4 Kitchen Features Designers Now Skip – and What Works Better Instead

A large kitchen with tall ceilings featuring wooden beams, wooden cabinetry, gray countertops, a stainless steel island, and no upper cabinets of backsplash for a softer look.

Over the last decade, the elements of a kitchen we consider essential have really changed. The features that were once must-haves are now being regularly left out of designs altogether.

It reflects a shift in how we use, and therefore design, our spaces. No longer are kitchens viewed as purely utilitarian rooms – they have evolved into a social space with multi-functional needs, and the design ideas we prioritize today reflect this ethos.