Inspiration for a contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, grey cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey benchtop and black floor.

Kensington Townhouse

Boldfort

Inspiration for a contemporary galley open plan kitchen in London with glass-front cabinets, brown cabinets, beige splashback, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

UPPER WEST SIDE BROWNSTONE

kimberly peck architect

When the developer found this brownstone on the Upper Westside he immediately researched and found its potential for expansion. We were hired to maximize the existing brownstone and turn it from its current existence as 5 individual apartments into a large luxury single family home. The existing building was extended 16 feet into the rear yard and a new sixth story was added along with an occupied roof. The project was not a complete gut renovation, the character of the parlor floor was maintained, along with the original front facade, windows, shutters, and fireplaces throughout. A new solid oak stair was built from the garden floor to the roof in conjunction with a small supplemental passenger elevator directly adjacent to the staircase. The new brick rear facade features oversized windows; one special aspect of which is the folding window wall at the ground level that can be completely opened to the garden. The goal to keep the original character of the brownstone yet to update it with modern touches can be seen throughout the house. The large kitchen has Italian lacquer cabinetry with walnut and glass accents, white quartz counters and backsplash and a Calcutta gold arabesque mosaic accent wall. On the parlor floor a custom wetbar, large closet and powder room are housed in a new floor to ceiling wood paneled core. The master bathroom contains a large freestanding tub, a glass enclosed white marbled steam shower, and grey wood vanities accented by a white marble floral mosaic. The new forth floor front room is highlighted by a unique sloped skylight that offers wide skyline views. The house is topped off with a glass stair enclosure that contains an integrated window seat offering views of the roof and an intimate space to relax in the sun.

James Island Renovation

GlassEco Surfaces by Fisher Recycling

Manufacturer of custom recycled glass counter tops and landscape glass aggregate. The countertops are individually handcrafted and customized, using 100% recycled glass and diverting tons of glass from our landfills. The epoxy used is Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) and emits no off gassing. The newest product base is a high density, UV protected concrete. We now have indoor and outdoor options. As with the resin, the concrete offer the same creative aspects through glass choices. "Colleen Green" contributed her own Grolsch bottles. We added Bombay Sapphire gin bottles and oysters and other green wine bottles.

midtown highrise

goodman charlton

This is an example of a contemporary kitchen in New York with glass-front cabinets, grey cabinets, black splashback and stone slab splashback.

Greenwich Kitchen

Art of Kitchens Pty Ltd

This is an example of a contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, quartz benchtops, stone slab splashback and grey splashback.

Selah Residence

Silk Cavassa Marchetti Architecture & Interiors

Photo of a contemporary open plan kitchen in Seattle with glass-front cabinets, dark wood cabinets, metallic splashback and metal splashback.

Modern Cabin

User

Leslie Hayes Interiors

Photo: Drew Callahan
Inspiration for a large contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Philadelphia with glass-front cabinets, stainless steel appliances, quartzite benchtops, an undermount sink, white cabinets, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, light hardwood floors and with island.

Chartwell House

Aquidneck Properties

Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen in Providence with glass-front cabinets.

無機質ながらも温かいシンプルヴィンテージ空間

SCHOOL BUS OSAKA｜スクールバス空間設計

Small contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Osaka with medium hardwood floors, glass-front cabinets, orange cabinets, wood benchtops, stainless steel appliances, with island, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Квартира 41 м2 в ЖК Зил Арт

Алла Сеничева

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Moscow with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, green cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, beige benchtop and no island.

East 72nd Street

Frederick Tang Architecture

This is an example of a contemporary open plan kitchen in New York with glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, metallic splashback, metal splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Contemporary Kitchen

Inspiration for a small contemporary kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances and with island.

Golden Oak

William Duff Architects, Inc.

This functional, light-filled home takes full advantage of its bucolic site. With the introduction of the butterfly roof, natural light, ventilation and views are brought into the main gathering spaces. Distance between the private and public zones is created by a shift in geometry where those two meet in plan, to provide a calming and rejuvenating private retreat for the occupants. The structured juxtaposition of materials brings order and warmth to the home’s overall experience, complementing the textures and beauty of the site. Photo: ©Cesar Rubio

Tashmoo

Breese Architects

Large contemporary kitchen in Boston with glass-front cabinets, stainless steel cabinets and stainless steel appliances.

eco+historical Victorian Update

Feldman Architecture, Inc.

Photo of a contemporary kitchen in San Francisco with glass-front cabinets, panelled appliances, a farmhouse sink, wood benchtops, white cabinets, blue splashback and subway tile splashback.

Kitchen

Cameron C. Habel Construction, Inc.

Design ideas for a contemporary kitchen in San Francisco with glass-front cabinets, concrete benchtops, stainless steel appliances, a single-bowl sink, medium wood cabinets, yellow splashback and subway tile splashback.

Vancover Home

Space Harmony

Photo of a contemporary kitchen in Vancouver with glass-front cabinets, black cabinets, metallic splashback and metal splashback.

James Island Renovation

GlassEco Surfaces by Fisher Recycling

Contemporary Kitchen with Glass-front Cabinets 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!