Actress Isabella Rossellini may be synonymous with Hollywood, but she has a second legacy in Bellport, Long Island. Together with architect Pietro Cicognani, the Blue Velvet star created a highly original rural home (named Mama Farm) that ignores conventions – and no space epitomizes this quite like the kitchen.
It may seem only fitting that a home set across 28 acres has a farmhouse kitchen that celebrates its rustic roots – but unlike conventional spaces with this favored design style, it prioritizes one feature: rich dark wood.
Dark wooden kitchens have long had a debated reputation, but while this finish is bold, it pays off in the right spaces. Rossellini's kitchen is proof that drenching your space in darker hues (including the cabinets, backsplash, and ceiling) has soothing results that feel grounded, earthy, and timeless. It's no surprise, then, that this style is set to top kitchen trends for 2025, as designers explain.
'Long gone are the days when pale woods paired with white walls and Scandinavian furniture were the norm in interiors. The design world has been slowly shifting towards the darker-toned woods such as oak, walnut, and teak woods, gaining popularity and being used as flooring, furniture, wall paneling, and especially kitchens,' comments Cathy Dean, the CEO and founder of Studio Dean.
As Dean explains, dark wooden kitchens (especially where wood is used in abundance, as seen in Rossellini's space) feel tactile and natural. It's a way of making your space feel connected to the earth, as there's no need for artificial colors that break away from an authentic, organic aesthetic.
'We love bringing nature into our interior designs and wood is a warm and tactile way to achieve this. To us, the color of the wood is as important and impactful as paint or furniture color, so think carefully about how it will work with your overall schemes and themes.'
Matt Phillips, the head of operations at Rotpunkt, agrees. As a kitchen expert, he says he has observed interior design trends continue to embrace nature-inspired aesthetics, sustainable materials, and energy-efficient fixtures – and dark wooden kitchens are the best way to tap into all three.
'Offering modern planning options for the contemporary kitchen living space, darker wood décors not only inspire a stronger connection with nature but also satisfy the market's continued love of dark colors, rich texture, and statement pieces in the home,' he notes.
'Darker colors have always been regarded as more luxurious, and when paired with quality raw materials like walnut and glass, homeowners are able to create a sophisticated look in the kitchen that adds depth and dimension.'
Shop the look
We don't need to renovate our whole kitchen to enjoy some wooden benefits. These picks are perfect for introducing an earthy aesthetic into your space (for under $50).
This multi-use board can display charcuterie or is just as functional to chop vegetables on.
Made from reclaimed cedar stumps, this natural beauty holds nature's bounty (i.e. fruit).
Kitchen storage is solved with these matte and wood, high-volume jars. The subtle wood lid is understated and beautiful enough to tap into the trend.
'As we look to next year, the need for tailored storage solutions will only increase and continue to serve individual needs and lifestyles that center around the home,' Phillips adds in his predictions.
'In fact, I predict that supersized cabinetry and vertical storage solutions that maximize footprint will continue to rise as they help to utilize space more effectively by creating new options for the dark wood kitchen living space.' Inspiration begins with Isabella Rossellini.
