3 Area Designers Share The Most Common Kitchen Requests They Receive

by Corcoran McEnearney

Kitchen trends come and go—for example, a few years back, all-white kitchens were all the rage, while nowadays, people are enjoying experimenting with bolder colored cabinetry and finishes. When locals dial up an interior designer to get some help revamping their cooking space, what exactly are they asking for? We spoke with three designers—one in Maryland, another in DC, and the third in Virginia—to learn what’s been in demand.

Design by Laura Hodges Studio. Photography by Jennifer Hughes.

Cabinet Upgrades:

Many of Sara Swabb’s clients turn to her for assistance with cosmetic updates including cabinetry revamps. Oftentimes, they are eager to paint kitchen cabinets a new color and will work with Swabb to identify a shade and professional painter who can get the job done. Clients are also eager to update their kitchen cabinet hardware, says Swabb, the founder of Storie Collective in Washington, DC.

Catonsville-based Laura Hodges is also a pro at making cabinet updates. “In a new home, our clients will often want to change the cabinetry, especially if the layout and functionality aren’t a good fit for their family,” explains the founder of Laura Hodges Studio. She will sometimes also retrofit existing cabinets with custom wooden inserts to improve their functionality.

Design and photography by Kevin Billings.

Warming up the Space:

Kevin Billings, the founder of Dexter & Plaid in Leesburg, works with many clients who crave brighter, warmer cooking spaces. “Many of my clients do not want the stark white kitchen and prefer something that feels warmer, more inviting, and just less sterile,” he says. Sometimes, this means updating the cabinetry, but it may also involve weaving organic elements into the kitchen, he shares. “The easiest way is through wood elements, like in shelving or beams,” Dexter says. “Just adding these natural materials can really tone down any sterile or cold feeling a kitchen may have.” Billings will also bring unlacquered brass, which will patina nicely over time, into the mix with a new faucet or type of cabinet hardware.

Lighting Changes:

Swabb also works with clients who crave new kitchen lighting. Projects may include “swapping out pendants for a fresh selection or transitioning from recessed lights to small flush mounts,” the designer says.

Sarah Lyon Headshot

Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelance writer, originally from Bethesda, MD. She contributes to a number of national design and lifestyle publications like Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, and more. Sarah also works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots. Find more shelfies on her Instagram page, @sarahlyon9