Kitchens ditch cold surfaces
Kitchen trends are shifting away from 'cold', high‑maintenance materials toward warmer, tactile finishes and flexible, open layouts—designers now prefer calming natural surfaces and pops of colour. A Vancouver renovation that opened a cramped kitchen and added a bright accent is being cited as a template for functional, livable updates this year. (journee-mondiale.com) (theglobeandmail.com)
Designers’ fifth annual “State of Home Design” survey found roughly 36% of respondents said waterfall edges are out and about 14% flagged gray marble as a declining choice for 2026. (thekitchn.com) At this year’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) in Orlando in February 2026, manufacturers unveiled product lines emphasizing warm neutrals, textured or leathered finishes, blue tones and dramatic black surfaces aimed at tactile, less clinical kitchens. (houzz.com) Trend coverage from Homes & Gardens and trade sites shows engineered white quartz and high-contrast black‑and‑white schemes are ceding market share to quartzite, natural stone and textured (“leathered”) finishes that show wear as character. (homesandgardens.com) Industry trackers say fabricators and showrooms are already shifting inventory—SlabWise reports more shops are stocking warm-toned quartzite and textured slabs for 2026 projects, a move KBIS exhibitors also highlighted. (slabwise.com) The Globe and Mail ran a Life & Style feature by Matthew Hague on March 30, 2026 that cited a Vancouver renovation as a practical template for the warmer, more tactile approach designers are promoting this year. (theglobeandmail.com) Design commentary in the “so over” pieces also stressed cost logic: several designers advised avoiding ubiquitous, high‑price details like full waterfall islands because skipping them can save thousands on a remodel while achieving a longer‑lasting look. (thekitchn.com)
