Latest articles by Portia Carroll
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Should Kitchen Cabinets Match Your Wall Colors? There's a New Answer for 2026, According to DesignersKitchen cabinets and walls don't need to match, but they should still feel connected, experts say
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Should Wooden Floors Match Wooden Cabinetry? There's a New Answer in 2026 for How to 'Wood Match' in a Way That Feels Elegant and ElevatedWhy a mixed timber palette, along with other complementary materials, creates a richer kitchen that feels softer and much more luxurious
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6 Things All Luxury Kitchens Used to Have 10 Years Ago, but That Designers Say You Should Skip in 2026Once part of a list of absolute “essential” luxuries, these items have now been scrapped by the designers
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6 Kitchen Backsplashes That Are Making Your Kitchen Look Cheap — and What Designers Say You Should Choose Instead for an Elevated DesignNot all backsplash materials feel luxurious — here’s what can make a kitchen look cheap, and what to choose instead, according to the experts
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'Layered Backsplashes' Are the Trend That'll Make Your Kitchen Feel Richer — Even Though It's Probably Going to Save Money on Your BudgetFully functioning material combinations — why designers are choosing to layer textures and tones, and how to make them work for you
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These 10 Design Ideas Will Make Your Kitchen Feel Bigger, Without Extending Your Home — These Tricks Open Up a Space 'Visually' InsteadIt all comes down to understanding how the eye reads the room — and these clever tricks from color to layout make a big difference
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10 Broken-Plan Kitchens That Set the Tone for Spaces in 2026 — They Strike the Perfect Middle Ground Between Open-Plan Living and Closed-Off SpacesDesigners share how these multifunctional spaces are at once connected, while also providing pockets of calm and separation
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5 Kitchen Flooring Trends That Are Dominating Spaces in 2026 as Design Experts Pivot to Styles That Embrace Softness, Warmth, and CharacterFrom natural finishes and characterful textures, the latest trends prove that in 2026, it's what's underfoot that sets the tone for the kitchen space
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7 Genius Things to Include Inside Kitchen Drawers That Make Your Space So Much Better OrganizedThese are the quiet drawer details that work hard out of sight to make a kitchen feel effortless and satisfying every single day
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Should Kitchen Cabinets Go All the Way to the Ceiling? It's Not Just About Storage — Experts Share the Factors That Will Impact Your DecisionIt comes down to striking the right balance between the design of your space and how it functions
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5 Small Kitchen Myths That the Interior Designers I Know Never Buy Into — So You Shouldn't Be Bound by ThemForget these old ideas that are working against your compact space, and not with it — experts share how to embrace a creative, thoughtfully designed approach instead
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5 Kitchen Colors That Are Criminally Overlooked — I'd Love to See Way More People Embrace Them, and Designers AgreeWe rarely see these colors in kitchens, but look how well they work when we do
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I'd Usually Avoid Pastels for a Kitchen, but These 5 Projects Make This Palette Look Surprisingly Fresh and SophisticatedDo you think pastels are too sweet for a kitchen? These five spaces may just change your mind (they did mine!)
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5 Kitchen Color Myths I've Never Actually Bought Into — They're Clichés That Are Holding Back Your Design From Its Full PotentialThe color "rules" designers are calling tall tales — and why you can likely break them without compromising your space
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I Actually Don't Like Dark Blue Kitchens — These Are the Alternatives That Capture the Same Vibe, but Better in My OpinionDark blue had its moment— these are the colors I'd trust in now that look good and will feel more timeless
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5 Expensive-Looking Dark Bathrooms That Feel Like Spas and Will Make You Never Consider Boring White Spaces AgainThink moody, dramatic, and all-around deep for this selection of striking dark bathrooms
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8 Things Minimalists Would Never Include in a Bathroom — And You Shouldn't Either If You Want Yours to Feel Uncluttered and Spa-likeThe features to avoid if you want to envelop yourself in your very own spa-like sanctuary
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7 Bathroom Features That Will Actually Add Value to Your Home — These Are the Things Future Buyers Will Want to SeeUpgrades that balance everyday living with realistic resale appeal
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8 Things Making Your Bathroom Look Cheap — Designers Say What to Avoid, and What They Do Instead for a Truly Luxurious FeelYou don't need an unlimited budget for an elevated space — experts share the key areas you might be overlooking that are unknowingly cheapening your bathroom
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5 Things Every 'Timeless' Kitchen Design Gets Right, Without Ever Feeling Old-FashionedAchieving a timeless scheme for your kitchen isn't as easy as you might first think, especially if you want to avoid tired design clichés
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8 Outdated Flooring Trends You Should Leave in 2025 — They're Not the Way Forward for Cool, Design-Led HomesWhy these familiar flooring choices are falling out of favour as interiors move towards warmth, texture, nature, and longevity
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"Don't Waste Your Money on This" — This Is Where Designers Suggest You Should Spend, and Save, When You're Planning Your 2026 Kitchen Project If You're Trying to Control the BudgetPlanning your kitchen for the New Year? Here’s your guide to where’s best to invest and the elements you can easily save on without compromising on style and finish
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How to Plan a More Sustainable Kitchen Project, While Avoiding These 'Greenwashing' TrapsWhat exactly constitutes a sustainable kitchen, plus tips on how to avoid greenwashing during the design process?
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5 Things Designers Suggest to Include in Eat-in Kitchens to Help Hide the Mess When HostingA look at the smart solutions transforming today's open plan kitchens into serene, sociable spaces
