Here at Project Guru Design, we know how a warm and inviting kitchen is at the heart of your ideal home. And while we love the clean lines and uncluttered style of a white kitchen, 2019 promises to bring some gorgeous alternatives!

Here are our favorite design trends that promise to be big in 2019!

Colored cabinets.

While we’ve been using boldly colored walls to provide a stylish backdrop to white cabinets for a while, we’re loving the colored options that custom cabinet manufacturers like Bellmont are offering. We’ve recently used ‘Oyster’ - a warm, elegant gray’- and ‘Hale Navy’s rich, velvety blue in client projects, and the added color elevates outdated spaces into stylish centerpieces.

Showstopping Hoods

Previously hidden behind awkward cabinetry or playing second fiddle to the professional style range, hoods are going through a renaissance. Manufacturers are showcasing designs that add drama and height to any kitchen, with forged metal looks featuring prominently. One of our favorites recently took centre stage in a dramatic kitchen transformation, and its combination of charcoal gray and steel finish provided the perfect counterpoint to slate grey backsplash, sleek steel hardware and custom white cabinetry.

Project Guru Design East Bay Kitchen Design Walnut Creek Alamo

Bold Tile

While subway tile is a time honored favorite and shows no signs of going away, we’re seeing a growing interest in some of the gorgeous patterned tiles hitting the design market. The best bit? They work equally well as accent tile for a stove backsplash, a single shower wall or a whole floor, with hardwearing robust finishes suitable for a variety of uses. So get ready to dip your toe in and experiment, or jump right in and embrace your newfound love of bold pattern with some of our favorites from MSI.

Dark Flooring

For those of you love the clean look of a white kitchen but crave practicality, we have some great news - dark floors are making a big comeback! They’ve long been a staple of elegant European homes, and now the warmth of hardwearing hardwoods is gaining popularity in Bay Area homes. The beautiful woodgrains naturally fade resistant hardwoods like walnut, mahogany and cherry are shown to their best advantage in the Northern California sunshine, and the dark color is a lot easier to keep looking clean than the paler tones of oak, marble and stone tile.

Heavily textured floors camouflage wear and tear from members of your fur family, while the dark tones add depth, drama and practicality to the home. Photo courtesy of @cheryllunnphograhy and Hallmark Flooring.

Open Shelving

It’s time to put those beautiful dishes on display! The Bay Area boasts a wealth of beautiful products from local artisans like Heath Ceramics, so the trend for open shelving is something we welcome. We’re seeing smaller ranch style kitchens using this option to keep spaces light and open, while those with larger family style kitchen dining are interspersing them with cabinets to combine the practicality of closed storage with the beauty of a styled shelf.