Contemporary Kitchen Ideas and Designs

Contemporary kitchen with traditional painted frame and panel cabinets, butcher block island, and precast concrete countertops and backsplash. Modern stainless steel Wolf range and Subzero refrigerator accent traditional touches of cabinetry, farm house sink, stained oak floors, and coffered beam ceiling. Photo by Gregory Dedona

Remuera

Mal Corboy Design

Design ideas for a large contemporary l-shaped kitchen/diner in Los Angeles with stainless steel appliances, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, a submerged sink, light hardwood flooring and an island.

Mercury apartment

SVOYA studio

Design ideas for a contemporary kitchen/diner in Other with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, black splashback, glass sheet splashback and a feature wall.

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Case Design/Remodeling, Inc.

Case Architects & Remodelers

Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen in DC Metro with a submerged sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets and beige splashback.

Contemporary Kitchen

Contemporary kitchen in Cincinnati with a built-in sink, stainless steel appliances, black cabinets and laminate countertops.

Moody Blues

Sealy Design Inc.

Contemporary kitchen in Toronto with mosaic tiled splashback, blue splashback, white cabinets, recessed-panel cabinets, a double-bowl sink and engineered stone countertops.

Simply Elegant

Archipelago Hawaii Luxury Home Designs

Contemporary galley kitchen in Hawaii with medium wood cabinets.

Asian Modern

About Space Studios

Photo Credit: Charles Chesnut
Photo of a contemporary galley kitchen/diner in Los Angeles with stainless steel appliances, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, red splashback, an island, black worktops, a submerged sink, porcelain flooring, grey floors, granite worktops and ceramic splashback.

Roxton

Portico Design Group

photo credit: Kristen McGaughey, mooi dining pendant,
This is an example of a contemporary kitchen/diner in Vancouver with shaker cabinets, white cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

Bluffview Residence

Fisher Heck Architects

This 6,100 SF hilltop home commands a spectacular view of the golf course below and city beyond, while nestling gently and unassumingly into the native terrain. With its horizontal lines and deep overhangs, reminiscent of the Prairie Style of architecture, the home’s design and layout focus all attention toward the expansive windows along the west wall, providing an unparalleled panorama of the multi-level terraces surrounding the pool. Photo by Chris Cooper.

Topanga Canyon Ranch

Carolyn Greco [Interior] Design

Photo of a contemporary kitchen in Los Angeles with a belfast sink and wood worktops.

Haight Ashbury

Mascheroni Construction

Design ideas for a contemporary kitchen in San Francisco with white appliances and a belfast sink.

The Kitchen

User

New and vintage furniture & accessories, infused with color, create a warm “lived in” feeling for an active family’s new home.
Photo of a contemporary kitchen/diner in Boston.

Nuova luce alla storia | 140 MQ

studio falù

Ⓒ elanandez architektur
Large contemporary l-shaped kitchen/diner with medium wood cabinets, marble worktops, white splashback, medium hardwood flooring, flat-panel cabinets and no island.

wohnküche

hanno keppel image photography

hanno keppel, braunschweig
Large contemporary l-shaped kitchen/diner in Hanover with a belfast sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring and a breakfast bar.

Open Plan Kitchen

Debbie R. Gualco

This is an example of a contemporary kitchen in Sacramento with integrated appliances, flat-panel cabinets and dark wood cabinets.

2011 San Francisco Decorators Showcase

Farallon Construction Inc.

assorted
Photo of a contemporary galley kitchen/diner in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

7000 Island | Williams Island | Aventura, Florida

Guimar Urbina Interiors, Corp.

Emilio Collavino
Inspiration for a large contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Miami with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz worktops, white splashback, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, marble flooring and an island.

Kitchen

Echelon Custom Homes

Lewes, Delaware
Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen in Philadelphia with stainless steel appliances and wood worktops.

Contemporary Kitchen Ideas and Designs

Want to discover beautiful contemporary kitchen ideas to inspire your new kitchen design? You’ve come to the right place. You can discover millions of contemporary kitchen designs and ideas; from kitchen islands and storage units, to all sorts of kitchen lighting ideas, such as pendant lighting or under cabinet lighting. Whether you want inspiration for all-in-one fitted kitchen designs, some small kitchen ideas or maybe just some tips for improving your kitchen decor, there are tons of contemporary photos to inspire you for your next kitchen project on Houzz.

What kind of contemporary kitchen design should I go for?

With so many kitchen ideas and photos to look at you might be a bit overwhelmed when it comes to picking your own contemporary kitchen design. If you are updating your kitchen you know what a big and important decision it is to get the design right – the kitchen can be the hub and heart of the home, and it’s unlikely that you would invest in renovating your kitchen again in a few years. But fear not, focusing first on the important elements like layout, cabinet style, worktops and appliances will help you to bring together your dream kitchen design. Additional elements like kitchen lighting, cupboard storage and decor can come after in the kitchen planning process. A kitchen designer or fitter can help you to decide the layout of your contemporary kitchen in terms of where to place your kitchen units, appliances and island (if you’re having one), but if you prefer to handle this yourself you can focus on where you want your key elements of your kitchen to be – the oven, hob, sink and fridge. Of course you might be constricted by space, but try to envisage the easiest and most efficient layout based on how you usually like to cook and prepare your food. If you’re fed up of always having to carry dirty pans and pots across the room to the sink, place the sink closer to your oven and hob. Once you have the core elements sorted, consider extra layout considerations, such as where your bins will be stored, where the cutlery draw should be and where small contemporary kitchen appliances can be installed.

Should I include a kitchen island?

Kitchen island ideas are abundant these days; it seems most kitchen designs include a kitchen island, if not multiple islands. However, if the layout doesn’t work, especially if you have a small kitchen, then there’s no necessity to add in a kitchen island. You can add a breakfast bar or counter to your existing kitchen units, or stick with a good old-fashioned dining table if you don’t need the extra work surfaces. That said, if you do have the room, take a look at some contemporary kitchen island ideas to see if the designs inspire you for your kitchen. There are a huge variety of island designs to cater to different needs – you can have sinks, ovens, hobs, wine storage and all sorts of drawers and organisers built-in, you can have separate bars and counters that extend from your island, or you could go for a kitchen island on wheels to make your kitchen layout more versatile.

How do I choose my kitchen units and cabinets?

When picking out kitchen units and cupboard styles for a fitted kitchen, you’ll first want to consider the more practical questions – how many units do you need? How many cupboards and drawers do you need? Do you need extra kitchen storage built into your units? It’s always best to overestimate how much kitchen storage you’ll need as we all tend to have a habit of filling up whatever current space we have to the maximum. Next you can consider kitchen cabinet style and colour. Shaker style cabinets and raised and recessed panel cabinets offer a more traditional kitchen cabinet look, while flat panel cabinet doors tend to lend more to the modern and contemporary style. However, going for raised or recessed panel work in a striking colour such as dark blue, green or black can still work with contemporary kitchen ideas. White kitchens can give a sleek and clean feel, but remember you may have to do a bit more cleaning of those cupboard doors if you want everything to stay shiny and fresh. Of course, grey kitchens are the neutral colour choice du jour and can be paired with pale and rich shades alike if you want your fitted kitchen cupboards to contrast with your worktop, splashback, floor, or all of the above. Exposed shelving and storage is also popular for eclectic, Scandi and industrial-inspired looks, so you could opt for glass-fronted cabinets or no wall-mounted cabinets at all. Remember that this will require more restraint in what you can store and more effort in keeping it looking presentable compared to what is stored away hastily behind cupboard doors. The kitchen cupboard handles are also another element to decide upon – do you want traditional round knobs, modern metal bars, country kitchen cup handles or maybe to go ultra sleek with a completely handleless kitchen?

What contemporary kitchen storage ideas should I consider?

If you want to keep your contemporary kitchen well-stocked and well-equipped but don’t want it spilling over with clutter, then you’ll need to rely on good kitchen storage. Apart from the usual fitted kitchen cupboards and drawer space, there are many other ways of keeping your kitchen tidy. Whilst a large kitchen pantry is the dream of most homeowners, it can’t always be a reality. However, there are now lots of pull out compartments and drawers with trays and shelving that can act as mini kitchen pantries, and you can install handy cupboard organisers that fit onto the inside of the door to make the most of your cupboard space. You can also look at corner drawers and cupboards that open up to reveal lots of extra storage. Rails or small shelves along your kitchen walls or splashback can help with hanging utensils or pans, or storing small items like herbs and spices in an usually empty space. Buy extra kitchen storage products for your home on Houzz

Are there small kitchen ideas for small contemporary spaces?

If you’re working with a galley kitchen, a one-wall kitchen in an open plan space or just a pretty small kitchen, there are some small kitchen ideas that can help you get the most out of your cooking and dining area. If you find that you don’t utilise the back of your cupboards (maybe they become the graveyard for out-of-date tin cans), you could decide to go with shallower kitchen units to free up some extra floor space in front of your cabinets. As mentioned, open shelving or glass-fronted cabinets are a popular trend and they should make the space feel more open and less boxed-in. However, if you have the capacity for it, cupboards and contemporary kitchen units that maximise the floor-to-ceiling space you have will mean you can use all of that for valuable kitchen storage. Wall or ceiling racks could be a useful solution for hanging pans and pots if you’ve run out of cupboards in which to store them. Kitchen ideas and contemporary accessories such as baskets, trolleys and storage jars are both aesthetically pleasing and practical as they give you extra storage space. Kitchen appliances like a fridge or dishwasher can be tucked away in built-in units in fitted kitchens so they blend into your layout and don’t make the space look crowded. Discover all the small kitchen ideas you could need by taking a look at photos of compact kitchens.

What sort of contemporary kitchen lighting should I go for?

In the kitchen you need to have practical lighting – no one wants to chop, cut and cook in a dingy room. Kitchen ceiling lights are probably the best way to go, but should you opt for recessed spotlights or traditional hanging ceiling lights? While spotlight LED kitchen lighting will give you excellent light, they may not fit with a design that’s not contemporary. Traditional chandelier lights could work for other kitchen styles, and of course, kitchen pendant lighting comes in all sorts of styles, colours and designs. While the popular choice is to go with one or two pendant lights over your kitchen island, you could also opt for a single pendant light over your dining space, or a few spaced out across your kitchen. Of course, if you want good lighting for your worktops, under-cabinet lighting is the way forward. Speak to your kitchen supplier about having this pre-installed, or there are a number of easy-install options you can fit yourself or with the help of a lighting expert or electrician. In the market for your contemporary kitchen lighting today? Once you’ve found some inspiring kitchen lighting ideas here, take a look at our kitchen lighting products to find the new lights for your kitchen project.

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Kitchen for clients who love to cook!

Camber Construction

This is a house built in the late 1930's in the Oakmore district of Oakland. Camber Construction has recently completed this beautiful kitchen, family room and dining room remodel. Design by Connie de Laveaga Stoops, Architect, at Design Studio

United Kingdom

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