The Kitchen as an Extended Living Room? 9 Kitchen Design Shifts Worth Making in 2025
By Rachel Blindauer, Interior & Product Designer
In the evolving conversation around kitchen design, one thing is clear: the era of soulless, showroom-white kitchens is winding down. The new luxury isn’t perfection. It’s things that will last forever and patina.
From St. Louis to Sarasota, I’m seeing a renaissance in the way people want to live in their kitchens—and more importantly, feel in them. In 2025, kitchens are less about posing for Pinterest and more about crafting spaces that carry warmth, rhythm, and memory.
Below, I unpack the most compelling shifts that are reshaping the heart of the home—with timeless insights and curated picks from shop.rachelblindauer.com to bring the vision home.
The Kitchen as an Extended Living Room
Today’s most inviting kitchens don’t just cook—they lounge. The boundaries between kitchen and living room are quietly dissolving, giving rise to spaces designed for both nourishment and connection.
What’s emerging in place of the utilitarian island? Softer silhouettes, cushioned stools, and surfaces styled more like a coffee table than a prep zone. We’re seeing long, easy meals with upholstered seating, layered lighting, and materials that bring the comfort of the living room into the heart of the home.
“A well-designed kitchen doesn’t just function—it hosts, it comforts, it slows you down.”
Picture this: a sculptural pendant above the island, a linen-upholstered bench along one side, and a stack of design books next to a hand-glazed bowl of citrus. It doesn’t just say, “I cook here.” It says, “I live here.”
Design Tip: Style your island like you would a living room vignette. Add a decorative bowl, a stack of art books, or a textured tray. If you’re renovating, consider integrating cushioned seating, curved edges, or softer finishes to enhance the sense of comfort and flow.
Breakfast Nooks That Actually Work
Built-in benches with hidden storage are the new breakfast bars. Whether tucked beneath a window or next to French doors, this zone becomes the gravitational center for morning coffee, homework, and lazy Sunday chats.
Recommended Pairing: Add warmth with textural linen seat cushions, and accent the nook with the sculptural Camella Flush Mount overhead to soften morning light.
Surface Materials That Speak Up
Say goodbye to safe quartz and overused marble. This is the year of statement counters: glazed lava stone, polished stainless, marine-grade finishes that age boldly and beautifully.
“Surfaces should wear like good denim—with character.”
Browse the home decor section for unexpected finishes, or make a quiet statement with the Helios Bowl.
The Scullery Revival
With open-concept living, the need for a secondary utility zone—a scullery or back kitchen—is growing. Think hidden dish stations, a backup oven, and room for the not-so-pretty parts of meal prep.
Design Note: Use shaker-style cabinetry and antique-inspired hardware to evoke an elevated but purposeful tone. Add understated lighting like the Norfolk Pendant for a grounded finish.
Silver & Gold Takes the Spotlight
Gone are the days when mixed metals felt like a mistake. In today’s most compelling kitchens, silver and gold aren’t rivals—they’re a quiet duet. Think: a silver and brass stove, and Urban Electric silver and brass light fixtures with subtle hardware moments that catch the light like jewelry in motion.
“The right metal mix creates depth, warmth, and an unmistakable sense of refinement.”
Pro Tip: Highlight your architectural trim with mixed-metal accents and balance the look with clean-lined counter stools. Finish the scene with the Siena Large Flush Mount—its soft glow and timeless silhouette tie the whole space together with understated glamour.
Classic Floors
We’re craving comfort and lineage. From herringbone wood to checkerboard marble and nostalgic details are returning with intention of craftsmanship.
“Design isn’t about trends. It’s about timeless gestures that feel lived in.”
Bring this feeling to life with a hand-thrown ceramic bowl or a wicker sconce. The Hudson Small Square Flush Mount adds a subtle historical nod.
Cabinets With Soul
Flat-panel doors are quietly fading. In their place: woven cane, fluted wood, and inlaid veneers. Cabinets are being treated like furniture, each one telling its own story.
Consider layering in woven textures or sculptural pulls to elevate your existing cabinetry.
Custom Niches & Built-Ins
Recessed nooks for coffee bars, baking stations, or cocktail prep zones are on the rise. They create intimacy within the openness and offer smart space utility.
Styling Tip: A fluted pewter vase or Murano-style lamp adds elegance to an otherwise utilitarian spot.
The “Invisible” Kitchen
Kitchens are increasingly designed to disappear into the architecture of the home. Think wood-fronted appliances, hidden hoods, and finishes that feel more like furniture than fixtures.
“When design is done right, it becomes background music for your life.”
Warmth, texture, and scale become the design language. Explore handmade tiles, low-contrast lighting, or finish the mood with the Mesa Rug underfoot.
Final Thoughts
Your kitchen shouldn’t look like it came from a catalog. It should feel like it came from you. As a designer, I don’t chase trends—I interpret the undercurrent of what makes a space last. If you’re ready to begin designing a kitchen that reflects your life and legacy, book a 2-Hour Consultation to get started.
Looking for full-service support? Learn more about Interior Design Services, or download the Whole-Home Organization Planner to begin refining your space.
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