As the old adage goes, “The kitchen is the heart of the home”—a place for gathering family, entertaining friends, savoring a quiet cup of something warm or preparing a special bite for someone you love. It’s no surprise, then, that the kitchen tops renovation wish lists, or that designers continue to find inspired ways to make the space both more functional and undeniably chic.
To hold us over until Feb. 17, when the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show (KBIS) kicks off (and don’t forget to check out our trend report on it, we’ve been flipping through our favorite designs of last year from NJ HOME and our sister publication, BERGEN magazine. We’ve curated them here for you, so you can take the best of 2025 into your 2026 reno dreams.
Everything is warm, bright and welcoming in this Avalon summer home, designed by Karen Wolf. Pops of blue brighten an otherwise neutral palette (we love the white oak) and the ripple glass pendants turn heads, while the woven stools keep everything feeling coastal.
The homeowners got specific with the wish list for their kitchen in Livingston, and Sharon Sherman of Thyme & Place Design made sure it came to life. The man of the house wanted an island that evoked a “middle school science lab table,” and that acted as the perfect centerpiece for a chic, two-toned look.
Over in Closter, Aparna Vijayan of Ulrich Inc. designed this kitchen with both practicality and whimsy in mind, and the result is a space that’s perfect for a busy family and bursting with personality. The dark blue grounds the space and brings warmth, while the white cabinets keep everything contemporary and breezy.
Taylor Sassaman, also of Ulrich Inc., brought this kitchen in West Milford to life and helped the homeowners create their dream home. Done in beautiful Macchia Vecchia porcelain with bold veining and sporting warm brass hardware, this space feels natural and effortless.
Architect and designer Lisa Walzer redesigned this formally-cramped Maplewood kitchen into a space so roomy and appealing that it’s sparked the homeowners’ love of cooking. With double ovens, lots of storage space and a passthrough window for outdoor parties, this is the perfect space to entertain.
The kitchen of a new construction Westfield home was transformed by Marissa Sauer of Design Macs, who imagined the space welcoming, refined and serene. The distinctive pendant lights warm the space while the slim Shaker style cabinets (with built-in lighting) provides a twist on traditional.
Making this historic Montclair Tudor work for a busy blended family with four teens was a challenge that RHG Architecture + Design’s Rachael H. Grochowski met with grace, including this super-functional kitchen with a spacious island that’s perfect for quick dinners, homework help and gathering.
Creating the perfect Long Beach Island vacation home was a team effort between Michael Ziman of Ziman Development and Donna & Victoria Grimes of Serenity Design and the homeowners, who wanted this complete rebuild to create the perfect escape for them and their grown children.
What’s on your 2026 reno wish list? Tell us all about it on Instagram @njhomemag!