In the heart of a picturesque farmhouse in Oxford, this contemporary kitchen, blending modern functionality with rustic charm, was designed to address the client's need for a family space. This kitchen features the Audus 945 Easytouch and 961 Lacquered Laminate range, with a striking Graphite Black Ultra Matt finish. Creating a nice contrast to the dark cabinetry are the Pearl Concrete worktops supplied by Algarve Granite. The textured surface of the worktops adds depth and character while providing a durable and practical space for meal preparation. Equipped with top-of-the-line appliances from Siemens, Bora, and Caple, this kitchen adds efficiency to daily cooking activities. For washing and food preparation, two sinks are strategically placed — one on the kitchen counter and another on the centrally located island. The Blanco sink offers style and functionality, while the Quooker tap provides instant hot and cold water for convenience. Nestled within the island is an integrated drinks cooler to keep beverages chilled and easily accessible. A drinks station is also concealed within a large cabinet, adding to the kitchen's versatility and making it a space perfect for entertaining and hosting. Feeling inspired by this Contemporary Black Kitchen in Oxford? Visit our projects page to explore more kitchen designs.

Modern Rustic Black Kitchen in Wendover

Ridgeway Interiors

With a striking, bold design that's both sleek and warm, this modern rustic black kitchen is a beautiful example of the best of both worlds. When our client from Wendover approached us to re-design their kitchen, they wanted something sleek and sophisticated but also comfortable and warm. We knew just what to do — design and build a contemporary yet cosy kitchen. This space is about clean, sleek lines. We've chosen Hacker Systemat cabinetry — sleek and sophisticated — in the colours Black and Oak. A touch of warm wood enhances the black units in the form of oak shelves and backsplash. The wooden accents also perfectly match the exposed ceiling trusses, creating a cohesive space. This modern, inviting space opens up to the garden through glass folding doors, allowing a seamless transition between indoors and out. The area has ample lighting from the garden coming through the glass doors, while the under-cabinet lighting adds to the overall ambience. The island is built with two types of worksurface: Dekton Laurent (a striking dark surface with gold veins) for cooking and Corian Designer White for eating. Lastly, the space is furnished with black Siemens appliances, which fit perfectly into the dark colour palette of the space.

A splash of pink

Kettle Co. Kitchens

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Cornwall with pink splashback, glass sheet splashback, light hardwood floors, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, a peninsula, grey floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Anthracite & Platinum grey handle-less kitchen

Arlington Interiors

This open plan kitchen is a mix of Anthracite Grey & Platinum Light Grey in a matt finish. This handle-less kitchen is a very contemporary design. The Ovens are Siemens StudioLine Black steel, the hob is a 2in1 Miele downdraft extractor which works well on the island.

Moonah Links House

BD Building Design

Mid-sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Melbourne with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, concrete benchtops, white splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, grey benchtop and vaulted.

Tuscany Mid-Century Modern

Alison White Homes

Midcentury l-shaped kitchen in Los Angeles with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Ranch Redux

RAO Design Studio, Inc.

A mixed palette of materials both enlivens and modulates this simple kitchen. Handle-free SieMatic Pure Design cabinetry in a light pine woodgrain laminate balance with the peninsula which acts as a room divider and which contrasts in a gloss graphite gray. The unifying element is the Caesarstone London Grey countertops and backsplashes, which are nearly white in color with subtle veining. The composition is interesting but not overstated in contrast or tone.

Manly Vale

All Things Building

Mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, metallic splashback, mirror splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

East Bay Ranch Makeover

Kaplan Architects, AIA

Reorganized kitchen and living room space. Walls were removed to open up and reconfigure the existing space. The ceiling was raised to give a more spacious look.

Kitchen with Vaulted 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 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!