One of the biggest design trends heading into 2026 is the return of furniture in the kitchen and, by extension, the bathroom too. After years of built-ins and wall-to-wall cabinetry, designers and homeowners are craving warmth, character, and living spaces that look less like labs. Spaces once dominated by stone, tile, and seamless storage are softening with pieces that look collected - kitchen islands that look like vintage tables, cabinets that look like cupboards, skirted sinks, and real wood finishes.
Historically, that’s actually how things began. Before indoor plumbing, the “bathroom” was just a washstand in the bedroom — a piece of furniture with a bowl and pitcher for fresh water. Once plumbing arrived, people converted dressing rooms or sitting rooms into bathrooms, so they still felt warm and furnished. There were chairs, mirrors, and beautiful wood cabinets — not wall-to-wall vanities and tile.
The kitchen evolved the same way. Early American homes had something called a Hoosier cabinet — basically an all-in-one kitchen unit with storage, a work surface, and a tiny sink or warming oven. The rest of the kitchen was a hodgepodge of furniture: tables, cupboards, and shelving collected over time. It wasn’t until the 1950s, with the rise of mass production and modular cabinetry, that kitchens and bathrooms became fully “fitted.”
When I bought my old English Tudor home, I was instantly drawn to the soul of that earlier era — where rooms were layered, functional, and full of charm because they weren’t built-in. That house inspired how I approach design to this day: mixing furniture and architecture, comfort and utility, beauty and practicality.
It’s also what inspired my ongoing love affair with bathrooms that look like rooms — spaces that feel collected, not constructed. It’s an idea that’s been at the heart of my work for years, and it even sparked the creation of Vanity & Co: bathroom furniture that brings warmth and character back into the home.
What’s old is new again. But honestly, it was never really gone.
