Trend lists are usually written by people who sell tile. This one comes from the design consultations Kitchen and Bath Experts has done across Richmond, Henrico and Chesterfield over the past year: what homeowners are actually asking for, what we are actually installing, and which of it we expect to still look good in 2037.
1. Warm wood is back, and it is staying
White oak, walnut and rift-cut oak cabinetry, either as the whole kitchen or as the island and open shelving against painted perimeter cabinets. After a decade of all-white kitchens, homeowners want warmth. Natural wood ages gracefully, so this one is safe to invest in.
2. Color-drenched and two-tone cabinets
Navy, forest green, sage, charcoal and warm terracotta on the island or the lower cabinets, with lighter uppers or none at all. In the Fan and Church Hill, deep colors suit the older architecture; in Short Pump and Midlothian new builds, a colored island against white perimeter cabinets is the most common request.
3. Slab backsplashes
The countertop material run up the wall behind the range or across the whole back wall. No grout, easy to clean, and it makes a mid-range kitchen look custom. See our backsplash guide.
4. The working pantry
A walk-in or "butler's" pantry with its own counter, outlets for small appliances, and shelving, hidden behind a cabinet-matched door. It keeps the toaster, coffee maker and air fryer off the main counters. Even a 4×6 closet converted with counters and outlets makes a difference.
5. Fewer upper cabinets, more drawers
Open shelving or a single row of uppers, with storage moved into deep base drawers and a pantry. Drawers are easier to use than base cabinets with doors, and the open wall space makes the kitchen feel bigger.
6. Integrated and panel-ready appliances
Refrigerators and dishwashers behind cabinet panels so the kitchen reads as furniture. Pair with a statement range in color or stainless as the one visible appliance.
7. Mixed metals, warmer finishes
Brushed brass or champagne bronze on hardware and faucets, mixed with matte black or brushed nickel on lighting. The rule: two metals, not three, and repeat each at least twice.
8. Large-format and natural stone countertops
Quartz with soft, realistic veining still leads, but honed marble-look quartz, quartzite and soapstone are rising among homeowners who want something that does not look like every other kitchen. See our quartz vs. granite comparison.
9. Statement range hoods
Plastered, wood-wrapped or metal hoods as the focal point of the back wall, replacing the microwave-over-the-range. The microwave moves to a drawer in the island.
10. Lighting as design
Oversized pendants, sconces over open shelving, and under-cabinet lighting treated as a feature rather than an afterthought. See our kitchen lighting guide.
What we expect to last, and what we do not
Likely to age well: natural wood, slab backsplashes, drawer-based storage, working pantries, layered lighting, panel-ready appliances. These are function-driven choices that happen to be in style.
Likely to date: very specific colors (a particular shade of green), heavily fluted or ribbed cabinet fronts everywhere, mixed metals that go beyond two finishes, and bold patterned floor tile across a whole kitchen. Use these where they are easy to change later: a backsplash, hardware, a powder room floor.
How to use trends without regret
- Put money into the layout, cabinetry quality and lighting first; those outlast any trend
- Use trend colors on the island, a wall of cabinets or the backsplash, where they can be changed
- Keep large, permanent surfaces (perimeter counters, floors) calm and neutral
- Choose what fits the house: period details in older Richmond homes, cleaner lines in newer suburbs
Frequently asked questions
Are white kitchens out? No. Warm white with wood accents is still the most installed kitchen in Richmond. Stark white with gray is what is fading.
What cabinet color is most popular right now? Warm white perimeter with a navy, green or wood island is the most frequent combination in our recent projects.
Is open shelving practical? For a short run of everyday dishes, yes. For the whole kitchen, most families find it hard to keep tidy.
Design a kitchen that fits your house and your life
We will tell you which trends suit your home and which ones you will tire of. Book a free in-home consultation, see recent Richmond kitchens or visit our showroom [Client to confirm].