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Contemporary Kitchen Ideas and Designs

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San Francisco Upper Height Kitchen Cabinets and Bathroom Vanities
San Francisco Upper Height Kitchen Cabinets and Bathroom Vanities
Bay Area CabinetryBay Area Cabinetry
Inspiration for a large contemporary u-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, engineered stone countertops and a breakfast bar.
Kitchen
Kitchen
Paul Rice ArchitecturePaul Rice Architecture
Catherine Tighe
This is an example of a contemporary galley kitchen in New York with integrated appliances.
Vashon Residence kitchen
Vashon Residence kitchen
Goforth Gill ArchitectsGoforth Gill Architects
Looking from open dining room into kitchen of new residence on Vashon Island. Kitchen features bamboo cabinetry, stainless countertops with paperstone bar. Photo credit - Patrick Barta Photography
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Cary Bernstein Architect Eureka Valley Residence
Cary Bernstein Architect Eureka Valley Residence
Cary Bernstein ArchitectCary Bernstein Architect
Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets and medium wood cabinets.
University City Renovation
University City Renovation
Studio Durham ArchitectsStudio Durham Architects
Renovated kitchen, enlarged by combining former breakfast room with original kitchen. Alis O'Brien Photography
This is an example of a medium sized contemporary u-shaped kitchen/diner in St Louis with stainless steel appliances, a belfast sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, marble worktops, light hardwood flooring, an island, white splashback and stone slab splashback.
Kitchen
Kitchen
Begrand Fast Design Inc.Begrand Fast Design Inc.
Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen in Vancouver with shaker cabinets and stainless steel appliances.
Haight Ashbury
Haight Ashbury
Mascheroni ConstructionMascheroni Construction
This is an example of a contemporary kitchen in San Francisco with white appliances, a belfast sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, green splashback, mosaic tiled splashback and engineered stone countertops.
Contemporary Kitchen
Contemporary Kitchen
Contemporary kitchen in Seattle with stainless steel appliances, a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, blue splashback and mosaic tiled splashback.
Scandinavian Contemporary
Scandinavian Contemporary
REFINED LLCREFINED LLC
Photo of a contemporary kitchen in Minneapolis with stainless steel appliances and a feature wall.
kitchen reno in mid century home
kitchen reno in mid century home
kirbkirb
modern kitchen renovation in mid century home.
Photo of a contemporary galley kitchen in Other with stainless steel appliances, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets and engineered stone countertops.
Friedman
Friedman
John Lum Architecture, Inc. AIAJohn Lum Architecture, Inc. AIA
Photos Courtesy of Sharon Risedorph
Contemporary u-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with stainless steel appliances, a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets and blue splashback.
Colorful Kitchen
Colorful Kitchen
SHKS ArchitectsSHKS Architects
Photo Credit: Dale Lang
Photo of a contemporary kitchen in Seattle with stainless steel appliances, wood worktops, shaker cabinets, yellow cabinets, brown floors and brown worktops.
Nathan Cuttle Design
Nathan Cuttle Design
Studio NatoStudio Nato
Blue Bend Photography
Photo of a large contemporary galley kitchen in New York with a submerged sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble worktops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring and an island.
Overview of Kitchen
Overview of Kitchen
Dalia Kitchen DesignDalia Kitchen Design
Design ideas for a contemporary kitchen in Boston with mosaic tiled splashback, recessed-panel cabinets and black appliances.
Nathan Cuttle Design
Nathan Cuttle Design
Studio NatoStudio Nato
Blue Bend Photography
Large contemporary galley kitchen in New York with a submerged sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, marble worktops, medium hardwood flooring and an island.
Modern Villa - Kitchen
Modern Villa - Kitchen
Risinger HomesRisinger Homes
Casey Dunn Photography
Photo of a contemporary kitchen in Austin with mosaic tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, white splashback, flat-panel cabinets and white cabinets.
San Francisco Castro Area Victorian Home Modern Kitchen
San Francisco Castro Area Victorian Home Modern Kitchen
BMF ConstructionBMF Construction
Michael O'Callaghan Photography
Design ideas for a contemporary kitchen in San Francisco with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, multi-coloured splashback and mosaic tiled splashback.
Elizabeth Herrmann, AIA
Elizabeth Herrmann, AIA
Elizabeth Herrmann architecture + designElizabeth Herrmann architecture + design
Interior and exterior views of lake house. Susan Teare, photographer
Contemporary kitchen in Burlington with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets and stainless steel appliances.
Mod Redux
Mod Redux
Capoferro Design Build GroupCapoferro Design Build Group
Contemporary kitchen in Toronto with integrated appliances.

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:

Contemporary Kitchen
Contemporary Kitchen
Contemporary open plan kitchen in London with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, stainless steel cabinets, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring, an island and concrete worktops.
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