Change is to be expected, but it is happening at such high speed that people are looking to slow life down by creating nurturing homes with warm, neutral colors, natural materials, and a style that will last through whatever life brings their way. In this blog post, I delve into kitchen design trends set to dominate in 2024.
SOURCE: Kraft Custom Cabinets
BLOG POST BY:
Carla Gentle with Design Realign, Inc.
MY … HOW QUICKLY THINGS CHANGE
More than any other room in your home, I would say the kitchen has seen the quickest change over, I would say, a 4-yr. period. It went from the very popular white kitchen (and white cabinets) to dark green cabinets (as well as other colors) to black cabinets. All of these trends were hugely popular but didn’t last for very long (other than the white cabinets). So, we are now back to wood cabinets! But what kind of wood? I have outlined below NINE KITCHEN TRENDS set to dominate in 2024 to include the following:
1. Timeless Style
Many homeowners are requesting details and materials that create a timeless style, like the kitchen above, which can be a sustainable choice during renovations. A phrase that is becoming popular is “quiet luxury.”
Old is new again. For example, you will notice on HGTV design shows that even modern homeowners want to incorporate ‘old’ elements such as brick and rustic wood elements and arches everywhere. If you think about it, these are materials and features that are hard to grow tired of. This kitchen has a variety of classic elements, including wood cabinets and beams (yes, wood cabinets are back!), a subway tile backsplash, and stone countertops.
2. Handmade Features
Tied to the trend toward timeless style is handmade features and details. These initially gained popularity in Europe but custom features and personalized elements are now showing up in the U.S. This includes organic qualities such as plasterwork, wallcoverings, and chiseled and hand-cut tiles. The kitchen below embodies the look with hand-cut backsplash tiles that give the walls a raw, organic look and feel.
SOURCE: Case Architects & Remodelers
3. Wood Cabinets, Flooring, and Details
While always classic, right now wood cabinets and other details are booming. There is a ton of interest right now in natural wood cabinetry and stained wood such as walnut, quartersawn oak, and rift-sawn oak. Also, booming right now are wood accents in painted kitchens. An example of this would be a wood hood range. It’s a nice change from the endless white painted kitchens. I love the numerous wood details in this kitchen design including the island, flooring, range hood, and check out that arched doorway!
SOURCE: Studio M Interiors
4. Blended Backsplashes
Tile is often used to create stylish kitchen backsplashes, but to visually break up the large area and use of tile, one thing that is gaining popularity is installing a slab of stone or quartz behind the range or cooktop while keeping the surrounding backsplash areas tiled. The slab is often the same material as the countertops, giving the kitchen a vertical display of graphic veining or other interesting details to create a striking focal point that’s easy to wipe clean. The concept is brilliant and I find the style of it stunning! This kitchen is flipped where creamy hand-cut files form the main range backsplash while slabs cover the surrounding backsplash areas. Just beautiful!
SOURCE: New Rosslyn Construction
5. Upper Cabinets
To help alleviate the look of large expanses of cabinets, some homeowners are opting to go without upper cabinets altogether or choose open shelves that offer storage and display space. But, in this case, the open shelves would be very high; and it would gather too must dust and require constant curating. As a result, I’m seeing many kitchens embrace upper cabinets once again to maximize storage and keep dishes and glasses out of sight. Going with light colors and integrating a few glass-front cabinets are ways to help lighten the look of banks of upper cabinets.
SOURCE: Spruill Custom Homes
6. Statement Island Countertops
Islands have long been considered the hub of the kitchen. Lately, homeowners are turning the feature into a focal point by incorporating dramatic stone countertop styles and colors with waterfall details that put the slabs on full display. I am surprised this feature wasn’t turned into a focal point a long time ago! This particular island below is jaw-dropping with its light blue quartzite.
SOURCE: Factor Design Build
7. Multipurpose Islands
During a party, many people naturally congregate near the food and drinks, which typically means the kitchen, and many homeowners are looking for ways to create a kitchen fit for entertaining. This can be accomplished through a multipurpose island. An example of a multipurpose island would include seating and a beverage fridge that allows guests to easily grab a drink.
Another example is shown here of a long island with seating on three sides, and a sink and chopping station, ensuring the cook remains close to guests.
SOURCE: Kowalske Kitchen & Bath
8. Butler’s Pantries
A Fun Bit of History: In the early days, butler pantries were where maids stored and polished fine china, silverware, linens, and family heirlooms. The space also served as a food prep space and sometimes included ice boxes for preserving food and ovens for cooking. In some homes, the butler would sleep inside this room in case someone attempted to break in and steal the silverware!
Anyway, if there’s one trend that has catapulted into the mainstream lately, it’s the rise of the butler’s pantry. These secondary kitchen spaces help minimize visual and physical clutter in the main kitchen by creating space for pantry items, small appliances, and extra countertops. Another reason pantries have gained popularity again is because more and more people are getting back into canning and preserving foods and this is the perfect space to store it all! SPECIAL TIP: You might go so far as having the pantry temperature controlled separately from the rest of the house to promote a longer shelf life for your preserved food.
SOURCE: Shannon gGem Design
9. Appliance Garages
Appliance garages conceal countertop appliances such as coffee makers, blenders, and toasters while keeping them easily accessible and organized. Although they’ve been around for decades, they’re enjoying a resurgence in popularity as homeowners seek to declutter their homes and incorporate more gadgets into their kitchens.
SOURCE: Joseph Rodrigues Interiors
CONCLUSION
The kitchen is considered one of the most important rooms in the home, so this is a space worth getting right. To me, regarding the kitchen, the eye is most relaxed and pleased in a timeless space. The keyword here is TIMELESS. This means a brighter kitchen with neutral colors and natural, organic elements like natural wood cabinets, beams, and hand-cut tiles. FUNCTIONALITY is also critical in the kitchen, so get creative with your island and incorporate features that are conducive to your lifestyle. Have money and space for a butler’s pantry? Even better!
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