A recent kitchen renovation in Bala Cynwyd. We removed the dated dome lights and installed strategically placed 4” recessed lights. For under-cabinet lighting, we used a series of hardwired, non-heat producing LED lights. These are self-adhesive, paper-thin strips that provide plenty of attractive light, install easily and cost a fraction of standard under-cabinet lighting. And you can’t see them without bending down to look under the cabinets. The new bamboo floor certainly brightened things up, as did the quartz countertops. We sought a lumberyard that carried the same dimension and profile baseboard as the rest of the house. A custom-made steel frame, topped by a matching slab of countertop, made the new kitchen table. Some new Bosch appliances, floating IKEA shelves, a few coats of Benjamin Moore paint, a custom mosaic glass tile backsplash were the finishing touches. Photo: Becca Dornewass, Octo Design

Vento

B Pila Design Studio

Photo of a large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Miami with mosaic tile splashback, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, a farmhouse sink, solid surface benchtops, linoleum floors, multiple islands and white floor.

Kitchen

The Refined Group

Inspiration for a contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Phoenix with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, stainless steel appliances and mosaic tile splashback.

Urban Loft - Storage Solutions

Dura Supreme Cabinetry

Storage Solutions - A convienent pull-out with double bins for trash and recycling is one of Dura Supreme's most popular cabinets (BRC). “Loft” Living originated in Paris when artists established studios in abandoned warehouses to accommodate the oversized paintings popular at the time. Modern loft environments idealize the characteristics of their early counterparts with high ceilings, exposed beams, open spaces, and vintage flooring or brickwork. Soaring windows frame dramatic city skylines, and interior spaces pack a powerful visual punch with their clean lines and minimalist approach to detail. Dura Supreme cabinetry coordinates perfectly within this design genre with sleek contemporary door styles and equally sleek interiors. This kitchen features Moda cabinet doors with vertical grain, which gives this kitchen its sleek minimalistic design. Lofted design often starts with a neutral color then uses a mix of raw materials, in this kitchen we’ve mixed in brushed metal throughout using Aluminum Framed doors, stainless steel hardware, stainless steel appliances, and glazed tiles for the backsplash. Request a FREE Brochure: http://www.durasupreme.com/request-brochure Find a dealer near you today: http://www.durasupreme.com/dealer-locator

Yarraville – Sustainable Home

Michael Worth Projects

Photo of a contemporary galley kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and black benchtop.

Modern Black Kitchen

First Avenue Homes

Tim Shaw - Impress Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, black cabinets, marble benchtops, black splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Flooring, Cabinets, Countertops, Tile Backsplash, Appliances & Finish Paint / Co

ING Construction

Mt. Washington, CA - Complete Kitchen Remodel Installation of the flooring, cabinets/cupboards, countertops, appliances, tiled backsplash. windows and and fresh paint to finish.

Rivetta

April Balliette

Ryan Gamma
Mid-sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Tampa with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop, mosaic tile splashback and beige floor.

Nicklaus House - Kitchen

Louise Stapleton Interiors

Elegant open concept kitchen design paired with dining room and usable island
Design ideas for a large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Orlando with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island, white floor and white benchtop.

Inlaid marble tiles for kitchen interiors | Rosemary by Stacey Cohen Design

Lithos Design

A timeless kitchen design where gold details combine with mixing materials to create an elevated look where our "tangram patchwork" inlaid design was chosen as an elegant and luxurious blacksplash standing out for its geometries and soft colors. Discover our "tangram patchwork" marble wall covering from the "Opus" collection. https://bit.ly/LD_Tangram_pjhz A project by: Stacey Cohen Design http://staceycohendesign.com/ Project details: Rosemary - Toronto Design: Stacey Cohen Design Pictures courtesy of Stacey Cohen Design All rights reserved

Vineyard-Clean Contemporary

Dovetail Projects

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Santa Barbara with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, a peninsula and brown floor.

Reborn Cabinets Kitchen Reface - Irvine, CA

Reborn Cabinets Inc.

“We want to redo our cabinets…but my kitchen is so small!” We hear this a lot here at Reborn Cabinets. You might be surprised how many people put off refreshing their kitchen simply because homeowners can’t see beyond their own square footage. Not all of us can live in a big, sprawling ranch house, but that doesn’t mean that a small kitchen can’t be polished into a real gem! This project is a great example of how dramatic the difference can be when we rethink our space—even just a little! By removing hanging cabinets, this kitchen opened-up very nicely. The light from the preexisting French doors could flow wonderfully into the adjacent family room. The finishing touches were made by transforming a very small “breakfast nook” into a clean and useful storage space.

Tranquil Meadow Home

Donald P. Blake Jr., Inc.

Susan Teare
This is an example of a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Burlington with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and beige floor.

The Perfect Triangle

Rick's Cabinet Tree

Low profile Shaker style doors and drawers front in solid maple wood with MDF center panels painted in natural white. Stainless steel pulls compliment the appliances.

Ranch Bungalow Renovation

Susan Rea Interior Design

This is an example of a large contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Orange County with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors and with island.

The New American Home 2016

By Design

Photo of a contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sacramento with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, metallic splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances and with island.

Contemporary Glitzy Bismarck Kitchen

Floor to Ceiling - Bismarck

Mid-sized contemporary single-wall separate kitchen in Other with shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, with island, quartz benchtops, mosaic tile splashback, an undermount sink and grey floor.

Contemporary Kitchen

Design ideas for a contemporary single-wall kitchen in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, blue splashback, with island, an undermount sink, quartz benchtops, mosaic tile splashback and panelled appliances.

Brass Bones Renovation

Brass Bones Design

Gut Renovation and Re-Design by Morgan Taylor of Brass Bones Design Photo: Chris Abels-Sinclair
Design ideas for a small contemporary l-shaped separate kitchen in DC Metro with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and no island.

Balham Restoration of Family Home

CATO creative

Photo of a large contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in London with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, beige splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Contemporary Kitchen with Mosaic 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!