Three Kitchen Designs We Can’t Stop Thinking About from This Year
The best kitchens do more than look good, they bring people together, support real life, and feel like they belong. This year’s IDS Designer of the Year Awards delivered exactly that, with kitchens that balance style, function, and personality in all the right ways.
EP Interior: Calm, Clean, and Clever
This kitchen by EP Interior is modern design at its most relaxed. Sleek custom cabinetry, smart storage, and a streamlined layout create a space that works beautifully for both everyday life and entertaining.
Natural materials and performance surfaces keep the look grounded and durable, while subtle detailing gives it that quiet-luxury feel.
“Designed as a high-tech retreat, the kitchen supports seamless entertaining and everyday use while feeling calm, modern, and connected to the rest of the home.”
Old Soul Design Studio: A Fresh Take on Timeless
With original fieldstone walls and rustic beams as the backdrop, this kitchen by Old Soul Design Studio honors the home’s history while making room for modern life. Creamy cabinetry, aged brass accents, and mesh panel details add warmth, while a hand-applied Italian lime plaster hood acts as a sculptural focal point.
Custom features, including expanded wine storage, a built-in desk, and an updated wet bar, make the space as functional as it is beautiful.
“Our goal was to create a light-filled kitchen that honored the home’s history while supporting everyday life.”
Mae Reedy Design + Build: Designed to Gather
Built for connection, this kitchen by Mae Reedy Design + Build transformed a boxed-in space into an open, welcoming hub. An expanded footprint and extra-long island with seating for six invite everything from pancake breakfasts to wine nights.
The palette blends warm maple, soft ivory, and deep navy, creating a look that feels timeless and personal. Durable finishes and thoughtful storage ensure the kitchen will host memories for years to come.
“This kitchen was designed to bring people together—it’s an elegant heart of the home built to host for generations.”
Why These Kitchens Work
Each of these award-winning spaces proves that great kitchen design isn’t about following trends, it’s about creating a home that truly works for the people who live there. As we wrap up the year, these kitchens remind us that the most memorable spaces are thoughtful, personal, and built to last.