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The Mid-Year Kitchen Trend Report: Butter Yellow, Red Marble + 8 More Ideas For Your Next Reno (Or Dream Pin Board)
Our biggest post of the year around here is undoubtedly our kitchen trends exploration in January. You and the internet at large just love to see what’s new in these utilitarian-cum-showpiece spaces in our homes. So we decided to do a mid-year check-in to see what else might have materialized in our research since then, and wow, am I smitten. I think you will be, too.
Let’s deep dive.
#1: Double Bullnose Counter Edges
I have to be honest. I’m not 100% certain that this countertop edge finish is even called a “double bull nose,” but that’s what I started calling it when I first saw it (some Google searches confirmed at least some people also call it this). Then, like learning a new word and hearing it constantly after, I’ve been seeing this absolutely nonstop ever since. It is far and away the most prevalent “trend” I’ve found in the kitchen space (as well as the bathroom) this year and as much as I mentally retreat from a concept the more I see it, I really love this detail. It feels somehow classic and modern at the same time. You can see a close-up here by Decus Interiors.
Prepare yourself because this space by Anne Mcdonald Design for Isla Porter will make another appearance in this post (keep reading), but for now, it’s here to showcase the DBN (double bull nose) edge finish fully. I think this technique works particularly well on a heavily veined stone because it creates a bit more depth in the inset middle line. At full scale (meaning, seeing a kitchen, pulled back), it’s subtle but powerful.
We shared Sarah Sherman Samuel’s delicious kitchen for Semihandmade in our January kitchen trends post for different reasons, but it’s such a glorious space that we had to keep breaking it down to the details, including its use of the DBN counter edge.
Though I know I *just* said I prefer this treatment on a heavily veined natural stone, there is nothing wrong with it on a more subtle stone, either (it’s just a preference!). Our trendy gal, the DBN, looks wonderful here in this kitchen by House Nine Design.
#2: Red Marble
This one is bold, and not for the design meek, but wow, does it make an impact. Red, pink, and burgundy marbles have been slowly edging their way into our kitchen design vernacular, and I believe it’s broken out of the fringes to be more widely accepted. Red marble comes in maybe different types, just like other marbles, and some names you may want to acquaint yourself with if you’re dreaming of adding this to a future renovation are as follows: Rosso Collemandina, Rosso Levanto, Rosso Verona, Rosso Arabescato Orobico, Rosso Peperino, Rojo Alicante…and many more (note that some of the “rosso” labeling could also be “rojo” or simply “red” depending on origin and how the store is selling it). I’ve never typed “rosso” more in my life, but it’s a good idea to study all the different kinds to learn which shades and veining types are right for you.
The one here in this beautiful kitchen by Susannah Holmberg Studios appears to be Rojo Bilbao marble, though it’s hard to tell as the image is dark. One comment on the post mentions it’s an Alicante, but that didn’t look right to me. Either way, it’s a beautiful stone color to use as an accent or throughout.
Some red marbles have a white base and red veining, such as this surface in a kitchen by new-on-the-scene custom cabinetry company Isla Porter. This one is likely either a Calacatta Viola or Calacatta Borgogna, though I’m sure someone with expertise in natural stone could tell you more accurately if you were interested in it for your own home.
This stone in a kitchen by Abhishek Dekate is similar in coloring but far more dramatic. It’s stunning with a dark-toned wood cabinetry and darker bronze accents. A thick edge lip on the counter helps show it off even more. And because it would be hard to find a tile that could compete with this, if budget allows, it simply must be brought up on the wall, too.
No, this isn’t red, but it’s in the family, so I’m allowing it. How gorgeous is this pink stone (a Breccia Pernice marble), which is quieter and would be great with more of a linen or taupe cabinetry, similar to how it’s shown here in a post by the stone gallery, Starel Stones.
Here’s a Rosso Rubino marble from another stone purveyor, SSC Countertops out of Vancouver, BC. Their post mentions it’s resistant to scratches and heat, making it a great material choice for countertops and even flooring.
I’ve been in love with this kitchen by Workstead for nearly two years, having bookmarked it numerous times (basically, every time I see it), on all my inspiration hoarding platforms. It’s where I first saw a red stone and thought OMG I HAVE TO HAVE THIS ONE DAY. This is a warmer, brighter red than some of the burgundies and pinks shown above, but it really comes to life with the matching persimmon cabinetry. I’ll never tire of seeing this one.
#3: Dark Wood Cabinetry & Paneling
White oak and similar blonde woods (as well as white or painted cabinetry) have reigned supreme for well over a decade, but dark wood tones have slowly made a comeback. First in furniture, now abundantly in our kitchens. Unlike the vibrant red-toned cherry cabinets we all held on a Tuscan-inspired pedestal in the early 2000s, this dark brown wood is rich but neutral. You’ll find it both in traditional styles as well as more contemporary profiles, such as in this kitchen by Decus Interiors.
Another one above by Decus Interiors, but I wanted to show it because of the lighter floors they paired with the dark cabinets. I think these would also work well with a creamy-hued stone floor, such as limestone, or even something like slate if you get enough natural light (otherwise, it may feel cave-like).
Unnecessary Projects paired their warm wood cabinetry with a black stone, but kept it from getting too heavy with a blonde herringbone floor. (Note the wood handles and pulls in the same stain as the cabinets…beautiful.)
I always enjoy seeing the work of Norm Architects—possibly because it’s the complete opposite of how I envision my future dream home—including the quiet, simple luxury of the kitchen here by Danish cabinet makers Kolon. I can’t imagine making any kind of mess in here, let alone leaving a rogue crumb, but the tidiness and warmth of the materials is a nice vacation for my mind.
#4: Paneling > Tile
We can thank the rise in popularity of the English kitchen with the onslaught of paneling use, where tile was king. I love a good tile moment (like LOVE), but you have to admit shiplap, tongue and groove, and beadboard sure do up the ante on the charm factor in a kitchen. To keep it more “now,” opt for a modern tone like the earthy brown in the kitchen above by The Misfit House.
Jean Stoffer is American cabinet royalty IMHO, and she and her team love leaning into the use of paneling in a kitchen to achieve that pie-cooling-on-the-window-sill vibe (but make it elevated). Here, the wood is used throughout all walls and the ceiling, though you’ll often see it just along one or two walls where you might otherwise see tile.
Beadboard painted in the same color as your cabinetry can be much more affordable than solid slab marble (not to mention lighter without needing as much reinforcement for an added shelf). In a saturated burgundy like the vignette here by Uns Hobbs Interiors, the look is classic but forward-thinking.
Interior designer and content creator Lauren Costello revamped her 1930s Cape Cod kitchen for just over $1,000 (with no demo), including the MDF she used to cover her existing wall tile that no longer suited her aesthetic.
#5: Custom Edge Shapes On Slab Backsplashes
Slab stone has been popular as a backsplash material for a while now (it gives a kitchen a clean, luxurious vibe), but the new iteration of this is custom edge shapes. Here is one example—by Theresa Ory Interiors—I’ve been seeing more often, with an arabesque-style design around the range up into the hood. It’s lovely.
I cannot stop looking at this photo (the home was designed by Anna Knight Interiors). The sinuous, tapered shape up from the countertops around the windows is subtle but striking.
I warned you I’d be showing you Anne McDonald’s kitchen for Isla Porter again, this time to call out the gorgeous marble detailing around the windows. It would be stunning in just a straight angled cut, but it’s so much more romantic this way, dontcha think?
Gotta love a good ol’ scallop detailing. Thank you, Intimiate Living Interiors, for the beautiful inspiration.
As all the examples I’ve shown of this trend have been fairly classic and traditional, I wanted to pull something more modern to show that custom edging details on a wall slab can work in a contemporary setting, too. I’m particularly smitten with the delicate nosing trim here by Caroline Andreoni.
#6: Butter Yellow
Butter yellow has had a chokehold on cabinetry in the last year, and I am Here*For*It. It’s such a wonderful departure from all the white, cream, and green we’ve seen so much of over the past five or so years. Sherwood Kypreos used Farrow & Ball Matchstick here, which works beautifully with the red on the island and the teal floor tile for a buffet of color that still somehow feels subdued.
We first explored this beautiful kitchen by Sarah Sherman Samuel for her new paintable line for Semihandmade when we were discussing the double bull nose edge, but it’s such a perfect creamy, hand-churned butter color, it also had to go down here. It picks up the warm golden tones of the marble beautifully, and is in harmony with the stone floor.
Butter yellow seems to be primed for use with an accent color elsewhere on the cabinetry, like the grassy green on the island here in a space by Plain English. This hue has a way of looking like it’s been there forever, marinating in the sun, yet still feels really refreshing in terms of cabinetry colors we haven’t seen much of prior.
Just when you thought whipped butter yellow was just for traditional kitchens, in comes this modern, cool and edgy room by Sarah Chirazi. Peep the handles shaped like corn and leeks (and even the pedestal table that, according to the caption, is adorned in bronze figs, peppers, and whatever a “gombo” is.
And since it wouldn’t be a kitchen roundup without something from deVol, here’s a peep into one of their kitchen designs (slide 1) featuring the color du jour.
#7: Bold Cabinet Interior Colors
File this one under Fun & Flirty. I love the idea of a peek-a-boo bold color inside a cabinet or drawer. It’s likely most impactful in one or two areas, say, in an appliance garage or a coffee bar. The electric blue in this kitchen by Himlekök is a perfect complement to the terracotta cabinetry.
Scroll to the second slide to see the gorgeous interior of this already gorgeous pistachio-tinted modern kitchen by Murray Barker. The orange interior is a callback to the earthy clay stone on the countertops and backsplash, but with a bit more punch.
This is the first time I’ve heard of Pluck out of London, but I had so much fun scrolling through their colorful account, particularly to see all their enthusiastically hued larders (a.k.a. a large cupboard with pantry-type storage).
The persimmon interior of this chocolate brown Plain English cupboard sure does bring the dark, neutral outer shell to life. Imagine the surprise of opening that door and being met with an unexpected shade like that. Fun!
And just one more by Plain English, which clearly uses this interior paint pop often in their designs. (Scroll to see the second slide.)
#8: Sculleries
I first encountered the term scullery when I saw the space Lauren Lothrop Caron of Studio Laloc designed in her own home. (Perhaps I was late to the party, but better late than never!). Since then, I’ve seen these prep kitchens explode in popularity, which seem to have reached a fever pitch recently. For anyone not familiar with the term, a scullery was essentially a kitchen behind the main kitchen used to prep food and wash dirty dishes. There were maids who specifically tended to that space. Most of us wash our own dishes now, but more and more homes have been converting pantries, powder bathrooms, and even back patio spaces (like Caron did), to create the utility space.
The one above is technically not a scullery but rather a “flower room” from the Pasadena Showcase House, but functionally speaking, it’s essentially a (beautiful) scullery.
Even with its compact size, I’m sure most of us would gladly take this sweet scullery (by Winter McDermott Design) as our main kitchen. The rooms typically have a prep sink, plenty of counter space, and storage for food and large appliances.
Anna King & Co. converted a powder bathroom into this light and airy scullery. It may be just wide enough for a single person to work in, but it does the trick.
I started this section talking about Studio Laloc’s scullery, and here it is. Compact but functional, it seems to function as an “everything” utility room that just so happens to be so stinkin’ charming.
#9: Warm Scandinavian Modern Cabinetry
So far, we’ve seen a lot of traditional kitchens, heavy on the English design, but there’s another region making some (quiet luxury) noise in the space. Modern Scandinavian kitchens, particularly with this type of hardware-less drawer and door design seen above by Norm Architects, are everywhere right now. I think they’re an answer to the desire for something clean and contemporary that doesn’t feel sterile and unwelcoming.
Of course, Scandinavian design has been synonymous with light, blonde oaks like the wood used in the above kitchen by Nordiska Kök. The drama from the marble veining somehow grounds the modern design.
Here is a similar look in a more medium-toned warm wood by A.S.Helsingö, a Finnish company that sells retrofit cabinet fronts for IKEA kitchens.
This is another one by A.S.Helsingö but in a parchment color, melding two kitchen trends together in one space.
#10: Eat-In Kitchens
And finally, in the home stretch of all the beauty shared here today is the last trend: the eat-in kitchen. I grew up with an eat-in kitchen, where we ate all of our meals together as a family (the dining room had a formal table in it but was more a showpiece than an eating space). I’ve noticed an onslaught of kitchen rooms that skipped the coveted island in place of a large table and chairs that seem to have a life beyond the more quaint breakfast nook. It’s rustic, communal and functional, as the table can surely operate as a work and prep surface as well, especially with a marble top like in this kitchen by Parsnip Design.
A clever 8-seater table takes pride of place in this compact gallery kitchen that might be short on space but long in style. This Madrid home was featured in Clever.
Bigger isn’t always better (or possible), especially in compact Parisian apartments. This one, by Orsini Daventure via Architectural Digest, fits in a small but functional kitchen with plenty of dining space thanks to a comfy banquette.
Having an eat-in kitchen is ideal for families who want to be close to each other while doing different things in a more closed-up floor plan. I can imagine my kid hanging out in that booth and table (this one is another by deVol), having a snack, coloring, doing homework (eventually) while someone else cooked. Does an island also accomplish this? Sure, but frankly, I do not like sitting and eating at an island.
The best of both worlds here: An island and an eat-in kitchen, by Nordiska Kök.
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So much to digest there, I know, but so much good! As I mentioned here and basically every article I’ve ever written, I don’t love a trend for trend’s sake, but I do love seeing beautiful ideas take foot and become more accessible to all of us. Drop your thoughts or any observations in the comments below and let’s chat about it!
Until the next time…
Opening Image Credits: Design by Sarah Sherman Samuel | Photo by Daniel Peter
I learn SO much from everything you write. I have to comb through it all again. When clients ask me what’s trending, I feel like I have info to share and it makes my job better. Thank you so much for all the work you put in to compiling this. I learned a lot this morning. (The double edge to me in any real home with kids would be full of crumbs and crud).
It really is just so special.
I agree!! We did terracotta cabinets in our (in progress!) reno and they are LOVELY – cast a beautiful light into the room, add so much depth, change tones depending on the time of day – we are very happy! It’s fun to mix metals, too – we did copper pulls for a tonal look!
I’m a little sad I missed the red marble trend. I’m rather indifferent to counter looks, but this, especially in the pink tones, is stunning.
Love the dark wood, love the butter yellow, love the brightly coloured cabinet interiors, would only ever have an eat in kitchen.
Think sculleries are dumb and a waste of money but an inevitable result of the showcase kitchen in open plan living areas. People now have second kitchens to use instead of their actual kitchen.
Love the persimmon kitchen too!!!
Have to contribute my own favourite painted interior cabinet and dark wood kitchen.
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sculleries (or butler pantries) are actually incredibly functional if you have the space! it allows for more styled open shelving in your kitchen that can be used as more of a display and less for functional storage and it is a perfect place to put countertop appliances so they are not sitting out and cluttering your countertop.
I’m in it for the conutertop appliance storage, BTW. I dont think I need another space to house dirty dishes (though I get the desire to hide it away if you have an open kitchen), but I know it’s mostly just a large walk-in pantry that I’m looking for!
For the right lifestyle, a scullery kitchen makes sense. My childhood best friend’s mom was an avid party host and they had a catering kitchen adjacent to their main kitchen that was essential. They needed to have a secondary space for managing food out of view of their (fancy schmancy) parties. I feel like the eat in kitchen is the other extreme – where all the food prep is in your face. I’m not a fan. My messy kitchen is the last thing I want to look at during dinner. Not on a daily basis or during a party. I’m team dining room all the way.
We devoted a section of our last laundry room (adjacent to the kitchen) for scullery/large appliance storage and it was one of our better design decisions, especially when entertaining large groups. Making the space multi-purpose increased its use dramatically.
Brilliant, this is my fav kind of post! What eye candy!
So happy to see (and get a little validation) the eat-in kitchen option. During the kitchen renovation last year on our 1920 house we deliberated on an island, but chose to keep the table my family grew up using from the 1950’s. What I like is the space gives us the option to change to an island or work table later.
Yes! I think SO many people renovate their kitchens and assume a giant island is the only way to go because it’s considered “elite” but shoving an island in doesn’t always work for some layouts or even the function of the family, and a table would be a much better solution! Let’s all start making our homes work for US and our lives, rather than simply being show pieces for the Internet that will literally never see or care about our homes. <3
I will never get behind any kitchen or bathroom trend that creates more nooks and crannies that are hard to clean.
Amen, sistah
Friends don’t let friends put beadboard in their kitchen! The previous owners of our old house used beadboard as the backsplash in the kitchen (and as wainscot in the bathroom). Trying to get tomato sauce (or toothpaste) splashes out of the crevices was a nightmare!
I’ve used a good portion of these trends!
Last house kitchen (designed in 2020): paneling backsplash (was original), detail cut stone stove backsplash, eat in kitchen with a long table running down the center
Current house kitchen (designed in 2023): paneling backsplash (installed, because i generally don’t love tile), planned to go with a butter yellow cabinet and deep aubergine island but loved the aubergine so much we went with it for all, added a scullery
Current house bathroom (designed in 1990/2024): The dated bathroom had a fabulous red marble sink, so we leaned in and painted the vanity a dark blush pink and added paneling 3/4s of the way up painted the same color to bring the drama (plus wallpaper above)
Pictures?!
2020 kitchen (listing photo, so we took the table out)
2023 (current) kitchen
2023 scullery (pre-styling) (I don’t have any photos of the bathroom – it’s awkwardly shaped and hard for a non-pro to photograph! we’re hoping to get professional photos of our home in a year or so when we complete more projects!)
Would it be possible to show the pics here with links to the Insta posts/credit for the accounts for those of us who don’t have Instagram, or don’t have it on the device we read the blog on? Thanks!
Love it! Goodness the “butter” color is so dreamy. We are renovating a craftsman/english-ish kitchen right now. Where are we finding all of these beautiful cabinet colors? I would love to be able to select butter yellow or another color from a paint deck but am having a hard time finding new, unfinished cabinets to be able to do a fun and festive color instead of a standard white shaker cabinet.
Always love these posts full of inspiration. Even now that our kitchen is done, it’s still very nice to see everything that is out there. The double bullnose seems like a cleaning nightmare to be honest 😂 Some of the custom detailling is probably also harder to clean, but I do really like the ones that flow into a shelf. The bold interior colours are very cool, might consider doing something similar in another cupboard. I don’t think I’d ever install a red marble myself, but the combinations shown here are mostly quite lovely. We chose dark wood cabinets and combined them with blue tiles and a white countertop, so definitely a fan of the dark wood trend. According to the guys who installed the tiles, we made the most extravagant choice of all the houses (we live in een new build block with 14 houses), altough I don’t find it that extravagant at all. I mean, yes, it’s colourful, but the red marble shown here seems a lot more extravagant to me. On the other hand, I don’t know what our neighbours chose, so yeah, maybe in comparison we are :-) One request: being European and in that sense… Read more »
The bullnose is glorious and indulgent and all kinds of wonderful. BUT, is that a massive slab of marble on top of another massive slab of marble. Who can afford this?? Also, would the bullnose eventually just be a grime magnet?
The scullery is a mental idea in a residential home. It’s giving handmaids tale.
That’s not how elaborate edge profiles are created. There’s usually a small amount of stone glued/laminated to the edge to build up the profile. See attached diagram for examples (the dotted lines are where the piece is attached):
How BIZARRE! I did NOT post this pic of pulls and knobs. It should be a pic of countertop edge profiles.
I think that edge profile is called a double full bullnose (at least on the above chart it is)
SO happy to see eat-in kitchens making a come back! would take this over an island ANY day!
SO happy to see eat-in kitchens making a come back! would take this over an island ANY day!
SO happy to see eat-in kitchens making a come back! would take this over an island ANY day!