Modern Kitchen with White Cabinets Ideas and Designs

A sleek German handleless kitchen with a neutral colour scheme coupled with Caesarstone Cloudburst work surfaces and a full height stone splash-back. The large kitchen island adds valuable storage, practical working space and seating for this busy open plan family kitchen in Beckenham.⁠

Turn key Interiors by Casa Mia

Casa Mia USA Inc.

Photo of a medium sized modern l-shaped kitchen/diner in New York with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, concrete flooring, no island and grey floors.

Walk-in Pantry

Closet Factory

This well designed pantry has baskets, trays, spice racks and many other pull-outs, which not only organizes the space, but transforms the pantry into an efficient, working area of the kitchen.

Modern House in Kingsgate - Kitchen

Shepel Homes - Kitchen and Bath

We used an open floor plan for the kitchen and dining, with both being part of the great room together with the living room. For this contemporary gray kitchen and dining, we used flush cabinet surfaces to achieve a minimalist and modern look. The backsplash is made with beautiful 3” x 16” light gray tiles that perfectly unite the white wall cabinets and the darker gray base cabinets. This monochromatic color scheme is also evident on the white dining table and countertops, and the gray and white chairs. We opted for an extra large kitchen island that provides an additional surface for food preparation and having quick meals. The modern island pendant lights serve as the functional centerpiece of the kitchen and dining area.

Perfectly formed

Kitchen Architecture Ltd

Inspiration for a modern galley kitchen/diner in Cheshire with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, integrated appliances, light hardwood flooring and an island.

Galena

Carol Faccinetti Interior Design

Expansive modern u-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with a submerged sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite worktops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain flooring, an island, brown floors and grey worktops.

Kitchen and Bathroom renovation, Albemarle County, VA

Weston Construction Company, LLC

Medium sized modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz worktops, multi-coloured splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors, a submerged sink and white worktops.

Whale Rock Addition

Ellen McKenna Design

Photographed by Kyle Caldwell
Inspiration for a large modern l-shaped kitchen/diner in Salt Lake City with white cabinets, composite countertops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring, an island, white worktops, a submerged sink, brown floors and flat-panel cabinets.

From Seasoned to Sophisticated

Next Stage Design + Build

Scott DuBose Photography
Photo of a medium sized modern kitchen/diner in San Francisco with a submerged sink, white cabinets, engineered stone countertops, white splashback, glass tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring, no island, brown floors and white worktops.

Contemporary Kitchen

Pineapple House Interior Design

The kitchen pantry is a camouflaged, surprising feature and fun topic of discussion. Its entry is created using doors fabricated from the cabinets.
Inspiration for a large modern grey and white u-shaped kitchen pantry in Atlanta with a submerged sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, engineered stone countertops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring, multiple islands, brown floors and white worktops.

My Projects

euro-cabs

Inspiration for a medium sized modern single-wall kitchen in Minneapolis with a built-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, engineered stone countertops, beige splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, an island and beige floors.

Luxury Kitchen Remodel

Kandrac & Kole Interior Designs, Inc.

This was a full gut an renovation. The existing kitchen had very dated cabinets and didn't function well for the clients. A previous desk area was turned into hidden cabinetry to house the microwave and larger appliances and to keep the countertops clutter free. The original pendants were about 4" wide and were inappropriate for the large island. They were replaced with larger, brighter and more sophisticated pendants. The use of panel ready appliances with large matte black hardware made gave this a clean and sophisticated look. Mosaic tile was installed from the countertop to the ceiling and wall sconces were installed over the kitchen window. A different tile was used in the bar area which has a beverage refrigerator and an ice machine and floating shelves. The cabinetry in this area also includes a pullout drawer for dog food.

Island Forward Modern Kitchen

The Kitchen Master

Photo of a large modern l-shaped enclosed kitchen in Chicago with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, engineered stone countertops, grey splashback, porcelain splashback, integrated appliances, medium hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors and white worktops.

Frank's House @ Campbell CA

ZMC Products

Large modern l-shaped kitchen/diner in San Francisco with a submerged sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz worktops, white splashback, mosaic tiled splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring, an island, grey floors and white worktops.

Modern French Country

Beautiful Chaos Interior Design & Styling

Pantry in modern french country home renovation.
Photo of a large modern kitchen pantry in Minneapolis with a belfast sink, beaded cabinets, white cabinets, quartz worktops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors and white worktops.

Lawrence Park Ravine House

Jillian Aimis Architect

Tom Arban
Design ideas for a large modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in Toronto with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, composite countertops, white splashback, white appliances, light hardwood flooring and an island.

Apartment Interior Fitout by studioJLA

Justin Loe Architects

Compact Kitchen in a apartment, minimal design, with clean lines.
This is an example of a small modern u-shaped kitchen in Sydney with white cabinets, marble worktops, no island, integrated appliances, white splashback and dark hardwood flooring.

GRIFFIN ENRIGHT ARCHITECTS: Santa Monica Canyon Residence

Griffin Enright Architects

A view of floating shelves for pottery collection.
This is an example of a medium sized modern galley open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble worktops, white splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring and an island.

Modern Kitchen Chislehurst

piqu

A modern stylish kitchen designed by piqu and supplied by our German manufacturer Ballerina. The crisp white handleless cabinets are paired with a dark beautifully patterned Caesarstone called Vanilla Noir. A black Quooker tap and appliances from Siemen's Studioline range reinforce the luxurious and sleek design.

Warriewood Kitchen + Laundry

Northern Beaches Kitchens and Bathrooms

Design ideas for a small modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, engineered stone countertops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors and white worktops.

Modern Kitchen with White Cabinets Ideas and Designs

Want to discover beautiful modern kitchen ideas to inspire your new kitchen design? You’ve come to the right place. You can discover millions of modern 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 modern photos to inspire you for your next kitchen project on Houzz.

What kind of modern 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 modern 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 modern 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 modern 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 modern 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 modern kitchen storage ideas should I consider?

If you want to keep your modern 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 modern 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 modern 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 modern 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 modern 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 modern 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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