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Contemporary Kitchen Ideas and Designs

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Battersea House
Battersea House
Brian O'Tuama ArchitectsBrian O'Tuama Architects
Ed Park
Contemporary kitchen in London.
Orinda Modern
Orinda Modern
Canyon Design BuildCanyon Design Build
Architect: Jarvis Architects Photography: Indivar Sivanathan
Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen in San Francisco with a belfast sink.
Jill
Jill
Whitney LyonsWhitney Lyons
Whitney Lyons © 2012 Houzz
Photo of a contemporary kitchen in Portland with stainless steel appliances.
Find the right local pro for your project
Find top design and renovation professionals on Houzz
mango design co
mango design co
mango design comango design co
mango design co provided interior design services to rize.ca for a multi-unit residential project at broadway & quebec street in vancouver. this display suite shows a sample interior and eclectic interior styling to reflect the artistic bent of the mount pleasant neighbourhood. while we wanted to keep things fresh & modern, shaker style cabinets were chosen to show some heritage roots. furnishings from a number of local sources including design house, mint, fullhouse, bombast and attic treasures. photography by eric saczuk of spacehoggraphics.com
Contemporary Kitchen
Contemporary Kitchen
Contemporary single-wall kitchen/diner in Portland with stainless steel appliances, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, grey splashback and matchstick tiled splashback.
Bayou Kitchen
Bayou Kitchen
In Detail InteriorsIn Detail Interiors
This new home is a study in eclectic contrasts. The client loves modern design yet still wanted to blend a bit of her southern traditional heritage into the overall feel of her new home. The goal and challenge was to combine functionality in a large space with unique details that spoke to the client’s love of artisitic creativity and rich materials. With 14 foot ceilings the challenge was to not let the kitchen space “underwhelm” the rest of the open floor plan as the kitchen, dining and great room all are part of the larger footprint. To this end, we designed a modern enclosure that allowed additional height and heft to help balance the “weight” of the kitchen with the other areas. The long island designed for entertaining features a custom designed iron “table” housing the microwave drawer and topped with a checkboard endgrain cherry and walnut wood top. This second “island” is part of the rich details that define the kitchen. The upper cabinets have unusual triple ring iron inserts, again, designed for the unexpected use of material richness..along with the antique mirror rather than glass as the background. The platter rack on the end of the left side elevation also replicates the iron using it for the dowels. The panels on the Subzero refrigerator are crafted from burled walnut veneer chosen to echo the browns and blacks throughout much of the furnishings. The client did not want or need a large range as we planned a second ancillary oven for the pantry/laundry space around the corner. When I pointed out the capacity of the Wolf 36 inch range was actually larger than a 30 inch oven, it sealed the deal for only one oven in the main cooking center. We did not want the cooking area to be dwarfed however, so used a custom black cold rolled steel hood that is 60 inches long. The panels on the Sub Zero refrigerator are another blend of eclectic materials. Along the left side cabinetry where the cabinets die into the wall, we chose to run the calcutta gold marble 4x16 stone up the wall and utilize thick glass shelves for some visual interest in this corner. Also, this corner would be tough to access with doors. I liked the prep sink area to feel open and airy as well. This beautiful kitchen is quite unique that combines functionality in a large space with one of a kind details!
Willis Freyberg
Willis Freyberg
Wascha StudiosWascha Studios
ProImage Photography
This is an example of a contemporary galley kitchen in Seattle with stainless steel appliances.
Colourful Kitchens
Colourful Kitchens
IncreationIncreation
Medium sized contemporary grey and purple u-shaped open plan kitchen in London with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, composite countertops, pink splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic flooring and an island.
Hollingbourne Road
Hollingbourne Road
Finch LondonFinch London
www.pollytootal.com - Polly Tootal
This is an example of a large contemporary grey and cream galley open plan kitchen in London with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, marble worktops, white splashback, glass sheet splashback, ceramic flooring and an island.
Roundhouse kitchen cabinets
Roundhouse kitchen cabinets
RoundhouseRoundhouse
Seating: Base Cabinets: Exterior: Wenge Veneer Interior: Wenge mfc with wenge lipping Worktop: 26mm Wenge Veneer Wall Cabinets: Exterior: F&B Downpipe 26 Interior: Wenge mfc with wenge lipping Table; Wenge 'Shark’ table 40mm Wenge Wholestave top with sharknose. Wenge legs Upholstery by Dashing Tweeds – Shetland Jig
Gainesville
Gainesville
Busby CabinetsBusby Cabinets
Photo by Pach Adams, Inc.
Photo of a contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Miami with stainless steel appliances.
1930s London Home
1930s London Home
Laura Butler-MaddenLaura Butler-Madden
Patrick Butler-Madden
Design ideas for a contemporary kitchen/diner in London with shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, marble worktops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring, an island and metro tiled splashback.
Kitchen
Kitchen
Emerick ArchitectsEmerick Architects
Open, light-filled and fresh, this kitchen puts the chef right in the middle of it all.
This is an example of a contemporary kitchen in Portland with a belfast sink, open cabinets and dark wood cabinets.
Spring Garden Row Home kitchen
Spring Garden Row Home kitchen
Hanson Fine BuildingHanson Fine Building
Expansion of existing footprint into rear alley by insertion of exposed steel beams and girders to create a thirty foot opening in existing three-story brick wall. New kitchen and powder room finishes and fixtures, bamboo floors, stone countertops, and back-painted glass backsplash. Photograph by Barry Halkin
Kitchen Remodeling in Carmel
Kitchen Remodeling in Carmel
WrightWorks, LLCWrightWorks, LLC
Pass through wall at stove cabinet.
This is an example of a contemporary kitchen/diner in Indianapolis with stainless steel appliances, green splashback, mosaic tiled splashback and grey cabinets.
Teri Turan
Teri Turan
Turan Designs, Inc.Turan Designs, Inc.
Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen in Atlanta with stainless steel appliances, granite worktops, beaded cabinets, white cabinets, beige splashback and travertine splashback.
Desert Courtyard Kitchen
Desert Courtyard Kitchen
Alta Constructors, Inc.Alta Constructors, Inc.
Copyright Nicolas O.S. Marques
Inspiration for a contemporary galley enclosed kitchen in Phoenix with stainless steel appliances, a single-bowl sink and engineered stone countertops.
Open & Airy
Open & Airy
Feinmann, Inc.Feinmann, Inc.
Our client’s 1950s ranch is typical of many from this post-war genre: humble on the exterior, but possessing great potential and flexibility on the interior. The homeowners asked Feinmann to design a more efficient kosher kitchen and a dining room that would be cozy enough for nightly family dinners while also accommodating up to 14 people for dinner parties. The scope of work also included a new mudroom and small computer desk off the kitchen, as well as a new deck on the rear of the house. The floor plan of the home was changed dramatically, but no square footage was added. The dynamic solution involved removing an existing wall separating the dining room and kitchen and flipping the two spaces, thus creating an open floor plan. The client’s property had a beautiful backyard and in order to bring this asset into focus in daily life, we created a dramatic arcade of windows running the length of this living room. Each room within the space is loosely defined and open, and the “edge” of each room is defined by the raised tray ceiling above, which provides a sense of enclosure. The kitchen is truly the heart of this home. Children can do homework at the kitchen bar or dining room table and still interact with the homeowners’ when they’re cooking. Maple cabinets with a honey finish and oak flooring add warmth to the kitchen and dining room. Highlights of blue add a personal touch and appear as accent tiles in the backsplash, iridescent blue flecks in the ‘Blues in the Night’ granite, colorful blue pendants, and light blue cove ceilings. Photos by John Horner
128 Central Park South
128 Central Park South
Ethelind Coblin Architect P.CEthelind Coblin Architect P.C
Photo of a medium sized contemporary galley enclosed kitchen in New York with glass tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, a submerged sink, white splashback, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz worktops, ceramic flooring, no island and grey floors.

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:

kitchen with bamboo cabinets and resin countertops
kitchen with bamboo cabinets and resin countertops
Erdreich Architecture, P.C.Erdreich Architecture, P.C.
Contemporary galley enclosed kitchen in Birmingham with a submerged sink, open cabinets, light wood cabinets and green worktops.
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