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Contemporary Kitchen Ideas and Designs

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Bold Open Plan Kitchen Installation
Bold Open Plan Kitchen Installation
LWK London KitchensLWK London Kitchens
Beautiful Handleless Open Plan Kitchen in Lava Grey Satin Lacquer Finish. A stunning accent wall adds a bold feel to the space.
Photo of a medium sized contemporary galley kitchen/diner in London with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, an island, grey floors, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring and a feature wall.
Victorian Workers Cottage Addition
Victorian Workers Cottage Addition
Danny Broe ArchitectDanny Broe Architect
Photography: Karina Illovska The kitchen is divided into different colours to reduce its bulk and a surprise pink study inside it has its own little window. The front rooms were renovated to their former glory with replica plaster reinstated. A tasmanian Oak floor with a beautiful matt water based finish was selected by jess and its light and airy. this unifies the old and new parts. Colour was used playfully. Jess came up with a diverse colour scheme that somehow works really well. The wallpaper in the hall is warm and luxurious. ​
Stevenson
Stevenson
TAS ConstructionTAS Construction
Photos by Whit Preston Architect: Cindy Black, Hello Kitchen
Contemporary kitchen/diner in Austin.
Find the right local pro for your project
Find top design and renovation professionals on Houzz
Leslie Hayes Interiors
Leslie Hayes Interiors
Leslie Hayes InteriorsLeslie Hayes Interiors
Photo: Drew Callahan
Inspiration for a large contemporary galley kitchen/diner in Philadelphia with glass-front cabinets, stainless steel appliances, quartz worktops, a submerged sink, white cabinets, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, light hardwood flooring and an island.
Beach Ct
Beach Ct
Sean Murphy Contracting INC.Sean Murphy Contracting INC.
This is an example of a contemporary kitchen in New York with flat-panel cabinets and light wood cabinets.
Haight Ashbury Carriage House
Haight Ashbury Carriage House
Devlin McNally ConstructionDevlin McNally Construction
Photos: Pamela Palma
Design ideas for a contemporary galley kitchen in San Francisco with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood worktops, white splashback, integrated appliances, light hardwood flooring, an island and white worktops.
Architect Francesco Pierazzi
Architect Francesco Pierazzi
Tiles & BathsTiles & Baths
This is an example of a small contemporary galley kitchen/diner in London with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood worktops, white splashback and brown floors.
Open Concept Kitchen Renovation
Open Concept Kitchen Renovation
Kon-strux DevelopmentsKon-strux Developments
Rob Moroto, Calgary Photos
Design ideas for a contemporary kitchen in Calgary with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood worktops, dark hardwood flooring and an island.
Steven Gambrel Time and Place
Steven Gambrel Time and Place
ABRAMSABRAMS
Excerpted from Steven Gambrel: Time & Place (Abrams, 2012). Photography by Eric Piasecki.
This is an example of a contemporary kitchen/diner in New York with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and stainless steel appliances.
Kitchen
Kitchen
Partners 4, DesignPartners 4, Design
We opened up the kitchen to the entry and stairwell by removing the wall between the kitchen and the hall, moving the closets out of the hall, and opening up the staircase to the lower level with a half wall, which created a more open floor plan. We further expanded the space visually by adding a wall of sliding glass doors to the porch at one end of the kitchen, which flooded the room with natural light and pulled the outdoors inside. Project:: Partners 4, Design Kitchen & Bath Designer:: John B.A. Idstrom II Cabinetry:: Poggenpohl Photography:: Gilbertson Photography
Montclair Residence
Montclair Residence
Tierney Conner ArchitectureTierney Conner Architecture
This Montclair kitchen is given brand new life as the core of the house and is opened to its concentric interior and exterior spaces. This kitchen is now the entry, the patio area, the serving area and the dining area. The space is versatile as a daily home for a family of four as well as accommodating large groups for entertaining. An existing fireplace was re-faced and acts as an anchor to the renovations on all four sides of it. Brightly colored accents of yellow and orange give orientation to the constantly shifting perspectives within the home. Architecture by Tierney Conner Design Studio Photo by David Duncan Livingston
PS
PS
Ольга ТарасенкоОльга Тарасенко
Евгений Дешко
Photo of a contemporary single-wall kitchen/diner in Other with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, yellow splashback, glass sheet splashback, black appliances, no island and grey worktops.
Victorian Cottage Haines Hawthorn
Victorian Cottage Haines Hawthorn
Itsuka StudioItsuka Studio
© Itsuka Studio
Photo of a contemporary galley kitchen/diner in Melbourne with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, medium hardwood flooring and an island.
Old Town Home Renovation
Old Town Home Renovation
UserUser
Werner Straube
This is an example of a contemporary galley kitchen/diner in Chicago with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, beige splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood flooring, an island and brown floors.
Arcadian
Arcadian
Mowlem & CoMowlem & Co
Photo: Jake Fitzjones
Photo of a large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in London with flat-panel cabinets, granite worktops, stainless steel appliances and an island.
The Linear Kitchen with Silver Leaf
The Linear Kitchen with Silver Leaf
Goldman and RankinGoldman and Rankin
Goldman and Rankin, the linear kitchen with its clean lines, simplicity and a handleless cabinet design are the key characteristics that make up the bespoke kitchen style.
Boise Residence
Boise Residence
Hsu McCulloughHsu McCullough
Kitchen window seat. Photo by Clark Dugger
Small contemporary galley kitchen in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a submerged sink, wood worktops, brown splashback, wood splashback, integrated appliances, medium hardwood flooring, no island and brown floors.
Cuisine familiale au coeur de Paris
Cuisine familiale au coeur de Paris
As de CarreauxAs de Carreaux
La crédence en carreaux étoilés, le sol tapissé de carreaux noirs, les meubles blancs, une parfaite qualité d'éclairage... Quelle élégance !
This is an example of a medium sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen/diner in Montpellier with a built-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, grey floors, laminate countertops, ceramic flooring, an island and white worktops.
Kitchens
Kitchens
The Last InchThe Last Inch
Custom cabinetry & hardware built by The Last Inch & Byron Zook. Design & photography by Union Studio and Matt Bear Unionstudio.com.
Design ideas for a contemporary galley open plan kitchen in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets and medium wood cabinets.

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.

Check out these popular kitchen pages below:

Obsidian
Obsidian
Oasis Architecture & DesignOasis Architecture & Design
This is an example of a large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Diego with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, an island, engineered stone countertops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances and laminate floors.
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