When it comes to designing a kitchen, the zeitgeist is for cabinetry that breaks from conformity. Yes, 'invisible' kitchens will be big news in the design world in 2025. However, that doesn't mean cold or stark. The latest design is warm, sleek, and perpetually stylish. In fact, if you are thinking about your next kitchen remodel, you'll do well to invest in a handleless, wood kitchen cabinet that is made to last.
Jennifer Aniston and Mark Ruffalo are just two of the many celebrities and designers who are embracing this kitchen cabinet idea. This interior design trend for un-kitchen-y kitchens, creeping up on us in tandem with the open-concept movement, has reached its peak refined beauty.
The trick is to select a considered palette of materials and finishes that are more typically associated with living room furniture. Luxurious timbers in warm tones and exotic stones score highly. Use fully integrated appliances wherever possible; pocket doors come into their own for hiding the sink station and toaster. Don't be fooled by the absence of batterie de cuisine, or imagine such a design is only for those who use their ovens as shoe storage. The anti-kitchen is all present, correct, and ready for action – albeit behind the scenes.
Sleek, functional and like a trick of the eye, invisible kitchen cabinet ideas will change the way we design and use the kitchen. Handless designs are the simplest way to embrace this kitchen trend.
Recessed or push-touch opening mechanisms allow cabinets to blend into the background. ‘Handleless kitchen design provides a unique opportunity to create simple furniture language without the competing complexities of additional materiality that handles present,’ says Alex Beaugeard, creative director at Lanserring. Lean towards matt finishes to help limit the visibility of fingerprints on cabinetry, or opt for easy wipe-clean surfaces.
The sleek 'hidden' kitchen trend isn’t exclusive to contemporary homes either. Work with your kitchen designer to craft a space that ties in with the property's original architecture.
'Handleless panel molded doors offer a subtle way to disguise the more utilitarian parts of a kitchen, where fridges can be integrated and pantries hidden behind tall units. With open- and broken-plan living so embedded in modern life, this discreet way of approaching kitchen design is becoming widely popular,’ enthuses Oana Sandu, lead designer, at Blakes London.
In Jennifer Aniston's home, her kitchen has been uniquely designed by Stephen Shadely to mimic the surrounding rooms' mid-century modern style. The kitchen feels like part of the wider space but also a feature in its own right. It's the perfect aesthetic for an open-plan layout.
Planning sufficient kitchen storage is one of the most important aspects of any kitchen project, but it's not just about floor and wall units – especially in small, narrow kitchens, where too many of these can leave the space looking overcrowded. Instead, think about recessing storage into walls, where it will 'disappear'.
Mark Rufalo's slimline galley kitchen is the perfect example of why this look works so well. Bespoke handleless cabinet styles really come into their own here, making the best use of space, and working with their limited space. Camouflaged with the rest of the interior of the home, Rufalo's kitchen is more of like what experts call a 'living kitchen'. This transition has presented us with a new era of the kitchen, where the boundaries between cooking spaces and living rooms dissolve, giving way to an integrated hub that evokes a sense of warmth, comfort, and versatility.
These 'invisible' spaces remain as functional and practical as a conventional kitchen – but with one key exception – they are more discreet, and minimal and are perfect for small kitchens, ultra-modern homes, or family kitchens with limited space. After all, you don't want the children or grandchildren bumping into handles and doorknobs.
