Every year brings new kitchen design trends, and 2025 is no exception. After consulting with hundreds of Chicago-area homeowners and completing dozens of kitchen remodels, we've noticed clear patterns in what clients are asking for. Here's our honest take on what's trending — and which trends are worth investing in for the long term.
Two-Tone Cabinetry
One of the most popular requests we're seeing is two-tone cabinetry — typically a darker color on the lower cabinets (navy, forest green, charcoal) paired with white or cream upper cabinets. This approach adds visual depth and personality without committing the entire kitchen to a bold color. It's a trend we expect to have real staying power because it's rooted in good design principles: grounding the lower half of the room while keeping the upper half light and airy.
Quartz Over Granite
Quartz has largely replaced granite as the countertop of choice for Chicago-area homeowners, and for good reason. Quartz is non-porous (no sealing required), highly resistant to staining, and available in a wider range of colors and patterns than natural stone. The most popular choices we're installing in 2025 are soft whites with subtle veining that mimic Carrara marble, and warm greige tones that pair beautifully with wood-toned cabinetry.
Statement Range Hoods
The range hood has evolved from a purely functional element to a focal point of the kitchen. Plaster hoods, custom wood hoods, and dramatic arched hoods are all trending. If you're investing in a kitchen remodel, a well-designed range hood is one of the highest-impact visual upgrades you can make — and it photographs beautifully for resale.
Integrated Appliances
Panel-ready refrigerators and dishwashers — where the appliance is covered with a cabinet panel that matches the rest of the kitchen — are increasingly popular in high-end Chicago kitchens. The result is a seamless, furniture-like appearance where appliances disappear into the cabinetry. This look does come at a premium, but for homeowners who want a truly bespoke kitchen, it's worth the investment.
Warm Wood Tones
After years of all-white kitchens dominating the market, warm wood tones are making a strong comeback. Natural white oak, walnut, and warm-toned maple are appearing on islands, open shelving, and as accent cabinetry. This trend reflects a broader shift toward organic, warm interiors that feel lived-in and welcoming rather than sterile.
Our Honest Take: What Will Last?
Not every trend is worth chasing. Our advice to clients is always the same: invest in quality materials and timeless proportions, and use trend-forward choices in elements that are easy to change later (hardware, lighting, paint color). A well-designed kitchen with quality cabinetry and stone will look beautiful in 20 years regardless of what's trending today.
The trends we're most confident will endure: quartz countertops, integrated appliances, and the move toward warmer, more organic color palettes. The trends we'd approach with more caution: very bold cabinet colors that may feel dated in five years, and ultra-minimalist designs that sacrifice storage for aesthetics.