SAN DIEGO, CA — The all-white kitchen may be losing its appeal as San Diego homeowners embrace warmer colors, personalized features and renovations designed around how they actually live.
From a colorful kitchen in Scripps Ranch to a historic home with modern conveniences and a La Mesa renovation focused on accessibility, five San Diego County homes will showcase the latest approaches to kitchen and bathroom design during a self-guided tour Saturday.
The National Kitchen & Bath Association's San Diego Chapter will host its Kitchen & Bath Tour from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 10, inviting visitors inside private homes in Chula Vista, La Mesa, Kensington and Scripps Ranch.
The event offers a rare opportunity to see professionally designed spaces beyond showroom displays and online photographs, with the designers available to explain their creative decisions, challenges and solutions.
Elizabeth Leahy, president of the NKBA San Diego Chapter and owner of Leahy Interior Design, said this year's featured homes reflect a growing shift toward individuality over passing trends.
"One of the biggest things visitors will notice this year is that kitchens and bathrooms are becoming much more personal," Leahy told Patch. "We're moving away from spaces that feel overly standardized or designed around a particular trend, and toward rooms that reflect how the homeowners live."
That philosophy is evident in a Scripps Ranch kitchen designed by John DeLuca of Remodel Works Bath & Kitchen.
Instead of relying on an all-white palette, DeLuca introduced shades of green, pairing classic raised-panel cabinetry with a lighter, more current color palette, natural wood flooring, a large center island and a striking ocean-colored La Cornue range.
The result is a kitchen designed to be both a gathering place and a functional space for everyday cooking.
"We are seeing homeowners move toward warmer, more layered kitchens rather than spaces that are completely white or gray," DeLuca said.
The kitchen also features floating wood shelves, a dedicated coffee area, contrasting countertops and cabinetry with custom details, including integrated plate storage.
DeLuca said the challenge was ensuring the many design elements complemented one another rather than competed for attention.
"What I especially like about this kitchen is that it does not depend on one single feature to make it successful," DeLuca said. "The La Cornue range may initially catch your eye, but as you spend time in the room, you notice the cabinetry details, the plate rack, the contrasting island, the countertops, backsplash, lighting, and natural wood flooring. Every material was selected to complement the others and create a space that feels collected rather than overly designed.
"Ultimately, it is a kitchen that is meant to be used and enjoyed every day, and I think that balance of beauty and practicality is what makes the finished space so successful," he said.
For other homeowners, improving functionality means finding creative ways to make older homes work for modern families without erasing their history.
Designer Madelene Ross of Madelene Ross Design Studio faced that challenge when renovating the kitchen of a historically designated 1920s home.
The homeowners, enthusiastic cooks and bakers who regularly entertain family and friends, wanted a larger kitchen that could accommodate gatherings while preserving the home's original architectural charm.
But expanding the home's footprint wasn't part of the plan.
Instead, Ross incorporated an existing hallway and small home office into the kitchen, creating a more generous space that connects naturally with the dining area.
"The challenge was making the new space feel as though it had always belonged there," Ross told Patch.
She matched the stain of the home's original built-in woodwork for the new kitchen island and bar and incorporated custom Spanish tile to maintain a connection to the property's past.
Decorative lighting and contemporary furnishings provide a modern contrast, while a built-in coffee maker and a system dispensing hot, chilled and sparkling water add everyday conveniences.
Ross said more homeowners are investing in what she calls "life's little luxuries at home."
"People are staying in their homes longer, and they're willing to invest in features that make everyday routines easier and more enjoyable," she said.
In La Mesa, two homes designed by Kimberly Melchior of KJM Design demonstrate how remodeling can accommodate changing needs at different stages of life.
One renovation transformed a kitchen and bathroom to incorporate wheelchair accessibility while maintaining the homeowner's preferred aesthetic.
Rather than allowing accessible features to dictate an institutional appearance, Melchior blended farmhouse-inspired details with modern finishes, including beadboard-style tile, a barn door and gold plumbing fixtures.
"The design thoughtfully integrated accessible features so they felt intentional and seamless, rather than institutional or clinical," Melchior said.
Another La Mesa project involved a 1951 ranch-style home purchased by a growing family.
The homeowners wanted an updated kitchen, additional living space and improvements that respected the home's original character.
The renovation included removing a load-bearing wall, adding a laundry room, bathroom and home office, and modifying the plans after the family learned another child was on the way.
The designers also preserved original hardwood floors, bathroom tile and windows, combining the home's midcentury character with modern finishes.
"I think young families are beginning to appreciate older homes and the history they offer," Melchior told Patch. "This home had not been altered from the original floor plan, so we were able to see what worked for their family and only altered the spaces for necessary updates."
While the five featured residences vary in architecture, layout and design, Leahy said they share an emphasis on solving practical problems while creating beautiful spaces.
Visitors will see organized storage, integrated appliances, natural materials and multifunctional kitchens that connect more easily with surrounding rooms. Bathrooms increasingly feature comfortable showers, improved lighting, better storage and accessible design elements.
But Leahy encouraged visitors to look beyond expensive appliances and eye-catching finishes.
"Sometimes it's a beautifully detailed cabinet interior, a clever storage solution, the way lighting changes the feeling of a room, or a small layout decision that makes a huge difference," she said. "Those are the details that turn a beautiful room into a well-designed room."
For homeowners considering renovations, the tour provides a chance to explore what is possible in real homes while speaking directly with the professionals responsible for the work.
"The five homes on our tour are very different from one another, and that's intentional," Leahy said. "We want people to see that good design isn't about copying what is currently popular. It's about taking the best ideas, understanding how a
homeowner lives, and creating something that feels timeless, personal and appropriate for the architecture of the home."
Leahy hopes attendees leave with inspiration tailored to their own homes rather than plans to duplicate someone else's kitchen.
"The goal isn't for homeowners to leave saying, 'I want that exact kitchen,'" she said. "I would much rather they leave saying, 'I just realized what my home could be.'"
Tickets for the Oct. 10 tour cost $50 for general admission and $40 for NKBA San Diego members. Day of tickets cost $60.
The self-guided tour runs from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Participants will receive the addresses of the five homes after registering.
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