Griffin Glover
The other day, Emily emailed me (Arlyn, EHD Editorial Director for anyone who’s not up to speed) with some ideas for upcoming blog posts, one concept being talking about some new kitchen trends she’s been noticing (and wanting) during all the research she and the design team have been doing this last year while designing the Portland project and mountain fixer. We chatted about a handful of design details she’s really loving right now and Jess and I went to work digging through her Pinterest boards to find examples to show you guys and talk through. Unlike a living room where you can swap out a shibori-print pillow with a cactus silk pick in the name of “nowness,” you can’t exactly just rip out a countertop or backsplash on a whim to keep up with the times. Makes sense given the most costly part of a kitchen are cabinetry and countertops, which stick around a bit longer.
I’d feel better calling these kitchen design inspirations than “trends” because a trend is fleeting, while a solid design choice can hold its own for decades (heck…even generations), and all of the things Emily called out are actually really classic, subtle/practical choices that can be made should you be in the middle of a kitchen renovation. This dark (we’re guessing stained) concrete in a kitchen by Paper House Project is yummy, sleek and modern (where the wood front cabinets bring in some warmth).
Here’s a cast concrete countertop—by Fraher Architects—that has more of a rustic edge, though the thinner unfinished plywood cabinetry keeps it from getting too industrial. The idea of no distinguished countertop, like over by the range, is interesting…the clean line is refreshing and your eye just instantly traces the cement-rendered cabinet frame (as it should).
The countertop thickness is pretty traditional (if not just a little thicker than normal) on the majority of this kitchen by Kimberly Ayres, but they go for broke (probably literally) on the island here.
It’s hard to see in this image, but the island has a waterfall edge on both sides, so the chunky, blockiness of the application is a big statement.
The reason that we are opting for the thick counter is that we aren’t really doing a backsplash but I wanted the marble to be more visually present. You see, the thickness of the stone isn’t actually 3 or 4 inches, it’s typically 2cm and faced out to look like that which means it will recede OVER your cabinets or add height to them.
Some trends are purely aesthetic, others are super practical…we’re filing this one under “practical.” For anyone who cooks, you know it’s impossible to chop on a stone counter (it’s totally not safe—slippery—and it ravages your knives). Of course, most people aren’t out here smashing garlic and chopping onions right on their quartz, but it’s still worth mentioning in case you use those thin plastic cutting boards. Plus, having a spot that you dedicate solely to prep—chopping, rolling, kneading—is a luxury, so if you have the space and your second home is happily at a countertop, this design detail might be of interest to you. Usually, we see mixed countertop material in this configuration: stone on the countertop surround and butcher block on the island, but here from English kitchen company Plain English Design (and in the images to follow, from Mike Tuck Studio and Studio McGee), the mix happens directly on the island.
Ohh this one (designed by Australian firm Hearth) has just a piece of marble, so they better be regularly whipping up weekend croissants or other pastry on that cold stone surface. Emily and the design team incorporated this look into the kitchen of the Portland project and OMG it looks so good (reveal to come, we promise).
A little shorter than what Emily used in Portland, but the glass-front and latch hardware here is so similar to what was installed in that kitchen (*heavily influenced by deVOL). You can stash toasters, coffee makers, whatever, without having to either leave it out on your counter (visual clutter) or lugging it from a high up shelf or lower cabinet somewhere. Oh, I bet that’s hidden small appliance storage right there in that bottom part of the cabinet shown above (design by Katie Martinez), while the top has…who knows what else (plates, pantry stuff, etc.
Remember this post about the kitchen cabinet evolution saga from the mountain fixer where Emily REALLY badly wanted beadboard-esque rustic wood (like deVOL does, below) and then it turned into a flat cabinet front with deep ridges but then everyone was like you’re ruining your life and the future of your family with those ridges, then Emily went with a Shaker front instead for practicality (except stay tuned because there’s an update there coming soon)…well, that look is what we’re talking about when we say “updated” beadboard. If you get a twitch every time you see an episode of House Hunters Renovation where the kitchen designer introduces a Shaker front cabinet with the same “we’re innovative rebels” vibe that Tim Cook presents a new iPhone, you might just be into this updated beadboard. These next few inspirations (by Megan Myers, Foomann and Madeleine Blanchfield) are even tighter (and check that extra thick concrete island…).
I love the first few photos with the more Scandi-inspired vibe and if you are looking to get the ones at the beginning then definitely hit up Sarah Sherman Samuels’ collection with Semihandmade. There’s been a ton of tile talk around EHD headquarters (it’s SUPER interesting around these parts), but mostly because, between the Portland and mountain houses, there have been SO.MANY.
Above, in a kitchen by Veneer Designs, it’s offset, like traditional brick-patterned subway tile is, but vertical.
While the offset installation feels more traditional, a stacked vertical definitely comes off more modern, but nice and clean.
The black vertical stack of the previous kitchen from Wit & Delight is a nice contrast to all the white marble. Opting for a color like a soft or moody blue—like in this kitchen via Heath Ceramics by Vaughn Johnson Architect—makes the rather simple look more interesting (and oh boy, how fun would contrasting grout be here?
