If you’re looking to create a more timeless kitchen, you’re going to need to develop an understanding of what not to do, too! Southern interior designers agree that certain popular features read as too trendy, dated, or impersonal and must be removed to ensure that a space will hold up for the long haul. Below, the pros speak to nine things that they’d encourage you to remove in order to design a cooking space that will shine for decades.
Scalloped Detailing
Scallops have been having a major moment in the kitchen as of late—maybe too much so, Sara Swabb states. “I love a scallop, but they have become so ubiquitous over the last several years, on range hoods, cabinetry, shelving, backsplashes and trim,” says the founder of Storie Collective in Washington, D.C. As such, Swabb anticipates that we’ll look back on scallops and see them as ultra-characteristic of the 2010s and 2020s. “If timelessness is the goal, I’d remove the scalloped edge and rely on proportion, material, and craftsmanship to create interest instead,” the designer reflects.
Jayme Ritchie, the founder of Jayme Ritchie Interiors in Springfield, Virginia, feels similarly about the prevalence of scalloped designs in today’s kitchens and recommends taking a pared-back approach. “If you love it and want to incorporate it into your home, try adding it through low commitment elements like sconces,” she says. “If you tire of it in 10 years, it’s an easy swap!”
Statement Hoods
Statement hoods are also a bit overdone and consequently not-so-timeless in Swabb’s view. “The hood has become such a focal point in kitchen design—metal-clad, tiled, paneled, curved, fluted, scalloped—that it can easily become the element that dates the entire room,” she says. She recommends trying another approach: “I prefer to integrate the hood into the architecture or cabinetry whenever possible,” the designer advises. “It should feel like it belongs to the room rather than like a decorative object applied to it.”
Open Shelving
Just say no to open shelving, states Jade Joyner. “It reads cluttered,” says the founder of Metal + Petal in Athens, Georgia. “If you are going to do open shelving, less is more. Make it editorial, use sculptural pieces to style with.”
Too Much White
The color white is often seen as a classic in the kitchen, but Joyner argues that too much of the hue has an ill effect. “Avoid stark white-on-white paint with no warmth,” she says. “A kitchen that is full of bright white cabinets, white counters, white walls with no wood, no brass, no texture anywhere, tends to feel sterile, not timeless.”
Faux Florals And Greenery
Go ahead and skip these decorative accents—make way for the real deal instead, urges Cheryl Luckett, the founder of Dwell by Cheryl in Charlotte, North Carolina. “Fresh branches, herbs or flowers feel more natural, and sometimes a little breathing room on the countertop is even better,” the designer says.
Overly-Themed Decor
You already know you’re in the kitchen—your decor shouldn’t have to restate this point! “Word signs, faux food, rooster motifs and other overly literal accessories can make a kitchen feel dated,” Luckett says. Pare back and opt for more practical items instead, she advises. “I prefer functional pieces with character, like beautiful pottery, cutting boards, cookbooks or artwork, that make the space feel collected rather than decorated around a theme,” Luckett explains.
Wallpaper Borders
If your kitchen still features a wallpaper border, it’s in dire need of a refresh. “Nothing dates a kitchen quite like a decorative wallpaper border, particularly the fruit, grapevine, or ivy motifs that were once so popular,” Luckett says. “Those narrow, themed borders tend to timestamp a space.” The designer recommends going all-in with a full-wall paper instead.
High-Tech Options
Going majorly high-tech in the kitchen isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, according to Bryan Forst. “For a timeless kitchen, skip appliances and features with ‘novelty’ offerings rather than function, such as touchscreen refrigerators, built-in espresso systems that could potentially be hard to service, and app-controlled faucets,” says the founder of Bryan Frost Interiors in Orlando, Florida. “These gimmicks might read as impressive, but they date quickly once the trend passes.” You’ll constantly find yourself chasing the next “big thing.”
Anything Too Matchy-Matchy
Make an effort to ensure that your kitchen appears authentic to you and your aesthetic, encourages Hannah Griffiths. “Classic interiors usually have a sense of evolution and collection,” says the founder of Studio Palindrome in Austin, Texas. “An easy way to achieve this look is by mixing metals thoughtfully, incorporating an antique or vintage piece, or allowing a little asymmetry.”
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