Kitchen cabinets set the tone for the entire room, making this selection important in the kitchen renovation process. The largest visual element in the majority of kitchens, the material, color and style a client chooses will shape the entire design, from countertops to lighting. Cabinet trends heading into 2026 are less about chasing a single look and more about creating a kitchen that feels personal, warm and built to last. Wood-tone cabinets have overtaken white as the most popular choice in kitchen renovations. The emphasis is on celebrating the natural…
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Functionality becomes primary goal in kitchen remodeling
Kitchen renovation design is changing, most prominently in the end goal. Functionality is becoming the primary focus, rather than a design that is purely aesthetic. Clients are looking past dramatic finishes and focusing on layouts, materials and planning methods that support real life, seeking kitchens that hold up under daily cooking, entertaining and family routines without constant maintenance or regret. This shift reflects a growing understanding that a kitchen is not a showroom, but one of the hardest-working rooms in the home. The most noticeable shift in 2026 kitchen design…
Read MoreHome remodel design trends to avoid
While plenty of designers turn to social media platforms like Pinterest to put together design inspiration for a client for home renovations, there are trends that fail to translate the same in real life. “Pinterest is one of the best places to start when planning a home renovation,” said Nicole Rodriguez, Director of Cabinet Design with Revive Design and Renovation. “It helps homeowners visualize styles, discover finishes they love, and finally put language to ideas they’ve been carrying around for years. The challenge is that what photographs beautifully doesn’t always…
Read MoreRemodels are more popular than relocating
Current homeowners are choosing to remodel according to their needs instead of relocating. According to the Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies, only about 1 in 10 households changed homes in 2024. This is across varying markets from young homeowners to retired households. Many first-time homebuyers choosing to remodel their starter homes instead of leaving their pandemic-era sub-3% mortgage rates. “The reality today is that many households appear to be “locked in” to their homes,” wrote Riordan Frost, Senior Research Analyst at Harvard Joint Center for Housing Studies. As for…
Read MoreRemodel of the week: Jenny O’Leary
Architect and designer Jenny O’Leary transformed a kitchen inside a late-1800s brownstone in Carroll Gardens in Brooklyn, N.Y., into a modern, functional space while still preserving historical charm. The challenge was more than updating and preserving an old house, but designing a kitchen a couple could comfortably share on the daily. Another challenge was the fact that O’Leary’s clients had two opposing design styles. While one liked darker tones and strong lines, the other preferred softer elements. O’Leary aimed to renovate the kitchen to feel classic and calm for each…
Read MoreHomeowners choose remodeling over moving
Homeowners in Loudon County, Va., are choosing to renovate their homes instead of moving due to tight housing inventory and discouraging mortgage rates. Across multiple homes in the area, outdated kitchens with dark cabinetry and inefficient layouts have been transformed into bright, functional spaces designed for modern living. Rather than searching for a new home, homeowners are reinvesting in the spaces they already love, improving flow, storage and long-term comfort. “Many of the homes we work in have great bones,” said Justin Butler, owner of Klappenberger & Son in Loudoun…
Read MoreNARI announces their Remodel of the Year Awards
The National Association of the Remodeling Industry (NARI) announced their Remodel of the Year Awards. These awards are distributed across 44 categories among 7 regions with 159 winners. NARI was formed in 1982 with the merge of the the National Remodelers Association and the National Home Improvement Council. The categories range from best residential kitchen, bath, basement, interiors, whole home and more. The winners for the entire house over $1,000,000 category were Alloway Construction & Restoration, Inc. (Region 1 Northeast), Alair Homes Arlington (Region 2 Southeast), Gordon James (Region 3…
Read MoreDesigners recommend upgrades to elevate small kitchens
While a small kitchen can feel cluttered, designers recommend small upgrades throughout to elevate the space and boost functionality. Vertical storage space, readily accessible appliances and decorative cabinet inserts are just a few of the trends designers predict will take the spotlight in kitchen renovations in 2026. “In compact spaces, visual noise magnifies quickly,” says Kimberly Oxford of Kimberly Oxford Interiors. “Fully integrated, panel-ready appliances are becoming less of a luxury and more of a necessity. They allow the cabinetry to carry the visual weight of the room and create…
Read MoreRemodel of the Week: Rude Haus
Local studio Rude Haus renovated a home in New Hope, Pa. with an assortment of hand-crafted elements to create a colorful, vintage atmosphere. Instead, the designer incorporated Pennsylvania’s surrounding countryside into the living spaces of Clover House by using bright colours and texture. Handmade tiles depicting plants, animals and countryside motifs that frame the threshold between the living room and dining room. The project entailed updating the main living areas of the split-level home after its owners performed initial renovations, which brought the house up to code, but left the…
Read MoreOhio builder and remodeler elected as 2026 NAHB Chairman
The 2026 chairman of the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) was elected at the International Builders’ Show. Bill Owens a remodeler and home builder based in Ohio was selected for the leadership position. Owens is the founder and principal of Owens Construction, a design+build firm he founded in 1982. Throughout his 40 year career, Owens held roles in NAHB leadership structure at the local, state and national levels. Before being elected chairman, Owens served on the NAHB Leadership Council and is a member of the NAHB Board of Directors.…
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