How to design a stylish kitchen that won’t date
Timeless kitchen design ideas and clever future-proofing tips to get you started.
Designing a kitchen in your forever home can be daunting. After all, trends come and go, and you don’t want to be left with an outdated kitchen just a few years after installation. Luckily, some kitchen design elements will never go out of fashion, but the most important consideration is to stay true to your own style to make it truly endure.
Here are eight examples of timeless kitchen design and clever future-proofing tips to get you started.
1. A WHITE KITCHEN
White is a popular choice in the kitchen for one reason: it doesn’t date. Before you start to worry about it being boring, remember the more bold your design choices in the kitchen are, the bigger chance there is of you changing your mind down the track. Classic is key here and, if you’re looking to make a statement with must-have trends, more personality can be brought in with accessories.
An all-white base forms a blank canvas for decorative details in this casual Nordic-style kitchen.

2. SHAKER-STYLE CABINETS
Once an essential ingredient for the farmhouse kitchen style, now the perfect choice for Hamptons-style kitchens, shaker-style cabinets are a popular choice because of their simplicity and ability to complement most styles. Pick up details by using a darker paint color on lower cabinetry or your kitchen island for added interest, or stick to all white for a clean and classic look.

3. APPLIANCES THAT SUIT THE WAY YOU LIVE
Do you like to entertain? Or perhaps you want to enjoy a cafe-quality coffee in the morning as soon as you wake up? Whatever your wish, there is an appliance to meet all of your kitchen needs. When it comes to choosing appliances like a coffee machine or double oven, and French fridge doors, factoring them in at the design stage of your kitchen can help you make the right choice to suit your space and lifestyle.
Generous benchtop space and integrated cabinetry allow for all of life’s conveniences in this coastal Hamptons kitchen.

4. THE NATURAL LOOK
The kitchen is the hub of any home and your benchtop choice matters. Choose materials that give off a natural vibe, and you can be confident that your kitchen will never go out of style. For a ageless appeal, look to timber-look veneer in cabinetry and engineered stone benchtops, both of which are practical and low-maintenance choices.
Polytec ‘Legato’ cabinetry in Crisp White is a subtle backdrop to an island bench topped in Quantum Quartz ‘Michelangelo’ in this light-filled kitchen.

5. SUBWAY TILES
The popularity of subway tiles continues to feature in kitchens of all shapes, sizes and styles. Simple and sophisticated, their size makes them a versatile choice and that they come in different shades means they can be matched to any color palette. For the ultimate in timelessness, however, white would be an excellent choice, with options to add a textured finish or colored grout.
Textured white subway tiles almost disappear from view in this Hamptons-style kitchen.

6. HANDLES
Probably the most underrated design element in any kitchen, handles (or the lack thereof) can have a massive impact on the overall look of your kitchen. When choosing handles, consider the look and feel of your kitchen design as well as the size and material needed to open and close your cupboards and drawers with ease.
Handles are a feature in this modern farmhouse kitchen and tie in with accents of the rangehood and timber stools and central workbench.

7. A KITCHEN ISLAND
An island bench is a beautiful addition to any kitchen for many reasons. It works for most layouts, is perfect for entertaining guests on those less formal occasions and for having a quick meal with family. Plus, the extra storage makes it do double duty in this busy zone.
Sleek surfaces allow the kitchen island (in two-pac polyurethane in Dulux Domino) to be the hero in this renovated Queenslander. The natural stone benchtop that echoes the splashback’s gray tones.

8. A LARGE SINK
Particularly in an entertainer’s kitchen, when it comes to your sink, the bigger the better. Whether a feature ceramic sink or an underbench stainless steel style, the benefits of a large sink go beyond the generous bowl size to include the ability to hide clutter and dirty dishes at peak times.