Experts Share The Latest In Kitchen + Bath Design

The kitchen and bathroom are two of the most important rooms in any home. They’re where daily routines begin and end, and where style meets practicality. From open-concept kitchens with smart storage to bathrooms that feel like spa retreats, the design industry is constantly evolving to keep up with how we live. Here, designers Hillary Taylor and Jeffrey Alan Marks share the latest in kitchen and bath trends. Keep reading to learn how to create K+B spaces that marry style and functionality.

This piece is part of LUXE’s Visionaries program celebrating our 20th anniversary. Stay tuned as we explore the “Story of Home” through the voices of leading experts and brands, culminating in our November/December 2025 anniversary issue.

Aesthetics Meet Function

It’s no secret that kitchens and bathrooms are often the most used spaces in the home. But how do you pack utilitarian rooms with personality? Designers say to start with inventory.

“I often take inventory of a client’s current kitchen needs,” shares designer Hillary Taylor when asked about how to balance style and function. “I’ll add 15% to the existing footprint if they express a desire to have a bit more, and then we design from there,” she says. Closed drawers meet open shelving in the pantry of this Utah project by Taylor (featured here), giving the owners plenty of space for both hideaway items and styled pieces.

Smart Storage Solutions

Good design starts with good construction. Taylor suggests building in recessed areas behind bathroom mirrors for extra hidden compartments and getting creative with kitchen cabinetry. “I love hiding dishwasher and refrigerator drawers to get maximum use out of base cabinetry,” she shares. Layer details like interesting trim or a pop of color on top of base cabinetry to get that perfect mix of form and function.

The Best Materials For High-Traffic & High-Moisture Areas

• Limestone

Limestone is a favorite of Taylor’s. The designer loves to create parquet patterns in the material. “It gives a gentle shift that can be detected in good light and is a great (and safe) surface for wet environments,” she says.

• Marble

Marble is the “most authentic answer for kitchens and baths,” according to Taylor. Clearly, other designers agree—just take a look at this collection of striking rooms with an abundance of Calacatta Viola marble.

• Butcher Block

“I like a mix of marble with bleached butcher block,” shares designer Jeffrey Alan Marks. In one classic kitchen he designed (featured here), he topped dark-blue double islands with the material.

• Performance Fabrics

Tough textiles aren’t exclusive to the outdoors anymore. High-traffic indoor spaces with a propensity for spills (we’re looking at you, kitchens) make great candidates for weather-resistant fabrics.

Full Of Flair Or Clean + Cohesive? The Choice Is Yours

Kitchens and baths are undoubtedly rooms primed to play with design. If you want a more traditional, cohesive look though, Taylor suggests starting with a clean slate and layering in personality-laden pieces that are easy to swap out. “We borrow from classical motifs and try to stick with clean basics, then layer in fabric, lighting, wallcoverings and hardware to give the room personality,” she reflects. Choose funky details to make the space your own.

For some though, uniformity is overrated. “It’s perfectly fine if the kitchen or bathroom’s look has nothing to do with the rest of the house," Marks says. Take the vibrant bathroom by the designer that’s featured here, where aquatic wallpaper and ocean-blue flooring evoke a seascape. And these punchy powder rooms certainly make the case for rooms with unique personalities all their own, too.