5 New Kitchens That Stylishly Mix Materials and Details
Get ideas for beautifully combining wood tones, paint colors, countertop styles and other elements
Just like cooking a dish with many ingredients, creating a kitchen with several design elements can quickly get out of hand if you don’t know what you’re doing. But skilled design and construction pros can confidently layer materials, finishes, colors and patterns to impressive effect. Here, pros share the details they used in five stylish new kitchens.
Other special features. “When creating this kitchen, we needed it to be neutral because of the colors of the adjoining rooms,” Garrison says. “However, this client likes to take risks and didn’t want something plain or boring. We decided that the backsplash tile and the lighting would be the main statements of this kitchen. We brought in an interesting pattern through the tile that felt a bit tribal. Depending on how you look at it, it comes across as a geometric pattern or a floral pattern.”
Designer tip. “We love when we can do paneled appliances in small spaces that open up to the rest of the house,” Garrison says. “It helps to keep everything looking cleaner and more streamlined. Also, we used outdoor stools so that the client could easily wipe away any food stains and she could have a carefree attitude about her kids eating at the island.”
Backsplash tile: Tabarka Studio; cabinets: San Diego Custom Cabinets
Designer tip. “We love when we can do paneled appliances in small spaces that open up to the rest of the house,” Garrison says. “It helps to keep everything looking cleaner and more streamlined. Also, we used outdoor stools so that the client could easily wipe away any food stains and she could have a carefree attitude about her kids eating at the island.”
Backsplash tile: Tabarka Studio; cabinets: San Diego Custom Cabinets
2. Sophisticated With Elbow Room
Designer: Rebekah Zaveloff of Imparfait Design Studio
Location: Chicago
Homeowners’ request. “The clients were moving from an 1890s row house with tons of character, a home we had previously designed for them, but they needed more space for their two young children,” says designer Rebekah Zaveloff, who uses Houzz Pro. “They wanted to bring some of that character to this newer home and create a cool place to hang out with adult friends while still being family-friendly.”
Details mix. Dark gray cabinets (Down Pipe by Farrow & Ball). Nero Belleza quartzite perimeter countertops. Bianco Superiore quartzite island countertop. Unlacquered brass cabinet hardware and plumbing fixtures. Oak flooring. Wood ceiling beams. Warm white walls (Athena by Benjamin Moore). “Our signature approach is to mix lots of materials and finishes so that kitchens don’t look too shiny and brand-new,” Zaveloff says. “This also helps them stay stylistically relevant rather than trendy. Since kitchens are expensive to redo, we always keep longevity in mind for our clients.”
Designer: Rebekah Zaveloff of Imparfait Design Studio
Location: Chicago
Homeowners’ request. “The clients were moving from an 1890s row house with tons of character, a home we had previously designed for them, but they needed more space for their two young children,” says designer Rebekah Zaveloff, who uses Houzz Pro. “They wanted to bring some of that character to this newer home and create a cool place to hang out with adult friends while still being family-friendly.”
Details mix. Dark gray cabinets (Down Pipe by Farrow & Ball). Nero Belleza quartzite perimeter countertops. Bianco Superiore quartzite island countertop. Unlacquered brass cabinet hardware and plumbing fixtures. Oak flooring. Wood ceiling beams. Warm white walls (Athena by Benjamin Moore). “Our signature approach is to mix lots of materials and finishes so that kitchens don’t look too shiny and brand-new,” Zaveloff says. “This also helps them stay stylistically relevant rather than trendy. Since kitchens are expensive to redo, we always keep longevity in mind for our clients.”
Other special features. “We added leaded glass inserts to the transom windows over the breakfast area and installed industrial steel doors with ribbed glass for the pantry, which allows more light to flow through,” Zaveloff says. “I love those thoughtful details.”
Designer tip. “Don’t be afraid to mix metals,” Zaveloff says. “It creates a much more interesting and sophisticated palette.”
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Designer tip. “Don’t be afraid to mix metals,” Zaveloff says. “It creates a much more interesting and sophisticated palette.”
Find a kitchen designer near you
3. Warm With Bold Touches
Designer: Donna Rose Design
Contractor: Brian Airehart of Airehart Construction
Location: Chico, California
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners envisioned a modern, open-concept kitchen that seamlessly blended functionality with a warm, inviting aesthetic, reflecting an overall theme of contemporary elegance with natural elements,” designer Donna Rose says.
Details mix. White oak cabinets and wide-plank flooring. Black steel-and-glass cabinets and arched pantry door. Navy blue island. Black pendant lights. Matte black cabinet hardware. Infinity quartzite countertops and range backsplash. Light gray handmade zellige tile accent backsplash. Smooth white plaster range alcove. “The design combines these elements to create a harmonious balance of warmth, modernity and elegance, aligning with the contemporary yet cozy aesthetic,” Rose says.
Designer tip. “A key design trick used in this kitchen, which I’d recommend to other homeowners, is the intentional mixing of materials to create visual depth and balance, ensuring the space feels both modern and inviting,” Rose says. “Homeowners can apply this trick by selecting three to four complementary materials with different finishes — like wood, tile, stone and metal — and balancing their tones to suit their style.”
Designer: Donna Rose Design
Contractor: Brian Airehart of Airehart Construction
Location: Chico, California
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners envisioned a modern, open-concept kitchen that seamlessly blended functionality with a warm, inviting aesthetic, reflecting an overall theme of contemporary elegance with natural elements,” designer Donna Rose says.
Details mix. White oak cabinets and wide-plank flooring. Black steel-and-glass cabinets and arched pantry door. Navy blue island. Black pendant lights. Matte black cabinet hardware. Infinity quartzite countertops and range backsplash. Light gray handmade zellige tile accent backsplash. Smooth white plaster range alcove. “The design combines these elements to create a harmonious balance of warmth, modernity and elegance, aligning with the contemporary yet cozy aesthetic,” Rose says.
Designer tip. “A key design trick used in this kitchen, which I’d recommend to other homeowners, is the intentional mixing of materials to create visual depth and balance, ensuring the space feels both modern and inviting,” Rose says. “Homeowners can apply this trick by selecting three to four complementary materials with different finishes — like wood, tile, stone and metal — and balancing their tones to suit their style.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “During the installation of the zellige tile backsplash, the design process hit a significant snag,” contractor Brian Airehart says. “The vision was for a glossy, light gray backsplash with organic variations. However, when the tiles arrived, the batch had more color variation than expected. Some tiles were noticeably darker, almost a charcoal gray, which clashed with the airy, cohesive aesthetic the homeowner had envisioned. Compounding the issue, the installers began setting the tiles in a stacked pattern as planned, but the uneven edges of the handmade zellige tiles made the grout lines appear inconsistent, creating a messy, unfinished look.
“The homeowner, seeing the partially installed backsplash, panicked. The designer suggested pausing the installation to reassess the tiles, proposing that they hand-sort the tiles to use the lighter gray ones on the main walls and reserve the darker ones for a smaller accent area, like above the range, to create a subtle contrast that could enhance the design. To address the grout issue, they switched to a thinner grout line with a custom-mixed light gray grout that blended better with the tiles, minimizing the uneven appearance, a technique the designer had seen in a recent Houzz article on working with handmade tiles. After a few extra days of work, the backsplash came together beautifully.”
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“The homeowner, seeing the partially installed backsplash, panicked. The designer suggested pausing the installation to reassess the tiles, proposing that they hand-sort the tiles to use the lighter gray ones on the main walls and reserve the darker ones for a smaller accent area, like above the range, to create a subtle contrast that could enhance the design. To address the grout issue, they switched to a thinner grout line with a custom-mixed light gray grout that blended better with the tiles, minimizing the uneven appearance, a technique the designer had seen in a recent Houzz article on working with handmade tiles. After a few extra days of work, the backsplash came together beautifully.”
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4. Tailored With Dramatic Flair
Designers: Troy Rivington and Annie Martin of Rivington Marx Interiors
Location: Denver
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners purchased a high-end spec home near the end of its construction process,” designer Troy Rivington says. “The home was beautiful but too generic for their tastes. Our team was brought in just in time to infuse the spaces with the family’s bold personality. The result feels personalized and unique. Not a hint of the spec home that once was.”
Details mix. Navy and dark oak cabinetry. Quartz and soapstone countertops. Satin brass hardware and hood accents. White oak flooring. “The kitchen enjoys an abundance of natural light,” Rivington says. “This, in combination with the white oak flooring and white ceilings, assured us that the space could handle a darker, moodier color scheme than most. By strategically sprinkling the dark blue tones, satin brass accents and dark oak cabinetry elements throughout, the space feels balanced and bespoke.”
Designers: Troy Rivington and Annie Martin of Rivington Marx Interiors
Location: Denver
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners purchased a high-end spec home near the end of its construction process,” designer Troy Rivington says. “The home was beautiful but too generic for their tastes. Our team was brought in just in time to infuse the spaces with the family’s bold personality. The result feels personalized and unique. Not a hint of the spec home that once was.”
Details mix. Navy and dark oak cabinetry. Quartz and soapstone countertops. Satin brass hardware and hood accents. White oak flooring. “The kitchen enjoys an abundance of natural light,” Rivington says. “This, in combination with the white oak flooring and white ceilings, assured us that the space could handle a darker, moodier color scheme than most. By strategically sprinkling the dark blue tones, satin brass accents and dark oak cabinetry elements throughout, the space feels balanced and bespoke.”
Other special features. “We collaborated with a local metalworker to fabricate the custom display cabinets flanking the hood,” Rivington says. “The glass on the back of the steel cabinets with visibility through to the backsplash tile beyond gives the illusion of the cabinet floating on the wall. It provides for additional storage while avoiding too much visual weight.”
Designer tip. “The entire home was designed to balance clean-lined contemporary elements with traditional, grounding elements, and the kitchen is no exception,” Rivington says. “A combination of slab door cabinetry mixed with classic framed panels on the refrigerator and freezer, a sleek contemporary hood with the historic herringbone-patterned backsplash — it all works in harmony to strike the perfect note of ‘then and now.’ This juxtaposition keeps a home feeling timeless, not anchored to a particular trend or era, and allows your investment to be enjoyed for many years to come.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The alcove that was planned for the refrigerator and freezer appliances was in place well before our team got involved,” Rivington says. “Trying to find a clean way to integrate these large appliances and cover the edges of this oversized alcove was a collective effort between designer, contractor and installer to ensure it all came together beautifully. The collaborative mindset between designer and construction team is imperative to the successful outcome of a project.”
Cabinetry: Nickels Cabinets
3 Fantastic Kitchens Designed for Entertaining
Designer tip. “The entire home was designed to balance clean-lined contemporary elements with traditional, grounding elements, and the kitchen is no exception,” Rivington says. “A combination of slab door cabinetry mixed with classic framed panels on the refrigerator and freezer, a sleek contemporary hood with the historic herringbone-patterned backsplash — it all works in harmony to strike the perfect note of ‘then and now.’ This juxtaposition keeps a home feeling timeless, not anchored to a particular trend or era, and allows your investment to be enjoyed for many years to come.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “The alcove that was planned for the refrigerator and freezer appliances was in place well before our team got involved,” Rivington says. “Trying to find a clean way to integrate these large appliances and cover the edges of this oversized alcove was a collective effort between designer, contractor and installer to ensure it all came together beautifully. The collaborative mindset between designer and construction team is imperative to the successful outcome of a project.”
Cabinetry: Nickels Cabinets
3 Fantastic Kitchens Designed for Entertaining
5. Natural Style With Abundant Green
Designer: Lizzie Green of Popix Designs
Location: San Diego
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners came into this project wanting a bright, open-concept kitchen that felt both bold and inviting,” designer Lizzie Green says. “To bring their vision to life, we knocked down walls and expanded the footprint, creating room for an 11-foot island that instantly became the heart of the home. Their theme? Green through and through.”
Details mix. “This kitchen is a study in layered greens and warm natural textures,” Green says. “We custom-color-matched the cabinets to the three-dimensional green backsplash tile for a bold, monochromatic look, then added green marble countertops to bring movement and richness. The 11-foot island is bleached white oak with reeded wood details that coordinate with the open shelving, paired with 5-inch-wide white oak plank floors to keep the space grounded and cohesive. The custom range hood uses the same wood, with reeding in different directions to add sculptural interest. Ceramic pendant lights bring a soft, handcrafted feel above the island, and slim brass hardware adds a little shine. Every material, from the textured tile to the layered woods, was chosen to complement one another, creating a kitchen that feels fresh, warm and completely tailored.”
Designer: Lizzie Green of Popix Designs
Location: San Diego
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowners came into this project wanting a bright, open-concept kitchen that felt both bold and inviting,” designer Lizzie Green says. “To bring their vision to life, we knocked down walls and expanded the footprint, creating room for an 11-foot island that instantly became the heart of the home. Their theme? Green through and through.”
Details mix. “This kitchen is a study in layered greens and warm natural textures,” Green says. “We custom-color-matched the cabinets to the three-dimensional green backsplash tile for a bold, monochromatic look, then added green marble countertops to bring movement and richness. The 11-foot island is bleached white oak with reeded wood details that coordinate with the open shelving, paired with 5-inch-wide white oak plank floors to keep the space grounded and cohesive. The custom range hood uses the same wood, with reeding in different directions to add sculptural interest. Ceramic pendant lights bring a soft, handcrafted feel above the island, and slim brass hardware adds a little shine. Every material, from the textured tile to the layered woods, was chosen to complement one another, creating a kitchen that feels fresh, warm and completely tailored.”
Designer tip. “One of our favorite tricks in this space, and one we totally recommend, is picking a color you love and going all in,” Green says. “If you’re unsure where to start, let the tile lead the way. It’s one of the easiest — and most fun — ways to build a color story that feels intentional from the ground up.”
“Uh-oh” moment. “We realized the skylights we planned to add for extra light would compete with the kitchen pendants — we had a major lighting clash on our hands,” Green says. “For a minute, it was one of those, ‘How are we going to pull this off?’ moments. But instead of forcing it, we pivoted. We added wood beams to the ceiling to bring in that open, airy feeling we were after and brought in even more natural light with 15-foot sliding doors across from the kitchen. It ended up being the perfect solution — bright, breezy and totally intentional.”
Backsplash tile: Oval Cilantro, 4 by 8 inches, Clay Imports
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“Uh-oh” moment. “We realized the skylights we planned to add for extra light would compete with the kitchen pendants — we had a major lighting clash on our hands,” Green says. “For a minute, it was one of those, ‘How are we going to pull this off?’ moments. But instead of forcing it, we pivoted. We added wood beams to the ceiling to bring in that open, airy feeling we were after and brought in even more natural light with 15-foot sliding doors across from the kitchen. It ended up being the perfect solution — bright, breezy and totally intentional.”
Backsplash tile: Oval Cilantro, 4 by 8 inches, Clay Imports
More on Houzz
Read more kitchen design stories
Browse kitchen photos
Find a kitchen remodeler
Shop for your kitchen
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Designer: Allison Garrison of Allito Spaces
Location: La Jolla, California
Homeowners’ request. “The homeowner wanted to open up the kitchen and also add island seating, but the spacing was very tight,” designer Allison Garrison says. “The homeowner originally wanted to fully remove the wall between the kitchen and the dining room, but we were able to show them why leaving an opening as an arch would work best for their home.”
Details mix. Rift white oak cabinets in a medium-dark stain. Creamy white cabinets (White Duck by Sherwin-Williams). Reeded glass doors. Black Pearl granite countertops. Painted terra-cotta tile backsplash. “In this kitchen we were going for timeless but also with a fun, funky vibe,” Garrison says. “It’s a part of a 2000-era Tuscan home, so we didn’t want to go ultramodern. Keeping the woods a bit darker helped unify the kitchen with the style of the home, and using painted terra-cotta tile played in nicely with the other finishes of the home.”
Garrison uses Houzz Pro software to manage her design business. “For this project, we used the 2D and 3D features plus proposals and invoicing,” she says.
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