Kirsten Dunst's Dark Kitchen Cabinet, Countertop, and Tile Combination is Surprisingly Rich and Sumptuous – it's a Masterclass in Layered Luxe
Natural wood, brushed metallics, and mixed finishes keep the look elegant, rather than oppressive
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Cucina
Whether you’re passionate about hosting exquisite dinners, experimenting with culinary trends, or perfecting your kitchen's design with timeless elegance and innovative functionality, this newsletter is here to inspire
Whilst we commonly associate kitchens with clean, crisp whites and neutrals, a dark kitchen can create a really dramatic impact, as demonstrated by Kirsten Dunst's deep red kitchen cabinets, which are paired with dark marble work surfaces and brown high-gloss tiles on the walls. The result is a richly layered and enveloping space.
Kirsten Dunst's sumptuous cherry red ranch house kitchen, designed by Jane Hallworth, is just one dark kitchen cabinet idea you could try – the same rules apply, whatever the shade, as the experts explain below.
Shopping Inspired by Kirsten Dunst's Dark Red Kitchen
If you don't want to commit to painting or replaing your kitchen cabinets, opt for a moveable piece of furniture like a kitchen island in the color idea. This one matches Kirsten Dunst's shade perfectly.
Another low-cost way to try a dark kitchen shade is through thoughtfully placed accessories, from lacquered trays like this one, to tableware displayed on open shelving and statement cookware.
We love Kirsten Dunst's artichoke display for structure, color and a natural touch. These faux pieces bring in a natural hint of dark red, that will add interest and texture to a kitchen in the same hue.
Elements of natural wood from serving boards like this, to rustic serving bowls helps to bring warmth and texture to a dark kitchen. Look for oaks and walnuts to complement a dark red like Kirsten Dunst's shade.
Varying finishes on your kitchen surfaces is a key design trick for making a dark kitchen feel layered rather than flat, and these high-gloss subway tiles – a close match for Kirsten Dunst's kitchen tiles have a warm amber tone.
Accessories that lean into your dark kitchen scheme really help to create an intentionally layered aesthetic. These glasses in multiple plum and reddish-brown hues would work perfectly with deep red cabinets and brown tiled walls.
When it comes to the kitchen units themselves, a dark scheme works best with a matte finish. 'Sheen plays a big role,' says Chris Seman, President of N-Hance, a kitchen and cabinet refinishing company. 'Lower-to-mid-sheen finishes tend to feel more refined and absorb light more softly. Higher gloss can sometimes amplify glare and make deeper tones feel harsher under artificial lighting.'
Another way to make a red kitchen look elegant is to add warm metallics and natural materials. 'Dark kitchen units, particularly deep oxblood and burgundy tones, can feel incredibly rich and sophisticated when layered thoughtfully. The key is balancing depth with warmth and texture,' says Robert Apple, Founder, KOM Construction. In Kirsten Dunst's kitchen, she incorporates natural wood in the beams and accessories, such as rustic wooden boards (at West Elm) and bowls, as well as brushed brass finishes in the cabinetry hardware and faucet.
'I love pairing darker red cabinetry with natural woods like rift-cut oak or walnut to soften the look, then introducing brushed brass or aged bronze hardware to complement jewel tones without overpowering them,' adds Robert.
While Kirsten Dunst's kitchen combines a number of dark shades – in the cabinets, walls, and surfaces – one key rule is to vary the finishes, as Robert explains. 'If the walls and work surfaces are also dark, varying the finishes is essential, for example, matte cabinetry against honed stone or lightly veined quartzite to prevent the space from feeling flat.'
Halil Oguz, Owner of Mosaicenter based in Sterling, VA, agrees. 'If you are committing to deep red cabinets and dark walls, you must introduce high-gloss textures. A flat matte wall tile will kill the room.' While Kirsten Dunst opts for a multi-tonal amber subway tile (similar at Home Depot), Halil says 'I recommend a Zellige-style ceramic tile or a Polished Slab for the backsplash. Because Zellige has an uneven, handmade surface, it acts like hundreds of tiny mirrors, bouncing light around the room. This adds depth and 'glimmer', so the darkness feels intentional and expensive, rather than heavy.'
As for the dark kitchen countertops in Kirsten Dunst's home, they work so beautifully thanks to the variation in the natural stone. 'To keep the look lavish, the countertop cannot be solid black. That looks too sterile,' warns Halil. 'You need a natural stone with active veining, like a soapstone or a dark quartzite with striking white or copper veins. The chaotic movement in the natural stone breaks up the monotony of the dark red cabinets and acts as art.'
A final, but crucial trick to making a dark kitchen like Kirsten Dunst's feel stylish rather than oppressive is to keep the ceiling light – note her contrasting ceiling beams – if you're wondering: 'Should you paint a ceiling white?', Robert advises: 'A subtle design trick we often use is painting the ceiling in a soft, warm off-white or pale taupe instead of stark white, which maintains an airy feel while allowing the darker palette to read as intentional, elevated, and luxurious rather than heavy.'
Still undecided about what shade to pick for your cabinets? Find more inspiration from these kitchen color trends for 2026, which include plum and burgundy hues, like Kirsten Dunst's kitchen, through to deep peacock blues and olive greens.
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