This week, it was a speckled 'Vanilla Bean'. The limited-edition style features a "sun-warmed" cream base, hand-finished speckles (which means no two pieces are the same), and champagne-gold hardware. If you've been looking for cookware that's pretty enough to be carried straight from the stove to the table — this is it.

So, what makes it so special? (Apart from the fact that the cult-favorite cookware has the tick of approval from so many A-listers.) While discussing it in the Livingetc office, we decided this finish feels like it sits somewhere between Our Place's playful flat colors and traditional cast-iron cookware, with its more rustic, forged ruggedness. Basically, it's the best of both worlds — depending on how you look at it.

Of the decision to release this finish, Our Place co-founder Shiza Shahid explains that she wanted to create pieces that feel particularly artistic. "When your cookware feels like an art piece, you find yourself reaching for it more often," she adds.

Styling-wise, the best part of this finish is that it will literally fit within any modern kitchen scheme, no matter what color you've got going. It will also work on any table setting; everyone knows that the best part about Our Place cookware is that it's pretty enough to serve up straight on the table. (Just don't forget to put down a trivet first to save your table — this design from Westwing is particularly cute.)

Our Place's new 'Vanilla Bean' collection is available across a range of its bestselling non-toxic ceramic cookware, including the Always Pan and Perfect Pot. Shop more of the styles below.

Not quite your style? Color trends lately have been all about bold colors, and your cookware is such a fun place to play. Below are some of Our Place's other fun colors, which include Blue Salt, Sage, and Spice.

The new releases have been hot over at Our Place lately (pun intended). Most recently, the brand launched its 'Tiny' collection, which conveniently makes cooking for one, as well as storing pots and pans in a small kitchen, so much easier.

And if your cookware is sorted but it's personal bakeware you're after, the Our Place Wonder Oven needs to be on your radar.

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Timeless kitchen colors are the ones that manage to feel both of-the-moment yet are immune to fleeting trends — hues that bring character, warmth, and sophistication today, while still feeling relevant years down the line.

Kitchen color trends come and go, but unlike a scatter cushion or a coat of paint in a guest bedroom, kitchen cabinetry is a far bigger commitment.

That's why the most enduring schemes tend to sit at the sweet spot between what's current and what's classic — shades that feel fresh enough to satisfy today's design sensibilities, yet grounded enough to look just as good a decade from now.

From nature-inspired greens to nuanced neutrals and richly pigmented darks, these are the kitchen colors designers return to time and again, proving that timeless doesn't always have to mean playing it safe.

1. Soft Putty Beige

Beige kitchens are undoubtedly back, but not the yellow-toned beige of the 1990s. Today's putty shades have grey, clay, and stone influences that feel sophisticated and architectural.

These colors work beautifully in kitchens because they provide warmth while allowing materials like timber, marble, and metal finishes to take center stage. They align with the growing desire for calm, understated spaces and create a backdrop that won't compete with changing décor.

Putty tones age well as they're rooted in natural materials and architectural finishes rather than fashion-led color movements.

"Soft, gentle beiges and creams pair with old wood and concrete for a future-proof, organic vibe that's easy to live in," says Helen Parker, Creative Director, deVOL. "Natural decorations such as dried foliage, raffia and vintage cane furniture create a look that is simple and uncluttered."

She adds: "Think light stone flooring or brick floors, handmade rugs, a color palette that sticks to natural tones, open shelves and beautifully crafted pottery and linens - a calming space that feels like a forever summer holiday."

Valspar's Warm Putty is the ideal hue to get the look.

2. Earthy Olive Green

Olive sits perfectly at the intersection of trend and longevity. Today's kitchens are moving away from cool greys and embracing nature-inspired palettes, and olive green kitchen cabinets deliver warmth without being overpowering.

Yet it also has remarkable staying power because it functions almost like a neutral - pairing effortlessly with wood, marble, brass, blackened steel, and even bolder accent colors. Unlike brighter greens that can feel tied to a particular era, olive has a grounded, heritage quality that feels as appropriate in a country kitchen as it does in a contemporary urban space.

"Green has become a bit of a modern kitchen classic, but the version that tends to last is the one with some softness to it," says Charlotte Butler, Kitchen Design Manager at BK Eleven.

"I would steer clients away from anything too bright or too jewel-like if they want a kitchen that still feels relevant in 10 years, and look instead at olive, sage-olive or a greyed green with an earthy undertone. Those shades have a natural relationship with the materials we often use in kitchens, from timber and stone to aged brass, so they do not feel like a decorative color choice that has been applied at the end.

“What makes soft olive so useful is that it can change character depending on what you put around it," explains Charlotte.

"With oak, limestone and handmade tiles it can feel relaxed and almost country house, while with a darker worktop and antique brass it becomes much sharper and more tailored. It is also a very forgiving color in UK light, because it brings warmth and depth without closing the room in. The more muted the green, the easier it is to live with, and that is usually where its longevity comes from."

The above kitchen by Imperfect Interiors is the perfect example, and is painted in Little Greene Olive Colour.

"Green is always a great color for a kitchen," says Beth Dadswell, Founder, Imperfect Interiors. "Choose an earthy deep olive green for the cabinets, antique brass handles and dramatic marble worktops if you want to add some subtle glamour that won't date."

3. Muted Terracotta

It might be the boldest hue on the list, but muted terracotta and earthy oxide reds have true staying power — and have existed in interiors for centuries.

Terracotta kitchens are currently enjoying renewed popularity thanks to Mediterranean influences and a broader move towards warmer palettes, and, when used in a sophisticated, dusty form rather than a bright orange-red, these shades feel rich, inviting, and surprisingly enduring.

It's a color deeply connected to natural pigments, clay, and historic architecture, giving it a permanence other trend-led colors may lack.

Pair it with natural wood and materials like wicker, rattan, and Zellige tiles for an organic-luxe kitchen retreat.

4. Deep Inky Blue

Navy blue kitchens have been a staple for years, but today's more sophisticated version leans towards inky, almost-black blues.

These rich shades provide drama without the commitment of pure black cabinetry and have a timeless, tailored quality that recalls classic joinery and painted furniture.

The color feels particularly relevant right now as we seek cocooning, moodier interiors, yet it has already proven its longevity over decades.

One way to keep it looking fresh? Switch out and update your hardware and finishes over time.

"Opting to paint your kitchen cabinetry a deep blue is a traditional design choice," says Fred Horlock, Design Director at Neptune. "To maintain an updated feel in your kitchen, consider a bolder hardware choice like bronze or aged brass, or matt black bronze cabinet hardware."

5. Warm Mushroom Taupe

The rise of "new neutrals" has put mushroom, taupe, and greige firmly back on designers' mood boards.

These neutral kitchen colors offer more character than cream but feel softer and more welcoming than traditional gray. Their appeal lies in their subtle complexity - shifting throughout the day as light changes. They create a quiet luxury effect we're all seeking, but because they're fundamentally neutral, they're unlikely to look dated a decade from now.

"Earthy pastels create a welcoming feel, so expect hints of mushroom and soft pink on surrounding cabinetry, rather than greys and cool whites," says Al Bruce, Founder, Olive & Barr. "This trend is one that has durability as it bridges traditional and contemporary design, making it adaptable as trends evolve."

While trends will inevitably continue to shift, the kitchen colors with true staying power tend to share one thing in common: they feel rooted rather than reactive.

Inspired by nature, traditional craftsmanship, and timeless materials, these shades offer the perfect balance of personality and longevity. The result is a kitchen that feels current without chasing fashion — and one you'll still be happy to walk into long after the next wave of color trends has come and gone.

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Nothing pulls a room together quite like a rug. It's the little touch of softness that every space needs — something to add a bit of color, texture, and pattern, injecting a sense of life into what could otherwise be a flat, hard space. And now, with this trend, we've found a way to bring this personality into one of the rooms that needs it most - your kitchen.

A functionality-first space, it's easy for kitchens to quickly become dominated by cooler, harder materials, making the need for color and softness all the more important. However, with all the water, oil, and other spillages that your kitchen flooring withstands, a beautiful kitchen rug may not be the best option. Which is exactly why these 'tile rugs' provide such a genius solution. With all the color, personality, and intrigue of a traditional rug, but with far more durability and permanence, this is the perfect way to inject some more life into your kitchen design. Whether you opt for a small patch or a larger design, these tiled features offer a way to bring some definition to your floor plan, especially useful in open-plan spaces.

It's a kitchen tile trend that's beginning to gain some traction, gradually popping up in more and more design projects, and we expect that it won't be long before it really takes over. So, this is what the experts think about this unique flooring style, so you can get ahead of the curve.

What Are 'Tile Rugs'?

As the name suggests, tile rugs refer to a specific style of floor tiling, in which a small patch of floor is laid with tiles, often of a patterned variety, while the rest of the surrounding floor is finished in an alternate material, creating the effect of a tiled rug lying across your flooring. And while this kitchen flooring trend may feel distinctly new, like many interior design trends, it draws on the styles of centuries past.

This is, in many ways, particularly unsurprising for a trend that revolves around the use of tiles within the home. The use of decorative tiles dates back as far as the third millennium, and the material was frequently used to embellish tombs and pyramids in ancient Egypt. These previous uses lay the groundwork for the current 'tile rug' trend we're seeing today.

As Otto Tiles founder, Damla Turgut explains, "Tile rugs draw on a long tradition of decorative flooring, from mosaic courtyards to hand-laid cement tile schemes, where a change in pattern or color was used to define a particular area within a larger room."

Over the years, we've seen these historical tile styles taking on new forms, reinterpreted with new, modern approaches, taking on a whole new life, like the unswept floor trend, and now the same is happening again with these tile rugs.

"The inspiration came from wanting to modernize a very classic design concept," notes Jamie Chappell, VP at Fireclay Tile. "While we love traditional tile rugs, you don’t often see them utilized in a modern way, but they can be incredibly cool and relevant."

In the past, tile rugs would often be used in bathrooms or for patio flooring, offering a way to bring more decorative flair to these spaces. However, these were typically done in a relatively traditional style, in contrast to the striking finishes we're seeing today.

When Should You Use This Design Feature?

The reason this flooring trend is so effective is that it's not just decorative; it's functional, too.

If there's one thing that has defined how we design our homes over the past few decades, it's the rise in open-plan living. Above all else, people value a sense of openness and flow in their homes, choosing a free-flowing floor plan over a clearly defined layout. And though this style certainly has its merits, it is not without its downfalls. Chief among these problems is the lack of distinction in open-plan living. Without structural separation, it's easy for all your rooms to blend into one another, which is exactly why tile rugs are so perfect.

"A tile rug can subtly delineate and zone different functions within a space, whether that's anchoring a dining area, framing a kitchen island, or creating a sense of arrival in a hallway," explains Damla. It offers a way to zone the space, while also adding design appeal. "It's a practical design tool, but it also creates moments of decoration and surprise within a scheme and also allows you to introduce a layer of detail and craftsmanship that might otherwise be lost within a larger expanse of flooring."

This is particularly useful around rooms that play a more functional role, like the kitchen. "A tile rug naturally delineates the kitchen workspace, making it feel like its own distinct room," explains Jamie. "This is especially helpful in open floor plans or smaller footprints like an apartment."

Much like with a traditional rug, this tiling style is a great way to bring color and texture into your design without it feeling overwhelming. "A tile rug allows you to create visual impact without committing to a fully patterned or colorful floor," says Damla.

It means you can stick with the neutral kitchen colors you love, while also introducing some intrigue and character to your space.

How to Get the Look

Which leads us on to the fun part... how to recreate the look at home.

Arguably, the most important step, the tiles you choose will be the key to success with this design. The color, tile shape, and pattern you select will all form the overall feeling of your kitchen, and, unfortunately, not all tiles are created equal.

For the best results, Damla says, "Tiles with strong color, pattern, or geometric detail tend to work the best here, as the design relies on creating a clear visual distinction from the surrounding floor."

In terms of materials, you'll want to find a durable finish with a strong slip resistance, too. For a design like this, Damla says, "Cement tiles are a natural choice because they offer rich saturated color and intricate pattern possibilities, while mosaics can be used to create more bespoke borders and layouts. The most successful designs tend to have a clear frame or border, which helps reinforce the effect of a traditional rug."

For a more detailed finish, Jamie agrees, "Smaller tile formats really make this look pop. Going with mosaic flooring tiles allows you to pack a lot of graphic punch into a defined footprint, and patterns like a tight checkerboard or daisy hexagons give you enough repeating pieces to establish a clear design without running out of room." And she also adds, "A slip-resistant matte finish is also important to keep it safe underfoot."

In terms of positioning, the best advice is to treat it as you would a normal rug. Find a way to anchor the 'rug' in your space, connecting it to heavier design elements, like your island.

As Damla suggests, "Position furniture so it relates to the tiled area rather than floating independently within the room. In kitchens, a tile rug can work beautifully beneath an island, while in dining spaces, it can help center a table and chairs. The surrounding finishes should complement rather than compete with the feature area, allowing the tile rug to become the focal point."

The beauty of this design is that it will become a natural statement feature, allowing the rest of your kitchen to remain relatively simple, while still making an impact. "It’s all about balance," says Jamie. "Because a tile rug introduces a lot of pattern and personality underfoot, I recommend keeping the rest of your finishes fairly minimalist."

For even more intriguing tile designs, this year's latest kitchen tile trends will give you all the inspiration you need.

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When it comes to choosing between a light kitchen and a dark kitchen, there’s really no definitive answer to give. The final decision will always depend on what’s best for the homeowner in question — what colors they’re drawn to, how they use the space, and the ambience they desire. Trends shouldn’t be the deciding factor, and while both dark and light kitchens have enjoyed moments in the spotlight, the most successful schemes are always the ones that feel personal and aligned with the way you live.

As one of the hardest-working rooms in the house and one you’re likely to look at every day for years to come, choosing a kitchen color that resonates with your true self is far more important than following the latest design craze, meaning the light option is probably going to be your best bet, to be honest. But if you’re really torn between the two, how do you know which you’re actually going to enjoy living with day in, day out?

From the ambience each creates to practical considerations like maintenance, natural light, and how the space will age, we’ve broken down the pros and cons of both light and dark kitchens to help you make a confident choice.

Light Kitchen Pros

Light kitchens will always feel like the safe all-rounder — but that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Bright, airy and totally versatile, they’re the kind of spaces that rarely fall out of favor, so long as they feature character and quality materials. Whether it’s a crisp white finish, warm and welcoming neutrals, or pale timber tones, light cabinetry has a way of making a kitchen feel larger, fresher, and much more sociable.

One of the biggest advantages of a light kitchen is its ability to maximize any natural light. “They create a sense of openness and tend to adapt easily as decorating styles evolve over time,” says Emily Newmarch, design consultant at Kitchens By Holloways. She suggests how soft whites, warm neutrals, and natural timber finishes also provide a timeless backdrop that works across both contemporary and traditional homes. This is the kind of flexibility that gives a light kitchen some substance and depth.

Light Kitchen Cons

So, are there any cons to light kitchens? It depends on what you see as a drawback. Richard Misso, creative director of The Stylesmiths, says, “The downside is that without enough texture or contrast, they can sometimes feel flat or overly minimal.” He also notes that lighter surfaces may show marks and wear more easily.

Interior designer Mary Patton agrees, adding, “Their main drawback is that they can sometimes feel a bit safe or expected.” While nobody strives to be labeled predictable, this isn’t necessarily a disadvantage. If selling the home may be on the cards at some point in the near future, the timeless quality may just work in your favor a few years down the line. Plus, if you get your styling right in a light and airy kitchen, you’re winning — just think layers, texture and plenty of personality.

Dark Kitchen Pros

“Dark kitchens create a moodier, more dramatic aesthetic that feels sophisticated and design-led, particularly in larger spaces with good natural light,” assures Richard. They add depth and richness to a room, often through a cocooning effect that feels inviting from the moment you walk in.

Some say dark kitchens work best in an open floor plan, but I would go as far as to say that sometimes it’s the smaller, darker spaces that fit this kind of color scheme best. Emily agrees, saying that “A dark color in a small kitchen can be incredibly effective when used thoughtfully. Rather than making the space feel smaller, deep tones can create a sense of intimacy and drama, particularly when paired with good lighting and lighter elements such as stone worktops or warm metallic finishes.”

Of course, dark kitchens can also work in open-plan spaces. Emily notes that a deeper palette can help to ground the kitchen and give it a stronger sense of presence within the wider room.

She also makes an important point: “It's less about glossy monochrome schemes and more about depth, texture and natural materials.” For example, “Deep greens, dark-stained oak, walnut and rich blues are increasingly popular because they create a sense of warmth, character and permanence.”

So, let’s be open-minded about this. Going dark doesn’t have to mean reaching for the black paint. Some of the most successful schemes use layered, earthy tones that feel rich without overpowering. Experiment with darker shades that genuinely appeal to you and see what combinations spark excitement and satisfaction. You’ll know when you’ve landed on something that feels right.

Dark kitchen Cons

“Dark kitchens continue to be a strong design trend, but the look has evolved,” says Emily — and be warned, that’s when trends can become tricky. They are continuously shifting, which can make the darker option for kitchens less flexible long term if you’re choosing them purely because they’re popular right now.

Richard points out that a dark palette can make smaller kitchens feel enclosed if not balanced carefully, and while Emily is positive about the effect lighting can have on a dark kitchen, she also reminds us that the space will rely heavily on a good, careful lighting design.

Another factor to consider is the inevitable wear and tear. According to Mary, darker kitchen cabinets tend to show chips, scratches, and signs of use much more readily than light finishes, which is not great for long-term appeal.

So, when it comes to dark versus light kitchens, there isn’t a universally right answer, but only a right answer for your home. While lighter schemes are often considered the safer choice thanks to their versatility and enduring appeal, that doesn't automatically make them the better option.

As Emily explains, “For most homeowners, lighter kitchens remain the safest all-round choice because they are adaptable, timeless, and suit a wide range of spaces. However, dark kitchens shouldn't be dismissed. When paired with natural materials, thoughtful lighting and the right layout, they can feel every bit as welcoming.”

Richard echoes that sentiment, noting that good design should always be guided by the homeowner rather than what’s trending. “The best kitchen is ultimately one that reflects the personality of the people living in it, while still feeling balanced, functional, and enduring over time.”

Ultimately, the most successful kitchens are the ones that feel authentic to the people who use them. “The most successful kitchens aren't defined by whether they're dark or light, but by how well the palette works with the architecture of the room, the available light and personal style,” she says.

So before making a final decision, think less about what’s trending and more about how you want the space to feel every day. After all, the modern kitchen you’ll enjoy living with most is the one that feels like home from the second you enter it.

For more design ideas for your kitchen and beyond, why not subscribe to the Livingetc newsletter, and all the latest will be delivered directly to your inbox.

It's no secret that the trend cycle moves quickly, and what may have been the height of fashion just last year can easily become old news in no time at all — and that's certainly the case with this particular kitchen finish.

Once the crown jewel for kitchens across the globe, according to Holte's Fiona Ginnett, as of this year, the curved kitchen edges trend is officially over. Once favored for its easy elegance, the past few years have seen designers and homeowners alike designing their kitchens around this one detail. There was a softness to the finish that set it apart from the average island design, a welcome departure from all the sharp edges and harsh lines that have long dominated the world of kitchen design.

However, in 2026, this trend may have already seen its last days. I asked the experts to break down exactly why the curved cabinet edge is no longer at the top of kitchen wishlists, and what they recommend doing instead.

Why the Experts Are Done With This Style

Now, let's start with the obvious: curved kitchen islands still look good. There's no denying it; they're elegant, chic, and understated. However, just because they look the part doesn't mean they're a worthy addition to your kitchen.

As Fiona explains, the visual effect of this kitchen feature has no bearing on why she no longer recommends the design: "Curved islands and cabinetry may create a striking visual statement, but they often come with significant drawbacks."

Often, when we discuss outdated kitchen trends, we're coming from a purely aesthetic standpoint; however, in this case, the problem stems from a place of functionality rather than looks. As we so often see with interior design trends, something will gain traction for its striking visual appeal, with little thought given to the logistics behind the design. And while this can be fine in some rooms, like your bedroom or living room, when it comes to your kitchen, form and function have to play equal roles.

The most significant downside of this design style is the issues it can present regarding your kitchen storage. In both large and small spaces alike, your storage is the backbone of your design, dictating how your space flows and how enjoyable it is to use. But, as Fiona points out, more often than not, a curved cabinet "can result in inefficient storage," explaining that "curved cupboards are notoriously difficult to organize and maximize."

Because of this, you'll find yourself needing to search for even more kitchen organizers and storage solutions, making your life far harder than it needs to be.

And this isn't the only issue. Fiona also notes that "they are disproportionately expensive to manufacture." You may not expect it, but a curved island can be quite a major addition to your kitchen renovation, and it requires far more planning and space than a regular kitchen island. So, if you're looking for budget kitchen ideas, you may be better off looking elsewhere.

... And What They're Doing Instead

"Instead, consider using vertical dividers or expressed joinery details to break up the cabinetry and create a more furniture-like feel," suggests Fiona.

A large driving force behind the curved corners trend is the desire to make your kitchen feel less clinical and more designed, transforming your islands and kitchen cabinets into pieces of furniture as opposed to purely functional features. But there are many ways to achieve this without compromising the usability of your space. Small but intentional features like expressed joinery can help elevate it without taking up any room or sacrificing storage.

"This approach adds character and refinement while maintaining practicality and making far better use of storage space," explains Fiona.

If you're still missing that curved effect, though, why not bring it in through your kitchen's finishing touches or your dining setup? Incorporating softer edges and rounded forms in your accessories can help build more dimension into your design and will counteract any harshness from your island.

Searching for a replacement for your vision of a curved kitchen island? This year's best kitchen island trends have got you covered.

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Nothing says summer quite like a spot of al fresco dining. As soon as the sun emerges from retirement, I'm straight out to my garden. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner — you can find me dining outdoors, trying to make the most of every last drop of sunshine. And I can't think of anywhere I'd rather tuck into a meal than in this Californian fairy-tale, bistro-inspired garden kitchen, set against the backdrop of Mount Tamalpais.

Now, as much as I've been loving the growing trend of outdoor kitchens, I think it's fair to say that the majority of them follow the same guidelines. Typically, these spaces are designed to be as sleek and modern as possible, with sharp lines and cool, hard materials. This isn't to say they don't look great, because they do, but that isn't everyone's style. I'd been waiting ever so patiently to see some shifts in the way we design outdoor kitchens, and finally, at long last, the time has come.

This delightful, paved courtyard garden is home to the most charming, elegant outdoor kitchen I've laid my eyes on. Designed by Imparfait Design Studio's Rebekah Zaveloff, this setup is a far cry from the slick industrial kitchens you've seen before. It's quaint, cozy, and inviting — like a Parisian bistro kitchen in your backyard — and she's explained exactly how she got the look.

The Vision

In this Victorian-era home, set against the backdrop of Mount Tamalpais, old-school charm and family-forward functionality went hand in hand. Rebekah's clients, a family of six, wanted to find a way to honor the home's history while ensuring it met the needs of their growing family. Inside this period property, the space is filled with beautiful crown molding, arched doorways, and a light, breezy color scheme — and it was important that the same design approach was continued in the backyard.

The family wanted "to make it feel like a seamless extension of the interior — a continuous indoor-outdoor space," explains Rebekah. A request many of us are familiar with, considering the ever-increasing rise in indoor-outdoor living.

Beyond this, much of the brief came from a practical standpoint. "They knew they wanted a small kitchen and grill area, a fireplace, a pergola, and a fountain to drown out road noise," says Rebekah.

With these features in mind, the foundation for the design was laid; what came next was bringing these individual puzzle pieces together and creating a unified whole.

Although much of the home's design draws inspiration from the more traditional, British Victorian style, in the garden, Rebekah opted for something slightly more romantic, looking across other visual cultures for her inspiration. Ultimately, she says, "I fell in love with the idea of making it feel like a courtyard you might find in Moroccan architecture." Known for their unique, striking architecture, earthy color palettes, and inclusion of water features, the Moroccan inspiration provided a natural starting point.

The architecture and positioning of the space had an equally significant impact on the final design, though. With the dramatic peaks of Mount Tamalpais right in their backyard, it only made sense to incorporate the structure into the design. "Since it was an L-shaped addition, we used Mt. Tam as one "wall" and the neighbor's fence as another," explains Rebekah.

The Process

But while the mountain setting eventually became a core facet of the design, when the family first moved into the home, there wasn't quite so clear a harmony. In fact, before the renovation, Rebekah claims, "It wasn't really a garden — more of a hillside. The transformation was significant." Some heavy structural changes were made to turn it from an offshoot of the mountain into the modern garden it is today.

And although the final design looks so natural in its layout, it was not always meant to be this way. "The architect had done some early schematic plans with the pergola on the opposite side of the patio. We flipped that first, then started working through furniture plans," she explains.

The pergola structure in itself did not find its final form in the early stages, either, as Rebekah describes spending weeks searching for the perfect finish: "I looked at dozens of images trying to get it to have just the right amount of charm without tipping into something too precious or over-styled." Eventually, landing on a simple slatted, white structure, it provides just the right amount of cover and privacy, without ever blocking the light or boxing in the courtyard.

The overhead structure introduces some coziness to the design, something Rebekah picked up from the Moroccan courtyards she drew inspiration from. "The Moroccan courtyard garden idea was the throughline — that sense of enclosure, warmth, and layered detail without being precious about it," she says. It was important that the space didn't appear overly stylized or unnatural.

The Design

The garden, in many ways, is a design of two halves. On one side, the kitchen, where a grill and prep area lead onto a large, bistro-style table with Parisian woven chairs and a charming pendant lantern hanging overhead. To the right of this outdoor dining setup is an equally stylish outdoor living room. With a large, brick fireplace at the back, and an understated water feature to the side, this seating area makes for the perfect post-dinner spot.

The pergola ends as the outdoor seating area begins, creating a natural distinction between the two spaces. To further this delineation, Rebekah used the sofa as a partition wall, despite it going against her ingrained design rules. As she explains, "It's actually considered a design no-no to look at the back of a sofa — so I worked with that instinct to naturally define the two zones."

Although there is a clear zoning of the space, there are also plenty of consistencies running across the zones, keeping it harmonious. Chief among them are the beautiful, black and white outdoor tiles, covering the courtyard floor. The subtle, patterned tiles bring a greater sense of artistry and embellishment to the space and help to exaggerate this indoor-outdoor design style.

These tiles, and the color palette more widely, aren't just consistent across the outside area but throughout the entire home. "Most of the interior is white; the exterior is cream and white — a black and white palette never goes out of style," notes Rebekah..

Get The Look

If you love the romantic, Parisian feel of this garden, then you'll love these London bistro interiors that make rooms feel more intimate.

When it comes to perfecting the art of indoor-outdoor dining, Notting Hill's Lebanese restaurant KINZ and Richmond's Tower House are the ones to know.

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