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Writer's pictureKrista Collard
Jan 23, 20214 min read

Drool Worthy 2021 Kitchen Trends Every Home Designer Needs


A kitchen. Olive green cupboards rest against a wall with a black and white tiled splashback above. The bench top is a white stone and the sink has gold tapware. A plant sits on the benchtop and a light wooden floating shelf hangs above the tiles. On it are assorted plants, photos and knick knacks. The wall behind the shelf if painted in a light pink with two hanging lights. A traditional patterned rug is on the floor and the side of a vintage white fridge is visible on the right

Image Source | Old Brand New

Kitchens have a long-standing tradition of being the heart of the home, reflecting and extending on the style of other spaces in the house. With the rise of working and schooling from home, kitchens are getting more use than ever, often doubling as work and study spaces, as well as fulfilling their main purpose as a place to prepare meals. If you’re looking for ways to lift your kitchen game this year, read on for the hottest 2021 kitchen trends with our expert style tips and drool-worthy photo inspiration.



No Longer “Just a Place to Cook”

A kitchen. The floor is a light grey laminate and an island bench is in the middle of the room. It has a white stone benchtop with a sunken sink, black tapware, mint green under cupboards with gold round handles and a bonsai plant resting on the left of the bench. Behind the island bench is a long white bench resting against a wall. It has white cupboards underneath and floating above, with a white tiled splash back. A black china cabinet is in the middle of the bench filled with wine glasses. A stainless steel fridge is on the left.

Image Source | Three Birds Renovation


If your kitchen is becoming a catch-all space for cooking, eating meals, working, and studying, you’ll want to make sure that it is both functional and stylish. Because kitchens regularly open onto living spaces, it’s a good idea to think of them as such, making them feel just as chic and lived in as other areas of your house. One way to revamp your kitchen is to add pops of colour to your cabinets - and you don’t need to be afraid of bright colours! However, if you do change up your kitchen colour scheme, just make sure that wall colours remain the same as surrounding spaces - good style is all about consistency.


A close up of a stove and rangehood. The rangehood has been plastered white to blend in with the wall. The stove top is stainless steel with gold knobs and a gold valve is attached to the grey wall between the stove and rangehood. White benches can be seen either side with grey cupboards underneath, a plant sits on the right and a white vessel with wooden spoons in it sits on the left.

Image Source | Cher House


The other thing to consider is integration. While this isn’t as easy as it sounds, it’s becoming more and more popular for kitchens to blend seamlessly with other parts of the house, especially in open plan homes. Some creative design means that refrigerators and dishwashers can now be made to look like joinery, and range hoods can be disguised under custom plasterwork. You can check out our latest kitchen design here, currently under construction. It boasts integrated appliances, Calcutta Borghini marble and French Industrial design elements *swoon*.



Embrace Your Artistic Side

A close up of a kitchen bench. The benches are white and grey marble with beige cupboards underneath and brass handles. There is a sunken stainless steel sink with stainless steel hardware. An olive green tea towel hangs out of the sink, a chopping board is on the left with a black vase and some tapered candles on it and various boards sit on the right of the sink. There is a grey marble splash back with a white floating shelf above it. An oil painting depicting fruit sits on the shelf, with a matching piece depicting a lemon resting on the bench below. Some candles and kick knacks also sit on the shelf. The wall behind the shelf is a soft peach colour with three round hanging lights

Image Source | Jean Stoffer Design


While kitchens are often thought of as neutral spaces, there’s no reason your kitchen shouldn’t reflect your personality, just like the other rooms in your house. Gone are the days of displaying a single cook book or a large glass bowl on the kitchen bench. Instead, opt for an oil painting on a kitchen wall, or even something sculptural. There’s no reason your artwork has to be limited to the living room or bedroom.


A close up of a kitchen bench. The bench top is white stone with black drawers underneath and brass handles. A vessel with a green plant and another with wooden spoons rest on the bench. There is a grey marble splash back and above that an inset black china cabinet, filled with white crockery. On the right there is a stainless steel oven with a copper kettle sitting on the stove; a white floating bench sits above it with two framed artworks sitting on the shelf.

Design: Bria Hammel Interiors | Photography: Spacecrafting


For benchtop decor, a large vessel with some patina can be an artistic way to house wooden spoons, and help bridge the gap between modern aesthetics and old world charm. The goal here is not to clutter up the space too much (we want to be able to use those benches, remember!), but mix a touch of creativity into your storage and display options.



Unconventional Benchtops

A kitchen. The floor is white tiles. A wooden Island bench is in the middle of the room with a black marble benchtop. A black fruit bowel with some apples rests on the bench, along with a green vase and some daffodils. Behind the bench a grey wall is seen with an abstract painting hanging on it. A window is on the left with sheer beige blinds and floor to ceiling beige cupboards are on the right with gold handles.

Design: Brad Krefman/BK Interior Design | Photography: Mike Schwartz | Via Chairish

Speaking of patina, let’s talk about benchtops! While we understand that not everyone can live like this, try not to be too precious with your stone benches. We’ve long fallen into the wabi-sabi camp - the imperfect is totally perfect. If you’re going for a natural stone, try to choose something with lots of markings. And, whilst you should avoid lemon juice and other harsh chemicals, little knicks and stains will help tell the story of your home and create your own personal patina.


A close up of a kitchen bench. The benchtop is white stone with olive green cupboards underneath. The wall behind is painted white with a floating timber shelf attached. On the shelf are assorted artworks and knick knacks. On the bench are a few vases with plants and some bowls. There are two gold hanging lights attached to the wall above the shelf.

Image Source | Juniper Home

The other thing to keep in mind is that your benches don’t have to be super thick. Whilst 40mm benchtops used to be the standard, that’s no longer the case. Thinner benchtops are fast becoming the norm, being both stylish and easier on the wallet! If you’re installing new benchtops, shoot for 20mm thickness - you’ll find plenty of stone options on the market in a style you’re sure to love.



It’s All About Tapware

A corner kitchen bench. The benchtop is white marble with black cupboards underneath with brass handles. A white marble splash back matching the bench is above, with two black floating shelves on a black painted wall above. On the lower shelf there is an assortment of plates resting sideways as well as some glasses and small vessels. On the shelf above there are two framed oil paintings of some boats with a small vase and native greenery hanging out. On the bench there are some knick knacks and a gold tap is visible above a sunken sink.

Image Source | Farrow & Ball

Just like the stylish gold and brass finishes that stood out in bathrooms last year, sophisticated tapware can really make or break a kitchen look. When done right, these easily switched-out fixtures make the world of difference in a kitchen, adding a great amount of character and style to your space. Our tip is to let your tapware be the crowning jewel, and your other hardware be the jewellery.


A kitchen. The floors are light timber with a large island bench in the middle of the room. The benchtop is white stone with a mid-tone timber slats underneath. Four black bar stools rest against the bench with leather seats. Behind the bench there is a bench against a white wall with a gold tap visible, on either side there is a walkway for a butler's pantry. Two hanging three-tier shelves are visible on either side of the sink, hanging from the wall. They hold a range of knick-knacks. There are light timber beams on the room with some black downlights attached and two hanging pendant lights which are frosted glass with gold accents and chain.

Image Source | Kate Marker Interiors

We recommend splurging a little on your tapware to really make it ‘pop’. Brass isn’t going anywhere, so spending some extra cash here is a great option because you know it’s not a passing trend. Another great choice is chrome and black, which has a more modern look, and you get bonus points for mixing metals. Whichever way you go, try to keep each metal at the same eye level, for example brass pendants, black hardware, and a chrome tap.



Is 2021 the year you’re going to renovate your kitchen? Give me a call to discuss your needs (hint, we have custom design packages starting at $40,000 for design AND install - win!).


A millennial woman, residential interior designer based on the Lower North Shore of Sydney, Australia. She is wearing a white and grey tweed blazer with a white cami, jeans and black framed glasses. Her hair is dark blonde and she is smiling with her legs crossed and her arm rested on a marble and walnut side table surrounded by native Australian flowers and plants. A watercolour abstract painting in a matted and brass frame hangs on the wall behind her as do charcoal drapes.


Krista Collard Interiors is a full service design-build firm focusing on creating timeless spaces that honour sustainability and functionality across the Greater Sydney area.


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