When picturing a kitchen, it's typical to think of warmth—whether in terms of family memories made gathering around the table, the heat that radiates from cooking or the homey aesthetic often found in it. In the recent past, popular kitchen designs have consisted of a sleek, minimalist theme best suited for a modern flair. This year, the innovative technology is now incorporated among personalized kitchens with color, character and comfortability.

"In 2024, color made a big comeback. Kitchens moved away from the all-white standard, embracing warmer tones, richer textures and personality-driven design choices. Homeowners began leaning into spaces that felt lived-in and inviting, with layers of color and material adding depth to the overall look," says Todd Finkenstadt, co-owner of Kitchen Tune-Up Glen Rock. "Now in 2025, this movement has expanded further. One of the biggest shifts has been the surge in natural wood-grain cabinetry, with white oak leading the way. The warmth and organic feel of oak brings character to the kitchen, balancing modern clean lines with a timeless, natural element."

He adds that there is a rising demand for built-in dining nooks, which create a cozy, intimate atmosphere and expanded storage. There has been a resurgence of color, unique designs, and wood and quartz materials reminiscent of the kitchens that were trending decades ago. The difference, however, is that there are more customization options today than ever before.

"A few years ago, everyone wanted the bright white kitchen—walls, cabinets, countertops, everything. Now, there's more balance. Clients want a white or neutral backdrop, but they're layering in wood textures, stone surfaces with character and color on the lower cabinets or island. It's a shift from 'all one look' to a mix that feels more natural and lived-in," affirms Takia Livingston, owner of Kitchen Tune-Up Bloomfield.

The shift from clean, contemporary kitchens to creative and customized kitchens is not necessarily one extreme or the other. Homeowners often find a combination of the two, which is perfectly aligned with the idea of making the space individualized.

"Just a few years ago, all-white and minimalist kitchens dominated. Today's homeowners want more warmth and individuality. Instead of sterile spaces, kitchens are becoming highly personal, layered, and textured," says Jeff Toren, owner of Kitchen Tune-Up Main Line. "Functionality is also driving design—people want more than just a beautiful space; they want storage solutions, flexible layouts and technology that makes everyday life easier."

If sprucing up a neutral kitchen, experiment with accent materials, colors and pieces to add something new without an overwhelming change.

"Warmer tones and stains are back in [for] arches, doorways and accent pieces: Warmer whites paired with medium-warm stains on either oak or maple, as opposed to stark white; recessed panels for clean lines; varying shades of green/earth tones," adds Kari Taverna, senior kitchen and bath design consultant at Weiler's Kitchen and Bath Design Center. "We're happily out of the gray era, [it's] been on the downslope to open the door for warmth and color."

Consistently popular shaker cabinets are an excellent way to start, because they are an essential piece but not the centerpiece of a kitchen.

"For many years, the vast majority of our cabinet sales were white and off-white recessed panel doors styles like a shaker-door style. Recently, more unusual painted colors like greens and stained finishes have grown in popularity. Some past door styles and finishes like raised-panel door styles and glazed finishes have just started to sell again after 20 years," says Paul McAlary, president of Main Line Kitchen Design. "There are much more style, color and wood variations than in years past, which is refreshing."

Whether adding a pop of color among neutrals or all-encompassing color, playing with shaker cabinet aesthetics harmoniously blends modern and classic design.
"Two-tone cabinets—light uppers paired with a deeper base color—are especially popular because they add interest without overwhelming the space. We're also seeing a lot of requests for functional upgrades, like pull-out storage, organizers and soft-close hardware. It's not just about the look anymore—it's about creating a kitchen that works harder for the family using it every day," says Livingston.

"Cabinet designs are moving toward two-tone looks and textured finishes, such as fluted or reeded doors, that add subtle character. To complete the look, mixed-metal hardware—like brass with matte black—along with oversized pendant lighting bring a cohesive, modern feel," adds Toren.

Finkenstadt explains that blues, greens and wood tones have been popular choices for cabinet colors. Color choices can pair with shapes and lines to accentuate and to mimic the desired era of design trends. Sharp lines, simplicity and open space are common attributes of modern designs that work well with any color choice.

"Rich, inviting finishes bring character and comfort to the kitchen. While the classic shaker door continues to be our most popular style, the slim shaker is quickly gaining attention," continues Finkenstadt. "The slim shaker is a modern twist on the traditional design, featuring slimmer rails and stiles on the border. It's the perfect middle ground for homeowners torn between the clean simplicity of a flat panel and the timeless appeal of a shaker door. With its subtle detailing, it delivers a fresh, modern look without losing the warmth and versatility people love about shaker cabinetry.

Considering both look and functionality simultaneously is important, especially when it comes to a kitchen. When it comes to choices in flooring, functionality is a bit more important because of the messiness that is characteristic of kitchens. Whether a floor is subject to damage from kids, pets, water or food, luxury vinyl plank remains a strong choice for durability and longevity.

"Luxury vinyl planks are somewhat indestructible. I love a good natural hardwood, but it may not be the best fit for all areas, such as when you have your living room flooring continue right into the kitchen," explains Rich Lauletta, owner of Haddon Flooring. "I have luxury vinyl in my house, and my three crazy kids put it to the test for sure. It still looks great."

Luxury vinyl planks are available in a variety of styles and colors, so it's easy to find one that fits well with a kitchen design now that the utility is covered. Flooring sets the stage, but it is not a focal point like an island or a dining table. Trends in colors have certainly arrived and passed when it comes to flooring, but a traditional color and style best complements the rest of the room.

"Light colors have been trending for a while now, but we're starting to see some more medium shades more frequently. In general I think a great 'earth tone' does not go out of style. I never personally loved the gray trend a few years back, [it] didn't seem natural, and [was] a little too dull," says Lauletta.

After all, with innovation taking over every aspect of everyday life as well as home design, it's beneficial to keep some familiar ground. Smart home automation can seem daunting, but it is utilized best in a kitchen—which offers plenty of opportunities for technology integration. This aspect has also been responsible for the shift toward minimalism.

"You walked into an older home years ago, and you saw a whole bank of switches—maybe five were dimmers that are placed for each zone of lighting," says David Cerami owner of HomeTech Renovations. "The dimmers now could be basically located in a basement closet if you wish, and they are communicated through either a handheld device or a wall-mounted pod that would pop out of a device somewhere, or your phone. So, you can actually turn lights on and off, and adjust them accordingly from your phone from a central pad."

He further explains that in a kitchen, different zones of lighting can consist of decorative, above the island, cabinet interior lighting, cove lighting, above the table—and anywhere else that could be integral to the ongoings of a kitchen. Experimenting with the brightness of each section at different times of day can transform the atmosphere.

"Lighting is so important. We do a lot of under-cabinet, in-cabinet lighting, and we're doing pop-up outlets in the countertops, which is a cool idea, rather than having outlets on the side wall," says Vic Fiore, president of Magnolia Home Remodeling Group. "Plumbing fixtures have gotten more and more advanced, including touchless, where they come on and off with the wave of a hand."

Efficiency and ease are the epitome of luxury living, and now menial tasks are replaced with voice-activation and AI assistance. Appliances have undergone the most impactful AI takeover, with devices and mechanisms once unfathomable.

"We find a lot of appliances are smart appliances. Some of these appliances could even monitor contents within a refrigerator," says Cerami. "A lot of the appliances [we see] have automation built into them, whether they're temperature probes for baking or cooking, or recipes that are pre-programmed into cooking equipment that will complete the cooking cycle in accordance with that recipe."

Heightened technology is also a major tool in the planning process, and something that home renovation experts utilize to better give clients the full picture.

"The technology we use to design these spaces has gotten better and better to the point where people can really visualize what the space would look like," says Fiore.

Planning can be both exciting and tumultuous, but an early start and the help of a professional will go a long way in obtaining a homeowner's dream kitchen. Any vision can become a reality with the right tools and finances, but there are alternatives available that homeowners might not have known existed.

"People should start working on a kitchen renovation as early as possible. You can always hold off starting the actual renovation as long as you like," says McAlary. "Once we show them options that they hadn't considered, it takes much longer for them to make decisions. Almost no one ends up selecting the design that they planned on before working with a good experienced kitchen designer."

A professional kitchen designer will incorporate a client's taste with practicality, while seamlessly coordinating all of the pieces together. They can also help problem-solve and determine what a plan is missing.

"Everyone's different," says Weiler's designer Andi Saracco. "Getting a hold of what they really like and dislike about their current space is the best place to start, we want to incorporate what they do like but there might be a dysfunctional corner we have to figure out how to make more practical."

A kitchen is the heart of the home, and it's best to exhibit creativity and the personalities within it. Now is the perfect time to assess hosting and entertaining expectations and desires, to begin planning for the kitchen of your dreams in time for next year's holiday season.

RESOURCES
Haddon Flooring
Haddonfield, N.J.
(856) 654-0005
HaddonFlooring.com

HomeTech Renovations
Springhouse, Pa.
(215) 646-7477
HTRenovations.com

Kitchen Tune-Up
Bergen County, N.J.: (201) 614-1774
Bloomfield, N.J.: (973) 949-0454
Main Line, Pa.: (484) 435-7430
KitchenTuneUp.com

Magnolia Home Remodeling Group
Union, N.J.
(855) 624-6655
MagnoliaHomeRemodeling.com

Main Line Kitchen Design
Bala Cynwyd, Pa.
(610) 500-4071
MainLineKitchenDesign.com

Weiler's Kitchen and Bath Design Center
Feasterville, Pa.
(215) 357-9300
WeilersKitchens.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 25, Issue 7 (September/October 2025)
For more info on House & Home magazine, click here.
To subscribe to House & Home magazine, click here.
To advertise in House & Home magazine, call 610-272-3120.