Transform your kitchen into a fun, functional hangout. Since we all spend a sizeable amount of time in this room, make it an enjoyable space that reflects your personal style and needs. We talked to two local experts to provide ideas and inspiration to update this space.
GET CREATIVE with Color
Rejoice, color enthusiasts. “Trends are moving away from the white or gray painted cabinets we have been seeing for several years now,” explains Marie Chelius, sales and design consultant at Baldwin Kitchen & Bath Center. “In 2025 we are going to start seeing more color!” To add to the excitement, Chelius notes that Baldwin can provide painted, colored cabinets in any custom Sherwin Williams color. With so many color possibilities, customers can choose the exact, perfect shade they desire.
However, if you love the look of versatile neutrals, don’t worry — you won’t be left out. Michael Stratton, owner of Kitchen Tune-Up Berks Lehigh SW, is confident that white will remain popular. “What helps white continue on the trend is the multiple variations that are available in this color,” he explains. “For example, you can select a high-end, bright, stark white, which makes a kitchen look more contemporary, or a cream/linen color, which can be used to soften and warm the features of a kitchen.”
When working with neutral hues, Chelius likes a nuanced approach. “Off white, beige and taupe painted cabinets will be the preferred choice over white in 2025. Customers are now seeking warmer tones for their kitchen cabinets.” For fans of natural wood, Chelius adds, “I am excited to see the introduction of a new light brown honey stain color for cabinets. This new stain tone is a twist on a natural maple stain. It has a warm, brownish gray tone to it, which gives it a modern flair and provides warmth and lightness.”
To make the selection process easier, rather than just picking one trend, you can also combine these ideas. “We are seeing a resurgence in natural wood with a splash of color added in,” says Stratton. “Our customers are having existing islands installed or changed to be ‘accent pieces’ in their kitchens. The trend is to select more bold colors on the blue or green scale to accent this feature.” When going with natural wood elements, he advises customers to choose a wood tone that complements their lighting. “A dark space would require brighter tones, while light spaces can pull off darker tones.”
Details Make a DIFFERENCE
Many of us are familiar with Shaker-style doors in our kitchen cabinets, and Stratton believes this style will continue to be popular. Shaker design is distinguished by a contrast between the door’s center and the edges, providing the look of a framed piece of art. According to Chelius, this enduring style is getting an update, with a larger center and thinner framing along the perimeter.
Once you’ve made your decisions about cabinet door styles and colors, the crowning touch is the hardware. “We will continue to see brushed and bright gold cabinet hardware and sink faucets,” Chelius explains. “This finish combines nicely with all the new cabinet color styles, providing warmth and a bit of shimmer.”
When it comes to choosing countertop materials, Chelius is a proponent of quartz, especially in patterns that simulate the look of marble. Stratton agrees and adds that quartzite is also a popular choice. The difference between the two is that quartz is engineered stone while quartzite is all-natural quarried material. “These surfaces are durable. Some have anti-microbial properties that allow for you to do food prep directly on the surface, and many come with lifetime guarantees,” Stratton explains.
For floors, Chelius is all about a wood aesthetic. “Real hardwood floors or vinyl plank wood looks will continue to dominate,” she says. “Customers love the warmth and texture that wood provides.”
These current kitchen trends have the advantage of providing something for everyone. Whether your design style leans maximalist, minimalist, or something in between, Chelius has plenty of ideas. “I do love brushed gold cabinet hardware on a dark painted cabinet, like teal green or plum — it's such a rich look — pure eye candy,” she enthuses. “I also love the trending light brown honey-stained cabinets, paired with a clean white quartz countertop and brushed gold accents. This look gives me a sense of calm, warmth and lightness and is clean and natural looking. The gold hardware adds a pop of glam and style.”
CONSIDER LAYOUT & Organizing Needs
If you’re ready to dive into a renovation project and are looking to make some timeless choices, Chelius suggests incorporating offwhite cabinets and hardwood flooring. She notes this an ideal time to make sure your kitchen has an optimal, efficient layout, including designated areas for storage and organization to make it easy to find what you need. In terms of a wish list, Chelius recommends a large sink to facilitate washing big pots and cookware as well as deep drawers to store cookware or pantry items.
In addition to optimal organization, Stratton also considers the ergonomics of the kitchen workspace. Some of these improvements can be made by retrofitting existing cabinets and pantries. “As we age, accessibility to the back of a cabinet becomes something of a challenge (who wants to get on their knees to get something in the back of a cabinet?),” he notes. “By installing roll-out trays and organizers, these same items become accessible and enhance your ability to stay in your house longer.”
These organizing elements are also a fun way to personalize your kitchen. For instance, if your family is charging a lot of electronic devices, “there is a drawer insert that allows you to do that,” says Stratton. “Or, you may wish to swap out your outlets in your kitchen for outlets with USB ports.” For coffee enthusiasts, he suggests a K-cup organizer to make it easy to see your beverage options at a glance.
In terms of layout, Stratton’s a proponent of using a kitchen island rather than a peninsula. “A peninsula puts a barrier between the kitchen and the adjoining room,” he explains. “As people gravitate to more open styles, an island improves the flow of traffic in a kitchen space and provides valuable work or entertaining space.” If you have the square footage, Chelius is also a fan of prioritizing space for a large island. If this isn’t feasible, she suggests allotting room for a table and chairs. Either way, you’ll have space for family to relax and socialize in the kitchen.
As a handy tool, Chelius suggests installing an air switch to activate the garbage disposal. Air switches are installed flush with the countertop and rely on a puff of air to turn the disposal on and off. This feature has multiple advantages, including a more streamlinedlooking backsplash that has fewer light switch plates. As an additional benefit, from a convenience and safety perspective, air switches can be engaged with wet hands.
Tactical Choices for SMALLER UPGRADES
If you prefer to stick with smaller, more strategic updates as opposed to a bigger project, Stratton has plenty of options. “A strength of our business is to offer alternatives to a full-demo/remodel of a kitchen, which does not alter the “footprint” of the kitchen cabinetry,” he explains. As his company name suggests, homeowners can choose the least expensive option and get a “tune-up” of their kitchen cabinets. “Our process rejuvenates the cabinetry to bring it back closer to how it looked when it was new,” says Stratton.
Chelius suggests hiring a pro to paint the existing kitchen cabinets, and this is a service Stratton provides. “Our process for cabinet painting is very specific and allows someone to improve their space dramatically, without the price tag you would find in a kitchen remodel,” he notes.
As an alternative, Stratton also offers cabinet re-dooring or refacing, and his clients can choose from an array of styles/ colors. “Each new door and drawer front is custom measured to ensure it fits,” he explains. “The cabinet box is either painted (in the re-dooring process) or given a new skin of veneer and panels.” Typically, this option takes approximately five days to complete. Stratton notes that although the kitchen layout remains the same, the new doors and drawers “will dramatically change the look of your kitchen.”
In addition, if the cabinets don’t need to be replaced, Chelius notes that homeowners might consider swapping out their old countertops for quartz or updating their light fixtures, sink faucet or cabinet hardware to give their kitchens a fresh, updated look. Stratton agrees and also encourages people to get creative by exploring areas to add pullouts and organizers. “We have had much success in refacing projects in adding garbage can pullouts and other conversions (i.e. desk area to countertop height cabinetry) that allow customers more storage and work space as their kitchen needs evolve,” he says.
To go beyond the existing lighting, “consider integrated low-voltage LED lighting for undercabinet work areas,” Stratton adds. “This lighting can be installed to be dimmable and allow for setting a dramatic mood or functional aesthetic to your space.”
Prioritize PREFERENCES
Whether your project is big or small, Chelius advocates putting your personal preferences first. “Don't be afraid to express your own individual style and personality with your kitchen selections,” she advises.
If you’re contemplating a project, Stratton suggests getting the pros involved early. “We’d be happy to talk to anyone who would be interested in considering any options for change they would like to make in their kitchen space.”
SOURCES
Baldwin Kitchen & Bath Design Center
623 Penn Avenue, West Reading | 610.373.1040 | baldwinkbcenter.com
Kitchen Tune-Up Berks Lehigh SW | 610.723.7538 | kitchentuneup.com/berks-lehigh-sw-pa
