Luxury kitchens and bathrooms require extensive knowledge and experience to master, and they play an outsized role in a home’s resale value. Knowing what’s trending in this category is certainly helpful too, as many high-end clients want the same amenities they see at their friends’ and neighbors’ homes. It’s more about keeping up with the Kardashians than the Joneses in this sphere.
This issue will look at luxury kitchens, while the January 2025 issue will look at bathrooms. These seven pros share what they’re seeing and working on regarding both essential spaces across the country, from the Hamptons to Hilo!
Quinn Hannum is an interior designer working across Philadelphia and the New York metro area.Lance Stratton is a San Diego-based kitchen and bath designer. Dayson Johnson is director of design and construction for Magleby Development in the Park City, UT area. Sarah Gaffney is design and developmental director for San Jose-based remodeling firm Next Stage Design. Caroline Danielson is director of showrooms for upscale retailer Ferguson.Doug Greenwald is a technology integrator serving Hawaii and Arizona. Chicago-based Jennifer Woodring is v.p. of the Luxury Portfolio International real estate firm.
Photo: Velvære / Magleby Development.
Room Planning Must-Haves
“When space is not an issue, some discerning homeowners look to create two kitchens: both a show and a working kitchen,” Danielson comments. The show kitchen hosts gatherings and includes features like built-in coffee systems, high-end cooktops and quiet dishwashers, she says. “The working kitchen, on the other hand, focuses on practicality and efficiency.” It will hold a prep sink and smart ovens and is designed to allow for easy food preparation, she comments. “An increasingly popular trend in luxury kitchens is incorporating two dishwashers,” Danielson also shares. These sometimes flank the main sink, or the second machine might go into a butler’s pantry or bar area.
Hannum’s client must-haves include that secondary prep space, larger islands, integrated wine refrigeration with precise temperature control and space planning for easy workflow and dramatic effect. “A notable trend in luxury kitchen design is the incorporation of high-performance outdoor appliances like the Kalamazoo Outdoor Gourmet Hybrid Fire Grill. It serves as an extension of your kitchen and allows for year-round, seamless indoor-outdoor living,” she reports.
Stratton’s clientele opts for prep spaces too, he says. They’re also interested in drama, he notes: “Displayed dish storage is happening more and more in large kitchen spaces that can afford the loss of countertops. These offer a dramatic presentation to be sure.”
Further north, Gaffney’s clientele are opting for two islands, she notes. Their purpose is to “accommodate entertaining needs as well as designated zones for gathering/homework and food prep,” the remodeling company executive says.
In the Park City, Utah WELL-certified community of Velvære, Johnson describes essential room planning must-haves as “large islands with seating (and) seamless indoor-outdoor transitions, such as sliding glass doors opening to outdoor kitchens and entertainment areas.” He cites custom wine cellars, prep kitchens, coffee stations and butler’s pantries as the nice-to-haves that distinguish his luxury community from others in the high-end ski resort.
Photo: Studio Stratton
Must-Have Finishes
“The most popular features include expansive countertops, show-stopping lighting, and custom-designed cabinetry,” Woodring comments. “In the ever-evolving landscape of luxury design, the once-utilitarian kitchen has transcended its traditional role to become the new focal point of high-end residences worldwide. Owners embrace kitchen spaces to entertain guests in style and splendor,” the real estate executive observes.
“I’ve seen a huge push towards Cradle-to-Cradle certified materials and products that emit zero-VOCs for clean air quality,” Hannum shares. She also points to full-height natural stone or porcelain backsplashes that match the countertops being very popular. Additionally, she cites inclusion of high-end handles and faucets in mixed metal finishes.
Full-height stone splashes of countertop material are Stratton’s client favorites too, he says. He’s also seeing more metal in range hoods, rather than cabinetry finishes. “The luxury market remains interested in having something special,” he points out, and they prefer to have these items custom made.
Hoods are important focal points in northern California too, Gaffney notes, but with a different style approach. “Clients want to incorporate the hood into the cabinet design, eliminating the visual disruption of stainless steel, and making it an architectural feature of the space.” She adds, “In Silicon Valley, we are seeing minimalism influence kitchen design. People do not want visual clutter. In many kitchens, we’re panelizing appliances and creating monolithic walls of cabinetry to hide everything.”
Photo: Creative Sound & Integration
Kitchen Must-Have Technology
“Incorporating cutting-edge technology is crucial in luxury kitchens,” Hannum says. That can be ovens tied into smart home systems, circadian lighting and integrated charging stations.
Woodring agrees from the real estate professional’s perspective: “Integrated smart home features are a must in today’s luxury homes. Being able to do everything – from setting timers to building out grocery lists, thanks to a call out to Alexa or the tap of an app – is key. One additional must-have to note are whole-home air and water filtration systems. These have also been on the rise since the pandemic, with clean air being a necessity, as well addressing concerns about microplastics in the water.”
Magleby’s luxury homes have advanced air purification systems, along with these technology features, Johnson comments: “App-controlled lighting, sound systems, temperature control, leak detection, indoor air quality monitors and automated window coverings.”
Danielson also sees technology as a value- added. In luxury kitchens, she comments, it should simplify the user experience without overshadowing the design. “Must-have features include sensor controls and intuitive systems that make everyday tasks more seamless and efficient,” the Ferguson executive suggests, adding, “These thoughtful enhancements, such as touchless faucets and precision temperature controls, contribute to a refined and effortless cooking and dining experience. The key is to integrate technology in a way that complements the elegance and practicality of the kitchen, ensuring that luxury is about enhancing daily living with subtle sophistication.”
Photo: Next Stage Design + Build.
Appliance Must-Haves
“Combi-steam ovens and built-in coffee systems are popular because they provide convenience and quality,” Danielson comments. She’s also seeing dishwasher drawers being a popular option, especially flanking the main sink, eliminating the need to bend over to load and unload. “This convenience is not over the top but a thoughtful enhancement that streamlines daily chores and enhances the kitchen’s overall functionality.” The retailer is also seeing smart refrigeration systems with humidity and inventory control. “These advanced refrigerators ensure fresh produce stays crisp and groceries are kept in ideal conditions, making daily meal preparation more convenient and efficient.”
“La Cornue ranges are functional fine art and are a highly coveted choice for luxury kitchens,” Hannum comments, adding a hat tip to performance dual-fuel ranges, integrated wine refrigeration and built-in coffee systems. The Gaggenau vacuum-sealing drawer is becoming a must-have for its sous-vide cooking support too, she notes. Warming and beverage drawers are also showing up on her clients’ want lists. Wine preservation appliances are integral to Gaffney’s Bay Area kitchen clients, especially being located as close as they are to wine country, she shares.
Greenwald’s clients are prioritizing professional lighting, he says. Using it in the luxury kitchen, he explains, allows “homeowners (to) have sufficient task lighting, along with entertainment lighting scenes.” Scenes, in tech speak, means creating automation commands to create different environments – for example, “Entertain” to create ambient lighting for hosting dinner parties. Lighting is the one area that luxury clients always consider when designing their smart home, the integrator observes. “Architects, designers and even builders are all usually on board with this need, so it is beginning to become a standard part of luxury home design. We work with many builders where lighting systems are designed into the plans from the very beginning.”
Music is being added to these spaces too, the integrator notes: “The kitchen is a main entertainment area where good quality background music is important.” His firm uses smaller profile speakers for excellent coverage even at low volumes. “They also deliver a consistent look on the kitchen ceiling because they resemble recessed lighting fixtures.”
He additionally points to indoor air quality systems as high priorities for his luxury clients (as they are for Woodring’s). “These systems are especially important in kitchens where all the cooking is going on,” Greenwald points out, adding. “Not only can they detect if the gas burner was left on, but they can help improve air quality when you accidentally burn something on the stove.”
“Both designers and builders are learning the importance of offering smart home technology at this level,” the integrator comments. “This is great as it indicates that homeowners are requesting technology, even despite some designers’ resistance to the concept.” Hopefully, you’re not among the resistors!
Fixture Must-Haves
Hannum names pot fillers, sinks with integrated accessories, water filtration and pro-style faucets as must-haves for her clients’ kitchens. “For health and sustainability, clients are increasingly requesting the Franke Active Water Filtration System with both hot- and cold-water dispensers,” the East Coast designer notes. Custom range hoods also add to the wellness potential and aesthetic of the luxury kitchen.
Danielson’s shoppers and specifiers also like bespoke high-performance range hoods, she says, and use their integrated lighting systems – another must-have – to highlight them. “The right lighting and fixtures work together to create a luxurious, practical space that elevates the cooking and dining experience.”
“Galley-style chef sinks are must-haves,” Danielson observes, “as they transform the sink area into a multi-functional workspace, making everyday kitchen tasks more efficient and enjoyable. Other fixtures, like touchless faucets and integrated cutting boards, add to this sense of convenience and sophistication.” She’s also seeing prep sinks as essential fixtures. “Having both a main and prep sink enhances workflow efficiency and ensures that the kitchen can handle multiple tasks simultaneously without congestion,” she explains.
Gaffney agrees, noting that prep sinks are incorporated into almost all her firm’s kitchen projects. For Stratton, it’s farmhouse sinks that are showing up widely.
sculleries and other prep kitchen types are luxury trends for larger homes.
Photos: Bertazzoni, Available at Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery (Left); Quinn Hannum (Right)
Budget Increases
The San Diego designer reports that client budgets are growing…finally. (Danielson sees the increase for kitchens being about 20%, she says, noting that figures can vary widely.) “As clients have access to more, and better information, they come to us now with a more realistic understanding of what it takes to create a truly luxurious space,” Stratton adds.
Greenwald observes that “kitchens have gone up in budgets by 15% to 20%” when it comes to technology. Lighting, particularly including circadian systems, which is in high demand by clients, accounts for the majority of that, he says.
Final Thoughts
“The real essence of luxury isn’t about adhering to a specific brand or price point,” Danielson notes. “Instead, luxury is defined by how effectively an investment elevates the home, enhancing daily life through thoughtful design and personalized touches.” The retailer adds – and I couldn’t agree more – “As we move forward, sustainability and wellness will play significant roles in shaping what we consider luxurious, pushing the industry to innovate and redefine its standards.”
Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS, MCCWC is an author, wellness design consultant and industry speaker. Her award-winning third book, Wellness by Design (Simon & Schuster, 2020), has a new Bonus Chapter: Lessons for How We Live Now, published October 2023. Learn more about her wellness design CEU presentations, books, blog and consulting services at jamiegold.net.
