The EHD 2019 trend reporting has officially commenced. It feels like Christmas and New Years all over again. 🙂 Throughout January, we’re going to be diving into our thoughts of what’s on the horizon for all things interior design, and the first area we’re focusing on is kitchens. Now, we know the word “trend” (when it refers to a place like your kitchen) can be off-putting and kinda scary. I mean, a kitchen is full of very big/PERMANENT materials that cost $$$ and the last thing you want is for your kitchen to feel SOOO 2019 in two years, but the good news is that our 2019 predictions have some serious “forever” classic vibes going on (because who actually wants to/can afford to remodel every few years??). Let’s get into what this new year is cooking up.
1. Darker Stone Countertops with Dark Cabinets
Dark countertops hit the kitchen scene hard in the early 2000s. We are talking about that shiny black speckled granite that was paired most likely with white or cherry wood cabinetry. 2019 has a different idea for its dark countertops and cabinetry. First off, it’s all about a honed or leathered finish for the stone (basically matte). The look is so beautiful and feels much more modern but still classic. We used both those stone finishes in Emily’s kitchen, the Portland Project kitchen and throughout the mountain house. Can you tell we’re on board?
The real 2019 trend, however, is that matte dark stone paired with dark toned cabinets. It’s a very beautiful and seamless look. Plus, we LOVE a good moody color and if your Instagram likes are any indication, so do you. In terms of beautiful dark color paint options, they are endless (here are some of our favorites) so don’t be afraid to go a little moody if you want some drama in your kitchen. Visual drama, when done right, is always a showstopper.
2. Walls of Storage
Much like the Cliffs of Moher or the Great Wall of China, this trend is sure to bring epic/massive beauty…to your kitchen. Dramatic comparison? Yes. But let’s be honest, beautiful yet functional storage will never go out of style so if this is something you are considering going for, do it. This trend is nothing if not kitchen design heaven and hides all the visual chaos of small appliances, dishes, food containers etc.
While this trend did pop its head out in 2018, 2019 is its year. If you’ve been following along with the mountain house kitchen, you know we have a STUNNING wall of floor-to-ceiling cabinetry storage (that we cannot wait to reveal). Besides a plethora of internal surface area (great if you don’t have a dedicated pantry or small appliance garages), they really streamline the look of a kitchen, almost like camouflage. While something like open shelving says LOOK AT ME, this new favorite design element visually blends together with existing cabinetry. It’s somehow grand and quiet all at the same time.
3. Statement Appliances
Last year was the great resurgence of the integrated appliance and we were definitely on board…and still are. But let’s be honest, when an appliance is as unique as some of the ones we have been seeing on the market (like the ovens in the Portland kitchen and Orlando’s parent’s kitchen) you can’t fathom the idea of hiding them. You HAVE to show them off. Maybe we should start a new hashtag? #ShowEmYourStove? Ha. Anyway, now that the trend gods have spoken we will be seeing this beautiful investment on display in a ton of homes this year.
These beautiful appliances don’t come with a cheap price tag, but they are incredibly special. They basically look like a piece of art…but functional. 🙂 If only everything that was functional was this good looking.
Because this is a trend that, like we said, costs a pretty penny, we’re betting this one sticks around for a LONG time. Besides, a truly beautiful piece never really goes out of style.
4. Linear Lighting
Keeping with the seamless kitchen theme of 2019, lighting is following suit. Pendants have been king for quite some time and while they aren’t out, linear lighting is definitely in. You may think a linear light means a SUPER modern fixture but it doesn’t have to. This stunning light by Urban Electric Co. gives that linear look but with a vintage design. We REALLY love this vibe.
Using a linear fixture visually gives you a super clean design. The light in the picture above is simple but has a little quirk with the different sized bulbs and asymmetrical design. It feels a bit more fresh. A bonus with this trend is you only need one junction box. That means fewer holes in the ceiling which we are very into.
5. Inset Handles and Cutouts
While we love a good piece of hardware, the kitchen trend on the rise is no hardware at all. Inset or cut out “handles” feel like they’re popping up more and more since we first reported on it this past summer, and we’re not mad at it. It’s again a very simple and seamless look that is pretty great. Loose knobs and handles are a real bummer, so with this trend your wobbly knobs are a thing of the past.
The only potential issue is that this type of cabinetry is typically more custom so will probably cost a bit more. Would you do it? It’s pretty tempting.
6. Mirrors in Kitchens
Yes, mirrors. This is kind of a sneaky one but has recently come up on our radar (hence it being a 2019 trend). It does potentially require more cleaning (water and oil splatters) but boy does it look good. Mirrors always make a space feel bigger and brighter so why can’t that include the kitchen?? The arched mirror in the picture above has us SOLD.
What is also so great about this trendy kitchen decor piece is that it works with really any kind of style. The kitchen above has a quaint vintage feel and looks awesome with its oversized aged wood framed mirror. The kitchen below is more modern and refined and is perfectly accented with its thin, black framed mirror.
7. All Stone: Counter, Backsplash and Shelf
Maybe the 2019 kitchen trend is really just seamlessness. Case in point is the trend toward one-material countertop, backsplash and shelf. It’s SO chic, don’t you think. This was the first year we really dove into stone because of the mountain house and all the stone we needed to zhush it out with. We are aware more than ever of the power of stone. It’s simply a game changer in any room.
While the single open shelf is not a new idea, it got a massive upgrade with this one stone trend. This kitchen by Athena Calderone is true heaven and is a perfect example of why this trend will hopefully make the transition into being a perennial classic.
8. Freestanding Islands
Oh sorry, we didn’t see you there. We were just drooling over these freestanding, footed islands. This trend is an instant classic. No need to see if it lasts because our eyes will never tire. Whether it’s a custom build or a beautiful antique piece, a footed island makes a kitchen feel more airy and open, while adding an Old World furniture feel.
There are, of course, things to consider like plumbing if you want a sink or adding to the vacuuming square footage but otherwise, it’s a no-brainer in our opinion. Keep it simple with the lines, nothing too ornate and you will have yourself a stunning kitchen centerpiece.
9. Mixing Metals
We love breaking rules, and mixing metals is one of those big classic design no-no’s. But 2019 is finally the year of saying yes-yes to all the metal combos. It’s time to get funky, people.
image source | design by studio mcgee
We do have some “guidelines” to help achieve this look in the best possible way. You can mix metals if you do it intentionally and evenly throughout the space. So don’t mix a polished nickel faucet with a brass pot filler; the faucet family should match (same in a bathroom). But then change it up with the knobs and handles. It’s fun and easy. Thanks 2019.
10. Statement Hoods
While the main focus of beautiful appliances has always been on stoves and refrigerators, it’s time for hoods to get their shot. Most of the time, designers are trying to do everything they can to hide them. But no more. In 2019, we expect to see a lot more beautifully designed statement hoods. It’s a pretty untapped design opportunity that we are very excited to see emerge.
This yellow hood is clearly VERY specific to this home but man is it awesome. Talk about a statement. The color is in your face, the curved shape is delicate and the plaster finish gives it texture and age. It really makes this kitchen. Could you ever do this in your home??
Now while some of us may love the idea of a curvy bright yellow hood, most might want a more approachable option. Enter the tiled hood. We love how it draws your eye up, says “hey, I’m here!” and yet is seamless with backsplash. Psst… one of our team members may have already jumped on this trend and will be revealing it very soon.
There you have it. Our first 2019 Kitchen Trend Forecast. What trends do you love? Do you agree that they have staying power? Are any of you planning to add one (or more) of these puppies into your kitchen this year? Let us know in the comments and stay tuned for more forecasts this week.
Curious what the 2020 Kitchen Trends are?? Then click HERE to see what’s cookin’.
I’m solidly behind 7 of these and would happily do them if building or remodeling. I’m not sure I’d pay more for cutout/no handle look but if a cabinet maker offered a reasonable Optimus I’d jump to save money on hardware, which is expensive and I find dates a place more rapidly than almost anything else. These trends seem to move faster. The only one I can’t love is the spencial vent. This comes and goes and mostly feels like a niche thing. If you have the space, design idea and $$$ it can look spectacular. For the rest of us, I like the hidden vent much more. Starting at my lovely cherry fancy hood cover (someone else’s choice) feeling like it’s just a little unimaginative. Generally speaking it feels like we all want designs to feel fresh and new and of the moment but alsoclassic, timeless and something we can live with for decades. I love me some kitchen porn, but also feel like what works in an architectural digest space just doesn’t always suit the 80s split level. Special vent hoods need a special space, imho. But everything else feels universal. ESP love the kitchen mirrors if you… Read more »
I absolutely love the dark stone countertops and hope we see more of that!
Beautiful! When I redid my kitchen in 2010 in my last house, I did honed black granite (with white cabinets but that can easily be remedied with paint). Nobody understood why I did the honed black. Not the granite installer, and not the real estate agent – who asked why we didn’t do granite!! He thought it was some other solid surface counter-top. Honed takes a little more babying than shiny granite, but I hated the glare of shiny. I’m truly envious of the statement appliances and the all stone look though. To never have to clean grout again would be a dream come true.
How could one “hide” a stove? Refrigerators and dishwashers, yes. But a stove?
I like the dark cabinets, but I don’t think white kitchens will disappear. Too safe, neutral.
Such great ideas! Question – do you know if it is possible to update that shiny black speckled granite to have more of a leathered/matte finish without replacing the countertops? We are potentially moving into a home with black granite and would love to update without breaking the bank.
I love seeing all these beautiful kitchens! A few points I’ve learned over the years: Dark countertops require a well lighted room, preferably a ton of natural light or you won’t be able to see what you are making. Mirrors also need to reflect light and should be opposite a window or bright open space, not black backsplash or cabinets, or the fridge. Mirror backed open shelves over a kitchen sink that can’t have a window is a perfect design solution. For apartment or galley kitchens, having flush, recessed or no handles is a great way to make a small room feel more spacious.
Yes, we almost went with a dark soapstone for countertops when we remodeled our kitchen with an arts-and-crafts vibe. But we only have one east-facing greenhouse window (filled with my cookie jar collection) that’s facing the townhouses across the path from us. We get semi-direct sun for maybe an hour a day. We went with a Caesarstone limestone lookalike and are very happy.
Dark soapstone is my dream countertop! But, like you I have little natural light in the kitchen: one small north-facing window with a roof overhang above it and a big ol’ oak tree above that. Sigh. Maybe we’ll lose our minds and move one day and I can put the sunny kitchen higher on the list of wants.
I’m not sure of the process, (whether you have to do it with a huge machine, in closed industrial space?……. but we are in the middle of a renovation as I write and we have chosen a black stone that is shiny,but want leathered……… They said it is not a problem to “hone” or “leather” it (in our case, before installing and cutting….. So my guess, it could possibly done in your case.
Not a problem but costs extra, for sure. But i love honed too!
I have had marble finished on-site (glossy to honed) before for clients and I’m pretty sure you can hone granite on-site as well. It’s a great way to work with what you already have – it saves money AND is environmentally friendly! Good-luck in your new home. As for this latest post – I LOVE the images and am loving the direction kitchens are going!!!
I always hold my breath when I see these since we just remodeled our kitchen and won’t be redoing anything for a very long time! I really wanted cutout handles but definitely couldn’t afford them. I ended up mimicking the look with matte black curved finger pulls that matched the black paint of our lower cabinets. Our uppers are white and I love the way they look on them too. It truly looks like a cutout and is super low profile. ?
Are you able to share the handles you chose? I would love to see!
Hmm, maybe mirrors in kitchens are happening because all of the dark finishes are leaving people craving more light.
I love a lot of these trends. I have had black countertops for 15 years. Way ahead of the trend. Ha Ha!!
But I have a serious question for everyone, including the EHD team. When I here the word trend, it makes me want to do the opposite of what is trendy. I don’t want to be like everyone else. It feels so cookie cutter to me. Like living in a new housing community. 4 house plan options, so your house will look like all the neighbors homes. They all still look the same with what I call “suburban beige” paint on the outside, and cheesy siding. Sorry, didn’t mean to come off as a rant. I cannot possibly be the only person who wants to do the opposite of trendy, am I?
Completely agreed. I’ve had a hard time articulating why these trend posts (trend forecasting, looking back on the year to see which trends “stuck,” etc.) bother me so much. I think it’s that I want to take advice from designers who can create *timeless* looks while incorporating novel ideas here and there. I (and I assume most readers) don’t have the money to constantly chase trends, and when I do invest in my home, I want it to *not* be something that may go out of style quickly.
I try to see these posts as inspiration (as looking through a magazine)…but it’s a little hard to swallow design tips that directly contradict advice the same writers gave only a few months ago! The writer’s flip tone guessing which trends may or may not stick makes me wary of trusting any advice given here, knowing that it might be dismissed as “so 2019” this time next year.
I do genuinely enjoy reading here, and beautiful photos are always lovely to look at. I just feel a shift lately in how useful these posts are and how trustworthy the content and opinions seem.
Dear Anne, I see your point, I do, but maybe trend posts aren’t your cup of tea then. They’re not a problem for me, since they’re clearly marked as trends and therefore I know, just as I know when it comes to fashion, that those risky “cool looks” might not stick around for long. Some things you can do quite quickly/cheaply (like painting your cabinets a dark color or adding a mirror to your kitchen) while some are for people with more money, who can dispose of it more liberally then I can, and that’s okay too. The timeless advices / design rules usually aren’t handed out on trend posts, so there’s that to consider. And even then, when you love something intensely and want it in your home, there are no rules whatsoever that matter more than that (except your own budget and realistic expectations). Anyway, I just think designers and decorators – just like anyone who works in the fashion industry – are always going to crave new ways to do things, new trends, etc, because it’s refreshing to them (and to me, tbh) and part of their jobs, part of why they love what they do. Hope… Read more »
All these kitchens are beautiful but are SO high end that they seem like …not for real people who make meals in them. Would love to see some more realistic kitchens too!
I agree, these are so pretty but just not like anything I see even in high end homes near me
Emily, do you think the dark counters/cabinets look only works with open shelving and expansive kitchens??
I’m not Emily, but I think it only really works with a LOT of natural lighting and no upper cabinets. I just personally think dark counters and dark cabinets all the way up the wall is too much.
Yes yes yes yes to everything here. Yes.
Hmmm. I’m finding very little to take away from this post that would would relate to my tiny 1950 house kitchen. Nor do I have the ginormous budget/high ceilings, etc. to support these kitchens.
We just finished a month where the messages from every blog site was about “Buy, buy, buy” from their various gift lists and now January starts with all the new trends/colors and the subliminal message is still “Buy, buy, buy”. I get the same feeling from some of the Instagram accounts that I follow.
I really loved the post about the Gold Hive house and the “deserving mother house makeover” so I’ll still keep coming here for inspiration but will be skipping the “Architectural Digest” and lifestyle posts. And that is OK. I’m sure your readership is quite varied in life-style, income levels, age, tastes, etc., so I appreciate the variety of content EHD produces to reach such a broad audience.
Kudos and Happy 2019!
Judy, I really agree with you! I enjoy these beautiful ideas, but they are all SO high-end, and my life will never be that. So I don’t spend much time on these posts and will watch for others that are more relevant for me.
Several of these will be incorporated into my kitchen reno (I’ve been planning for a year!). So excited to hear I’m on trend 😉
We are redoing our kitchen and going with soapstone countertops and Down Pipe by Farrow and Ball on the cabinets, our kitchen has the most light of any room in the house. Cottonballs by Benjamin Moore is on the walls, we have a copper farmhouse sink by WorldCoppersmiths and brass light fixtures by E.F. Chapman. The cabinet pulls are oil-rubbed bronze. An antique mirror is going on the wall over by the coffee station. My husband is from California and I’m a transitionalist from KY. This is what we like and we’ll be here until the next remodel!
Beautiful summary and pics of 2019 trends. You must do articles like these once every free months
Thank you for the wonderful list! I honestly loved them all, but my favorite was the all stone counters, backsplash, and shelf!!! Question: how would you hide or integrate the electrical outlets required by code? Would you somehow attach them to the shelf? I didn’t see any outlets in the above photos and would not want to have them in the beautiful counter or backsplash.
Our contractor installed light strips with integrated outlets mounted underneath the uppers. So now I have electrical cords snaking up the backsplash to reach the outlets. Honestly I would have preferred then in the tile backslash.
I do love mirrors in the kitchen. I live in an apartment and my little galley kitchen has no windows. So I use a large mirror on the main wall and a little arch mirror above the sink to reflect light. Love it.
Yay! So happy to see mixing metals is going to be a thing in 2019! I love too many metals and colors to stick with one so I mix and match a lot!!! Can’t wait to see you guys show more examples of mixing metals done well.??????
I love mirrors in the kitchen. I live in an apartment and my little galley kitchen has no windows. So I used a large mirror and the main wall and a cute little arch mirror above my sink. I love the look and how it reflects the light.
Hi Emily,
I am new to your blog and I am LOVING everything!! So much useful and inspirational design ideas. You give great “why’s” along with all your amazing examples!! As I was reading this article in regards to the footed islands I was like, duh, why hasn’t this been done more, lol! (or perhaps it has and I haven’t noticed, lol) Especially if you incorporate the other trend of floor to ceiling storage, the footed island makes so much sense.
Love EVERY SINGLE ONE – and using about 5 in current projects!
But a question…
I bought a 2009 flip house that came with all the goods (shiny black countertops, 12×12 beige floor tile, poorly installed plumbing fixtures, brown glass accent tile in the master shower…)
We plan to massively reno the kitchen in a few years…but I’ve been debating a dark/warm green/gray on the lower cabinets in an attempt to “hide” my shiny black granite counters (with bullnose edge *shudder*). The floors are not great-not terrible slate look and we’ll do a temporary white subway blacksplash to keep it from getting too dark…
Will the dark lowers just look crappy? Is there no hope to minimize the counters?
I think it’s hard to minimize shiny surfaces. If you hate the shiny black granite, it sounds like you can have it honed in place (see other posts). Or you could remove it and replace with Ikea’s butcher block counter tops as a temporary fix. Or there are hacks for building wood counters that fit over ugly counter tops. Good luck.
Honestly, I think you should head over to Maria Killam’s blog and read her archive of how to make new paint color work with existing fixtures so that the paint looks right once it’s next to all your stuff and in your light (not just on the paint chip). It can be real tricky with green-grays.
I’m doing a kitchen with dark honed stone, a statement hood and a mirrored panel over the fridges. Guess I’m not as original as I thought?!
Super fun! Everything!
You can pry my 2.5 year old all-white kitchen from my cold dead hands! LOL
But, seriously. These trends are so exhausting. And they change at least 2-3 times a year.
I promise you in a year it will be all about how “out” dark countertops are. Do what you love!
But that’s why they’re called trends, right?
Of course you can have a timeless kitchen, not that many people can completely rehaul their houses to follow trends all the time, but honestly, I love to see it. Sometimes it sparks my curiosity, sometimes it gives me good ideas of cheap/quick things I can add to my kitchen (or whatever other room) to update it a little for very little money and time. It’s just nice, you know.
It doesn’t have to be your cup of tea, so if you don’t like it, just ignore these posts 🙂 it will probably be for the best.
I love these trend posts so much! I may not be able to use all of these ideas, but I still love learning and feeling inspired. Now…how to to get that freestanding island in my kitchen…hmm. Keep the trend posts coming!
I love how you’ve tried to highlight trends that might stick around for a longer time since kitchens generally aren’t changed out that often. Some of the trends aren’t for me (dark cabinets and cut-out handles), but it is still nice to know what you think we’ll be seeing more of in 2019. With regards to people’s comments that these aren’t ‘realistic’ – I wish more homes have beautiful kitchens like these! I feel like people get so stuck on making their kitchens functional (certainly still very important), but then they forget a beautiful piece of art or pretty paint colour can make it such a happy space to be in. Personally, I spend over an hour each day in my kitchen cooking and meal prepping. So the first opportunity I get, I’m designing my dream kitchen with a whole bank of solid wall storage and a pretty stone shelf for glasses and mugs used daily. I love the look of minimal clutter and with it being a trend, I’ll definitely get some great ideas this year.
Well done! Exactly why I love your blog, Emily. Nobody does these stories about trends better. And your visuals are always excellent.
Love love love these trends. Especially the large storage (I already did that), and the inset drawer/cabinets. Yellow hood is like a major piece of art in the kitchen. Thanks for sharing.
I love the looks and are great inspiration! We are remodeling our dining and living rooms, but not the oak-tastic kitchen because of $ 🙁 So will probably update the ugly laminate countertops, paint walls, and change out hardware. Question – how do you deal with stainless appliances and non-stainless hardware?
For some reason this post just didn’t sound like it was written by Emily. If the post is written by another author, why not give them the credit with a byline?
Thanks Team EHD for bringing us content everyday.
Would you be willing/able to give the names and brands of the paint colors on the cabinets.? I am in process of choosing paint and want a grey/green look. In photos under Statement Appliances, photos 1 and 3. In photos under Mixing Metals, the first photo. What is the green in your Portland Kitchen ? Thanks.
Really scratching my head about everyone complaining about trend posts…seriously?
The stone backsplash is gorgeous and so seamless.
Can anyone tell me if this is actual countertop extended up like a big backsplash and is it as thick as the countertop?
I think these ideas are great and most could easily be incorporated into any size kitchen and budget.
We are planning our total kitchen renovation in a 1950s cape cod and just picked out honed slate look granite for our island—the rest of the (small) kitchen will be white cabinets and marble look quartz countertop. We fell in love with the dark stone at the stone yard but I didn’t want the dark all over. So the island seems like a good compromise. Hopefully the look of the two natural (looking) stones will go together well. Fingers crossed lol.
While the inset handles do streamline a kitchen, one should beware that you may have issues with grime building up on on the cabinet around the inset. I had a kitchen with these and I can tell you, no matter how much you wash your hands or clean the cabinet, this happens and can dull or build up a patina around the area of the opening that is unsightly and hard to remove.
I’m so thrilled with dark HONED stone counters and dark lower cabinets with lots of light, texture & mirrors above. This post is “on trend” but think about it. Honed soap stone is certain as classic as marble, harks to Downton Abbey kitchens, etc. So as long as the permanent surfaces are mostly matte, I am not super worried the kitchen bears its date on its sleeve. Shiny stone surfaces have never been classic and that’s why those shiny granite counters make you sigh, IMO. Honed stone, horse of a different color. I also think that while these are glamorous kitchens, many ideas can inspire more modest budget friendly designs. (P.S. After finally selling my mid century rental that featured cutout/no handle cabinets, I’d NEVER do that for my family. Every time we swapped tenants, I had to spend an entire day removing all that grime and eventually the fingerprints actually deteriorate the cabinet finish. Seriously.)
I love these beautiful rooms they seem so seemless. I am stuck in the 90s with my kitchen ready to bring it back to the future. Thanks for sharing.
Can anyone tell me who makes the asymmetrical linear pendant featured in the 1/8/19 post about 2019 kitchen trends?? It’s the second brass fixture under the linear lighting section. It’s very modern it’s one large white globe and a small white globe on the other side. I tried contacting the design firm but they were no help. Thanks!!
I am going to start remodel my kitchen with professional kitchen designers but before that going to start, I was searching new kitchen remodeling trendy for 2019 and liked “Mirrors in Kitchens”. It’s a unique idea for me, love to be implement. Thanks for updating!