Cool curves. Clean and green. Sleek and sumptuous. Linear and luxurious. Designer kitchens and bathrooms are stepping it up in style
Words Carrol Baker
The hottest design trends this year are focused on splashes of colour, beautiful textures and sophisticated looks. They’re not just pushing the boundaries but rewriting the rule books with playful adaptations and clever materiality.
A kitchen needs to be practical and functional. It can also be beautiful. It’s where you can feed the hungry hordes after school, pull up a chair and have a cuppa with a friend, or host a gathering of epic proportions. Bathrooms are all about serviceability. Yours might be a busy multi-use family bathroom, a private couples space, a room with a touch of luxe or a wellness sanctuary to unwind. Functionality and beauty can co-exist in style, offering dynamic spaces you’ll love.
Hooked on Handles
One fabulous new way to create a unique look in your kitchen or bathroom is through handles. Designer Kate Lawrence says sometimes it can be the seemingly little things that can have the biggest impact. “You can have a lot of fun and experiment with handles in the kitchen or bathroom to give it a little extra flair,” she says. Whether they’re arched, bar, cupped, nobs, pulls or more, there’s a huge variety of handle styles.
Get Playful with Powder Rooms
Statement powder rooms are gaining traction in the design industry. Kate says it’s one space you really can have fun with. Try bold wallpaper to add a splash of contemporary cool, or a more subdued botanical print. “It’s a small space so easy to change down the track if you need to,” notes Kate. “It keeps things upbeat and fun for families and friends coming to your home.” Among Kate’s favourite looks is micro cement. “I love it; you can trowel it different ways so it adds texture, and it’s customisable with different colours,” she says.
The Light Source
Beautiful lighting that once graced the entry foyer has now made its way into the bathroom. Lighting can help you to create a stylish oasis at home. Designer Brooke Aitken says it’s a new concept that is adding a frisson of glamour to bathrooms.
Brooke points out that in the past, you were limited with what lighting you could use. “Lighting wasn’t IP rated for wet areas, but with LEDs the world is your oyster, and not an oyster sconce either,” she laughs. “Your lighting can now be almost like jewellery pieces on the wall; it can serve as a focal point.”
But of course, practicality still reigns supreme. Task lighting is also important. One new look in bathrooms is lighting in a mirror cupboard. “Always put a light in the mirror cupboard that shines out; when you open half you can still see yourself in the mirror, it’s very practical,” she recommends.
The Ultimate Family Kitchen
The girls at Three Birds Renovations say they’re loving the rise of freestanding island benches in place of built-in cabinetry. “We’ve just used one in our latest kitchen renovation. They add flexibility and character, channel that vintage farmhouse charm, and can easily adapt as your family’s needs evolve.”
The girls add that there’s been a shift away from all-white cabinetry, with more kitchens embracing warm neutrals and deeper hues. “Textured layers of cream, beige/greige, deep greens, blues and even browns are not only beautiful, they’re also super forgiving when it comes to fingerprints in a busy family kitchen,” Three Birds Renovations say. “That said, if you’re renovating a Hampton’s-style home, a fresh white kitchen will never go out of style.”
Look Up
In bathrooms, another surprising trend is rethinking the ceiling. Joey Phommaseng from Birdblack Design says ceilings are in for a treat. “Traditionally seen as just a flat, white surface, the bathroom ceiling is now being treated by designers as a fifth wall – an opportunity to add visual interest and cohesion. Whether through bold paint choices or creative tiling, the ceiling is becoming an extension of the room’s design,” he notes. It’s a shift away from ultra-safe design towards more personal, luxurious choices – people are designing for living, not just resale,” he adds.
Tactile Textures
Modern kitchens are showpieces in functionality and bespoke design. Joey says in today’s kitchens, there’s a rising trend to incorporate metal finishes. “Custom–coated metal rangehoods, for example, are becoming a popular design statement,” he says. “Stone-clad surfaces are also gaining momentum, with kitchen doors and drawers increasingly being covered in stone for a bold, textural look. Homeowners are moving away from the minimalist timber cabinets and plain benchtops of the past, opting instead for dramatic patterned marbles, striking feature tiles and detailed mosaics.”
Balancing Act
In the kitchen, industry professionals are cooking up plenty of hot new looks to create timeless spaces that have plenty of charm. Kate says discerning homeowners know what they want – and right now it’s to create something unique, even if they have a traditional kitchen. “So many people tell me they want their kitchen to be timeless but not boring. It’s important to strike a balance between the two,” she shares.
Kate adds there are many ways to inject a little pizazz into a traditional kitchen. One way is through stone. “You can add character, personality and warmth, particularly by the stone that you are choosing – every piece of stone is different as it’s a natural product,” she notes.
A Splash of Luxury
Bathroom colours are bold, evocative and inviting. Joey says a rich palette of deep, burnished bronzes is a top choice for creating a luxurious bathroom atmosphere. “Fluted glass is another hallmark of high-end design. Whether featured in a sleek, frameless shower screen or paired with a beautifully finished frame, it adds instant elegance.”
When it comes to tiling, Joey says mosaics are a go-to for a premium look. “For an even more opulent touch, consider natural stone for floors and walls, which brings a timeless sophistication beyond what standard tiles can offer,” he says.
Stepping it up
When the pandemic swept the globe, we lived in isolation in the comfort of our homes. Spending more time at home meant thinking about what we loved about our spaces. Brooke says because of this, designers have seen a global shift in home design. “It’s become more individually focussed after Covid, because we had to live more in our spaces,” she says. “It really made people reflect on what they love about their interiors and how they impact on them psychologically.”
As a result, Brooke notes clients have become a little braver and eager to perhaps colour outside the lines a bit more. “I think clients are more trustworthy; they think, right, you’re going to pitch me a colourful bathroom idea, yep, I am definitely onboard,” she says.
Sumptuous Materiality
Unique designer elements are working together to curate bespoke and beautiful bathrooms. Stylish basins and bathtubs are taking centre stage.
When sourcing a basin, look for something tactile and unique. That’s Brooke’s advice. “I love Robert Gordon pottery – it’s hand-fired clay and simply beautiful. Also Nood concrete basins and bathtubs,” she says. “Your choice of basin is important as it’s something you touch and look at every day when brushing your teeth and getting ready for the day.”
Custom-coloured bathtubs are also becoming increasingly popular as a way to add a little colour to your bathroom. “There are amazing baths out there now – think a dark-green glass bath, a bath made from viola marble or beautiful copper,” reveals Brooke.
Lean into Longevity
Modern kitchens are built to go the distance. A beautiful kitchen is an investment you’ll want to enjoy for many years to come. When designing a new kitchen, sourcing quality materials is key. Discerning homeowners want value for money and a kitchen that’s built to last for decades.
Brooke says kitchens these days should last 30 years, so when designing, keep that in mind. “If there’s something crazy you are contemplating in the design, I wouldn’t,” she says. “It’s got to be something you want to feast your eyes on for a very long time.
”New-look kitchens need to bode well with the rest of the home. Brooke suggests with an older abode, you can take the character of the old and interpret it into the new. “It’s an opportunity to have a contemporary conversation with something like period detailing,” she says. “In a recent project we took iron-lace detailing and scored that detailing into the top cupboard in the kitchen. It was reminiscent of the iron lace of the past.
”If you have a contemporary home, it can be a different story. “With contemporary, sometimes it doesn’t need to shout,” notes Brooke. “That’s where I’d double down on materials, look for beautiful-quality stone and good appliances.”
Looks to sidestep
Finally, it’s important to note that the lure of trends is appealing, but some don’t last long. The girls at Three Birds Renovations say they’re all for creating your dream home your way, and that means different things for different people. “But when it comes to trends, some don’t last the distance and your budget might thank you for steering clear,” they say.
“In the kitchen, unless you’re a MasterChef contestant, we’d suggest saving your dollars on overly techy appliances like that fridge that tells you what’s inside, or a steam oven when you’ve never steamed anything but your face in the dishwasher. In the bathroom, be wary of super-trendy coloured fixtures. If you’re not absolutely in love with bold colours for the long haul, stick with timeless neutrals and have fun with your accessories instead.”
