At Catherine Wilman, we are drawn towards classic styles, but we keep an eye on fashion too. From backlit quartz to talking fridges, here’s what’s cooking according to our panel of experts…
Our Predictions for 2025
Every year, our team attends Milan Design Week, where 300,000 visitors, designers, and artisans from 160 countries showcase their finest craftsmanship. It's impossible not to be inspired, and our friends at Poggenpohl, Boffi and other design houses never fail to impress with their incredible innovation.
Trends seen here in Spring seep down and translate into real homes by Autumn so it can be a great style barometer. This year, we loved the focus on the kitchen as the centre point for socialising and the idea that a cooking space should excite all the senses. As such, we often saw a design battle between minimalism and maximalism as subtle and simple designs stood beautifully alongside light-up islands, interactive art, glittering metal cabinets and unexpected pops of colour. We also saw how antique and one-off eclectic pieces can help mix up a modern space in a trend that influencers now call the 'Paris Grandma Aesthetic.'
Trend One : Wood, Moody Earth Tones and Art Deco Curves.
Poggenpohl Wigmore studio Manager, Richard Anderson, says ultra-modern aesthetics will still nod to the old school.
“At Salone del Mobile this year, the over-arching trend was the resurgence of warmer, earthier tones with the addition of curves, fluting and in some cases a hark back to the style of the 1920’s," Richard Anderson, Studio Manager Poggenpohl.
“Poggenpohl’s own display featured laser cut leather inlays, bringing soft textures and warmth to what has historically been seen to be a clean and uncluttered design, showing that the brand can be styled and designed to suit those with a classical taste, not just the uber-modern. Looking forward- rounded edges, circular or oval creations, especially those featuring fluting, remain prevalent. Colours that incorporate soft pinks (think ‘Setting Plaster’ from Farrow & Ball) and compliment darker wood furniture while also bringing some depth and warmth to the overall scheme will be favoured.”
Trend Two : Minimalist Aesthetic with Maximum Functionality
People are taking their kitchens more seriously as more of us experiment with ambitious cooking thanks to TikTok and Instagram. We predict you’ll be seeing:
1. The Return of Stainless Steel & Industrial Chic
Imagine those practical, simple, and efficient Michelin star kitchens you’ve seen on Disney Plus show The Bear, but in your home. (PS, what a show! CWI recommends). Think 1980’s Conran schemes and well-labelled pantries.
2. Hidden Appliances
Aim for handleless cabinets, clean lines, and major appliances squirrelled away behind secret doors or in an ‘appliance garage’ (a shuttered area for ‘parking’ your mixer and toaster). Kitchen company Hetherington Newman is particularly clever at this, often hiding entire coffee stations and breakfast nooks behind sleek, soft-close doors.
Boffi is another design master when it comes to hidden nooks that ensure the kitchen is well-stocked with unspoiled lines. Under sleek countertops, the 90-year-old Italian brand always makes thoughtful bespoke compartments.
"A kitchen nook hides appliances and is always fun to reveal, like a miniature secret room." Catherine Wilman
A Boffi kitchen nook hides appliances and also acts as a coffee station. Interior Design: Catherine Wilman
Trend Three : Sustainable Kitchens - Embracing Eco in Your Design
Sustainability continues to be a huge touchpoint for designers. Homeowners want to move away from plastic and harmful coatings as much as possible on every budget. Kitchens with indoor herb gardens, olive and citrus trees, terracotta salt pigs, or anything that brings the outside in will also be a hit in a trend known as Biophilic Design.
But designing a more sustainable kitchen doesn’t have to mean a complete overhaul. Practical first steps can be:
1. Eliminate Single-Use Plastics
Fill your larder and cupboards with glass containers or non-PVC (vinyl) Tupperware. Teflon-coated pots and pans have come under fire recently for their potential toxicity, but only when used at very high temperatures. To be on the safe side, we love the stylish cookware company ‘Our Place,’ which has a huge range of non-toxic pots and pans. Classic brands like Staub and Le Creuset also excel at safe, stylish cooking.
2. Ditch and Renew Artificial Countertops
A good choice for a replacement would be marble, wood, quartz, terrazzo, porcelain or sealed bamboo. Also, support local by collecting handmade pottery from local designers. Or find a unique basket or bowl at a second-hand store.
3. Leave Out Plastic Water Bottles
A Brita filter jug is a good start or opt, instead, for a tap-fitted water filter system. We like Aquasana, Coway and Water2.
4. Swap to an Induction Stove
They don’t lose heat through convection, making them 30% more efficient than a gas hob. Plus, think of the lovely sleek lines. We’ve seen some great ‘invisible’ ones with all the digital components hidden in the countertop.
Trend Four : The Return of the Shaker Kitchen
Not so much a comeback as an enduring style. Shaker kitchens are popular again with younger buyers as they are easy to update with paint colour and the hardware is easily swopped out to update a look or follow a trend. The Beckhams, Meghan Markle, Kendal Jenner and Adele all have a shaker. And Shake(r) It Off singer Taylor Swift has a shaker with hand-painted cupboards embellished with flowers. Kendal Jenner’s shaker kitchen with teal cabinetry, copper pans and marble splashbacks is Google’s most-searched-for celebrity kitchen.
Why are Shaker-style kitchens so beloved?
1. Simplicity and Elegance: Shaker is characterized by clean lines, minimal ornamentation, and a focus on functionality. This simplicity makes it versatile and adaptable to various interiors, from rustic and traditional to modern.
2. Hand Painted : Shaker kitchens have a personal touch and artisanal quality. This allows for easy repainting, giving homeowners the flexibility to update the scheme as desired.
3. Durability and Quality: Built with high-quality materials and craftsmanship, Shakers are designed to last. Solid construction ensures they can withstand wear and tear and they NEVER go out of style.
4. Customizable: One of the joys of a shaker kitchen is the ability to customize. You can repaint the cabinets, fill the holes and change the handles to transform the look.
Trend Five : Make It Personal. Individuality Reigns Supreme
"When it comes to kitchen design, we tend to focus on creating spaces that are timeless and tailored to our clients’ preferences and lifestyles, rather than simply following the latest trends," says Pierce Coyne, Design Manager at Kitchen Architecture. "That said, there are a few broader movements worth noting. One major trend is the growing desire for bespoke solutions that reflect a homeowner's unique taste and needs. Clients increasingly seek custom elements that add personality and warmth to their kitchens, whether through cabinetry, finishes, or integrated lighting. Alongside this, there’s a noticeable interest in the craftsmanship and story behind the kitchen's creation—from the precision engineering of system kitchens to the handcrafted details made in our workshop. This reflects a shift towards valuing the process and quality of making, not just the final product.
"Ultimately, while specific colours and finishes may come and go, the most significant trend we’re seeing is a move towards kitchens that prioritise individuality, craftsmanship, and a thoughtful combination of styles. By focusing on these aspects, we’re not just following trends—we’re helping to shape them." Pierce Coyne, Kitchen Architecture.
Trend Six : The Unstoppable Rise of Smart Kitchens
Alexa is here to stay for recipes and kitchen timers, but there is much more you can do to 'up-tech' your kitchen, impress guests, and make your life easier.
1. Explore Smart and Fun Technology
There are now voice-controlled systems for lighting, ovens, music and air conditioning. Or go all out with a Samsung Bespoke Smart Fridge, with built-in AI to help spot when you are running out of shopping, recommend recipes based on what’s in your fridge, or just for watching Netflix while you cook, aka Netflix & Grill.
No garden but love a BBQ? The GE Smart Profile Indoor Smoker will help you get perfect chargrilled and smoky flavours without needing a garden. Fancy a cocktail but zero bar skills? Let a robot do it for you via the Barsys 360.
Trend Seven : The Return of Colour and Pattern
Neutral, minimalist, and monochrome interiors will always be in fashion, but for those willing to break into a riot of maximalism, now is the time.
1. Colour Drenching
Paint your shelves and cupboard doors the same tone as your floors, accessories, and lighting. You can even choose highly pigmented quartzes and marbles to match. It’s all very Stanley Kubrick, and there is no doubt it’s a bold look, but it is also strangely calming.
2. Take a Shelfie!
Open shelving is back, allowing for personalised and decorative displays. But keep it organised! Appliances are hidden away but shelves allow you to showcase art and pottery.
Trend Eight : The New Lighting in Kitchen Design
1. Scale Up
If you are going for a pendant, make it big. The trend will be for one big architectural statement piece over lots of smaller lighting. Curves are in, angles are out.
2. Vintage
Not just sustainable, but also unique. Contrasting modern sleek lines against an antique or toleware chandelier, or perhaps a Mid-Century, Brutalist, or Sputnik piece, will help you to stand out. Tiny reading nook lamps will also be popular, hidden on shelves with silk pleated shades or clipped onto cookbooks.
3. All Out Modern
If you like everything shiny and new, LED strips, floor lights, and backlit quartz islands are the way forward.
Hidden task lighting will be popular, such as movement-activated strips under cupboards for when you need a spotlight on a chopping board. Midnight snack, anyone?
Interior Design: Catherine Wilman Interiors
Room Photography: Alexander James