We’re completing renovations across the Gold Coast every week — and the briefs we’re getting in 2026 look noticeably different to what we were hearing 18 months ago. Homeowners know what they want, and they know what they’re done with. Here’s the full breakdown.
🍳 Kitchens
✅Warm stone & natural oak joineryCreamy limestones, warm taupes, white oak — the cold Hamptons look is evolving into something warmer and more organic.
✅Navy & deep tone cabinetryBold lower cabinets with white or stone uppers — like our own recent project. Adds drama without dating quickly.
✅Integrated everythingFridge, dishwasher, rangehood — all behind panels. A seamless, furniture-like kitchen is the new standard.
✅Sculptural pendant lightingOversized, artful pendants over the island — not just task lighting, but centrepieces. Brass and aged bronze finishes.
✅Butler’s pantry as standardNo longer a luxury — Gold Coast homeowners at the $300K+ renovation level expect a fully fitted scullery.
❌All-white everythingThe all-white kitchen isn’t dead, but it’s no longer aspirational. Homeowners want character, not just clean.
❌Cold grey colour palettesGreige, cool greys, and blue-grey benchtops feel dated. Warmth is winning — across every finish level.
❌Visible rangehood fluesExposed stainless flues feel industrial in a way that no longer reads as luxury. Built-in and concealed is the move.
❌Open shelving as a hero featureLoved in 2019, lived in 2026. The reality of maintaining styled open shelves has worn thin for most homeowners.
❌Subway tiles as splashbacksClassic but safe. Homeowners want something more considered — bookmatched stone, large-format slab, or handmade tile.
Complete Homes insight
The kitchen we’re most known for right now? Deep navy lower cabinetry, natural stone island, integrated Miele appliances, and a pendant light that earns its keep. The brief we’re getting more and more: “I want colour, but I want it to age well.” Navy and forest green are the answers.
🛁 Bathrooms
✅Warm travertine & limestoneThe cold marble era is giving way to warmer, more textured stones. Travertine-look porcelain is everywhere right now.
✅Fluted vanities & wall panelsTexture is the word of 2026. Fluted timber, fluted stone, fluted glass — it adds depth without overwhelming the space.
✅Matte black & brushed brass togetherMixing metals is now intentional design, not a mistake. Done well, the contrast is genuinely sophisticated.
✅Freestanding bath as sculptureThe bath isn’t just functional anymore — it’s the centrepiece. Stone, concrete, and curved organic shapes are leading.
✅Wellness featuresUnderfloor heating, steam showers, heated mirrors, rain heads — the bathroom as a daily retreat, not just a utility.
❌Cool grey everythingGrey tiles, grey vanity, grey grout. The monochrome grey bathroom had its moment. Warmth has taken over.
❌Chrome tapwareChrome is functional but forgettable. Brushed brass, matte black, gunmetal, and brushed nickel are all more considered choices.
❌Frameless shower on-slab onlyFloor-level frameless is still great — but the “just a shower” approach is giving way to full wet room and niche design thinking.
❌Pedestal vanitiesWall-hung floating vanities are now standard. Pedestal vanities feel dated and make cleaning harder — a practical and aesthetic loss.
❌Standard rectangular mirrorsBacklit arch mirrors, arched frameless, and custom shapes are replacing the plain rectangular mirror in almost every brief.
🌿 Living Spaces & Outdoor
✅Indoor-outdoor flow as a priorityNot an afterthought — the connection between interior and alfresco is now a brief requirement on almost every Gold Coast reno.
✅Layered ambient lightingTask, ambient, and accent lighting designed together. Dimmer-controlled zones. No single overhead light doing all the work.
✅Feature walls with purposeLimewash, textured plaster, timber slats — feature walls that add genuine texture and warmth, not just a different paint colour.
✅Outdoor kitchens & built-in BBQThe Gold Coast lifestyle demands it. An alfresco kitchen is the most requested outdoor feature on our current project list.
❌Sliding glass doors as the only transitionStacking and bifold doors that fully open the wall are in — the single sliding glass panel as the only outdoor connection feels dated.
❌Feature wall = just an accent colourPainting one wall a different colour doesn’t cut it anymore. Texture, material, and dimension is the new feature wall.
❌Recessed downlights onlyA ceiling full of recessed downlights — bright, flat, soulless. Layered lighting is creating warmth that downlights alone never could.
❌Plain concrete pavers in outdoor areasBasic concrete pavers are giving way to large-format porcelain, natural stone, and timber composite decking in prestige renovations.
“The Gold Coast homeowners we’re working with in 2026 are more decisive than ever. They know what they want — and they’re not settling for safe.”
The Quick Reference: 2026 IN & OUT at a Glance
Everything above in one easy table — save this, screenshot it, send it to your partner.
| Area |
What’s IN ✅ |
What’s OUT ❌ |
Status |
| Kitchen colour | Navy, forest green, warm tones | All-white, cool greys | IN |
| Kitchen stone | Warm limestone, Calacatta warm | Cold grey benchtops | IN |
| Kitchen storage | Integrated everything + pantry | Open shelving as hero | OUT |
| Splashback | Slab stone, large-format tile | Subway tiles | OUT |
| Bathroom tile | Travertine, warm stone-look | Cool grey tiles | IN |
| Tapware finish | Brushed brass, matte black | Chrome | OUT |
| Bathroom vanity | Fluted, wall-hung, custom | Pedestal, plain box | IN |
| Mirror | Arch, backlit, custom shape | Plain rectangle | OUT |
| Lighting | Layered ambient + accent | Recessed downlights only | IN |
| Outdoor transition | Full bifold/stacker wall | Single sliding door | IN |
| Outdoor surface | Porcelain, stone, composite | Plain concrete pavers | OUT |
| Outdoor entertaining | Full outdoor kitchen + BBQ | Freestanding BBQ only | IN |
What Does This Mean for Your Renovation?
Trends matter — but they’re not everything. The best renovations we’ve done aren’t the ones that chased every trend. They’re the ones that chose a clear design direction and executed it with precision.
That said, knowing what’s current helps you make better decisions at the brief stage — especially on finishes like tapware, tiles, and cabinetry colour that can date a renovation if chosen purely from what was popular five years ago.
Our advice: use this list as a filter, not a prescription. If you love subway tiles, use them intentionally. If warm travertine speaks to you, go all in. A confident design direction always beats a trend-chasing one.
Not sure which direction suits your home?
That’s exactly what our free consultation is for. We’ll look at your space, understand how you live, and help you land on a design direction that feels genuinely yours — not just what’s on Pinterest right now. No obligation, no pressure.
Ready to renovate in 2026?
Book a free on-site consultation and let’s talk about your home, your vision, and what’s possible on your budget.
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