The kitchen is no longer just a place to cook—it’s where families gather, friends connect, and memories are made. If you’re planning a kitchen remodel this year, you’ll want to know the hottest trends shaping spaces across the country. Here are the top five kitchen remodeling trends for 2025 that blend both beauty and function:

1. Warm, Natural Tones & Textures
White kitchens are giving way to richer, warmer hues. Think creamy taupes, soft terracottas, muted greens, and earthy browns. Natural materials like wood, stone, and handmade tile are taking center stage, creating a more relaxed and organic feel. Homeowners are craving spaces that feel lived-in, comfortable, and timeless.

2. Smart & Sustainable Appliances
Efficiency is in. From energy-efficient refrigerators to voice-controlled faucets, today’s kitchens are smarter than ever. Homeowners are prioritizing sustainability—choosing appliances with eco-friendly certifications, water-saving features, and low energy use. Bonus: they’re stylish too.

3. Hidden Storage & Clean Lines
Clutter-free is key in 2025. Homeowners are embracing minimalist aesthetics with hidden pantries, appliance garages, and custom pull-out drawers. Cabinets now extend to the ceiling, offering extra storage while maintaining a sleek look. The goal? A streamlined space where everything has a place.

4. Statement Lighting
Goodbye basic pendants—hello sculptural lighting! Designers are using lighting fixtures as focal points that double as artwork. Oversized pendants, mixed metal finishes, and soft, ambient LED strips under cabinets or shelves are being used to set mood and style.

5. Multi-Functional Islands
Kitchen islands are getting a serious upgrade. They’re not just for prep anymore—they’re becoming hubs for dining, working, entertaining, and even housing appliances like wine fridges or microwave drawers. Waterfall countertops and contrasting island cabinetry add a custom feel that stands out.

Final Thoughts
Whether you’re planning a full remodel or just looking to refresh your space, these kitchen trends are all about combining beauty, function, and personality. The heart of the home is evolving—are you ready to transform yours?

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 Our homes should be our safe havens, our zen places,  comfortable retreats where we enjoy daily activities and spend time with those we enjoy the most. We as designers have pivoted our way of thinking and are designing, indoor as well as outdoor spaces, sometimes unconventionally- creating a very customized environment for each client Not only are our product selections curated to be aesthetically pleasing but we must create our clients’ spaces to be functional while also practical. We look at the “value” of a designed home not only in terms of “resale value” but we design their home with the intention of providing them with one that delivers happiness, security and promotes wellness while they are living in it. First and foremost, when designing a space I consider using products that are pleasing to the senses. Eco-conscious and sustainability are priorities. Read on and see what’s new and exciting in the realm of interiors and see what our trade partners have introduced to create value for each one of us.

BATHROOM TRENDS:

• Freestanding tubs are very popular and offer a streamlined, clean look. Bath trays can be laid across the width of the tub to hold soaps, a book, a scrub brush, phone or other items. Appealing to one’s visual + olfactory senses, Kohler offers (the perfect name too) the Stillness freestanding bath. Light, fog and aromas can be changed according to one’s mood. An interesting tip: Our olfactory sense plays the biggest role in our memory. Scent triggers memory more than any other sense.

I write and speak quite often about biophilic design which is a concept used indoors to increase connectivity to the natural environment through the use of nature including wood elements and plants. I feel that plants are not a trend and should always be incorporated into interiors. Note: Some plants help clean the air-in particular aloe vera, snake plants, peace lilies and the Boston fern (which remove more formaldehyde than any other plant).

• Niches have become increasingly popular in bathrooms for the shower to store shampoos and other products. Since they are made custom, it is up to our clients to determine what shape and size they prefer. The first question I ask is what their tallest shampoo bottle is and how many bottles they would like to store here. Examples of different configurations are below:

• If you are building a new home or adding on to an existing one, a great concept to consider is including a bathroom that leads right to the backyard. This facilitates having guests access the bathroom without the mess or inconvenience while you’re entertaining.

• The same is true for mud rooms or pet baths. Multi-purpose mudrooms/laundry rooms and pet baths are a spectacular use of space and functionality!

Talk about an unconventional bathroom? The bathroom above is awesome! Physical fitness juxtaposed with personal grooming is 100% custom for sure!

• Adding radiant heated flooring underneath the tile can create the ultimate luxurious bathroom. To learn more about radiant heated floors, click here Heated towel bars that can be installed on a wall are a great add-on as well. Not onlyare they functional as towel warmers but in the colder months, they can be great for drying mittens, gloves, etc.

• How do I love this product by MrSteam? Let me count the ways: 1. The linear Steamhead is available for a flush mount or discretely tiled in. 2. Available in 7 finishes 3. It features an integrated oil tray that infuses steam with essential oils. Ahhhhhh...ZEN

KITCHEN TRENDS:

*Lighting is everything in a space! Light bulbs are measured by color temperature from 1,000-10,000; the lower the number, the warmer the temperature. (oranges/yellows/reds) a higher temperature, of over 5,000K the light will be cooler like the blues on a computer screen. According to Eric Jerger, VP of Cooper Lighting Systems, white and blue light negatively impact melatonin levels, making it difficult to sleep. Nighttime trips to the bathroom or kitchen, illumination of 2,000K will help one to fall back asleep faster.

• The above photo adds ambient lighting and wayfinding for evening trips to the kitchen. With the popularity of kitchen islands, pendant lighting creates ambiance as well as task lighting if someone is preparing food at the island.

• Another popular trend in kitchen design is to include open, free-floating shelving. The shelves can be lined up and equidistant from one another or staggered to create an off-set look. The photo below shows same-length shelves lined up together. For those who are tchotchke collectors, this look tends to work better in a more minimalist, uncluttered setting.

• Microwave drawers seem to be a nice option for alot of my clients as they are concealed and free up counter space. A taller client who noted that this type of microwave is not ideal for taller people who would need to bend down to access it. The buttons are on the top of the microwave rather than on the front of it for easier access. The cost of the microwaves are slightly higher than a counter-sitting or wall-mounted one but a nice option to consider. A common spot to place these is in an island.
• Are you open or closed-minded when it comes to your home in terms of designated rooms assigned or an open space? We’re taking down a lot of walls these days to open up spaces and that includes kitchen to dining room, living room to dining room (shown in the photos below), and more. We are mindful of the acoustics to help absorb sound, and in order to meet this particular condo building’s requirements, our installers glued a natural cork underlayment to the floor and then glued the LVT flooring to the cork. For homeowners who like to have a designated room for family and guests to eat meals, this may not be the way to design but for this client, they prefered to have a large screen TV mounted on the wall with seating at an appropriate distance from the TV.

• Wood ceiling beams are right on point right now and I absolutely love this look incorporated into a background of white or light-colored walls and ceilings. This adds to the whole
• Farmhouse movement which is very trendy today. The farm-to-table concept in dining at restaurants has motivated designers to duplicate this concept when designing kitchens. While a relaxed vibe, practicality must be taken into consideration while selecting durable and very washable products but ones that families with children, pets or even messy adults can live in and not worry about staining, scratching or breaking the furnishings. In other words, we use Performance fabrics, commercially durable furniture at times. We may also introduce an ottoman used to set a tray of food or drinks on as well as a place to rest your feet on. The photo below shows other trends such as:
• Black steel framed windows which offer energy efficiency as well as thermal performance. The look is sleek and clean.
• Wooden ceiling beams add a biophilic touch by bringing nature indoors as well as incorporating the farmhouse look. The beams can be used pretty much in any room of the house.

• I recently spoke with Ron Snyder, President of Electronic Solutions of Greenville, an audio & visual systems integration company based in Greenville, NC. Their services include Control4 smart installations. The coolest new product he mentioned is the Seura Hydra indoor waterproof TV. The TV can be used, as shown in the photo below, in a kitchen as well as a bathroom, or even a shower. You can read more about what they do and the latest technology tips in residential and commercial interiors (and exteriors!) by clicking  here

Whatever your design vibe is, I always try to include as much natural lighting in a space as possible, whether it be with windows, skylights or solar tubes. I mentioned design vibe vs. style as I always encourage my clients not to lock in with one particular style but to accumulate all of their ideas and design goals taken from different styles, vibes and feels and create their own with us! We like to be unique while practical and when new trends come our way, we like to share them to see if it works for a project. One trend does not fit all!

—

Stephanie Nickolson

As Principal of her eponymous firm, Stephanie Nickolson Design, Inc., Stephanie celebrates over 35 years in the design field, specializing in the art of infusing natural materials, textures and lighting to create warmth, depth and exciting sensory experiences in each of her interiors.

The boutique design firm offers full-service residential and commercial interior design with a sub-specialty in hospitality design including hotel, restaurant, banquet hall, senior living facilities, golf + country clubs, sororities + fraternities, condominiums, boutiques, salons + spas and health + wellness centers.

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In the past I may have mentioned how important it is to include you pets when you are remodeling. I have shared with you some clever sleeping accommodations for your companion dog or cat.  Today I want to share some ideas and storage solutions for your companion’s food and water.

Many times when we are designing a new kitchen space for a client the question of pet food storage and bowls comes up.  Our dogs and cats are an integral part of our lives and thus, we want to make sure to accommodate them whenever and wherever possible when designing a new space, especially the kitchen area.

The following are some stylish and practical solutions to make your life, as well as that of your companion, easy and stress free.

The storage of your pet’s food and treats deserves a stylish solution.  Think about creating your own containers that can be displayed in your kitchen or pantry area.

Ordinary canisters can be painted and decorated using stencils and appliqués to bring character and color to your room.  There are many easy, basic computer software programs that allow you to add a personal touch.

If you are not planning new cabinetry, there are several unique and stylish solutions for your companion’s food and water bowls. A simple wooden stool can be converted into a portable food/water station.

Just cut out holes for bowls and paint the stool in a room coordinating color and you have a custom solution for your pet.  Consider adding your companions name to the tray or select bowls that match your dishes.  There are wonderful glass and porcelain bowls that can be found in local thrift stores and antique malls.

A pair of small children’s chairs is an inexpensive flea market find.

Cutouts for bowls, some custom lettering – maybe even a fun, bright paint color can turn a $40 investment into something your pet will love.  Consider that larger dogs prefer bowls that are raised up off the floor 6” – 12” and you are also providing them a more comfortable eating solution.

Perhaps you are tight on space.  This solution provides not only bowls for water and food but also storage for toys, leashes, etc.

This solution utilizes a standard bench, available at many retailers and cuts openings for your own bowls.  However at 16” – 18” in height, this solution is best for taller dogs.

Even the most mundane item can become a unique and stylish feeding station.

Here an old Coca-Cola crate has been turned into a great solution for this little guy.  You could do the same with an old suitcase, providing cutouts in the lid and some stylish bowls.

Finally, this small chest of drawers became a complete feeding and food storage solution.

With a bit of carpentry skills, the top is hinged to provide storage for treats and food.  The middle drawer can hold leash, collar and toys.  The bottom drawer has been modified to incorporate a solid panel containing bowls.  This can easily be closed when needed.  This way you can recycle a piece of furniture and provide great function at the same time.

But what if you are redesigning your kitchen, butler’s pantry or mudroom and including new cabinetry?  Then you have a few additional options for your pets feeding and food storage.

We often specify a recycling center pullout to hold treats and dry food.

Many have lids and handles for convenience.

As for built-in food and water bowls consider an area at the end of an island or corner of the kitchen, built into the base for a convenient height and fun style.

The lower toe kick area also is a great and inconspicuous area for feeding.

In this case, we customized a stainless insert into a drawer built into the base.  There is even a lidded area for treats and food storage.   When not in use, the drawer slides conveniently back into hiding.

Our companions are an everyday part of our lives.  When designing your kitchen, pantry or mudroom area, please give consideration to their needs.  With a little planning and creativity, you can have stylish and beautiful solutions that are practical and functional as well.

We have tried something different this month and would like your feedback if subjects like these were interesting. Please let me know.

Best,

Michael A. Menn AIA, CGR, CAPS, CGP

Michael Menn Ltd.

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Your home is your castle, so spoil yourself with an absolutely unforgettable master suite to call your own. The bedroom is the space where your day begins and ends, as such; it should be as beautiful as it is functional with fabulous custom details to reflect your personality and individual style. From color palettes and bed linens to storage solutions for closets, each and every detail should be carefully planned to meet your daily needs.

One of the most common home additions or renovations is a new master bedroom. Whether you bought an older home in an established neighborhood and the current bedroom lacks amenities, or you have sent your offspring out into the world and are ready spend money on yourself, there are a few things with which you might want to spoil yourself.

But where do you start? Some suites can be designed as only a sleeping area with closets and either an attached or detached bathroom. Others may go in an entirely different route with a sleeping area, a sitting area, where you can read or watch TV without bothering your partner, multiple closets and a killer bathroom that may have separate vanities, enclosed toilet room, and a separate shower and tub area.

What’s right for you? Well that depends on the space you can allocate for the suite, the money you have to invest in the design and construction and the time it takes to become reality.
So, what might you want to include in your dream bedroom? Here are 10 things to consider making your slumber land a dream come true.

1. Location 

Your primary concern with a new master bedroom should be its location. This is probably the most difficult and complicated decision of the adding-on/remodeling process. You want to know how your new bedroom will relate to the landscape, or if it even can, if it is not on the ground floor. You also have to consider privacy and how the circulation of the layout will work with the rest of the plan.

2. Access to the Outdoors

Once you have defined a good position for your new bedroom, think about its access to the outdoors. In the past it was less common to have direct exterior access from a bedroom. Current trends indicate a preference for master bedrooms on the ground level with doors opening onto private patios and garden spaces.

3. Windows

Moving past doors, your next concern should be the windows. Studies show that darker rooms induce sounder sleep. Of course, you are not always sleeping; finding a balance between light and dark takes some careful planning.

4. Views

If you are fortunate enough to have views, take full advantage of them. You don’t have to have an ocean view, views into gardens, swimming pools and courtyards can be just as dramatic.

5. A Sitting Area

Another common trend is to provide a sitting room within the master bedroom. Designs can even feel like a small living room, as in this house. These spaces can be very quiet places where you can get away and spend time writing, reading or just contemplating. If a sitting area is on your wish list, allow at least an extra 150 square feet of space to accommodate furnishings.

6. A Fireplace

A fireplace provides the perfect focal point for any room. If you want one in your bedroom, work with your architect or designer to determine how much emphasis it should have. The traditional stone fireplace in this room dominates, but modern gas fireplaces of all shapes and sizes can be found to coordinate with your design and taste. Keep in mind that there are many municipalities in major metropolitan areas where wood-burning fireplaces are no longer allowed.

7. The Ceiling

If there is any room in your house where you will be frequently looking at the ceiling, the bedroom is it. Even if you have a flat ceiling, finishes of infinite varieties are available to create an enchanting space. Consider that if this space had a flat ceiling, even the addition of ceiling planks alone would be a very nice touch

8. Lighting

From candleholders to hidden alcoves, bedrooms offer plenty of opportunities for creative uses of artificial lighting. The bedroom in this luxury home relies on various light sources. The crystal chandelier provides a glittery display; bedside lamps provide intimate and personal illumination; while cove lighting at the cornice molding gives a romantic glow and accentuates the ceiling detail. And don’t forget about candles; nothing provides more intimacy than these. Consider dimmer switches and avoid recessed cans in the ceiling of a bedroom. Remember, you will frequently be looking up, and it can be unpleasant to have your partner suddenly flip a switch and blind you as if you were in an interrogation room.

9. Entertainment

Not everyone wants a television in the bedroom, but this is a desirable amenity for some. Carefully consider placement and whether you want a built-in, as seen in this bedroom. Even if you prefer no TV, music can add another pleasant dimension. It may be as simple as providing a couple of strategically placed small wireless speakers

10. A Theme

Finally, give your new bedroom a theme. For example, a tropically inspired space is a coherent, peaceful and restful retreat.

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There have been so many innovative and inspiring products at the International Builders Show I wanted to share a few with you.

Barn Door Style Hardware

Grab Bars – Aging In Place in Style

Fireplace venting

Interesting/Modern Doors

Sherwin Williams Colors for 2015

New Oven Hoods

Stylish, organized closet.

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Technology is everywhere. It’s hard to imagine any aspect of our lives that doesn’t involve it. From phones to our cars, from work to our home, technology enhances our lives, bringing us closer to information, entertainment, and each other. Often though, our different devices exist in isolation, connecting us to the world, but rarely working together to create a more elegant whole. It doesn’t have to be that way.

Home Theater

Imagine a home that greets you by unlocking the front door, disabling the security system, turning on the lights, and welcoming you with your favorite music. Imagine a home that automatically lowers shades before the sun can fade your furniture and decor. Imagine a favorite song playing in each room of the house, or the latest hit film streaming and displayed across a wall-sized screen. Imagine promoting all this from your smart phone or iPad.

This is only the beginning of the promise offered by an intelligent home. Beyond showcasing the latest technology, the ultimate goal is to make interaction with your homes advanced automation features a pleasure. Exceptionally easy, yet wonderfully sophisticated, it is technology designed to help you manage your life. It’s about living in the home of the future now.

Home Automation

Once thought of as a luxury, technology is now thought of as an essential part of the infrastructure of a home. New client’s today have grown up with the convenience of technology and have moved the category from luxury to expected when the scope of a new project is discussed.

Today’s clients expect technology and design to work seamlessly together to blend into their decor; empowering homes with the convenience of technology without disrupting the aesthetics. Client’s want the benefits of technology without the feeling of obtrusion which has lead to the development of innovative and creative ways to lessen the visual impact of electronics by making them minimally visible or sometimes placed altogether out of sight.

The methods for hiding technology fall into five distinct categories. One of the most common ways to hide something is to conceal it. Electronics may be covered up with artwork, enclosed in cabinetry or retracted into the ceiling with motorized lifts. Another popular method is to camouflage the equipment – where the devices are disguised as something else. Speakers may be integrated into fake rocks or faux painted to match the wall or ceiling finish. A two-way framed mirror can cover a TV to transform it into a covert, entertainment system. Consolidation is another method that allows you to reduce wall clutter by combining controls onto a single keypad, or touchscreen, or mobile device. Remote location is a way – removing unsightly equipment from the living space and relocating it in the basement or equipment closet. And finally, some equipment could possible be eliminated altogether.

Finding a recommended / certified system integrator to help with the advanced planning, design philosophy, and product selection is crucial to expected results. Specific challenges related to distributed audio, distributed video, media rooms, home theater, video surveillance, security, access control, networks, climate control, lighting – among others – need to be addressed.

A qualified firm can be found by using a system integration company that belongs to CEDIA (Custom Electronic Design & Installation Association). CEDIA is an international association of companies that specializes in designing and installing electronic systems for the home. The association was founded in 1989 and has more than 3,500 member companies. CEDIA members are established and insured businesses with bona fide qualifications and experience in this specialized field. Certified CEDIA technicians are not electricians as many people assume. They have undergone extensive training related to low-voltage systems and have maintained continuing education standards and requirements.

A qualified experienced system integrator will help make complex technology simple and provide advanced, professional, creative resources dedicated to ensuring a projects success. From beautifully integrated design to the finest home technologies, they will guide the client through each step of the design and installation process to make certain clients have exactly the products they need, the features they want, and the personal attention that will make the home of the future a joy to own today.

Thank you,

Joe Barrett from Barrett’s Technology Solutions.

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This was my twentieth consecutive year and I walked away with a new sense of reinvigoration and design practicality. If you are planning to build or remodel a kitchen, you will be right on trend if you choose white cabinets – no wait, make that dark brown!  White cabinetry will always be in style, but there has been a rise in dark brown kitchens winning award after award.

Some of the trends that are selling houses today are: the inclusion of large walk-in pantries and the reduction in the actual number of cabinets being used in the Kitchen, more sensible bathrooms and comfy doggy digs.

Practical floor plans were the subject of a seminar I took. Where the 1990s and early 2000s were all about excess in home building (bigger is better syndrome), a new sobriety has settled in and focused on maximizing the utility of every square inch of the floor plan. Consumers have spoken and the Dining Room and Living Room have been ditched in lieu of an open area that encompasses the Kitchen, Family Room and a single Dining Area.

See the rest of this project on Houzz.

One of the things that many homebuilders have noticed is that they have neglected to factor in the family pet in their designs. With 39% of American households having pets, and consumers spending $51 billion on pets in 2011, creating designated pet areas somewhere in the house is a an element that consumers are demanding. The place that we incorporate pets is the “Family Foyer,” This is the area that has morphed from the Laundry Room and transition space from the Garage into the family hub where the pets hang out and eat, the drop zone for backpacks, cell phones and daily belongings.

The next design idea that is becoming more dominant is ‘Open Space’. Forget about kitchens with small tables for two or four, we are now creating kitchens that have Breakfast Nooks that seat 10 or 12 and these are becoming the main dining area for small or large gatherings.  Elaborate pantries are being incorporated so that we can cut back on expensive kitchen cabinetry. Clients don’t care as much about the cabinets themselves, but about having more space in the Kitchen.

See the rest of this project on our Houzz page.

Other trends being incorporated are the use of white Carrara marble in lieu of granite for countertops in Kitchens and Bathrooms. “White is still everything!” said Karen Kassik a designer I know form Anchorage, Alaska and the Best in American Living Awards Judge. Master Baths, which during the McMansion era, were expensive glitter palaces with chandeliers and crystal sconces are being designed smaller and more practical. Of note, was the lack of bookcases being included in new home designs. I am assuming that with the rise of e-books and e-book readers, there are actually less real books in a house, and hence the obituary of the bookcase.

So in a nutshell, what is selling are fewer kitchen cabinets, smaller, more sensible bathrooms and comfy doggy digs.

Practically,

Michael

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