View of kitchen from open plan dining/ living area.
Mid-sized contemporary open plan kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, green cabinets, white splashback, ceramic splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Gordon Park House

Shane Marsh Architects

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Brisbane with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and recessed.

Mosman

JPWK DESIGN

Contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Sydney with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, light hardwood floors, a peninsula, beige floor and white benchtop.

Mt Macedon

Lume Architecture

Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Melbourne with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Painted Cabinets

Everingham Design

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Columbus with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Teri Turan

Turan Designs, Inc.

Design ideas for a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Atlanta with stainless steel appliances, a farmhouse sink, granite benchtops, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, beige splashback and stone tile splashback.

Frazier Peters Remodel

Titus Built, LLC

This is an example of a contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stone tile splashback, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Armani Fine Woodworking Rustic Walnut Butcher Block Countertop

Armani Fine Woodworking

Armani Fine Woodworking Rustic Walnut Butcher Block Countertop. Armanifinewoodworking.com. Custom Made-to-Order. Shipped Nationwide.
Mid-sized contemporary u-shaped separate kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, stone tile splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, grey floor and brown benchtop.

Wicked White Quartzite Kitchen

Boston Counters

Perimeter counters and island in Wicked White quartzite.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Boston with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

The Listed House

Simpson & Voyle

This kitchen showcases a harmonious blend of contemporary design and classic architecture. The room is well-lit, with natural light streaming in from a large window on the left. The ceiling features intricate crown molding, indicative of the building's Grade 2 listing and historical significance. Three elegant pendant lights with a brass finish and frosted glass shades hang above the central island, which is topped with a pristine white countertop. The island also incorporates a built-in sink and a cooktop, offering functionality within its streamlined form. Two modern bar stools with curved silhouettes and dark wooden legs are positioned at the island, providing casual seating. The kitchen cabinetry is minimalistic, with handleless doors painted in a muted off-white tone that complements the overall neutral palette. A splashback of white marble adds a touch of luxury and ties in with the countertop. The flooring is laid in a herringbone pattern, adding texture and a classic touch to the space. A small selection of books and a vase with eucalyptus branches introduce a personal and lived-in feel to the otherwise minimalist kitchen.

Kitchen

Laura Brophy Interiors

Contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Pop of Blue Kitchen Splash

Hawthorne Tile

Mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and black benchtop.

REMODEL-Kitchen, Bar-Dallas

Megan Bailey Interiors

Large contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Dallas with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Flora Green Kitchen

Model Remodel

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Photography of Interior Project in Berlin by Kathy Kunz Interiors

Sabine Zoltnere Photography

Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Berlin with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Bright and Airy Kitchen with wooden accent

United Signature

Full kitchen remodel opening to an open concept, contemporary style kitchen. Adding more lighting to lighten the room, relocated plumbing, focused on a more natural flow design, installed new flooring throughout, removed a brick chimney that separated the living room from the kitchen and patched up the roof. Lastly installed brand new drywall wall throughout.

Wedgewood

MMI Design

Photo of a large contemporary open plan kitchen in Houston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, panelled appliances, travertine floors, multiple islands, beige floor and white benchtop.

Mulberry Court Kitchen Renovation

Asha Maía Design

Transforming key spaces in a home can really change the overall look and feel, especially in main living areas such as a kitchen or primary bathroom! Our goal was to create a bright, fresh, and timeless design in each space. We accomplished this by incorporating white cabinetry and by swapping out the small, seemingly useless island for a large and much more functional peninsula. And to transform the primary bathroom into a serene sanctuary, we incorporated a new open and spacious glass shower enclosure as well as a luxurious free-standing soaking tub, perfect for ultimate relaxation.

Kansa Ave Residence

AAHA Studio

Custom Kitchen in great room that connects to outdoor living with 22' pocketing door
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, panelled appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Cloverdale House

Board & Vellum

Photo by Travis Peterson.
Inspiration for a large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Contemporary Kitchen with a Farmhouse Sink Design Ideas

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to planning your kitchen design. Where do you even start? Gathering some inspiration in a photo gallery is always a good starting point, as looking at different kitchen designs often brings up ideas you haven’t even thought of yet.

Browse Photos of Kitchen Designs for Inspiration and Collect Your Ideas

You can browse through photos of all kinds of kitchen styles, layouts and sizes on Houzz to get started before jumping into any design software or contacting a local professional for help. Here’s a few considerations to keep in mind when planning your kitchen.

1. What Makes a Good Contemporary Kitchen Design, and Why is it Important?

For starters, you want to find a balance between aesthetics and function. You may have heard of the ‘kitchen work triangle’, which refers to the space between your fridge, sink and stove. You want everything within easy reach when you’re working in the kitchen and look beautiful at the same time. It’s a good idea to take note of both when browsing our photo gallery.

2. Consider Your Space to Determine Your Kitchen Layout

Firstly, consider the space you have, and the limitations that come with it. Do you have a small kitchen and need to maximise your workspace and storage? Can you allow yourself some more space and a big island with seating? Are you designing your kitchen from scratch or renovating an existing design? Which appliances do you already own and what are their measurements? Are there windows you need to take into consideration when planning cabinets? How do kitchen, living and dining areas connect? Depending on your space and needs, you want to use a shape that suits you. U, G, or L-shaped kitchen, with or without island or peninsula? Know your dimensions, plan cabinetry carefully and consider the placement of your appliances. You don’t want to end up with a finished design, only for your significant other to question where the fridge is supposed to go. Consider from the start where your fridge, oven, microwave and sink goes to save yourself from starting again from scratch - remember the kitchen work triangle! You also want to plan the layout of your cabinets. Maybe you’re planning for a pantry and can do with less storage space in your kitchen, so that your design can be one without upper or lower cabinets for a different look. A corner cabinet can be a smart storage solution if you want to keep the look clean and simple.

3. Decide on a Kitchen Style, But Don’t Forget Practicality

You want the style of your kitchen to reflect your personality and taste. We have curated a large array of kitchen styles here at Houzz, from traditional to contemporary to transitional and everything in between. Consider what your cooking style is for a start - Italy is known for its cuisine, so italian kitchen designs are generally popular. Also consider ergonomics - depending on how much time you spend in your kitchen, the height of your counters can make a big difference to your overall health. You also want to consider colour and finishes of cabinets, countertops and splashbacks. Which colour do you want your cupboards to be? Simple, timeless white or rather making a statement in black? Maybe rather a rustic wood? Also consider the colour of your floor - if you have dark floors, you may want to keep cabinets lighter. You could also go for an all-white look and choose black appliances for contrast. Once you know which style you fancy, don’t forget how you will be using the space. You want to keep cooking in mind, as well as how easy to clean and maintain the space will be. How many cooks do you need to accommodate? Do you have kids around? How much storage do you need? Maybe you want to go for open shelves rather than cabinets and allow for easy reach of key items you use when cooking. Again - remember the triangle! Lastly, choose lighting that both enhances the look of your kitchen as well as your cooking performance, providing light in all the right places.

4. Be Conscious of Your Budget

No matter what you plan for your kitchen design, cost is always a big factor. Be sure to plan with your budget in mind. It may make more sense to go for a modular kitchen design rather than custom build. You can save a lot of money if you get at least 3 estimates from professionals before locking in the job. And don’t forget to allow a 20% buffer for emergencies. Once you are ready to hire a pro, our directory will help you find one, no matter where you are. So whether you're looking for an Interior Designer in Melbourne or an Architect in Sydney, you can be sure to find a qualified expert for the job!