10 Kitchen Design Secrets I Learned as an HGTV Magazine Editor

My husband and I bought a fixer upper on the North shore of Long Island, New York, back in 2018 and have been slowly chipping away at each room ... and we saved the best (and biggest) project for last: the kitchen. We made the original kitchen work for a long time, but it was too small, very dark and super dated. When a door fell off one of the cabinets, we knew it was time to gut it.

We worked with New Hampton Construction and started by knocking down the wall between the kitchen and dining room to create one open space and moving some door openings for a better flow to the rest of the house. From there we had a blank canvas to design the kitchen I always wanted: big, clean and bright with an oversized island and plenty of pretty cabinets to stash all our stuff. Check out the transformation and the lessons I've learned along the way!

1. Design a space for how YOU use it.

I leaned on my friend and professional organizer Elissa Mostransky to help me envision the space in a way that worked for my family’s needs. She’s a genius when it comes to knowing what goes where — and what you don’t need in your life (or your kitchen). My husband and I entertain a ton and have three teenagers and, like many homeowners I talk to, spend most of our time in the kitchen, so a clean, calm vibe was essential — but so was lots of smart storage. Elissa and I spent hours walking through the demo’d site pretending to have the Thanksgiving turkey in our hands and wondering if we’d bump into things or if I’d mind taking a few extra steps to the sink (I don’t) before finalizing the layout. Ultimately she helped me decide on lots of oversized draws for platters, a skinny broom closet next to the fridge (with a plug in it for my Shark) and floor-to-ceiling pantry cabinets that house the snacks and hide my microwave.

2. White kitchens are timeless for a reason.

At HGTV Magazine we celebrate color in a major way and feature some of the most beautiful, bold kitchens. I drool over these spaces, but I knew I wanted a classic white kitchen. Fortunately there are so many ways to make them feel curated and cozy. I chose warmer whites and went with a variety of finishes and textures to add depth. The custom shaker cabinets from Babylon Cabinets are painted White Dove by Benjamin Moore, the glossy Morris & Co. backsplash tile from The Tile Shop has wavey texture to it and the counters are polished Taj Mahal quartzite, which has subtle brown and gold veining. We added the millwork to the walls to bring some character.

3. Work in natural woods for warmth.

I knew I needed to layer in the warmth, and mixing in different woods is a great way to do that. The teak counter stools from Hati Home were the first thing I bought for the kitchen (before we even demo’d!) and the element people comment on the most. They add a casual, coastal feel, and they are so comfy. The acacia dining table is from Crate & Barrel and the beech wood Chippendale chairs are from Ballard Designs. I went with a dark stain for the hardwood floors because I’m a sucker for that traditional look. And I always have my Andrew Pearce cutting boards and bowls on display.

4. Go big on hardware.

Knobs and pulls aren’t just there so you can open your cabinets and drawers; designers often tell me they’re the “jewelry” of the kitchen. I knew I wanted a golden finish to complement the cabinets and something that felt traditional but not super formal. I ordered a million samples and agonized over the size (my poor contractor!) but ultimately went for Lily pulls and Ellis knobs in honey bronze from Top Knobs. I chose extra long pulls for the big drawers, which make the island feel like a beautiful piece of furniture.

5. Mixing metals is totally OK!

We hear designers talk about this all the time: Matchy-matchy is not necessary. A mix of metals adds character to a space, and so many of “dated” finishes are coming back. I decided not to have cabinet panels installed over the Café refrigerator because I actually love the look of stainless steel in a kitchen. (I think it reminds me of a restaurant kitchen, and makes me feel like a pro when I’m cooking ... something I used to dream of being!) My Café range and hood are also stainless steel, but I swapped in brushed bronze handles and knobs, so now they're two-toned.

6. Natural stone counters are worth the splurge.

I’m actually writing a story for the magazine on stone counters right now that I pitched after my own journey (read: struggle) to pick mine. If you like natural stone, there are so many options within each type — and every slab is different. I drove my family and coworkers crazy with all my marble/quartz/quartzite debating but kept coming back to Taj Mahal quartzite, which I’ve always loved for the warmth it brings. It was one of the more expensive items, but it makes me happy every single day. And I know that honed is having a moment, but I was drawn to the super clean look of a polished finish — even more so when a designer I was interviewing said it's coming back. It elevates the space with a bit of sparkle.

7. Coffee bars are a must.

We are seeing them in almost all of our house tours for HGTV Magazine. Homeowners want a special spot to make their morning brew and a place to stash mugs and all the other equipment that comes with your coffee these days. If you like the ritual of making your cup as much as you like drinking it, these pretty little nooks provide a place to take a beat before the day really gets going. This area is in the hallway between our kitchen and mudroom and used to be dead space. I chose Rooftop Garden by Benjamin Moore for the cabinet to bring in a little color and a butcher block counter that I knew could take a beating. The rug is from Pottery Barn, and the art is a vintage poster we picked up in Traverse City, Michigan.

8. Nothing beats natural light.

Our old kitchen was dark, so my husband’s only request during the whole project was to make the window above the sink massive. Mission accomplished with the 11-foot span of Andersen windows. It helps bring the outdoors in, which is another thing we hear homeowners and designers talk about a lot.

9. Closed cabinets hide clutter.

I love glass cabinets and open shelves in the kitchens we feature in the magazine, but in my kitchen, I needed to be able to close the doors and not see 25 mismatched mugs. To accommodate our oversized window we could only have one big glass cabinet anyway, so we designed it to be a bit of a showpiece. There’s tons of room to hold all of my fancy glassware and display some of my grandma’s China. I keep candles and placemats in the draw below and then stash the rest of my dishes in the deep drawers.

10. Pops of color come in all shapes and sizes.

We talk about pops of color all the time at HGTV Magazine, and a white kitchen is the perfect place to work them in. We started with the rugs (blue Annie Selke runners and a red Ralph Lauren rug under the dining table) and built from there. I hung a bold blue framed print (it’s actually a piece of John Robshaw fabric leftover from a photo shoot), and I always have my red Le Crueset on the stove — the quintessential pop! But even a bowl of fruit, cut flowers or terra cotta planters with fresh herbs can add life and personality to a space. I plan to keep layering these things into my new kitchen as I continue to make it feel like home. The best part about pops of color: You can change them out whenever you need a refresh!