Meg Ryan's kitchen went from outdated to fashionable

American actress Meg Ryan has starred in everyone's favorite celebrity crushes, from When Harry Met Sally to Sleepless in Seattle, City of Angels and You've Got Mail. , has graced our television screens for years, and she definitely knows a thing or two about world-class movies. Style is important, especially when it comes to kitchen design.

To put together the final space, Meg Ryan enlisted the expertise of designer Monique Gibson and architect Joel Barclay to reimagine the California home.

In Meg Ryan's kitchen makeover, warm wood accents and subtle striping on the backsplash and countertop help create depth and dimension. These popular kitchen trends are expected to become even more popular in 2024.

1. Expensive color combinations

Decorating in black and white is courageous and requires careful editing and a good eye for design. This type of interior can also look “flat” without introducing texture and subtle tonal variety. But when assembled carefully, it's a great way to add drama and style, as beautifully illustrated in Ryan's modern farmhouse kitchen.

Monochrome decor can be difficult to master, but a thoughtful approach can result in a simple but impactful scheme. Monochrome interiors work especially well in period or farmhouse-style homes, where the one-tone canvas emphasizes and complements original features.

But tone and texture are important. Remember that the most successful monochrome interiors combine movement and depth with tactile pieces to create an interesting story.

Previously, the kitchen consisted of gray cabinets, blue wall tiles, and cream walls. This unpleasant color combination is best avoided in the center of the house.

2. Marble surface

Few materials can create a sense of luxury in a kitchen design like marble. Elegant, understated, and effortlessly beautiful, marble is worth investing in if you want your kitchen to look expensive.

Angus and Charlotte Buchanan of Buchanan Studio believe Marble is more versatile than many people realize. “We love using this to enhance details and touchpoints around the home, such as kitchen backsplashes and countertops,” they say. “But you can also use scraps to display things on shelves, side tables, etc.”

Let the color and veining of the marble define your space. “We chose the marble before anything else in the room, and the plan evolved from there,” says interior designer Sarah Southwell. “Then we choose colors and textures to create a scheme that complements the marble.”

However, there is a point where you can use too much of one material. To avoid a space looking sterile and cold, add subtle touches of warm finishes with materials like wood or metal.

3. Warm wooden accessories

If there's one material that never gets old, it's wood. Incorporating warm woods and wood accents into kitchen ideas is nothing new. Wood has been a popular choice for years due to its timeless appeal, not to mention being a durable material that only gets better with age.

The beauty of wood is undeniable. If you love a modern kitchen, but don't want the cold and dull feel that often comes with modern design, investing in wooden accessories will instantly warm up your room. Here, Meg Ryan and designer Monique Gibson chose dark wood for a blend of old and new.

“The dark wood trend has a lot to do with the popularity of beige and the general distancing from gray that we're collectively participating in,” says interior designer Bethany Adams. And if there's a lesson to be learned from color, it's to err on the side of warmth.

4. Arch between the alcoves

A popular interior design trend since 2020, architecturally inspired curves are of the moment, with soft, rounded lines popping up everywhere these days. It visually draws attention to the height of the wall and can make the room appear larger.

Arches have been a prominent feature in architecture since Roman times. Fast forward to 2024 and indoor residential arches are once again a very popular feature. It's easy to see why. Romantic and full of character, it can help soften a room's angular lines, especially in modern kitchens like Meg Ryan's.

If you have the opportunity to start from scratch, storage arches are an attractive way to introduce architectural features, as demonstrated in this striking construction by architect Joel Barclay. Embodying both form and function, arches act as visual anchors, stabilizing a room with timeless appeal.