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For a long while, dream kitchens have been sleek, pale and a little bit clinical. Crisp white cabinets and not a lot of softness. This popular look, though polished, can feel a little cold. Now the mood is shifting, says Vancouver designer Jenalee Nordstrom of Schédio Spaces .

People are really wanting to feel relaxed in their homes, says Nordstrom. This has always been the case, but after years of uncertainty, inflated costs and general fatigue, people are after homes that make them feel calm, in a way that outdoes any home design trends.

Wood is an innate, primal element that people find relaxing. We’re seeing the desire for this material in kitchens, she says.

This doesn’t mean a return to the fussy, orange-toned kitchens with ornate detailing and heavy upper cabinets.

“It’s not the heavy wood cabinetry of our parents’ generation,” she says, describing instead a new wave of kitchens that feel modern and contemporary, while also delivering warmth and ease.

This is not a passing whim, but part of a bigger design swing away from sterile to grounded.

Younger homeowners, especially millennials, are settling into longer-term homes and are investing in kitchens they want to live with for years, not just photograph for a season, says Nordstrom. Wood has moved from being a niche choice to a lasting one.

Light, warm and contemporary

To avoid the dark, cavelike wooden kitchens of yesteryear, choose your materials carefully, says Nordstrom. Tone, grain and contrast matter, as does restraint.

For homeowners who want a safe, soothing look, she likes keeping wood in the same colour family as the floor — not matchy-matchy, but harmonious.

For those willing to push things a little further, mixing tones can be beautiful. A cooler floor with warmer cabinetry, or a darker floor with lighter cabinets, gives the room more depth and personality. This approach can make a kitchen feel less staged and more lived in.

Nordstrom also distinguishes between sleeker grain patterns and more expressive ones. A subtler grain works well when paired with dramatic stone, because it lets the marble or quartz do the talking. A stronger, more visible grain brings more pattern and softness, which can be especially effective with simpler counters and backsplashes. In other words, wood can whisper or sing, so you want to really consider the design of the other materials you’re using.

For anyone nervous about committing, Nordstrom says:

“Use wood on the lower cabinet and keep the upper cabinet in a lighter tone.”

This way, your room gets warmth where it needs grounding, but the eye still reads the kitchen as open and airy. She has used darker walnut below with painted uppers, and the effect is rich without feeling weighty.

Flat-front doors keep things light, says Nordstrom. Wood already brings movement and interest, so it doesn’t need a lot of trim, fluting or fuss piled on top.

Veneer, solid wood and a new contender

Veneer is often the more affordable route, says Nordstrom. It gives you the look of timber without the same degree of seasonal movement, because the wood layer sits on a stable substrate. It is also useful for larger panels. The drawback with veneer can be durability. It can be harder to repair if it gets gouged or dented badly. Once damaged, you may need to replace a door rather than simply sanding it back.

Solid wood has a different appeal, she says. It’s durable, tactile and repairable. It can be sanded, refinished and restained later if tastes change. It also allows for carved detail such as fluting or reeding, but solid wood can be very expensive, depending on what you go with, and in climates like B.C., it does expand and contract.

“In humid winters and dry summers, doors can shift, seams can tighten or widen, and panels may need adjustment over time,” she says.

Nordstrom says she’s very excited about a new Cosentino product out called Amazonik , which gives the visual warmth of wood with the performance of Dekton. For busy kitchens, this is a great choice, she says. It can be used on fronts, counters and backsplashes, and avoids many of the headaches that come with real timber in wet or hardworking zones. It’s a game-changer for anyone who loves the look of wood but worries about movement, staining or hygiene.

Get your lighting right

Even the best wood kitchen can fall flat under the wrong lighting, says Nordstrom. For wood in the kitchen, she prefers lower-sheen finishes to let the grain read naturally, rather than glossy coatings that tip wood into something artificial and overly slick. A softer finish keeps the material looking honest and warm.

Your light bulbs really matter, she says. The colour of your lighting is going to change the colour of the wood.

“I really encourage people to use a slightly warmer interior light when they’re using wood if they want that relaxed finish. 2700 or 3000 Kelvin is the whitest that they should go.”

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