The Style Story
Two looks taking centre stage, the colours we’re loving, and the joy of “hidden everything.”
After more than a decade of designing kitchens — and cooking in plenty of less-than-perfect ones — here’s the truth I share with every client: every kitchen dates. Even the plain white kitchen we all reached for ten years ago is now firmly in the rear-view mirror. That’s not a reason to panic about choosing the “wrong” thing. It’s a reminder that great kitchens come from embracing your home, not from chasing the safest option.
For 2026, we’re seeing a confident move away from the all-white kitchen — and a real embrace of colour, texture, layered detail and considered layouts. Interestingly, this is playing out in two very different directions, and both are equally on trend.
Here are the six trends shaping kitchen design this year.
1. Two styles taking centre stage
The first style is minimalist — sleek, considered, almost gallery-like.
Nothing sits on the counter.
Cabinetry has no handles.
Sharp lines, a restrained palette, appliances all but disappear.
The second is maximalist — lived in, layered and full of personality.
Art on the walls, decorative handles, open shelving styled with collected objects.
Lots of texture though layering materials.
A clear nod to the Arts and Crafts movement, often with a Japanese sensibility woven through.
Decoration for the sake of decoration is back — and we love it.
These two looks couldn’t be more different, but they share the same brief: a kitchen with character.
2. Hide everything that doesn’t earn its place
In both styles, anything that doesn’t pull its weight visually is being tucked away.
Fridges and dishwashers — integrated, always.
Microwaves — never on display. Tucked inside an appliance garage or behind a pocket door.
Extractor fans — hidden behind cabinetry, sculpted into a curved feature, or replaced entirely with a downdraft (something we’ve been specifying a lot lately).
The same logic extends to whole zones. We’re designing dedicated coffee bars, alcohol bars and appliance garages that sit behind pocket doors and disappear when not in use. It keeps the working kitchen calm and gives the styling room to breathe.
3. Goodbye white. Hello colour and Texture
White has had its moment. For 2026, it really only belongs in rentals. If you do use white in a considered home, lean toward off-white, taupe or cream — softer and warmer than the crisp white we used to chase.
The colours leading the way:
Green in every shade — from soft sage through to deep forest.
Rust, terracotta and rich vibrant reds — that Arts and Crafts influence at work again.
Very little black — used sparingly, as an accent rather than a hero.
4. Natural stone and rich timber are doing the heavy lifting
Bold natural stone is having a strong moment, and it works just as well in a minimalist scheme as it does in a maximalist one. The drama of veined marble or a moody quartzite is being used as the standout element, often paired with rich earthy timbers.
Walnut and warm brown tones are leading the way; the cooler Scandinavian timbers we used a few years ago have stepped back.
5. Curves, fluted glass and the return of separate rooms
Curves are everywhere — softening islands, rounding cabinetry corners, shaping extractor fans into sculptural features.
Fluted glass is a beautiful way to display things without the visual clutter of fully open shelves — think bar cabinetry with curated glassware behind a textured panel.
Tiles are being used sparingly but with intent — a single beautifully tiled splashback rather than tile everywhere.
Divided rooms are back. After years of vast open-plan spaces, we’re seeing a return to the kitchen as part of the home, rather than the whole of it.
6. Lighting gets bolder
The shift this year is unmistakable:
Out: the minimal LED strip.
In: bigger, bolder feature pendants, clusters of pendants over the island, and wall lights to add warmth at eye level.
So, where do you start?
If there’s one takeaway, it’s this: pick your style. Are you minimalist or maximalist? Once you know that, everything else — colour, stone, handles, lighting — starts to fall into place.
And remember, there’s no wrong answer. The best kitchen is one that feels unmistakably like home.
Next month: Part Two — The Technical Bits. We’ll get into benchtops, cabinetry, splashbacks, handles and lighting hardware in detail.
Images from Pinterest
