Kitchen Hatches Are Back – Why This Once-Dated ‘70s Design Trend Is Topping Remodeling Lists in 2026
Designers are getting more requests for this retro feature to be reintroduced in 2026
Over the past few decades, those quirky little pass-through windows have been one of the first features homeowners remove from their kitchen, feeling a little odd and outdated. But 2026 is the year the kitchen hatch makes a comeback.
It's a feature few people expected to make a return, but as closed-concept spaces and focused dining rooms once again emerge, a kitchen hatch is the feature that seamlessly marries these spaces.
The Appeal of a Kitchen Hatch
'We used reeded glass, so you keep the borrowed light and a soft visual link, but the kitchen can still close itself off when it needs to,' says Fiona.
The idea of a hatch may sound a little retro and nostalgic – perhaps it even conjures memories of your grandmother's kitchen. But as perspectives shift and kitchens evolve into cozier, more lived-in rooms, this once-forgotten feature is starting to appeal once again.
'There's a real charm to a hatch; it creates a connection without losing the sense that the kitchen is its own space. You can chat to whoever's in the next room, pass plates through, but you're not standing in the middle of an open-plan room with everything on show,' says Fiona Ginnett, Co-Founder at HØLTE.
'In our Burgundy Lanes project, which we designed in collaboration with Nimtim Architects, the kitchen sits as a pod inside the house, and the openings let you catch glimpses of that deep burgundy interior from the rooms on either side. It feels considered and a little bit special, rather than just functional.'
There's also a real charm to hatches that feel nostalgic and like a part of an old home's story, something people are increasingly valuing. 'People love original architectural features,' says interior designer Nina Watson. 'They give you a glimpse into how a house originally functioned and flowed, adding to the story of the house – and people love stories.'
Why It's Having a Revival
In this traditional home, wood paneled doors slide open seamlessly, giving the homeowners the option to have the hatch open or closed.
The time of the kitchen hatch revival is no coincidence. It comes in tandem with a greater shift in how we design kitchens. Vast open spaces are no longer the most desirable, so homeowners are actively seeking ways to separate rooms without losing that sense of connection.
And a kitchen hatch does so beautifully. 'People are starting to move away from fully open layouts and are looking for ways to bring back a bit of structure. A hatch allows for that – it gives you definition without fully closing things off,' says Lauren Sullivan of Well x Design.
While the revival of broken plan kitchens is a huge part of the reason hatches are making a comeback, it goes beyond simple layout decisions. For many designers, it's about characterful design and honoring architectural features once lost to sleek, minimalist design.
'A hatch brings a sense of craft and character back into the kitchen, which feels like a welcome shift; kitchens have been pushed towards being very pared-back and seamless for a long time, and a hatch is an opportunity to introduce a bit of personality and texture,' explains Fiona.
Nina echoes her sentiment, referring to it as 'the backlash to our modern world. Sometimes it's nice to bring back the cozy and have a bit of separation between the destinations in your home. Plus, clients are looking for interiors with history, story, and soul.'
How to Reintroduce a Hatch to Your Kitchen
Kitchen hatches have gotten bigger and better – here, the hatch creates a beautiful vignette from one room to the other.
The way kitchen hatches are being designed now is different from those of bygone eras. They are a bit more considered and expertly balance style and function, becoming an architectural detail within a design.
'It has to be considered early in the design process. The placement should feel natural within the kitchen, not like something added in afterward, so it doesn’t interrupt how the space works day to day,' Lauren explains.
'It should read as part of the architecture rather than an opening that’s been cut into the wall. The depth, trim, and alignment with surrounding cabinetry are what make it feel intentional. In our home, we worked closely with the architects early on to fully integrate it with the living room from the start.'
Hatches have also become incredibly popular between indoor and outdoor kitchens, ideal for connecting the two spaces.
Spacing is key, especially in a small kitchen with little room for error. 'You want the hatch to sit in conversation with the cabinetry and the countertop run, rather than fighting against them, so we'd usually position it above a base run so it doubles up as a pass-through,' says Fiona, noting that the hatch should relate to the windows and doors elsewhere in the kitchen.
'The most important thing when introducing a serving hatch to a scheme is that they make sense with the existing architecture. If it’s near a door, to make sure that there’s clearance, if it’s being added to an extension, to ensure the details are in keeping with what would have been there originally,' adds Nina.
And finally, really think about the finishing details. Hardware is also worth investing in. A beautifully made catch or pull elevates the whole thing, and the glazing is a great opportunity to add texture, whether that's reeded or fluted,' says Fiona.
The return of the kitchen hatch is another example of old kitchen features making a comeback in a more custom, considered way. It balances classic style with renewed functionality, reflecting the way we all need our kitchens to function. It's less about minimalism and vast rooms, and more about character and cozy appeal.
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