Kitchen trends come and go. If you’ve been following me, you know that I’m all about timeless choices for longevity. And for versatility in decorating. You don’t want to be bossed around by choices that were once interesting and now just feeling dated.
Here are some trends that have come and will soon go. I would definitely avoid them if you’re building or renovating your kitchen right now. And beware! They are everywhere in showrooms including in your feeds.
Random Arches
Increasingly rare is an inspiration board that comes through my eDesign department that doesn’t feature the arch trend. While I’m all for adding curves and softer edges to spaces. But the truth is, if your architecture doesn’t already feature arches, like mediterranean or adobe styles, suddenly adding an arch in your kitchen is not going to look right. And because it’s the wrong architectural detail for your home, it will date instantly.
Instead: Get a large arched floor mirror or a an arched curio cabinet to have your arch moment and switch it out without a dusty renovation when you’re ready.
Fluted Textures
Reeded and fluted finishes are a lovely textural element that appeals to those looking for a warm modern look. But I think it’s a fad that will soon feel overplayed. And it certainly doesn’t work in a transitional or traditional kitchen where it will definitely feel forced and trendy.
Instead: if you love the look of fluted millwork, choose a buffet or coffee table with this look to play with the trend without gluing it down.
Chunky Stone
With the all the warm and earthy vibes the world is craving at the tail end of the severe and stark black and white trend, chunky stone is a ditch I see people falling into all the time. Grab hold of this rope! If you don’t have a true rustic home, a chunky stone backsplash or hood is going to feel like kitschy Flintstones kind of stuff not long from now.
Instead: If you have a stone fireplace or limestone floors, a smooth limestone subway tile backsplash is a more versatile option.
All Black Handles
You know how I feel about these. The standard 4 or 6 inch black pulls on every cabinet and drawer looks builder grade and busy. And while hardware is something that can be a bit more trendy and be switched out, the issue is, if you have those holes drilled into everything, prettier more custom hardware won’t be possible until you fill them and repaint.
Instead: regardless of the finish of your hardware, stick with single hole knobs on your cabinets. Better yet, if you don’t have the perfect hardware chosen, just install knobs on everything, it works just as well.
Read more: 3 Design Details for a Timeless Black and White Kitchen
Busy Stone Countertops
Those wild marble slabs we’re seeing everywhere are so specific they will definitely be time stamped to this trend cycle in time. Marble is a timeless material, but don’t make an ostentatious display of it if you want a timeless kitchen. Same goes for any busy granite or stone.
Instead: Opt for a quieter slab like a subtle quartzite or marble like Calacatta or Carrara.
Read more: Magazine-Worthy Kitchens Cannot be Easily Copied
Remember that you don’t need to look for interest in your hard finishes. But rather from details like lighting and decorating and styling. Stick with simple and timeless finishes and you will be happy for a loooong time. Simplicity as a backdrop to a lived in styled look is what we all love the charming timeless Nancy Meyers kitchens.
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Related posts:
What’s Missing if your House is Not Trendy (Who Cares?)
A 10 Year Review of Accent Tile; Should you Install the Current Fad?
Fourth Rule of Design: Trendy Equals Temporary
I agree with all of these. I agree that some of these things can be incorporated I furniture or smaller pieces vs hard finishes. My recent kitchen reno includes white and navy blue shaker cabinets, a mix of polished nickel knobs and pulls, and negresco leathered granite countertops. Perhaps a little to close to the black and white trend, but I prefer to see it as classic and timeless. (Not a fan of the turn back to beige…)
Very interesting post. I also am wondering about the kitchen cabinets painted warmer colors such as taupe, darker beige, darker cream, tan, etc. (I’m not including the paler off-whites or creams in this.) They look fresh and beautiful even to me but I’m afraid in a few years they are going to look quite dingy. Of course if you can afford to repaint your cabinets again in 5 to 7 years, no reason not to go for it.
Well I inherited a kitchen with mushroom (green beige) cabinets and it’s already 14 years old, what makes it work is the calacatta marble subway tile backsplash and white island. Maria
Your kitchen is so lovely. And at least in photos it does not look that dark, as dark as some I have seen online recently
Love this, so true. Is there any way to make strong stainless steel and black appliances not seem so heavy and black against my white kitchen? (Inspired by you!:) I have two ovens and microwaves in a small space and the dark is so overpowering
I have a large, mostly-white pinstripe dishtowel draped over my oven handle at all times, and it does a good job of turning the black front into a lighter looking object. It’s so simple and cheap but surprisingly effective.
https://znetflooring.com/mohawk-dodford-20-dryback-suede-oak
Do you think this is classic enough for a floor that doesn’t get much natural sunlight?
What a great post!
Maria, what a WISE post. I appreciate that you not only point out what fresh new trends will age badly, but offer ways to nod to the look without the permanent part of it. I know we can get so excited over some of these amazing looks that we don’t consider how to get the feel of them in any other way.
The last kitchen pic seems to break several of your rules – would you agree? The cream colored cabinets and bright white marble don’t complement each other. While the bright white is repeated in the dishes, I don’t think they do the trick and is probably not enough to balance the rest of the kitchen. All the handles, while not black still appear quite dark.
There’s nothing wrong with white and cream together. But yes I wouldn’t have chosen the black handles. Maria
Such helpful tips. The marble warning reminded me of the Reddit kitchen post that just went viral for what not to do. https://www.reddit.com/r/Homebuilding/comments/1fpme5i/built_my_first_home_at_age_30_designed_the/?share_id=F2dS5qQgQzge3AbK_b0oI&utm_content=1&utm_medium=android_app&utm_name=androidcss&utm_source=share&utm_term=1
Thanks for sharing this. I laughed so hard while somehow also simultaneously feeling so bad for the homeowner!
I love this. Love. I’m a Gen Xer so I’ve lived to see a lot of seemingly “classic” choices (columns, wrought iron, etc.) be used poorly. By contrast, where I live in the northeast, there are still some farm buildings or old mills from the 1800s with chunky stone walls that look great because they are authentic. You can’t add that in a new building without taking great care.
I do wonder about the explosion in wall and picture molding. When is it just right, and when is it too trendy? Does it depend on the age of the house?
Most houses are so devoid of any architectural detail, the world of traditional homes needs moulding. Whether it’s installed correctly is a whole other conversation for sure. Maria
As always, so much to learn from Maria & her team! Thank you.
Maria,
I just glanced around our living/kitchen/dining space yesterday, and thought how grateful I am that my sister sent me to your material. I am in a very busy season of life and really appreciate that you make everything so clear. I can just apply it relatively quickly, and am grateful to have a comfortable space for my family.
https://beautifulhabitat.com/kitchen-and-bath-design-trends/
Color is back, but like Maria said I think picking bright colored appliances could quickly grow old.
I have knobs on all my upper cabinets but I knew when we built that I loved cup pulls and to me these are a classic look. Our cabinetmaker thought they looked “office” which didn’t make sense to me, and it took a long time to find bronze-finish pulls with the right look and curvature (as opposed to all the “modern” bin pulls flooding the market) but I’ve been happy with the result in our farmhouse kitchen.
Love this. I’m wondering if the combination of natural wood and white cabinets is trendy or timeless? As someone who uses the kitchen 3+ times a day, I don’t like decorative items on kitchen counters – I need all the space I can get! I’m nervous if an all white kitchen will feel sterile.