Designer Amber Lewis proves 2024 trends are all about dark cabinets and glossy finishes in this kitchen before and after

Just a few years ago, kitchens were all about modern and minimal design; with bright white hues and sleek countertops seen time and time again in the world of interior design. But now, we're seeing many more designers create far more organic-looking kitchens, incorporating dark and earthy colors, natural materials, and contrasting textures. 

Proving this shift in kitchen trends is a recent kitchen design by California-based interior designer Amber Lewis, who recently shared a before and after of the space, showing a modern kitchen transformed into an elevated space filled with rich materials that look endlessly homely and inviting.

While there are so many design elements in this room to take inspiration from, we're fascinated by the room's dark hues; most notably the dark kitchen cabinets which establish a cozy feel to the room, confirming a trend we're seeing become increasingly popular, and one we expect will dominate kitchen ideas in 2024.

'The use of colors such as brown can refer to the trend toward a return to natural materials,' observes interior designer at Dainelli Studio Marzia Dainelli. 'Dark colors are often associated with natural materials such as wood, which are making a comeback in kitchen design.'

'Dark colors can be also used to create a contrast with the surrounding spaces, making the kitchen a focal element of the home, but without going overboard,' continues Marzia.

While it's clear that dark cabinets are being embraced more and more in kitchen design, it's not always easy to know how to style this color trend, since it can be seen as a statement design choice. We spoke to Farrow & Ball color expert Patrick O'Donnell, to understand how this look can be recreated to ensure a cohesive result.

'Dark cabinetry is everywhere right now,' he begins. 'Pair dark cabinetry with a gently nuanced off-white for some light relief on your walls & woodwork.'

'We know how successful green cabinetry is, but we often err towards a mid-green as our preferred choice, but up the ante and look towards the deepest, darkest green of Studio Green. Almost black in appearance, it will look wonderful both in rural and urban settings, especially in a classic shaker-style kitchen. For a more modern aesthetic, pair it with a clean just off-white such as James White on your walls.'

'Another great pairing is the charred aubergine tones of Paean Black on cabinets with the smoky nuances of faded rose with Sulking Room Pink on the walls and ceiling. Whilst at first glance these colors seem to appear contradictory to each other, they share red undertones which make them play together in a contemporary and fresh way.'

'Using black on the low units helps to "ground" the kitchen while taking a pink hue over the ceiling creates the perception of more height as there is no sharp contrast where the wall meets the ceiling,' explains Patrick. 

Patrick O’Donnell

Patrick O’Donnell is Farrow & Ball's color consultant & brand ambassador and has been with the brand since 2012. Patrick works with designers in the UK and North America, helping to bring their projects alive with the iconic, F&B color palette.

Feeling inspired by the cozy feel of dark kitchens? With this kitchen trend set to continue into 2024, it's the perfect one to embrace to make your kitchen feel inviting and stylish. It's also worth considering the best wall color ideas to go with dark kitchen cabinets to ensure a balanced look. 

To create a similar feel in your kitchen to the one designed by Amber Lewis, we've rounded up some decor pieces below which you can shop, to help create an organic look with these earthy hues.