With entertaining season upon, we can’t help but think about the state of kitchen design now. We’ve asked interior designers what their clients have been gravitating towards and what they’re excited about for the year ahead. Spoiler alert: warmth and personality reign supreme! Designer: Meta Coleman; Photographer: Chaunte Vaughn

There’s so much talk about trends in the design industry, that the word itself has become quite polarising. For some it’s a hallmark of all that’s fresh and current, for others it conjures images of fleeting fashions and quick-change décor. But the end of the year is a natural reflection point, and if upon looking back, you notice a common thread in your work or become aware of shifting client priorities, those things are worth noting—no matter what you call it. As such, we’ve taken this moment to ask a group of interior designers to reflect on the state of kitchen design now (and next month we’ll look at bathroom design). Here’s what they had to say:

Sign of the Times

“Clients are leaning into kitchens that feel more like living spaces than utilitarian zones. That means hidden storage, integrated appliances, and materials that feel warm and tactile, like unlacquered brass, marble with real movement, and natural wood cabinetry.” – Zoe Feldman, Washington, DC

“I’ve loved seeing clients continue to embrace a bit more softness and warmth. We are seeing clients wanting rooms that feel lived in and comfortable. They are choosing natural materials, vintage, and antique pieces, that give spaces soul.” – Lonika Chande, London

Designer: Lonika Chande; Photographer: Milo Brown

“Clients are gravitating towards bolder colors, patterns, and most especially anything that feels like a hand painted mural or scenes that feel personal and unique.” – Darren Jett, Jett Projects, New York

“I have noticed that clients are gravitating towards warmer and cozier kitchens. They are wanting less sleek kitchens and more deconstructed kitchens. We are currently using my totally deconstructed kitchen in Mexico as an inspiration for a client to undo their builder kitchen in Miami and have something that feels more authentic and personal.” – Summer Thornton, Chicago

Designer: Summer Thornton; Photographer: Annie Schlechter

“My clients want lovely, exciting backsplash tile, they keep asking for non-white cabinets, there still seems to be a preference among my clients for simple white marble countertops—but aside from that bring on the fun!” – Max Sinsteden, New York

“We have noticed a pull towards innovative and crafted design. For example, we commissioned the incredible duo Weez and Merl to make a huge kitchen table top recently, out of recycled plastic. Our client saved household carrier bags and sent them Weez and Merl’s Brighton based workshop, where they were melted down and became part of the table top. This incredible table is a great success.  We have find that our clients are interested and keen on being part of the design process.” - Olivia Outred, London

“People are moving toward kitchens that function like cosy multi-purpose rooms — layered with softer materials, decorative lighting, comfortable seating, and furniture-style details.” – Elizabeth Hay, Berkshire & SingaporeDesigner: Elizabeth Hay; Photographer Jonathan Bond

“Clients want spaces to be dynamic. They like the option to hide appliances behind pocket doors or to cover over the hob so that the kitchen serves multiple functions — a spot for chopping vegetables one moment, or for one client known for their parties, a surface for dancing on the next.” – Max Dignam, London

“There’s a definite move away from purely utilitarian spaces and clients want warmth, pattern, and personality. That often means more decorative cabinetry, freestanding elements, and beautifully crafted details such as tile finishes and patterned fabrics.” – Nicole Salvesen & Mary Graham, Salvesen Graham, LondonDesigner: Salvesen Graham; Photographer: Christopher Horwood

Delightful Additions

"I’m excited about technology that’s quietly supportive rather than flashy. We've implemented induction cooking that’s seamlessly integrated into natural stone and smart lighting that subtly shifts throughout the day. Our goal is never to make the space feel high-tech, but to enhance the user experience in a discreet way." – Zoe Feldman, Washington, DC

“I’ve loved using lava stone in some of our recent projects. We used it on a home bar. It’s a natural stone, and incredibly durable, so it has real longevity. The glaze reveals the natural texture beneath, giving the colour a real depth and richness.” – Lonika Chande, London 

“One thing I have been doing more (and I would like to expand on, in what I hope is a less dated way) is using stencils in place of crown moulding or a frieze, or on furniture, or many other applications [including painted floors]. – Meta Coleman, Utah

Designer: Meta Coleman; Photographer: Chaunte Vaughn

“I have a client in Charleston, NC right now who is forgoing barstools in favor of a skirted kitchen island.  How refreshing! We are using a happy yellow stripe to bring a sense of whimsy to her kitchen.”  – Summer Thornton, Chicago

“The kitchen is a social gathering space as much as a working space, so we’re designing with that in mind. There’s more emphasis on comfortable seating as an extension to the kitchen, and beautiful lighting to encourage lingering.” – Nicole Salvesen & Mary Graham, Salvesen Graham, London

“We focus on classic materials like honed Carrara marble or Belgian blue slate and usually avoid heavily veined stone or the overuse of LED strip lighting.” – Amanda Flood, Ben Pentreath Studio, London 

"One specific I have noticed our clients requesting is a pot filler, even more so now than a boiling water tap. For keen cooks, the pot filler makes life easier, as there is no lugging heavy pans across the kitchen, or a kettle permanently out. It’s a detail you really notice as you start to live in the space.” – Lonika Chande, London

“My new obsession is a freestanding sofa in the kitchen. It feels so cozy.” – Zoe Feldman, Washington, DC

“I’ve done a number of highly patterned kitchen floors both in Marmoleum and paint and more and more clients are asking me for that as opposed to me pushing them!” – Max Sinsteden, New York

Designer: Max Sinsteden; Photographer: Max Kim-Bee

Designer Wish List

“I am completely obsessed with hand-painted tiles right now. We’re using them in nearly all of our projects because they add so much personality and joy to a space. They instantly make a kitchen feel more like a true living space.” – Elizabeth Hay, Berkshire & Singapore

“We tend to design period-appropriate timber joinery in beautiful oak or a painted finish, or lean entirely the other way — towards flat, white-gloss cabinetry or fully wrapped stainless steel for a contemporary look. The middle ground between the two rarely ages well.” – Amanda Flood, Ben Pentreath Studio, London

Designer: Ben Pentreath Studio; Image courtesy of Ben Pentreath

“I’m tempted to use the single gas stove burners that can be placed wherever you want in your marble counter. I might make myself the guinea pig!” – Max Sinsteden, New York

“I think the most exciting thing about kitchen design right now is that personal expression is back. People aren’t decorating for resale. They’re designing for what they love and how they actually live.” – Zoe Feldman, Washington, DC