Kelly Wearstler’s Fresh Take on the Green Kitchen Trend Doesn’t Involve Paint

From muted olive to Gucci-inspired emerald to traditional forest, green kitchen cabinets reached subway tile status in 2021. (In other words, they’re everywhere.) Even Kelly Wearstler is a fan of green kitchens, but of course, the design visionary has a totally fresh take on the trend—and it comes in the form of Verde Antigua marble. 

Inspired by JennAir’s new, limited-edition Smoke & Brass range (there are only 50 models available), Wearstler created a virtual kitchen concept that shows how the appliance could look in an equally luxe space. So she clad the curved walls, shelving, and islands in the smoky sage-hued stone, resulting in a “minimal but layered and monumental feel.” And she didn’t stop at the monolithic stone: Even the massive hood and pendant lights are green. Paint who?

“The one-of-a-kind distressed finish of the range makes each one entirely unique and really serves as the statement piece alongside the rest of the kitchen,” says Wearstler. Part of the reason the range and the stone pair so nicely is because of the contrast (the rich, almost-black tones pop against the desaturated green hues and shiny steel cabinets). “It’s sleek and ultramodern, and I love how all the materials play off one another,” she adds. 

Aside from getting playful with the aqua stone (the veining is reminiscent of tropical ocean waters), Wearstler gives us another bright idea to try in 2022: two islands. “This kitchen provides the option to offer one space for entertaining, while the other can be utilized by the chef simultaneously,” she notes. Even though her latest project is only renderings, it’s easily the coolest green kitchen we’ve seen this year.