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Small Contemporary Kitchen Ideas and Designs

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Lannin Granny Unit - Crystal "Encore" Cabinetry
Lannin Granny Unit - Crystal "Encore" Cabinetry
Chelsea Evans DesignChelsea Evans Design
Capture.Create Photography
Photo of a small contemporary single-wall kitchen/diner in San Francisco with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, engineered stone countertops, beige splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring and an island.
Retro home SF
Retro home SF
Ayelet DesignsAyelet Designs
Arnona Oren
Design ideas for a small contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz worktops, grey splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood flooring and an island.
Venice Micro Apartment
Venice Micro Apartment
Vertebrae Art and ArchitectureVertebrae Art and Architecture
Art Gray
Photo of a small contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, stainless steel appliances, concrete flooring, an island, grey cabinets, composite countertops, metallic splashback, grey floors and grey worktops.
Urban Living Simplicity
Urban Living Simplicity
Mackenzie Collier InteriorsMackenzie Collier Interiors
Small contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Phoenix with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an island, a submerged sink, engineered stone countertops, white splashback, glass sheet splashback and porcelain flooring.
Venice Warm Modern
Venice Warm Modern
Alison Kandler Interior DesignAlison Kandler Interior Design
Mark Lohman
Inspiration for a small contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, green splashback and a breakfast bar.
Bar Stools, Reupholstered in Hair on Hide
Bar Stools, Reupholstered in Hair on Hide
Delight Home Designs, Upholstery & InteriorDelight Home Designs, Upholstery & Interior
Bar stools reupholstered in hair on hide. Photo by: Denise L. Thuman
Small contemporary kitchen in Sacramento.
Oak Street Residence
Oak Street Residence
Y.A. studioY.A. studio
Lucas Fladzinski
Small contemporary l-shaped enclosed kitchen in San Francisco with a submerged sink, dark wood cabinets, granite worktops, black splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood flooring and an island.
Modd Cott
Modd Cott
Mell Lawrence ArchitectsMell Lawrence Architects
Inspiration for a small contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Austin with a submerged sink, open cabinets, blue cabinets, stainless steel worktops, stainless steel appliances, concrete flooring and no island.
Nashville Skyline
Nashville Skyline
Terri Sears, Kitchen and Bath DesignerTerri Sears, Kitchen and Bath Designer
Steven Long Photography http://stevenlongphotography.com/ - Victor Fleseriu cabinet installation -- Bill and Kris contract work
AU BORD DE L'OURC
AU BORD DE L'OURC
Estelle Chevallier Architecture IntérieureEstelle Chevallier Architecture Intérieure
Photo of a small contemporary u-shaped kitchen/diner in Paris with a built-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood worktops, white splashback, light hardwood flooring and a breakfast bar.
Kitchens by Emanuel - Kitchens
Kitchens by Emanuel - Kitchens
Kitchens by EmanuelKitchens by Emanuel
- Working around difference angles! - Drawers - Adjustable shelving - Stone bench top Sheree Bounassif, Kitchens by Emanuel
This is an example of a small contemporary l-shaped enclosed kitchen in Sydney with white cabinets, engineered stone countertops, stainless steel appliances and light hardwood flooring.
Trump
Trump
Dresner Design | Chicago Custom Kitchens CabinetsDresner Design | Chicago Custom Kitchens Cabinets
Jim Tschetter
Inspiration for a small contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Chicago with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, engineered stone countertops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood flooring and an island.
Contemporary Kitchen
Contemporary Kitchen
Small contemporary u-shaped enclosed kitchen in Detroit with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite worktops, black splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances and laminate floors.
KITCHEN
KITCHEN
Sheila Rich Interiors, LLCSheila Rich Interiors, LLC
We expanded a formerly dark, small, outdated kitchen and made it open, bright and airy. The glass doors and open plate rack of the kitchen cabinets add depth, color and geometry to the room. The door knobs and cabinet hardware are round simple forms, a detail that echoes the round table and art form shapes on the walls.
Retro contemporary design, build and renovation + a garden and loft extension
Retro contemporary design, build and renovation + a garden and loft extension
Mel Massey StudioMel Massey Studio
David Giles
This is an example of a small contemporary galley kitchen in London with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, no island, grey floors, grey worktops and medium hardwood flooring.
Delawyk Modular House
Delawyk Modular House
R2 Studio ArchitectsR2 Studio Architects
The kitchen in this remodeled 1960s house is colour-blocked against a blue panelled wall which hides a pantry. White quartz worktop bounces dayight around the kitchen. Geometric splash back adds interest. The tiles are encaustic tiles handmade in Spain. The U-shape of this kitchen creates a "peninsula" which is used daily for preparing food but also doubles as a breakfast bar. Photo: Frederik Rissom
West Marylebone
West Marylebone
Day TrueDay True
Gary Summers
Inspiration for a small contemporary u-shaped kitchen in London with flat-panel cabinets, marble worktops, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood flooring, a breakfast bar, beige floors, grey worktops, a submerged sink, black cabinets and grey splashback.
Central city downsizer
Central city downsizer
Four Walls ArchitectureFour Walls Architecture
The client chose warm, textural tones for their kitchen, accented with black panels and appliances.
Small contemporary l-shaped kitchen/diner in Auckland with a submerged sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, terrazzo worktops, grey splashback, mosaic tiled splashback, black appliances, dark hardwood flooring, an island, brown floors and grey worktops.
Central Park West Apartment
Central Park West Apartment
Keogh Design, IncKeogh Design, Inc
Fast Forward Unlimited
Inspiration for a small contemporary galley kitchen in New York with a built-in sink, white cabinets, white splashback, ceramic splashback and stainless steel appliances.
Wilshire Penthouse
Wilshire Penthouse
Marla Sher DesignMarla Sher Design
Photo of a small contemporary galley kitchen in Los Angeles with a double-bowl sink, glass-front cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble worktops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, travertine flooring and an island.

Small Contemporary Kitchen Ideas and Designs

Want to discover beautiful Small contemporary kitchen ideas to inspire your new kitchen design? You’ve come to the right place. You can discover millions of Small 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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