We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs.
When it comes to remodeling, kitchens and bathrooms have our undivided attention. According to Houzz’s latest home study, they were the most frequently made-over rooms of 2022, with 28 percent of homeowners having given the former an update, spending an average of $15,000; 26 percent have tackled the latter. And we have no reason to believe these projects will slow down in the New Year. That’s why we took some of our most pressing questions to someone who does these spaces best: Nate Berkus. The interior designer partnered with luxury kitchen and bathroom brand DXV to talk about all things reno—and we got the inside scoop on what he’s loving for these two rooms.
The Kitchen Cabinet Color He’s Digging
“I’ve never been the guy to be like, red, it’s all about red,” says Berkus. When it comes to painting kitchen cabinets, the designer is loving a smoky taupe, or as he describes it, “a very soft, putty-ish color with undertones of pale gray. It’s a bit of a departure from an all-white kitchen. I think it looks better as it ages.” Three of the projects he’s currently working on feature this neutral shade.
The Kitchen Cabinet Style That’s Truly Timeless
Berkus approves of a Shaker-style door, but with a touch of ornamentation. “Like one beaded detail within the frame,” he suggests. Often finding himself in pursuit of re-creating old English-style kitchens, he also favors exposed hinges over an overlay door.
The Kitchen Sink Style He Still Stands By
While Berkus has been experimenting with building kitchen sinks out of the same stone as the countertop for a seamless look, he still appreciates a classic farmhouse vessel. “I’m never going to tire of it,” he says. If you want to spice up the look of a white fireclay apron sink, he advises pairing it with a statement faucet like DXV’s matte black and satin brass Etre product.
The Kitchen “Mistake” That’s Actually a Quick Fix
“Personally, I find it to be a mistake to make a kitchen so decidedly utilitarian,” says Berkus. Treat your cooking space like your living room and hang a 19th-century oil painting along the backsplash, plug in a vintage Italian lamp on the island, and fill a sculptural pot with pretty wooden spoons. “We spend so much time in that room that I don’t want to look at a blender,” he adds.
The Shower Look You Can Personalize
Berkus is a self-proclaimed superfan of stone slabs in the shower. And while he’s been known to clad walls entirely in impressive marble in the past, these days he’s been cutting things a foot shy of the ceiling line. “I think it’s really handsome, or even a chair-rail height,” he notes.
The Bathroom Hardware That’s Out to Replace Brass
“White metals have been creeping their way back into my projects,” reveals Berkus. Polished chrome, steel, and silver give him that Claridge’s-five-star-hotel type of vibe.
The Sophisticated Way to Be a Little More Scrappy
Any long scraps of stone that don’t make it into Berkus’s shower designs never go to waste—he turns them into bonus architectural details. “I’m obsessed with marble baseboards, and I love them around door surrounds,” he says. Renovating in 2023 is looking bright.