Hi, world! It’s me! For those of you who started following me in the last five or six years, you probably know this to be a personal blog where I cover lifestyle topics that largely pertain to, well, me. What I registered for, home decor projects I’m working on, my style, my family, my dogs.
But back in the day, ole’ Lains used to have her own little babyblog, Live Creating Yourself, where I wrote more on topics, trends, culture, arts that I loved and less about what I myself was wearing or using. Let’s be honest; I was 23 and super broke and wasn’t buying or decorating much worth reporting on anyway.
I miss it. Along with my goal of posting more, I hope to get more short form content up. It might be as simple as new movie trailers I’m excited by, new music I’ve discovered and can’t recommend enough, trends I’m seeing in decor or fashion.
And here we go!
Up first… the kitchen “trend” I’ve been seeing all over designers’ Instagrams the past year. Natural wood cabinetry is back in a fabulous way.
I know many children of the 90s hear wood kitchen cabinets and think orangey oak or red cherry:
Oak is back in a big way, but now comes in luxe finishes making it a distant relative to its 90s orange counterpart. Walnut is another one I’m seeing used more frequently, especially on islands or accent side pieces.
Here are some kitchens I’ve saved on Instagram as of late from a few favorite designers, Park & Oak, Jean Stoffer Design (who actually has a counter line!), and Studio McGee.
Side note: I have unknowingly been stalking Park & Oak kitchens both on Instagram and while perusing local real estate listings not even realizing they’re by Park & Oak who happens to be a local design firm that sometimes partners with builders on new construction homes. I literally saved listing photos from a new construction home that sold and emailed them to myself with the subject “western springs home with the beautiful kitchen and baths” before realizing it was this amazing local firm.
So what do you think? Are you a fan of natural wood kitchen cabinets making a comeback? Or do you think it’s just something that will fizzle out again and white is realistically the only forever non-trend in terms of kitchen cabinetry?
I think it’s coming back too!! And I’m HERE for it.
I, personally, am not a huge fan of the open-shelf trend that’s been happening the past few years. I much prefer upper cabinets to shelves. It looks more classic, less messy. Most of the pictures you shared above do not have any open shelves…so that made me happy too 🙂
It’s really pretty but wood tones seem to be the one thing that always has an expiry date as a look. Also do they yellow a bit over time I wonder?
Do you think it’s possible to strip the finishes on 90’s oak to get the above looks? It’s making me think it may be worth saving the kitchen cabinets during reno??
Loving this trend and I think it’s fresher on an island with different color cabinets like most of the pics above. Like white cabinets with natural wood island. And it’s funny, you literally nailed my 3 favorite designers in one post – Park & Oak, Studio McGee and Stoffer Design. Obsessed with them all!
I love this look. It is fresh yet classic. We have been in our current house 11 years and have a gorgeous walnut island so I am not sure this is really a new trend. Houston tends to be very ahead of home trends so I may not have perspective but I’ve been seeing this look for about 10 years here. And we have white cabinets and a mix of marble and black granite countertops like most of these photos. I think it is here to stay.
Park & Oak does do some pretty amazing work; however, I contacted them to help me with two bathrooms (total cost close to $100,000) and they were very condescending in their attitude. Needless to say I went with someone else.
I LOVE this look! How would you incorporate this look into a kitchen that has a peninsula instead of an island? We are saving to do our kitchen in the next 1-2 years but don’t have room for a island – it is long and narrow., so we think a peninsula would be best. I really want to incorporate this natural wood look somehow mixed with my dream white kitchen I have always wanted! Would love some ides for inspo!