This is an example of a large contemporary kitchen in New York with flat-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, an undermount sink, white cabinets, light hardwood floors and white benchtop.

Campbell

Hamilton Architects

Big Island!
Inspiration for an expansive contemporary galley kitchen in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop, an undermount sink, black cabinets and beige floor.

A Sleek, Modern Chicago Kitchen

Chi Renovation & Design

A few shades of grey, a splash of white, and a dark matte blue — this Chicago kitchen balances color beautifully. The hues are complemented with gorgeous modern decor like the statement mirror in the dining area, the pendant lamps over the island, and the intricate chandelier over the sleek metal and wood dining table. Project designed by Skokie renovation firm, Chi Renovation & Design - general contractors, kitchen and bath remodelers, and design & build company. They serve the Chicago area and its surrounding suburbs, with an emphasis on the North Side and North Shore. You'll find their work from the Loop through Lincoln Park, Skokie, Evanston, Wilmette, and all the way up to Lake Forest. For more about Chi Renovation & Design, click here: https://www.chirenovation.com/ To learn more about this project, click here: https://www.chirenovation.com/portfolio/sleek-modern-chicago-kitchen/#kitchen-remodeling

Greenhills Beach

Clinton Built Pty Ltd

This is an example of a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Sydney with quartz benchtops, window splashback, black appliances, ceramic floors, with island, grey floor, white benchtop, flat-panel cabinets and white cabinets.

Edgemont Village New Build 2018/9

McCabe Design & Interiors

Photography by Tracey Ayton
Large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Vancouver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Contemporary at the Ritz

Bilotta Kitchen & Home

This expansive contemporary penthouse kitchen, with stunning views overlooking White Plains, and the Hudson Valley was designed by Barbara Bell and Bilotta senior designer, Jeff Eakley. The cabinetry is Artcraft in a mix of high-gloss Dannogri laminate, Anthracite high-gloss lacquer, and a custom Gray matte paint. The island, great for entertaining, features a waterfall quartzite countertop with Caesarstone on the perimeter. The backsplash is a metallic glass tile. The Anthracite high gloss lacquer cabinetry hides a paneled 36” Subzero refrigerator and 36” paneled freezer while showcasing a SubZero wine refrigerator and a stainless-steel Bosch wall oven and microwave. A stainless-steel Faber hood sits above a Wolf cooktop. Hidden in the island is an extra Subzero refrigerator drawer for easy to reach drinks. Dishwasher is Miele. Designer: Barbara Bell with Bilotta Designer Jeff Eakley Photo Credit: Phillip Ennis

Snowbunny

Zone 4 Architects, LLC

A compact yet comfortable kitchen allows for a range of seating options and interaction. Clean lines and design allow the space to be seen as either a beautiful kitchen or as part of the art landscape of the house.

SJW

open mode

The kitchen is the focal point of the home. A central gathering place with plenty of space to move around. The island is has dark gray cabinetry with a marble countertop and undercounted seating. The surrounding cabinets are white with a gray quartz countertop. The backsplash is composed of vertically stacked tiles capped with white oak open shelving. Interior Design by Amy Terranova.

Elsternwick Apartment

Jasmine McClelland Design

Inspiration for a small contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Melbourne with a double-bowl sink, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, brown floor, white benchtop, flat-panel cabinets, medium hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Compact Modern Kitchen Design-Chicago

Benvenuti and Stein

Zen-like kitchen has white kitchen walls & backsplash with contrasting light shades of beige and brown & modern flat panel touch latch cabinetry. Custom cabinetry made in the Benvenuti and Stein Evanston cabinet shop. Norman Sizemore-Photographer

Zilker Contemporary

Skelly Build

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, cement tiles, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Crescent Ave. Project

Natural Selections LLC

Kitchen with large island and glass door wine refrigerator.
Design ideas for a large contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Dallas with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Ledbury Park

Dvira Interiors

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Toronto with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Merillat - Contemportary - Masterpiece

Page Lumber, Millwork, & Building Supplies

This is an example of an expansive contemporary galley open plan kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Azure | Paradise Valley | Residence One

Shea Homes - Arizona

Christopher Mayer
This is an example of a large contemporary eat-in kitchen in Phoenix with flat-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, porcelain floors, with island, grey floor, white benchtop, a single-bowl sink, beige cabinets and panelled appliances.

Modern Kitchens Remodel

California Construction Center, Inc.

This is an example of a contemporary kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, white floor and brown benchtop.

Green Lake Second Story Addition

Board & Vellum

Photo by Travis Peterson.
Inspiration for a small contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Mississippi Modern

Projects Contemporary Furniture

Nathan Scott Photography
Large contemporary u-shaped separate kitchen in Other with dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, glass sheet splashback, light hardwood floors, with island, white benchtop, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige splashback, black appliances and beige floor.

Canyon Oaks Contemporary Kitchen

Alair Homes Plano

Our clients came to us wanting to update and open up their kitchen, breakfast nook, wet bar, and den. They wanted a cleaner look without clutter but didn’t want to go with an all-white kitchen, fearing it’s too trendy. Their kitchen was not utilized well and was not aesthetically appealing; it was very ornate and dark. The cooktop was too far back in the kitchen towards the butler’s pantry, making it awkward when cooking, so they knew they wanted that moved. The rest was left up to our designer to overcome these obstacles and give them their dream kitchen. We gutted the kitchen cabinets, including the built-in china cabinet and all finishes. The pony wall that once separated the kitchen from the den (and also housed the sink, dishwasher, and ice maker) was removed, and those appliances were relocated to the new large island, which had a ton of storage and a 15” overhang for bar seating. Beautiful aged brass Quebec 6-light pendants were hung above the island. All cabinets were replaced and drawers were designed to maximize storage. The Eclipse “Greensboro” cabinetry was painted gray with satin brass Emtek Mod Hex “Urban Modern” pulls. A large banquet seating area was added where the stand-alone kitchen table once sat. The main wall was covered with 20x20 white Golwoo tile. The backsplash in the kitchen and the banquette accent tile was a contemporary coordinating Tempesta Neve polished Wheaton mosaic marble. In the wet bar, they wanted to completely gut and replace everything! The overhang was useless and it was closed off with a large bar that they wanted to be opened up, so we leveled out the ceilings and filled in the original doorway into the bar in order for the flow into the kitchen and living room more natural. We gutted all cabinets, plumbing, appliances, light fixtures, and the pass-through pony wall. A beautiful backsplash was installed using Nova Hex Graphite ceramic mosaic 5x5 tile. A 15” overhang was added at the counter for bar seating. In the den, they hated the brick fireplace and wanted a less rustic look. The original mantel was very bulky and dark, whereas they preferred a more rectangular firebox opening, if possible. We removed the fireplace and surrounding hearth, brick, and trim, as well as the built-in cabinets. The new fireplace was flush with the wall and surrounded with Tempesta Neve Polished Marble 8x20 installed in a Herringbone pattern. The TV was hung above the fireplace and floating shelves were added to the surrounding walls for photographs and artwork. They wanted to completely gut and replace everything in the powder bath, so we started by adding blocking in the wall for the new floating cabinet and a white vessel sink. Black Boardwalk Charcoal Hex Porcelain mosaic 2x2 tile was used on the bathroom floor; coordinating with a contemporary “Cleopatra Silver Amalfi” black glass 2x4 mosaic wall tile. Two Schoolhouse Electric “Isaac” short arm brass sconces were added above the aged brass metal framed hexagon mirror. The countertops used in here, as well as the kitchen and bar, were Elements quartz “White Lightning.” We refinished all existing wood floors downstairs with hand scraped with the grain. Our clients absolutely love their new space with its ease of organization and functionality.

Cholla Residence

Kendle Design Collaborative

arch.photos
This is an example of a large contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Phoenix with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, with island, white floor and white benchtop.

Contemporary Kitchen with Quartz Benchtops 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!