The kitchen is truly the heart of the home, and there’s no better way to make your home stand out than by taking inspiration from some of the top properties currently on the market. Whether your kitchen needs a full-on gut renovation or a less intensive refresh, here are seven luxury kitchen design trends to consider right now.
Gold accents stand out against white cabinetry at this roughly $9.9-million home in Toronto. (Barry Cohen Homes)
Gold Accents
Say bye to shades of stainless steel because luxury kitchens are going gold. This includes hardware such as handles and knobs. Better yet, this is one of the easiest and most cost-effective trends anyone can incorporate into their kitchen. All you need is a screwdriver and a little bit of patience.
You can also add additional accents to hoods and islands like the designer did in this beautiful South Hill, Ontario residence.
If you’re concerned about incorporating gold into your kitchen because you have stainless steel appliances, there’s no need to be worried about clashing because mixing metals provides an upscale touch.
All-white kitchens such as the one in this hip L.A. condo provide a clean, polished look. (Hilton & Hyland)
White Kitchens
White kitchens are a major trend unlikely to go away any time soon. Whether you have a more contemporary home or a space such as the Penthouse at 616 North Croft Avenue in West Hollywood, there are so many ways you can design a white kitchen, such as with these cool and clean-looking lacquer cabinets.
Then add a white stone such as Carrera marble or quartz and you have the recipe for a fabulous luxury kitchen. White also makes the color of stainless steel appliances pop.
Stone is an easy way to add texture and warmth to your living spaces. This oceanfront home features a cozy kitchen thanks to its stone countertops. (Willis Allen Real Estate)
Mixed Stone
When it comes to stone colors—more is more. This trend is incredibly easy to incorporate into your kitchen. Choose contrasting stones for the main countertop and island such as grey marble and white Carrera marble. These colors provide a particularly warm touch to the kitchen at this classic beachfront residence in La Jolla.
Another take on this trend is mixing stone countertops with butcher block islands or vice versa. This provides a retro accent.
This Mediterranean-style home in Santa Monica’s North of Montana neighborhood mixes up the kitchen cabinetry by alternating between wood and frosted-glass cabinets. (Hilton & Hyland)
Mixed Cabinetry
Want a more visually interesting kitchen? Try mixing different types of cabinets. There are multiple ways to achieve this look. One example is using both wood cabinets and frosted glass as shown in this Santa Monica home. Frosted glass instantly makes any kitchen look and feel more modern. Or paint your cabinets different colors for a two-tone contemporary look.
Alternatively, you can remove the cabinet doors altogether and mix regular cabinetry with open shelving. Just make sure the shelves are properly styled. Try to avoid displaying too much or your shelves may look cluttered and messy. Want to take the open shelving look to another level? Paint each shelf a different color.
This updated home in the Hollywood Hills draws attention to its decorative kitchen shelving with underlighting
Decorative Shelving
Another major cabinetry trend is open decorative shelving. Instead of installing cabinets throughout the kitchen, choose to add a few decorative shelves that look different from the main cabinetry. For example, add metal shelves if your cabinets are wood.
Then style with pieces you use for entertaining such as serving bowls, cocktail shakers, vibrantly colored margarita glasses, etc. This is also a smart idea if you want to add a farmhouse-style touch. Upgrade this look further by installing sconces like the designer of this Los Angeles kitchen did. It draws additional attention to the area.
Traditional lampshade fixtures lend a cozy note to this $35-million home in Pacific Palisades.
Statement Light Fixtures
Swapping outdated lighting such as track or ceiling lights for more charming statement fixtures adds an instant dose of luxury to any kitchen. These white hanging lamp shades over the island are an ideal choice because they incorporate another luxury kitchen design trend, gold accents. This style of fixture gives the contemporary kitchen a slightly more traditional feel.
Whether it’s a grand chandelier or black farmhouse-inspired square pendant, there are so many different types of statement lighting fixtures you can use.
An artistic wall treatment draws the eyes upward in the chef’s kitchen of this Toronto mansion. (Barry Cohen Homes)
Custom Window Treatments
Custom window treatments aren’t just for the bedroom and living room anymore. They’re also a great addition to any kitchen as seen in this Forest Hill home. Fabric treatments can add a pop of color or a texturized accent to any window. Another option is to use the same upholstery as your kitchen seating.
