Illustration: Giulia Abonitzio/Getty Images
Kitchens get the most attention in renovation projects, and rightfully so: They're consistently ranked as the most popular room to renovate by companies like Houzz and Fixr, simply because they're one of the most used rooms in the home.
But not every kitchen remodeling project is justified. There are plenty of trendy new features that appeal to vanity rather than functionality. So when does an addition go from beautiful to impractical? Below, design pros share the over-the-top kitchen remodeling trends (and a few that are just downright ridiculous) that are bringing more destruction than sophistication.
1. Pot Filler
A pot filler is probably one of those features you'd love to add to your dream kitchen, and many celebrities have shown them off during home tours, but Gabriela Narvaez, general contractor and founder of Guild Properties, argues that these over-the-stove faucets don't add as much needed functionality as you might hope.
“Unless you're regularly cooking Thanksgiving-level meals every weekend or are renovating a commercial kitchen, we think pot fillers are just another pricey kitchen trend that only saves you a few seconds of time,” she explains. “And don't forget, you'll need to dump that water into the nearest sink!”
2. High gloss cabinets
They may look beautiful in the morning sun, but shiny cabinets can cause more trouble than they're worth. “Fingerprints and grease splatters are very visible,” asserts Pittsburgh-based interior stylist Kiva Brent. “You'll have to spend at least 15 minutes cleaning them every time, and you'll never be able to cook something quickly again.”
3. Double Island
Nancy Meyers, the master of cozy interiors, created not just one a few years ago. two Islands. Some kitchen remodelers are willing to take this risk, but Bethany Adams of Bethany Adams Interiors thinks it's totally worthless. “The extra legwork required to walk around two islands in a figure eight while cooking or serving would be ridiculous,” she says. “On the entertaining side, if your kitchen is large enough to accommodate two islands, you'll have a dining room large enough to feed the hungry hordes crowding around the two islands.”
According to Adams, teeth One scenario in which a double island might make sense is if you're running a cooking school or nursery from your home, though she says, “That's unlikely unless you can afford a kitchen big enough to accommodate two huge islands.”
4. Extend your cabinets to the ceiling
Before you get upset that ceiling-height cabinets are ill-advised, read on. Brent acknowledges that this is a controversial opinion, but with a caveat: “If your ceiling height is standard, I support this 100%,” she says. “If you have high ceilings, moving cabinets up is simply impractical. You'll have to climb a ladder to access food in the pantry, which can lead to food waste because you'll literally and figuratively lose track of what you have.”
5. Integrated Appliances
Installing built-in appliances in your kitchen is certainly beautiful, but custom installations are not for the faint of heart, say Jordan Slocum and Barry Bordelon, the restoration team better known as the Brownstone Boys.
“Discrete or one-piece appliances are very aesthetically pleasing, but they also come with their own challenges,” they say. “Because they're custom products, they can be difficult to repair or replace. Plus, when it comes time to move or remodel, the appliances have to be redone.”
6. Natural stone countertops
Attractive countertops are a key element of an eye-catching kitchen. But why choose a material that can be hassle? Natural stone countertops, such as white marble or porous limestone, need to be treated with a quality sealer or they will corrode and stain. Brent believes that no matter how carefully you maintain them, corrosion often occurs.
“[White marble] “Marble-like quartz will look brand new on the first day, so if you're worried about stains over time, choose a more reliable option like marble-like quartz that has the same look but is more stain-resistant and easier on your wallet,” says Jenna Kirk, vice president of corporate studios at KB Home, one of the nation's largest home builders.
Before choosing marble, consider how many people will be using your kitchen each day: “If you're not willing to reseal your countertops or protect them from red wine or lemon juice spills, marble or other natural stone may not be right for your kitchen,” says Sarah Latham of Latham Interiors.
7. Open shelves
Open shelves are everywhere, but they also get dusty. Although they can look great when styled well, open shelves are high maintenance, tend to collect dust, and need to look photogenic at all times – something you don't have to worry about with closed cabinets.
“There is an open shelf under the kitchen. [the counter]”A kitchen without cabinet doors, where all the dishes are neatly organized and on display, is obviously problematic,” says Antares Yee, founder and creative director of design studio Sun at Six. “Obviously there are issues with dripping, sauce splatter, and grease dripping. But what's really impressive is seeing every nook and cranny of the drawers all in the open, meticulously organized and clean. It makes you wonder if these people are robots.”
8. Everything becomes new
When you sit down with a contractor to plan your kitchen remodel, you might be tempted to update your cabinets, countertops, appliances, flooring, paint, and more. Chicago-based designer Corey Roman suggests taking a step back and preserving some of your kitchen's original features. Getting rid of some of the most amazing (and practical) features might be the most impractical move you can make. “Sometimes it's perfectly fine to keep features that are true to the home's original design or that have character,” says Roman.
9. Low-backed stools
If the island is the heart of your kitchen, then island seating is its soul. Counter stools should be a comfortable place to eat, socialize and linger, not a rigid block that wobbles. Brent doesn't like sculptural, low-backed counter stools or counter stools without a back. “They're uncomfortable, so I don't feel like sitting at the island to eat,” she says. Consider these bar stools favored by AD100 architects and designers.
10. Double oven
Only in very specific living situations would you need to own two ovens. “Let's be honest, unless you run a catering company or have a large family, an oven is only useful a few times a year,” says the Brownstone Boys. “Otherwise, it's just taking up valuable kitchen space. I'd rather have a friend bring over baked sweet potatoes than have two ovens all year round.”
11. Display art and cookbooks near your stove
You've probably seen those newly renovated kitchens on Instagram, adorned with oil paintings, art shelves, and cookbooks. While they look beautiful, they also raise some concerns for designers.
“I immediately thought of this photo,” Mary Flo Ouellet, co-founder of Squarehouse Studio in Somerville, Massachusetts, says of fashion designer Christian Siriano's kitchen. “It's as if they couldn't finish the hood for a photo shoot, so they stuck a picture on it. If this is a trend, it's weird, impractical, and dangerous.”
Yes, artwork is a fire hazard, but it's also the perfect place to get ruined by grease splashes. “Your books and artwork will get dirty, but they make for great photos,” Brent adds.
12. Hanging Pot Rack
Hanging pots and pans from hooks in the ceiling isn't a new kitchen design trend, but the Brownstone Boys are skeptical. “While it certainly has a French country chic vibe, hanging pots above your kitchen workspace means they'll collect dust and grease,” they say. “If you have copper pots, displaying them on a pot rack may not be the best way to preserve them.”
13. Built-in dog bowl
You may have noticed a trending topic on TikTok and Instagram: sleek dog bowls that even come with a water tap. Naturally, Narváez has her reservations about them. “While I love dogs and am personally a dog mom, I don't think dedicating a section of the kitchen just to pet feeding is the most efficient use of precious cabinet or kitchen island space,” she says.
What about installing a faucet? Laying another water line and adding new plumbing fixtures is incredibly expensive, she points out. Plus, most vanity add-ons can't be tacked on at the end of a renovation project. Narváez explains that new plumbing, for example, needs to be built into the initial renovation plan; otherwise, you'll end up gutting part of your kitchen later. Plus, they often don't add value to a home; new homebuyers are more likely to prefer actual kitchen drawers over custom dog-bowl cabinets.
Originally published in Architectural Digest
