Truth: Many of us have a love-hate relationship with the kitchen.
On the other hand, it is also a warm and cozy space where families can gather. At the same time, the kitchen is his 24/7 eat-in restaurant of the house, where much of the work of meal preparation and cleaning takes place.
Still, this flagship room deserves a little love every now and then. And what better time than the beginning of the year to make a few style tweaks?
Yes, 2024 is the perfect time to overhaul your cooking space and determine where improvements can be made. To help you on this journey, here are some clever ideas from savvy designers.
Cook in style with the hottest kitchen trends for 2024.
mixed material
Photo credit: Tornbjerg Design
Leave the simple Jane kitchen in the past and embrace the interplay of different materials. The same white-on-white look is sterile and cold. However, it notes that if you try something fresher, you'll get a “vibrant yet sophisticated vibe.” Ariel Barrionuevodesigner of La Coralina Island House.
Barrionuevo recommends a mix of wood and metal, similar to the kitchen island and chairs above.
His suggestion: “Pair light oak with brushed steel or natural stone, and add a pop of color with accessories.”
You can also hang industrial metal lights over a wooden butcher block counter or install a metal backsplash under cherry cabinets.
open shelves
Photo courtesy of Crown Point Cabinetry –
Although open shelves must be cleared and cleaned regularly, they will still be around in 2024 because they add utility to the kitchen, Barrionuevo says.
Open shelves give you easy access to bowls and glasses and a decorative look that's less expensive than full-size cabinet boxes and doors.
“Kitchens are currently leaning toward warm, sophisticated, and functional design,” explains Barrionuevo.
Open shelving fits this look with T-shirts, but you can also add other functional design touches, like improving lighting for small tasks or roll-top doors to hide appliances.
coffee station
Photo by Paul N. Brow, Architect, LLC
Whether you love the convenience and versatility of small coffee pods or are a fan of single-origin beans, you'll probably find it useful to have a coffee center in your kitchen.
And since remote work is here to stay, a personalized coffee setup can greatly improve your home office (even if it's just a small space on the edge of your kitchen counter).
A coffee station also requires a small investment, as it can be quickly created from a cabinet where you can store pots, filters and grinders. Add a few mug pegs to the wall and your caffeine hub is complete.
Of course, you can go high-end and install special lighting and customized drawer inserts to enclose your coffee gear and accessories.
sky blue
Photo courtesy of Mitchell Construction Group
When the color of the year is announced, the design world jumps on board. That's certainly the case with Benjamin Moore's just-released true blue shade called Blue Nova.
Dan MazzariniThe principal and creative director of BHDM Design and ARCHIVE is already a big fan of this cornflower blue color, and it works to great effect in the kitchen, as shown on the island above.
Blue Nova is a neutral blue with a purplish-blue bias, without green spots. Try this sky-high shade over your kitchen cabinets, as a backsplash tile, or on the floor with a runner or sink rug.
dark countertops
Photo courtesy of Drury Design.
Another notable trend is: Pamela O'BrienThe lead designer at Pamela Hope Designs has a new take on moody kitchen countertops.
“Clients seem to be favoring darker, more patterned stones again. There's also a lot of movement in slab design,” she explains.
And homeowners are shelling out big bucks to make it happen.
“We're seeing people choosing exotic quartzite and marble and spending more money on countertops, even for their entire home,” O'Brien added.
This makes sense given the fact that many of us are staying in the homes we own, avoiding the real estate market and its associated rising interest rates.
slim shaker cabinet
Photo credit: Frazier Home Design
Shaker style cabinets in the kitchen are always popular. But lately, he says, there's been a lot of interest in the “slim shaker” look. Philip Consalvo, Principal of PJC Architecture. These boxes feature a narrow border at the edge of the cabinet and are a modern take on the classic Shaker design.
This option is also known as a “skinny shaker,” and its streamlined look makes it a worthy upgrade to your kitchen or pantry.
