Ask the Kitchen Guy – What Trends Have Staying Power – May 2026

First let’s start off with an apology to our readers for my extended absence. Long story…

Lately, I have been getting a lot of questions about trends. Specifically what trends have staying power. Translation, people are being more cautious with their spending. Thinking of their remodeling as more of an investment.

In preparing for my return to cyberspace, I started reviewing the “Rules of the Road” and current trends I typically follow or incorporate when starting a design for a client. I will often review some of these rules in my initial meetings with clients. It helps set the expectations moving forward. The difference between a trend and a design “Rule of the Road” is staying power.

Rule #1

An old painter I was working / training with once told me a rule he always follows when preparing and painting a room. He said, bright corners big rooms – dark corners small rooms. He was right.

That simple rule has informed every design I have ever worked on. It informs lighting, wall colors, cabinetry, countertops, millwork etc.

Bright whites have been popular in contemporary or modern designs. Often balanced with dark or bold pattern countertops. In my mind bright white does not have staying power because it tends to amplify every nick and scratch.

Softer whites and grays are often used in traditional or transitional designs. They tend to be more forgiving when it comes to nicks and scratches. However, you must be careful not to be too boring or dull. Rember rule one.

When looking at some of the gorgeous work being published by colleagues and competitors, I quietly ask myself, would these photos be publishable ten years from now. If the answer is yes or probably then the designer was watching out for your investment.

Cabinet Colors and Wood Species:

Soft whites remain a solid choice and whites with vintage treatments are gaining in popularity. Some custom cabinet companies and better semi-custom companies like Wood-Mode, including their Brookhaven Line, have many choices and do a very good job.

Another option that has withstood the test of time is white oak. Many semi-custom cabinet companies as well as custom cabinet makers are offering white oak door styles at a fair price point. I am also seeing more white oak and rift cut white oak veneer options on the market. Veneered door styles tend to be more contemporary in their styling and may not work in a design with many moldings.

Countertop Materials:

Your choice of countertop should not be made lightly. Some of the more popular options in the marketplace are man made quartz, God made Granite, Quartzite and Marble. A new entry on the market is Printed Quartz.

It is difficult to get a consistent definition of Printed Quartz. This is in part due to Quartz manufactures understandably guarding their manufacturing techniques. The following is my basic understanding of what “Printed Quartz” is:

Printed Quartz is like other quartz products and a mixture of resins and quartz quarried from around the world. Then a picture or image is imprinted on top giving the slab a deep and natural look. Then clear resins are poured over the top of the image sealing it in. Similar imaging techniques have been used in the manufacture of vinyl flooring and laminates like Wilsonart or Formica. There have been some warnings that printed quartz may be susceptible to fading when exposed to direct sunlight. This might be an issue if your kitchen has a lot of natural light. I am not yet sold on the staying power of printed quartz; however, I find the technology very interesting and I will keep an eye on it for my readers.

Lighting:

Hard to find a picture of an upscale kitchen that doesn’t include a pendent, a chandelier (or two) in it. It’s hard for designers to resist this trend. I only use them in rooms where ceiling heights are ten or more feet and they won’t cast shadows or interfere with the other lighting in the room. Especially on any surface where the homeowners may be using sharp knives or hot items that can cause a burn. Which is to say I hardly use them in kitchens.

In most cases my advice is to save money and avoid the lighting bling. Even if you can resolve the function issues the pendants will likely be out of style before the ink dries on the last check you write.

Summary:

Start with a plan that compliments the architectural style of the home. Make sure the room is bright and open. Avoid cluttering. Make sure the room functions or performs for you and your family. Making the room function is the ugly part of kitchen design.

Trust your gut. Ask yourself, is this person watching out for my bank book or salivating over it.

Here are links to previous blogs we have published regarding planning your remodeling projects.

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