Kitchens and bathrooms have become even more central to home life. These rooms are increasingly multi-functional living spaces — kitchens serving as the center of entertaining as well as cooking, bathrooms as places to relax. Some core elements of kitchen and bath design are slow to change, but the latest looks bring advances in color, materials, technology, and storage to create highly functional and appealing rooms.

Matching Backsplash and Countertop

Sleek, clean styles remain popular, with contemporary cabinetry, customized storage, and natural wood tones leading the way in kitchen and bathroom design. Complete the look with a matching countertop and backsplash to create a cohesive look that draws the eye. Perfect for a modern kitchen design or bathroom remodel, but adaptable to any style depending on the material and color.

Choose a material that's durable and easy to clean to create a low-maintenance design. Take the backsplash all the way to the upper cabinets or to the ceiling for a striking style. We see this often in Hingham kitchens, with quartz countertops and matching backsplashes in dark gray tones beautifully accenting wood cabinetry.

Sophisticated Bath Design Styles

Today's bathroom designs combine efficient layouts with customized storage, beautiful materials, and the latest innovations. With multiple showerheads, sleek freestanding tubs, and technologically advanced toilets and medicine cabinets, bath remodels have become personal spa retreats. Bath design is also more integrated with the rest of the home, with sophisticated features transforming a primary bathroom into an extension of the home's living spaces.

The key is to use the best materials you can afford and to maximize available space. If your budget allows, create a spacious bathroom with a freestanding tub and large shower; consider moving the toilet into a separate compartment for privacy and style. Include ample storage so the room stays clear and the bathroom becomes a relaxing retreat.

Focus your budget on the most visible areas. The vanity provides storage and helps set the tone of the bath. For a sophisticated style, choose warm wood tones, dark finish cabinets, or furniture-style cabinetry that makes the vanity a focal point. Pair with hardware in brass, gold, or matte black, with plumbing fixtures and lighting in matching finishes.

Tiled areas like the floor and shower walls heavily impact the room's style. Choose a sleek slab surface for a stylish, easy-to-maintain shower, or go for a tile design that brings texture and pattern. Marble is an ideal classic choice that introduces a natural, unique appeal. We cover tile in more depth in our small bathroom tile guide.

Wood Tones and Updated Color Schemes

White kitchens and painted neutrals are always a top choice, but the move toward wood tones and updated shades like blues, reds, and greens continues. Choose lighter wood for a bright, contemporary look, or darker wood shades for a warm, sophisticated feel. Hardwood flooring is a classic, but install carefully in high-moisture areas like a busy bathroom. In a kitchen, a wood countertop complements cabinetry in white or a bold shade like blue. If you don't want wood throughout, consider a section of wood on an island for a casual dining tabletop end.

Alternatively, embrace updated colors with colorful cabinetry, walls, or accessories. If you're ready for bold color, opt for kitchen cabinets or a vanity in your favorite shade. Less commitment? Limit color to island cabinetry, or to accessories and barstools.

Focus on Islands and Custom Storage

The kitchen is the most important room in the home — cooking, dining, studying, entertaining all happen here. To make these many activities work, focus on creating an efficient layout with plenty of storage customized to your family's needs. We dig into kitchen layouts in our layout guide.

The key to keeping everyone happy in a multi-functional kitchen is creating distinct work zones: cooking, food prep, clean up, dining, study, crafting, and more. In a spacious kitchen, especially open plan, an island is the focal point and organizing center. Larger islands take center stage, or even two islands in a spacious design.

These large islands let you create specialized zones. One side for cooking with the range incorporated; the opposite side with seating for dining and entertaining. In a T- or L-shaped island, use one end for dining with a wood tabletop and stylish dining chairs. Include an undercounter beverage refrigerator or an adjacent beverage bar near seating so guests can refill their coffee or wine without interrupting the cook. With two islands, designate one for entertaining and the other for cooking and prep.

Use islands to enhance storage. Custom storage is a top request as creating specialized storage helps you stay organized and maintain the room's style. If you plan a baking zone, install a mixer lift and storage inserts for cookie cutters, rolling pins, and baking trays. For a dining island, deep drawers with peg systems for dishes and utensil drawers keep dining ware accessible. A cooking area requires custom pull-outs and rollouts for utensils, oils, and spices, plus space for heavy pots and vertical dividers for cutting boards. Perimeter cabinetry can accommodate pull-out pantry storage, or better yet, a walk-in pantry.

Freestanding Tubs and Luxury Shower Experiences

Bathroom designs are increasingly relaxing retreats. If your way to unwind is a soak in the tub and you have space, include a flat-bottomed freestanding tub. Sleek lines complement any bath remodel. Place it prominently and make it the focal point. A large window is an ideal spot. Or give the tub a beautiful backdrop with a feature wall in an accent color or tile.

Luxury showers are another upscale upgrade. Create a custom tiled shower with a frameless glass enclosure that lets light through. Add an accent tile design, a recessed storage niche or corner shelves, and a built-in bench. Finish with multiple showerheads — handheld and rainfall, massaging shower panel, or two heads for two people.

Talk through your remodel with a designer

Ready to think about your remodel? Schedule a showroom visit at our 5,000 square foot showroom in Norwell. No pressure, just a real conversation about your home.

Transitions Kitchens, Baths & Remodeling
433 Washington St, Norwell, MA
(781) 871-0881