Lara Stone's Kitchen Embraces One of the Designers' Favorite Shades for 2026 and a Nature-Inspired Combination That Reads 'Calm'

Kitchens are one of the chameleons of interior design, where color trends are constantly changing, and you can afford to be bold with your built-in units. One of the shades that we're seeing everywhere this year (not just in kitchens), and predicting will stick around beyond 2026, is sage green. Lara Stone and her husband David Grievson have leaned into this calming hue in their London kitchen and brought in salvaged elements and plenty of wood to enhance the natural feel of the space.

If you've been thinking about trying out green kitchen ideas, this is your sign to take the leap. I've asked the experts for their insight into what makes this shade so appealing and have rounded up an edit of green and wood furniture, accessories, and decorative pieces – from a sage green kitchen island (Wayfair) to a wooden wishbone-style chair (Home Depot) – inspired by Lara Stone's Hampstead kitchen.

Shop the Green and Wood Kitchen Edit

'Green kitchen units work really well with wooden dining furniture and wood flooring because the combination already feels natural and grounded,' explains Maksim Sauchanka, Owner of Belmax Remodeling. 'Green brings in color, while the wood adds warmth, so the space doesn’t feel too cold or too flat.'

The interiors team at Homes & Gardens recently reported on how sage green is the quiet color designers are using this year, and this is exactly the hue that Lara Stone has captured in her kitchen units. It feels comforting, calming, and achieves that back-to-nature aesthetic – like forest bathing for the home.

Maksim adds: 'This is one of the easier color-and-material combinations to get right because it already reflects what people associate with nature – foliage, timber, earthier textures. That tends to make the kitchen feel calm and lived-in rather than overly styled.'

Kitchens Editor Molly Malsom agrees: 'Green and wood is one of the most timeless and versatile color palettes for a kitchen. It feels just as at home in a country home as it does in a modern apartment.' This is undoubtedly part of the appeal – that it is not limited to a certain style of architecture or period of property. The power of this natural combination is in its versatility.

Maksim adds: 'What usually makes this pairing successful is variation. If the green is deeper or moodier, I like seeing it balanced with warmer wood tones so the room still feels inviting. If the cabinetry is a lighter green, then richer timber furniture can help anchor the space. It’s less about matching everything exactly and more about making sure the tones don’t fight each other.'

This warmth, from the herringbone floor to the salvaged dining table and the wooden wishbone-style chairs, brings such ease to Lara Stone's kitchen layout, and, as Maksim suggests, it balances, rather than fights with, the green cabinetry. But that's not to say a scheme like this doesn't benefit from a few contrasting additions, such as the white countertops, black-and-white print, and metallic chandelier, which add depth and interest.

Maksim adds: 'If you want the look to feel a little more polished, I’d usually suggest mixing in a few details that break up the green and wood slightly – stone worktops, softer wall colors, warm metal accents, or upholstery on the dining chairs. That keeps the space from feeling too one-note.'

Planning your dream kitchen for 2026? This green and wood look could be the style for you, and is a great way to tap into a color trend whilst also creating a timeless canvas on which to layer your own style.

If you enjoy our celebrity news and interior design advice, why not sign up to our newsletter so you never miss the latest features.