Three small rooms were demolished to enable a new kitchen and open plan living space to be designed. The kitchen has a drop-down ceiling to delineate the space. A window became french doors to the garden. The former kitchen was re-designed as a mudroom. The laundry had new cabinetry. New flooring throughout. A linen cupboard was opened to become a study nook with dramatic wallpaper. Custom ottoman were designed and upholstered for the drop-down dining and study nook. A family of five now has a fantastically functional open plan kitchen/living space, family study area, and a mudroom for wet weather gear and lots of storage.

City Beach

Glenda Roff

Photo of a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Perth with an integrated sink, white cabinets, limestone benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Bluff House Kitchen, void

Auhaus Architecture

Bluff House kitchen. Photography: Auhaus Architecture
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary kitchen in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, wood benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, cement tile splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

NoMad Apartment Renovation (Apartment combination)

Eric Soltan Architectural & Interiors Photography

Photo credit: Eric Soltan - www.ericsoltan.com
Design ideas for a large contemporary kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, concrete benchtops, grey splashback, cement tile splashback, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Highgate

Black and Milk | Interior Design | London

See https://blackandmilk.co.uk/interior-design-portfolio/ for more details.

Treehouse atop Madison Valley I Seattle, Washington

Syltebo Wight Homes & Jon Syltebo Painting Company

This is an example of a large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Holton Street

Paper House Project

Set within the Carlton Square Conservation Area in East London, this two-storey end of terrace period property suffered from a lack of natural light, low ceiling heights and a disconnection to the garden at the rear. The clients preference for an industrial aesthetic along with an assortment of antique fixtures and fittings acquired over many years were an integral factor whilst forming the brief. Steel windows and polished concrete feature heavily, allowing the enlarged living area to be visually connected to the garden with internal floor finishes continuing externally. Floor to ceiling glazing combined with large skylights help define areas for cooking, eating and reading whilst maintaining a flexible open plan space. This simple yet detailed project located within a prominent Conservation Area required a considered design approach, with a reduced palette of materials carefully selected in response to the existing building and it’s context. Photographer: Simon Maxwell

Brighton | Open Plan Kitchen

Design Interiors Ltd

Our client tells us: "I cannot recommend Design Interiors enough. Tim has an exceptional eye for design, instinctively knowing what works & striking the perfect balance between incorporating our design pre-requisites & ideas & making has own suggestions. Every design detail has been spot on. His plan was creative, making the best use of space, practical - & the finished result has more than lived up to expectations. The leicht product is excellent – classic German quality & although a little more expensive than some other kitchens , the difference is streets ahead – and pound for pound exceptional value. But its not just design. We were lucky enough to work with the in house project manager Stuart who led our build & trades for our whole project, & was absolute fantastic. Ditto the in house fitters, whose attention to detail & perfectionism was impressive. With fantastic communication,, reliability & downright lovely to work with – we are SO pleased we went to Design Interiors. If you’re looking for great service, high end design & quality product from a company big enough to be super professional but small enough to care – look no further!" Our clients had previously carried out a lot of work on their old warehouse building to create an industrial feel. They always disliked having the kitchen & living room as separate rooms so, wanted to open up the space. It was important to them to have 1 company that could carry out all of the required works. Design Interiors own team removed the separating wall & flooring along with extending the entrance to the kitchen & under stair cupboards for extra storage. All plumbing & electrical works along with plastering & decorating were carried out by Design Interiors along with the supply & installation of the polished concrete floor & works to the existing windows to achieve a floor to ceiling aesthetic. Tim designed the kitchen in a bespoke texture lacquer door to match the ironmongery throughout the building. Our clients who are keen cooks wanted to have a good surface space to prep whilst keeping the industrial look but, it was a priority for the work surface to be hardwearing. Tim incorporated Dekton worktops to meet this brief & to enhance the industrial look carried the worktop up to provide the splashback. The contemporary design without being a handless look enhances the clients’ own appliances with stainless steel handles to match. The open plan space has a social breakfast bar area which also incorporate’s a clever bifold unit to house the boiler system which was unable to be moved.

Goodsall Kitchen Case Study

Roundhouse

Roundhouse framed Classic bespoke kitchen painted in matt lacquer Farrow & Ball Manor House Grey and Strong White, worktop in White Fantasy. Photography by Nick Kane.

Projet Escher

Clémentine Mailhac

Rénovation de la cuisine suite au réaménagement de la salle d'eau. Photo : Léandre Cheron
Inspiration for a small contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Paris with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, wood benchtops, cement tile splashback, cement tiles, black floor, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, a peninsula and beige benchtop.

Rénovation totale

JE RÉNOVE TOUT POUR VOUS

Shootin
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary single-wall separate kitchen in Paris with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, stainless steel appliances, grey floor, slate floors, no island, multi-coloured splashback and cement tile splashback.

Randall Street

Yama Architecture

bruce damonte
This is an example of a large contemporary kitchen in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Bardon Garden House

Arcke Pty Ltd

Light, spacious kitchen with plywood cabinetry, recycled blackbutt kitchen island. The popham design tiles complete the picture.
Mid-sized contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Brisbane with a double-bowl sink, light wood cabinets, wood benchtops, green splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and flat-panel cabinets.

b80 - Altadore Calgary

Beyond Homes

Contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Calgary with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

White, Contemporary, and Eclectic Kitchen

SOLLiD Cabinetry

Shane Baker Studios
Photo of a large contemporary open plan kitchen in Phoenix with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and beige benchtop.

Wallace Road, Ranui

The Joneses Limited

Kitchen-dining area in a small, newly renovated Auckland home staged by Vision Home.
Small contemporary eat-in kitchen in Auckland with white cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, black appliances, laminate floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Blairgowrie Home - Coastal Living

Studio Tom

Derek Swalwell
Contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Melbourne with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, grey splashback, cement tile splashback, black appliances, with island, black benchtop, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Kern

Inavogue Kitchens & Cabinets

Photo of a small contemporary l-shaped separate kitchen in Adelaide with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, laminate benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, a peninsula and white benchtop.

This breakfast bar is ready for business

Brooke Copp-Barton Interiors

This industrial kitchen has plenty of character, with reclaimed barstools, encaustic tiles, vintage signage and open wooden shelves displaying the owners' favourite things. Photography: Megan Taylor

Clapham Common

Haus Concrete Surfaces

In the heart of South West London this contemporary property had a full re-fit installing a range of bespoke concrete work to complement various spaces around the house. The kitchen features a custom island, worktop and matching splash-back. The handleless white units with brass detailing and matching Vola Taps/Accessories are complemented by the striking colour and thickness of our polished concrete. Continuing through to the living room, there is a bespoke fire hearth and shelf counter spanning over five meters in length. Manufactured in two pieces this concrete counter enhances the feature wall with its overwhelming presence. Matching units and brass detailing combined with the same concrete thickness compliment the kitchen and keep a sense of fluidity throughout the property. Following the brass detailing motif to the bathroom, we installed a white ‘Kern’ Kast Concrete Basin and matching bespoke shelf. The stunning combination of colours creates a bright, freshly modern space, perfect for a modern but classic bathroom.

Contemporary Kitchen with Cement Tile Splashback 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!