13 Kitchen Decorating Ideas Designers Can't Wait to Say Goodbye To

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We all know design trends tend to come and go, reflecting technological innovation and shifts in the cultural zeitgeist. As a brand, VERANDA has never championed leaning heavily on a single “look” to inform an entire design scheme. We strongly prefer timeless and unique to trendy, which can lead to a sea of sameness in home after home. (This brand filter is fairly obvious when you browse the house tours we feature.) That said, as editors we take seriously our responsibility to surface new products and ideas—so long as they meet our standards of beautiful and high-quality design.

Nowhere is our particular approach timeless over trendy more relevant than the kitchen, the biggest investment space for most homeowners. So we asked designers who subscribe to our designer newsletter, Trade Secrets, to share the kitchen design ideas they are so over. (You can sign up for the newsletter, which is free, here.) If you’re planning a kitchen build out or renovation soon, here are 13 design ideas to ditch so that your space won’t feel dated, trendy, or like every other kitchen you saw on Instagram last week.

The Double Island

As kitchens have increasingly become the primary gathering space at home, some luxury homeowners have been creating kitchens with two islands: one for food preparation and one for serving, eating, and hanging out. But designer Lisa Simopoulos, based in Northern California, thinks the doubling down on islands has been overplayed.

“Double islands feel like they’re breaking up a kitchen in a way where I feel I am leapfrogging to get around in them,” she says. “The problem is 99.9% of us will never have a kitchen large enough for them to make sense…so let’s go back to basics of a practical, user-friendly layout and have fun with the design and selections instead.”

Over-Island Pendant Lights

Several years ago, it would have been almost unthinkable to light a kitchen island with anything other than pendants, typically multiple of them and often over-scaled. But designers are turning away from the over-island pendant, preferring more discrete, less industrial-feeling flush mounts instead.

“Sometimes pendants over an island can feel like a warming station,” says Austin-based interior designer Kristen Nix. “There are cooler ways to light a kitchen with monopoint lighting, petite flush mounts, or a single pendant that isn't hung as a pair or set of three.”

Ace Head MonoPoint

West Elm x PBK Striped Ceramic Flushmount

Isamu Noguchi Akari Pendant Lamp

Pot Fillers

This fixture is not a favorite of designers as many singled it out as the kitchen design element they’d like to see go away. The primary reason? Questionable utility in a residential cookspace with significant associated costs (hello, additional plumbing).

"I’ve installed many pot fillers on projects at my clients' request over the years, but I have to admit to not totally understanding the need for one in a residential kitchen, especially in a seasonal house,” says Nantucket-based designer Kathleen Hay. “They assist with filling the pots, of course, but you still have to drag the heavy vessel of boiling hot water over to the sink to drain it."

That inconvenience tends to lead to low usage, potentially as low as a few times a year, says Chicago-based designer Tom Stringer. “Have you ever filled a pot with water from a tap that hasn’t been used for a year? Not good,” he adds. Potential damage from leaks only complicates matters, says San Francisco Bay-area designer Cory Alisa Ferris. “If there’s a leak later down the line, it could potentially damage or break the stove.”

Accent Backsplashes

Designers we polled would like to move on from the accent or “statement” backsplash behind the cooktop. Over the years, these have come in many shapes, sizes and patterns—which figures into why designers are ready to ditch them. They tend to “just date a kitchen without really making an impact,” says L.A.-based designer Linda Hayslett, who recommends selecting tile or stone for one continuous backsplash throughout the kitchen instead.

Similarly, New York-based designer Elizabeth Sesser of Kligerman Architecture & Design advises against mural backsplashes in kitchens. “Commonly seen in French country kitchens, they often feature hand-painted tiles depicting bouquets or cornucopias. While beautiful, the work is specific and does not stand the test of time,” says Sesser.

Touch-Activated Appliances

Over the years, appliances have increasingly gotten “smarter”—with more refrigerators, ovens, dishwashers, and even countertop appliances like coffee machines able to connect to smart phones and be controlled remotely. With this has come an increasing use of touch-screen controls or buttons. But that these hyper connected appliances have come at an aesthetic and sensory expense, according to some designers.

“I prefer analog to digital,” says architect John Ike of Ike Baker Velten. “I like ovens with knobs rather than push buttons, and the same goes for cooktops. I’m not a fan of those electronic faucets either.”

Instead, bring some color and personality to your kitchen with vintage or retro-inspired appliances and fixtures; they'll add instant charm into an otherwise utilitarian space.

Classico Double Oven

Kingston Brass Antique Brass Faucet

Classic Retro Fridge

Open Shelves

A hot take if ever there were one, several designers strongly dislike open shelves in kitchens. For Charlotte-based interior designer Nancy Parrish, it comes down to issues of cleanliness and maintenance more so than aesthetics.

“One of the biggest issues is the constant struggle to keep open shelves organized and clutter-free,” she says. “Unlike closed cabinets that keep things out of sight, open shelves demand meticulous organization and styling to stay tidy. Not to mention, items on open shelves are prone to dust and grease, requiring frequent cleaning.” Adds Stringer: “Who wants a bowl of Cheerios with a side of dust bunny?”

Waterfall Islands

Here’s another design element that may be harder for some to dismiss than others: the waterfall island, featuring stone countertops that extend down the sides to the floor. The style has been incredibly popular in luxury kitchen design since the 2010s, but some designers are ready to move on.

“The basic waterfall island has had its day,” says Chicago-based designer Wendy Labrum, who sees opportunity to try new things in its place. “There are so many more interesting design elements to create with marble and stone. As this trend tires, designers will be pushed to be more creative with their fabricators.”

Double-Basin Sinks

Just because it’s what you know doesn’t mean it’s the best design for today. That’s how designers feel about double-basin sinks.

“Some people are intent on having a split sink, often because they grew up with one and it’s what they’re used to,” says Ferris. “If this comes up I always put my foot down, as there’s just nothing good about them. Split sinks are visually busy and unless there’s no dishwasher, there’s no need for the sectioned basin.”

Apron Front Single Basin Sink

Undermount Stainless Steel Kitchen Sink

Fireclay Workstation Kitchen Sink

Glass Arched Hoods

Once a signal of cutting edge, contemporary design, designers are ready to retire the glass arched hood. “It’s not so modern as people like to believe any more. It dates a space and makes it feel like it's from two decades ago,” says Hayslett. “I love a John Hughes movie, but I don't like my projects to look like they came from one.”

All-Brass Finishes

Designers (and design editors!) have long championed the idea of mixing finishes in kitchen hardware and fixtures. But this is easier for some homeowners to embrace than others. And while designers are thrilled to see clients embracing warmer tones, like copper or brass, some are concerned the all-brass look may have gone too far.

“Lately, too much brass in the kitchen has bothered me,” says Mia Jung, director of interiors at Kligerman Architecture & Design. “An accent of brass could be timeless, but when it’s used in all hardware, plumbing and light fixtures and hood, it’s too much and you could get tired of it pretty soon.”

Instead, keep things interesting by mixing in polished nickel fixtures, brass pulls, or sculptural knobs. We love the idea of adding antique and vintage finishes into your kitchen, too. Play with different finishes for a more collected, layered look.

Massey Drawer Pull

Face Knob (4 Pack) by Mike Ruiz Serra

Atlas Homewares Victoria Collection Pull, Polished Nickel

Basic Subway Tile

Designers agree that there will always be a place for classic subway tile. That said, many are ready to retire the white ceramic 3" x 6" version for kitchen backsplashes. “The look is undoubtedly a classic one, but by being a classic it has also become ‘safe’ and no longer reflects a homeowner’s unique perspective or style, or the architecture of the home,” says San Francisco-based Emilie Munroe.

The designer encourages her clients to consider subtle tweaks, such as using a grout with color (“We've had great results with pink grout and white tiles!”) or swapping out ceramic tile for a different material. “Thassos marble adds elegance and even a subtle shimmer in some settings,” she says.

Cloe Rectangle Glossy Green Ceramic Wall Tile

Southampton Ceramic Subway Wall Tile

Thassos White Marble Octagon and Blue Celeste Clover Tile

Look Series Porcelain Subway Wall Tile

Southampton Ceramic Subway Wall Tile

Mahogany Cabinetry

These days, designers have embraced a range of kitchen cabinet paint colors but are ready to move on from dark-stained mahogany cabinets.

“These types of cabinets always make a space feel smaller than it is and not welcoming and warm,” says Hayslett. “They actually make a space feel more formal and not comfortable to hang out in, so I'd ditch using these types of cabinets and go for something more interesting like a yummy green or soft cream.”

Built-in Coffee Machines

The coffee snobs among us may balk, but designers are seriously questioning the wisdom behind installing built-in coffee or espresso machines. And with good reason: installing such a high-investment appliance locks in a homeowner.

“My experience is that our clients prefer the freedom to embrace the latest evolutions in these machines and building them in is a long-term commitment that nobody needs or wants,” Stringer says.

Instead, invest in a freestanding coffee or espresso machine that will last you for years (and can leave with you, should you ever decide to move).

Smeg Espresso Coffee Machine

Jura E8 Automatic Coffee Machine

Breville Barista Touch Espresso Machine

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