Referencing the art deco period in which the apartment was build, a curved range hood finished in linear kit kat Japanese tiles forms the focal point of the kitchen. Light timber laminate for full height joinery with dark grey / charcoal ultra matte laminate for below bench cupboards and drawers. Quartzite bench tops in a leathered finish.

Southbank Apartment

Jasmine McClelland Design

Fresh, clean, white apartment kitchen with living room in mirrored reflection.
Inspiration for a small contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Enamour Terrace

Kitty Lee Architecture

Photo of a small contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, black appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen with Bronzed Mirror Splashbacks

Nouvelle Kitchens & Bathrooms

This is an example of a small contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, metallic splashback, mirror splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula and beige benchtop.

What is Cooking - Kitchen Renovation

Comma Design Studio

The client came to comma design in need of an upgrade to their existing kitchen to allow for more storage and cleaner look. They wanted to swap their laminate bench to a sleek stone bench tops that can provide a luxurious loo to their space. Comma design worked closely with the trades on site to achieve the results.

Warriewood Kitchen + Laundry

Northern Beaches Kitchens and Bathrooms

Small contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and beige splashback.

Coburg Frieze

Mihaly Slocombe

Coburg Frieze is a purified design that questions what’s really needed. The interwar property was transformed into a long-term family home that celebrates lifestyle and connection to the owners’ much-loved garden. Prioritising quality over quantity, the crafted extension adds just 25sqm of meticulously considered space to our clients’ home, honouring Dieter Rams’ enduring philosophy of “less, but better”. We reprogrammed the original floorplan to marry each room with its best functional match – allowing an enhanced flow of the home, while liberating budget for the extension’s shared spaces. Though modestly proportioned, the new communal areas are smoothly functional, rich in materiality, and tailored to our clients’ passions. Shielding the house’s rear from harsh western sun, a covered deck creates a protected threshold space to encourage outdoor play and interaction with the garden. This charming home is big on the little things; creating considered spaces that have a positive effect on daily life.

Rainforest Retreat

Whisker Architecture

Photo of a small contemporary kitchen in Melbourne.

Minimalist White and Timber Contemporary Kitchen

Transform-A-Space

A light and bright minimalist design featuring two-pack painted cabinetry to match the clients freshly painted walls, subway tile stack-style, and feature timber components bring warmth into the space. 20mm Caesarstone 'Ocean Foam' benchtops in a polished finish help to reflect overhead light. A small kitchen packed with functionality.

Art Dealer Studio

Mesh Architectures

Design ideas for a small contemporary single-wall kitchen in New York.

An Industrial Shaker Kitchen

Sustainable Kitchens

Oak shaker style kitchen painted with Farrow & Ball Down Pipe. The worktop is premium black honed granite. White metro tiles with stainless steel Smeg oven and hood add a perfect industrial touch. The high ceilings have made it possible to have narrower and taller units for extra storage in this small apartment kitchen.

Modern Galley Kitchen Design

Normandy Remodeling

These high gloss white cabinets are the perfect compliment to the single bowl sink. The black porcelain tile floor is low maintenance and a great touch to the minimalist look of the space. For more on Normandy Designer Chris Ebert, click here: http://www.normandyremodeling.com/designers/christopher-ebert/

No way this is laminate? Believe it!

CraftedWild Cabinetry

Photo Credit: Pawel Dmytrow
This is an example of a small contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Modern Monochromatic Kitchen - Wheaton, IL

Drury Design

The contrasting tones of the white Grabill acrylic cabinets, quartz countertops, & dimensional backsplash tile behind the hood with the grays of the wall cabinets, glass backsplash tile, and tone of the stainless hood and oven create an overall visually appealing room. The rectilinear contemporary design is emphasized in the flat panel cabinetry as well as in the backsplash and streamline brushed nickel hardware.

Квартира 37 кв. м Дубнинская ул., Москва

Анна Малютина

Small contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Moscow with a drop-in sink, grey cabinets, wood benchtops, grey splashback, porcelain splashback, black appliances, laminate floors, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Boneca Apartment by Brad Swartz A

Fisher & Paykel

Inspiration for a small contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Orange County with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, no island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Rosslyn Cabin

Studio Miel

Photography: Stacy Zarin Goldberg
Photo of a small contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, porcelain floors, with island, brown floor, white appliances and brown benchtop.

NEW! 2015 Kitchen: PORTLAND + ARCOS

Schmidt Kitchens Palmers Green

Maximize space with this smartly designed kitchen. With a Scandinavian feel the NEW Portland range is perfect for a small but perfectly formed kitchen. High density particle board finished in melamine to give a matt finish with the look of Indian oak.

Kitchen and Living Room remodel for a new build

Ivywell Interiors | Bristol

The kitchen was fitted as part of the new build construction. The splashback and breakfast bar were made out of a grey laminate wood that darkened the whole space. We replaced them both with an engineered quartz with gold veining to add an understated touch of luxury and fit in with the existing cabinets. The new build kitchen /diner lacked storage and defined zones. The space isn't large so we created a banquette seating arrangement, re-using the existing chairs but sourcing a new extendable table for a versatile option. The banquette seating creates ample new storage thanks to side cabinets and lower drawers under the upholstered bench. New lights were also fitted as well as a bar area created in an unused alcove by the utility room. We added recessed LEDs to bring in more light and create a hushed mood.

Fenix Beige Kitchen in Brockley

Puccini Kitchens

This kitchen in an open-plan space exudes contemporary elegance with its Italian handleless design. The cabinetry, finished in Fenix Beige Arizona and Bianco Kos with a luxurious matt finish, contributes to a seamless and sophisticated look. The Italian handleless style not only adds a touch of minimalism but also enhances the clean lines and sleek aesthetic of the space. The worktops, featuring 20mm Caesarstone Aterra Blanca Quartz, add a touch of refinement and durability to the kitchen. The light colour complements the cabinetry choices to create a cohesive design. The choice of Caesarstone ensures a sturdy and easy-to-maintain surface. A spacious island takes centre stage in this open-plan layout, serving as a focal point for both cooking and dining activities. The integrated hob on the island enhances the functionality of the space, allowing for efficient meal preparation while maintaining a streamlined appearance. This kitchen is not just practical and functional; it also provides an inviting area for dining and socialising with a great choice of colours, materials, and overall design. Are you inspired by this kitchen? Visit our project pages for more.

Small Contemporary Kitchen 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!