During the past year, bold new design moments have emerged, beginning with happy hues, flirting with Art Deco, tackling Barbiecore-meets-home décor, bringing back furry floor fads, and launching a new maximalism (viva la vita excessive!). It is only the kitchen that is whetting our collective appetite for what will be in style in 2023. In an impressive number of years (RIP), Instagram was awash in white-on-white-on-beige décor, but now there are fluted cabinets, upholstered banquettes (how precarious! ), beveled anything, and statement stone backsplashes, all a refreshing departure from that style. To help with whatever your reason is to be in the know, we spoke with the industry’s top trend predictors who all agree that dining in will be as extravagant as going out. Our top 10 kitchen trends for 2023 are listed below.
Our homes will be dominated by color
Piasecki, Eric
We’re approaching the end of a pent-up period of sobriety, which was becoming depressingly zeitgeisty after years of white-and-brass backdrops that were barely there. Color is taking over. The white kitchen is officially over! ” exclaims designer Robert Couturier, who, in a recent project, matched the kitchen floor with a cock’s comb’s red. Insta-famous kitchens of all white are gone, says potter and designer Jonathan Adler. Kitchens in full-fat happy hues, prints displayed with irreverence, and even flooring that defies Design 101 (can any good thing be too much?). Think yellow lacquered kitchen cabinets, flamboyant pendants, and geometric mosaics.
In the opinion of some, white kitchens are here to stay, but infused with color. She says designers are adding personal touches by using alternate shades of white and pops of color in features such as panel-ready appliances, decor, and furniture. What colors are hot right now? In his opinion, deep colors such as greens and blues, along with metal finishes in stainless steel and brass, provide long-term appreciation, says Middleby National Sales Trainer Rick Rasor. According to Caesarstone’s Lori Shapiro, green is now a must-have color in kitchens. Rasor says he’s noticed an increase in matte black appliances, which provide a sultry contrast to any pop of color in the kitchen.
You Can’t Go Wrong With Statement Stone Backsplashes
Le Whit, a New York–based design studio, combined marble slabs with colorful appliances to create a hearth fit for a New York city home.
Franzen, Nicole
There’s nothing matchy-matchy about this year, except we’re not exactly pairing floral tiles with matching curtains like Grandma Donna. Matt says, “I’ve been doing a lot of slab backsplashes that match the countertop lately to create a cohesive look.” It’s sleek, it’s minimal, and it’s taking kitchens by storm. “This is a big shift away from traditional tile that can break up the space.”
Designer and Queer Eye star Bobby Berk agrees. “We’re seeing unique and uncommon colors for both countertops and backsplashes, along with bold patterns and veining,” he says. Calacatta Viola marble is in particular on the rise due to its gorgeous mauve and burgundy coloration. These glamorous unbroken planes (made from a single material) create an ultraluxe look (even in the most logistical of spaces) whether they are made of the strikingly veined Calacatta marble or a sophisticated “noir” stone slab (or quartz, for that matter).
Everyone wants a secondary prep kitchen
In addition to a dishwasher, microwave, and sink, Cella Jane founder Becky Hillyard’s prep kitchen also features shallow storage spaces for spices and oils.
Photo courtesy of Cella Jane
Today’s homeowners consider a self-contained prep kitchen to be the greatest self-indulgence, even more than that renovated 1956 Austin-Healey. It serves as an ancillary area, accessible from the main kitchen, for preparing food. According to Jeff Sweet, corporate manager of product marketing at Sub-Zero, Wolf, and Cove, alternative workspaces are on the rise, adding functionality and allowing consumers to complete separate tasks by serving as second prep kitchens. “These secondary spaces can be transitional or closed off behind doors, and can contain everything from additional refrigeration, warming drawers, wine storage, dishwashers, etc.”
People are thinking beyond the traditional kitchen “box” by extending the hearth to other areas of the home. “What used to be kitchen-only appliances, such as Sub-Zero undercounter refrigerators, are now available in bedrooms, home offices, and bathrooms,” says Matt. We’re reimagining what it means to dine in whether it’s that spacious second prep kitchen for when the mother-in-law visits, a cocktail bar moment in the study, an outdoor kitchen, or a drawer fridge in the bedroom.
The Fluted Islands Are Making Waves
This Manhattan apartment features an island and matching cabinetry clad in fluted oak millwork and illuminated by three globe pendants by Ladies & Gentlemen.
Ms. Choi, Esther
Apparently, fluted details are all the rage right now. This scallop-shaped ridge pattern harkens back to early Egyptian times and can be used on everything from drawer fronts to wall paneling. This pattern adds warmth and texture that is bold without being too loud (with a touch of Art Deco vibes). The designers are having fun with it in culinary spaces (and even at the Kips Bay Dallas showhouse this year). “I must admit, I’m not a big fan of trends, but when I see a good design idea that shakes things up, I’m all in—and fluted kitchen cabinets are that new trend for me,” says Kesha Franklin, an interior designer. You can use this kitchen cabinet design in a modern home in natural wood finishes or in a transitional space in painted finishes. In the heart of the home, it adds warmth, depth, and interest.”
It’s the new must-have to have double islands
A Florida-based kitchen designed by HW Interiors has two parallel islands.
Glynn, Jessica
Usually, a short-lived trend survives on sheer sensationalism, but the jury is still out on this truly bespoke fad, which has been criticized as excessive. Nevertheless, the case has been made: Why have one island when you could have two? In this case, one island is set aside for food preparation, while the other is set aside for guests to gather. This appeals to gourmets who consider cooking a performance art and enjoy entertaining guests. In addition to the storage capacity, a CubeSmart facility looks like a dollhouse compared to this. “It’s a win-win,” says Heather Weisz, of HW Interiors. In a kitchen, double islands create a sight line to an important focal point, like a beautiful range or hood wall. Family and friends can stay close enough to converse, laugh, and feel connected without being near the chef’s prep area.”
If you have 145 square feet of unused kitchen space and a gaggle of hungry friends who watch The Great British Bake Off for fun, we can help.
Organizations are obsessed with tailor-made storage
In Becky Hillyard’s kitchen, a giant marble slab conceals spice cabinets.
Cella Jane Courtesy
It’s no secret that custom-made spice racks say “luxury” like nothing else. Just ask Cella Jane founder Becky Hillyard. As part of her newly built home’s kitchen design, she chose white oak built-ins and sliding panels that fit her spice jars and cooking necessities with precision that would satisfy even the most OCD of Home Edit fans. Hillyard says he has everything he needs for cooking behind the sliding panels. In fact, Middleby Designer Services Manager Stacy McCarthy tells us that the luxury storage trend has made waves with their design council, which met this week to discuss projected trends. “I love that the panels give me the option of having a clean, seamless kitchen but also a highly functional kitchen.” In McCarthy’s opinion, exterior cabinets with specific functions around appliances, such as spice drawers, oil drawers, and technical cabinets, are currently all the rage. This can be integrated with the range to create an all-in-one luxury island like that of a high-end restaurant.
There’s a Renaissance happening in the tile industry
In addition to the happy pops of yellow throughout this New Jersey family kitchen, designer Ellie Cullman took some risks with the stunning hexagon backsplash by Studium.
Piasecki, Eric
If you’re a naysayer who questions the aesthetic charisma of tile, we’d advise you to keep an open mind as these repeating bibelots are experiencing an artful revival. According to Jonathan Adler, the top kitchen trends in 2023 are tile, tile, and tile, which is why he launched his own Lunada Bay Tile collection this year. What advice would he give to tile enthusiasts? Pair rich wood cabinets in teak or walnut with a textured tile backsplash and you won’t regret it.”
There’s a new look for the Statement Appliance
In this classic English country house, an Esse electric range adds a fresh, funky touch.
The Smiths, Rachel
As for appliances, people going into 2023 are polarized about how they want these functional necessities to reside in their homes. “Consumers are looking to integrate their appliances seamlessly into their kitchen design, whether that’s a sleek modern kitchen with hidden appliances or something more traditional where the appliances make a statement,” Sweet says. Two very different designs result from this: either a wallflower-like fridge that hides well behind cabinet panels—or a bold, loud, and proud fridge that turns heads more than that piping hot beef Wellington you just cooked.
In fact, Pinterest searches on “refrigerator art” were up 90 percent this past year, according to Pinterest’s home and design creator management lead, Jeremy Jankowski, who doesn’t anticipate this trend slowing down anytime soon. People are turning a lot of norms on their heads and aren’t afraid to take some risks in expressing themselves, particularly at home, where work-from-home life abounds,” he says. As a result, soulful spaces are emerging with free self-expression in a form of maximalist self-expression reminiscent of the ’70s. All hail Barbie-pink food vessels!
It’s all about vintage these days
In Elena Reygada’s Mexico City apartment, a repurposed carpenter’s workbench is used as a kitchen island with a zinc countertop. The cabinet doors were also upcycled from other areas of the apartment.
M. Maureen Evans
The green-minded kitchen-dwellers of today are also putting their money where their mouth is, says Jankowski. “People are finding new ways to respect old stuff,” he says. Aspirational cabinet overhauls were the norm during previous trends, but Pinners are rejecting the mass-produced and taking care of spaces they already own with an authentic story behind them. Goodbye, aspirational cabinet overhauls. Hello, inventive cabinet refacing (courtesy of Grandpa’s shed).
A Designer’s Soft Spot Is the Built-In Banquette
A banquette moment in Augusta Hoffman’s latest design project, an Upper East Side apartment in Manhattan featuring Ralph Lauren sconces and Schumacher Rocky velvet.
Theodore Lenz
Last but not least, we’re saying goodbye to caution and putting our comfort first. “The trend of integrating the kitchen with living and dining continues,” says Robert Couturier. Augusta Hoffman’s latest design project, an Upper East Side apartment featuring a cozy banquette (in Schumacher Rocky performance velvet, of course) off the kitchen, is a perfect example of what a comfortable kitchen corner can be all about. There are two ways to design a kitchen in New York. The first would be a very practical kitchen with stainless steel appliances and stain-resistant seating. You can also layer in molding and warm colors, as well as fabric elements. Who can resist that route?” So, buy a good textile cleaner and create a cozy nook in the kitchen.3