10 Contemporary-style Kitchens on Houzz
Take inspiration from the clean lines and smart styling of these covetable spaces
Laura Wheat
23 August 2016
Houzz UK Contributor. Freelance Journalist and interiors obsessive, newly ensconced in a handsome Edwardian semi on top of a hill.
Houzz UK Contributor. Freelance Journalist and interiors obsessive, newly ensconced... More
Whether or not you like to follow trends, it’s always fun to keep an eye on what’s new and “now” in kitchens. As the hub of the home, our cook spaces must be multi-tasking and practical, but it’s also nice to enjoy a slice of style along with your morning cuppa.
Interesting décor developments at the interiors exhibitions this year included scene-stealing taps (both rubber-wrapped and super-shiny metallic), extra-thick worktops and realistic textured wood veneers. For a contemporary kitchen that will wow well into the future, cast your eye over these shining examples.
Interesting décor developments at the interiors exhibitions this year included scene-stealing taps (both rubber-wrapped and super-shiny metallic), extra-thick worktops and realistic textured wood veneers. For a contemporary kitchen that will wow well into the future, cast your eye over these shining examples.
Go green
Whether sage, eau de nil or the greenish duck-egg blue, green interiors are a contemporary must. Pale shades can be used in much the same application as grey, but they look creative and current.
Try a new hue on your cabinetry and layer with real foliage and timber accents for a soft, organic approach.
See 10 rooms that prove eau de nil is the new neutral
Whether sage, eau de nil or the greenish duck-egg blue, green interiors are a contemporary must. Pale shades can be used in much the same application as grey, but they look creative and current.
Try a new hue on your cabinetry and layer with real foliage and timber accents for a soft, organic approach.
See 10 rooms that prove eau de nil is the new neutral
Cement the deal
While concrete worktops and floors are still kitchen hits, cement tiles are proving to be the material of the moment.
Formed by pouring pigmented cement into moulds and compressing it under intense pressure, only the top layer is coloured. For this reason (and their thickness), cement tiles are best used on floors or flat areas of wall, rather than external corners, where they will require chamfering to match up the pattern.
While concrete worktops and floors are still kitchen hits, cement tiles are proving to be the material of the moment.
Formed by pouring pigmented cement into moulds and compressing it under intense pressure, only the top layer is coloured. For this reason (and their thickness), cement tiles are best used on floors or flat areas of wall, rather than external corners, where they will require chamfering to match up the pattern.
Try out the “tuxedo”
This is the interiors-y term that’s come to describe the combination of two familiar design ideas – monochrome and colour-blocking – and which results in a contemporary kitchen that feels effortlessly “now”, without being too trend-led.
On the side, mixed metals no longer need to be avoided, as the copper and chrome tap combination in this streamlined scheme proves.
This is the interiors-y term that’s come to describe the combination of two familiar design ideas – monochrome and colour-blocking – and which results in a contemporary kitchen that feels effortlessly “now”, without being too trend-led.
On the side, mixed metals no longer need to be avoided, as the copper and chrome tap combination in this streamlined scheme proves.
Style a single shelf
Upper cabinets aren’t old news, but a single shelf does have an appeal all of its own, and is appearing in some of the most stylish kitchens around at the moment.
If you’re the type to collect colour-coordinated crockery, rotate your kitchen vignettes on a rolling basis (and dust every week) and make the statement shelf your new styling platform.
Upper cabinets aren’t old news, but a single shelf does have an appeal all of its own, and is appearing in some of the most stylish kitchens around at the moment.
If you’re the type to collect colour-coordinated crockery, rotate your kitchen vignettes on a rolling basis (and dust every week) and make the statement shelf your new styling platform.
Build on a blank canvas
By sticking to a base of neutral cabinets you can create an adaptable, fresh-looking space that can easily be altered with accessories or wall paint.
Contemporary can mean colourful, but small doses of tertiary brights (in this case, pink seat cushions) typically look more modern than large swathes of primary red, yellow or blue.
By sticking to a base of neutral cabinets you can create an adaptable, fresh-looking space that can easily be altered with accessories or wall paint.
Contemporary can mean colourful, but small doses of tertiary brights (in this case, pink seat cushions) typically look more modern than large swathes of primary red, yellow or blue.
Partner old and new
Although contemporary design focuses on the now, it’s also fashionable to incorporate reclaimed elements for their added character and eco credentials.
This creative kitchen uses a mixture of bespoke cabinets and reclaimed wooden doors to inject personality and depth into the concrete-clad island.
Although contemporary design focuses on the now, it’s also fashionable to incorporate reclaimed elements for their added character and eco credentials.
This creative kitchen uses a mixture of bespoke cabinets and reclaimed wooden doors to inject personality and depth into the concrete-clad island.
Master a moody hue
Dark is always interesting in interior design and saturated hues work well in larger rooms that have enough light to stop things feeling claustrophobic.
Charcoal-black paint and a dark grey island sit alongside rich wooden cabinets in this stunning contemporary, colour-blocked kitchen.
Dark is always interesting in interior design and saturated hues work well in larger rooms that have enough light to stop things feeling claustrophobic.
Charcoal-black paint and a dark grey island sit alongside rich wooden cabinets in this stunning contemporary, colour-blocked kitchen.
houseofgrey.co.uk
Ap-ply an eco alternative
Ply is the most efficient use of fast-growing, renewable soft wood and – when sourced from FSC-certified forests – a sustainable method of furniture production. Its pale beauty and versatile application make it a worthy component of contemporary kitchens.
For truly “green” plywood, bear in mind that most products rely on formaldehyde-based resins to bond together composite layers. If creating a healthy home environment is your priority, try exploring non-toxic soy-based glue and other adhesives currently in development.
Check out a modern plywood eco kitchen in the Cotswolds
Ply is the most efficient use of fast-growing, renewable soft wood and – when sourced from FSC-certified forests – a sustainable method of furniture production. Its pale beauty and versatile application make it a worthy component of contemporary kitchens.
For truly “green” plywood, bear in mind that most products rely on formaldehyde-based resins to bond together composite layers. If creating a healthy home environment is your priority, try exploring non-toxic soy-based glue and other adhesives currently in development.
Check out a modern plywood eco kitchen in the Cotswolds
Size up
For a contemporary twist on traditional ideas, try changing the scale. Oversized kitchen cabinets are appealing on both an aesthetic level – due to the lack of fuss – and for practicality – as you can pack masses in. Likewise, this XL parquet flooring (which would be quicker to lay than smaller blocks of wood) feels more modern thanks to the bigger block size.
For a contemporary twist on traditional ideas, try changing the scale. Oversized kitchen cabinets are appealing on both an aesthetic level – due to the lack of fuss – and for practicality – as you can pack masses in. Likewise, this XL parquet flooring (which would be quicker to lay than smaller blocks of wood) feels more modern thanks to the bigger block size.
Make more of marble
As wildly beautiful as it is impractical, magnificent marble can make a simple kitchen shine. For longevity, look for designs without too much veining, and pair with sleek, slab-front doors.
There are also lots of marble-style composites available that will give you a similar stone effect, but with more durability.
Which contemporary detail would you most love to see in your kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
As wildly beautiful as it is impractical, magnificent marble can make a simple kitchen shine. For longevity, look for designs without too much veining, and pair with sleek, slab-front doors.
There are also lots of marble-style composites available that will give you a similar stone effect, but with more durability.
Which contemporary detail would you most love to see in your kitchen? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
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Some beautiful examples of contemporary styled kitchens we have a few similar ideas in our showroom
The designs are very elegant. Loved the ceiling lights in first picture simple and beautiful. Love to try this thing on my project.