2024 Kitchen Design Trends

The fusion of style and practicality has always been at the heart of culinary spaces, but trends are redefining that delicate balance in an exciting way…. So without further ado, here’s our kitchen design trend predictions for 2024!

Range hoods

In 2024, a trendy kitchen hood is a must-have! These eye-catching and stylish hoods not only serve a practical purpose by keeping your kitchen air clean but also add a dash of personality to your space.  There is no shortage of styles, materials, shapes and finishes to choose from making it very easy to find one that fits your design aesthetic.  Hoods using mixed metals specifically will continue to evolve over the next year and add a distinct and custom touch to a new kitchen.   We’re not the only designers who feel this way.  According to National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA), 67% of designers will choose to make range hoods a focal point using wood, stainless steel, or a mix of materials or metals. 56% elected to make it a wood or painted wood, followed by stainless at 51%.

Warm, rich colors

Bye, bye white kitchens! Well, sort of. Stark white kitchens are out, and creamy whites, (in addition to wood tones) are in.  One color we do expect to see more of is green.  The earthy comfort of green has been embraced by many of our clients.  Blending green cabinetry with natural wood and even creamy whites gives a beautiful nod to bringing the outdoors in.  If you’re not convinced that green cabinetry is the route to go, a green backsplash pairs gorgeously with neutral painted cabinetry as well.

Stains Resurgence

In the same vein, natural wood cabinetry is coming back front and center. We’ve seen a significant increase in clients moving away from painted cabinetry and shifting towards warmer color palettes in wood cabinetry.  We still expect to see kitchens mixing both painted and stained cabinetry, especially with saturated colors like creams, taupes and stone.  We’re big fans of this style as color provides space with personality and charm while stained cabinets give warmth and depth.  When it comes to varieties, white oak and walnut are at the top of our list in terms of trending wood species, but we’re also starting to use alder, as it has a unique grain pattern and looks great in both modern and traditional settings.

Tricked out storage

From appliance garages to walk-in pantries and sculleries, customizable solutions, kitchen storage in 2024 is getting the custom treatment.  According to NKBA, more than 50% of respondents are looking for walk-in, butler, and built-in pantries!  37% of responders in that same survey are seeking cabinetry with customizable drawer dividers and partitions. There’s also a desire for more floor to ceiling cabinetry with deep lower cabinets to help maximize storage.  Not surprisingly, we’ve seen a shift to more drawers included in recent designs including built-in charging stations for functionality.

If you’ve never heard of an appliance garage, allow us to explain. They conceal countertop appliances such as blenders, coffee makers, and toasters while keeping them easily accessible and organized.  While they’ve been around for decades they’re most certainly enjoying a resurgence in popularity as clients are seeking to declutter their homes all while incorporating more gadgets into the kitchen.

Beyond the appliances, there’s a renewed focus on organization within the kitchen in general. The demand for walk-in pantries, built-in cabinetry, and customizable dividers reflects a practical approach to organization and storage.

Workable Islands

While kitchen islands aren’t exactly a new concept, they’re getting bigger and better, with our designers incorporating more storage, electronic features, seating, meal prep space, and more. In addition to functional, islands are even now becoming focal points designed with distinct color cabinetry and/or countertop.  We’ve also seen more clients go from the traditional “all in a row” seating towards “wrap around” seating.  When asked, our dream team’s favorite way to make your island pop is by mitering (building up) the island countertop or designing with a waterfall edge.

Countertop Conundrum 

Speaking of countertops, most of our kitchens are designed with a quartz material.  Quartz is an easy to clean surface that’s incredibly stain-resistant and heat-tolerant.  Runner up to quartz is quartzite, whose earthy undertones and vibrant veining provide a unique design element to any space.  Our design team praises natural stone in the kitchen as it provides a connection to the beauty of our natural world.  One thing we know for certain when it comes to the countertop slab selection, is that we love, love, love using the same material for the backsplash.   Using the same material as the countertops on the backsplash gives the kitchen graphic veining and interesting details, really creating a striking focal point.

Beverage stations

Another microtrend that’s on the rise are beverage stations, like coffee cabinets, smoothie centers and wine bars.  The beauty of this trend is it can be quite simple, with just a little alcove dedicated to your choice of hydration, or it can be built out to include a mini fridge, sink, and other features.

Outdoor kitchens

Another trend that’s continuing to mature is the integration of indoor and outdoor spaces.  Our clients want seamless transitions to the outdoors with large sliding doors, similar materials, and complementary color palettes, allowing families and friends to enjoy the fresh air while cooking and entertaining.  Outdoor kitchens can be created in any color and style, with a small outdoor space or substantial outdoor space.  Our Naturekast Cabinetry is 100% weatherproof and perfect for any style and outdoor space.

That wraps up another year of our talented dream team’s kitchen design predictions for 2024.  As always, we recommend you follow your heart’s desire when bringing your dream kitchen to reality.  We’re here to help when you’re ready!