Contemporary Open Plan Kitchen Ideas and Designs

Kitchen Project Stoke Orchard

Contour

A leicht kitchen in carbon grey and Kiruna with Corian worktops and a quad of Siemens appliances.

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 wraparound extension in Lambeth

Resi Design Ltd.

Suffering from an outdated conservatory, these homeowners turned to Resi to help give their Lambeth property a contemporary makeover. Our designers have envisioned a stylish wraparound, to not only extend the property out into the rear but to make use of the dead alleyway space period properties are guilty of.

St Albans Bungalow - Loft / Garage Extension and Internal Renovations

Cherry Architects Limited

contemporary kitchen

Finchampstead- Family Home

Reyne Design

Pale blush kitchen with a slim island makes the most of the space and creates a great sociable kitchen.

nnu House

Studio Jayga Architects

Ultra Modern Steel Kitchen in St Albans

Audus Kitchens

This stunning modern kitchen on Sandridgebury Lane, St Albans is the perfect example of form meeting function. The client wanted an ultra-modern kitchen that would be able to accommodate their large family and their love of entertaining. They wanted an almost commercial and industrial feel to the space, and they definitely achieved that goal with this striking scheme. The sleek lines and monochromatic palette create a chic and elegant aesthetic, while the brushed steel surfaces and high-end appliances give the space a contemporary feel. We used a combination of brushed steel reproduction and lacquered laminate for the cabinets and a Dekton Domoos in matt graphite. The luxury appliances are from Siemens, Blanco, and Quooker, and they were chosen for their quality and ability to meet a busy family's demands. This kitchen is truly a work of art and is sure to be the centre of many happy memories for years to come.

Beautiful Contemporary Walnut Kitchen

The Kitchen Partners

Beautiful Contemporary Walnut Kitchen

Rickmansworth Property Development

Chantel Elshout Studio

Contemporary kitchen with Gaggenau integrated appliances, Perla Venato Quartzite worktops and a Spekva Thermo Ash breakfast bar.

60's Townhouse - Open plan living

Jackson Merrick Designs

Open-plan kitchen dining room with seamless transition to outdoor living space

Scandi-Asian Fusion

Sola Kitchens

One wowee kitchen! Designed for a family with Sri-Lankan and Singaporean heritage, the brief for this project was to create a Scandi-Asian styled kitchen. The design features ‘Skog’ wall panelling, straw bar stools, open shelving, a sofia swing, a bar and an olive tree.

The Yard

Lydia Allen Interiors

Bromsgrove

Glorious Building Co

This House was a complete bare bones project, starting from pre planning stage to completion. The house was fully constructed out of sips panels.

The Hertfordshire Home

Simpson & Voyle

Immerse yourself in the opulence of this bespoke kitchen, where deep green cabinets command attention with their rich hue and bespoke design. The striking copper-finished island stands as a centerpiece, exuding warmth and sophistication against the backdrop of the deep green cabinetry. A concrete countertop adds an industrial edge to the space, while large-scale ceramic tiles ground the room with their timeless elegance. Classic yet contemporary, this kitchen is a testament to bespoke craftsmanship and luxurious design.

Matt Black Kitchen in London

Puccini Kitchens

This contemporary kitchen in London is a stunning display of modern design, seamlessly blending style and sustainability. The focal point of the kitchen is the impressive XMATT range in a sleek Matt Black finish crafted from recycled materials. This choice not only reflects a modern aesthetic but also emphasises the kitchen's dedication to sustainability. In contrast, the overhead cabinetry is finished in crisp white, adding a touch of brightness and balance to the overall aesthetic. The worktop is a masterpiece in itself, featuring Artscut Bianco Mysterio 20mm Quartz, providing a durable and stylish surface for meal preparation. The kitchen is equipped with a state-of-the-art Bora hob, combining functionality and design innovation. Fisher & Paykel ovens and an integrated fridge freezer further enhance the functionality of the space while maintaining a sleek and cohesive appearance. These appliances are known for their performance and energy efficiency, aligning seamlessly with the kitchen's commitment to sustainability. A built-in larder, complete with shelves and drawers, provides ample storage for a variety of food items and small appliances. This cleverly designed feature enhances organisation and efficiency in the space. Does this kitchen design inspire you? Check out more of our projects here.

Surrey Apartment

Melanie Tomlinson Design

Kent House l Two-Tone l Modern l Elegant

HUX London

The clients wanted a bold and unique kitchen design, to contrast and complement the ornate cornicing and detailed Victorian stained glass window. The design includes two-toned cabinetry in complementary colours and a discrete built in fridge freezer and utility cupboard sitting flush with a wall for maximum storage.

Lewisham Kitchen

piqu

A beautiful bespoke indoor kitchen that links effortlessly to the outdoors. The sliding doors can be opened to provide a kitchen in a single line layout with an outdoor food preparation and cooking space – perfect for entertaining and family life. Stunning Black Beauty Sensa stone helps to link the spaces with a full height upstand and work surface. This has been coupled with Silestone Eternal Staturio on the waterfall kitchen island in a matt finish. Matt black handleless kitchen cabinetry, a black Quooker tap, black Blanco undermount sink and appliances from Miele complete this super stylish and sophisticated kitchen in Lewisham.

Project 45

The Main Company

The large space accommodated an island kitchen and six seater dinning table.

Open Plan Kitchen Dining Lounge - Heswall

Natalie Holden Interiors

Contemporary Open Plan Kitchen Ideas and Designs

Want to discover beautiful contemporary kitchen ideas to inspire your new kitchen design? You’ve come to the right place. You can discover millions of contemporary kitchen designs and ideas; from kitchen islands and storage units, to all sorts of kitchen lighting ideas, such as pendant lighting or under cabinet lighting. Whether you want inspiration for all-in-one fitted kitchen designs, some small kitchen ideas or maybe just some tips for improving your kitchen decor, there are tons of contemporary photos to inspire you for your next kitchen project on Houzz.

What kind of contemporary kitchen design should I go for?

With so many kitchen ideas and photos to look at you might be a bit overwhelmed when it comes to picking your own contemporary kitchen design. If you are updating your kitchen you know what a big and important decision it is to get the design right – the kitchen can be the hub and heart of the home, and it’s unlikely that you would invest in renovating your kitchen again in a few years. But fear not, focusing first on the important elements like layout, cabinet style, worktops and appliances will help you to bring together your dream kitchen design. Additional elements like kitchen lighting, cupboard storage and decor can come after in the kitchen planning process. A kitchen designer or fitter can help you to decide the layout of your contemporary kitchen in terms of where to place your kitchen units, appliances and island (if you’re having one), but if you prefer to handle this yourself you can focus on where you want your key elements of your kitchen to be – the oven, hob, sink and fridge. Of course you might be constricted by space, but try to envisage the easiest and most efficient layout based on how you usually like to cook and prepare your food. If you’re fed up of always having to carry dirty pans and pots across the room to the sink, place the sink closer to your oven and hob. Once you have the core elements sorted, consider extra layout considerations, such as where your bins will be stored, where the cutlery draw should be and where small contemporary kitchen appliances can be installed.

Should I include a kitchen island?

Kitchen island ideas are abundant these days; it seems most kitchen designs include a kitchen island, if not multiple islands. However, if the layout doesn’t work, especially if you have a small kitchen, then there’s no necessity to add in a kitchen island. You can add a breakfast bar or counter to your existing kitchen units, or stick with a good old-fashioned dining table if you don’t need the extra work surfaces. That said, if you do have the room, take a look at some contemporary kitchen island ideas to see if the designs inspire you for your kitchen. There are a huge variety of island designs to cater to different needs – you can have sinks, ovens, hobs, wine storage and all sorts of drawers and organisers built-in, you can have separate bars and counters that extend from your island, or you could go for a kitchen island on wheels to make your kitchen layout more versatile.

How do I choose my kitchen units and cabinets?

When picking out kitchen units and cupboard styles for a fitted kitchen, you’ll first want to consider the more practical questions – how many units do you need? How many cupboards and drawers do you need? Do you need extra kitchen storage built into your units? It’s always best to overestimate how much kitchen storage you’ll need as we all tend to have a habit of filling up whatever current space we have to the maximum. Next you can consider kitchen cabinet style and colour. Shaker style cabinets and raised and recessed panel cabinets offer a more traditional kitchen cabinet look, while flat panel cabinet doors tend to lend more to the modern and contemporary style. However, going for raised or recessed panel work in a striking colour such as dark blue, green or black can still work with contemporary kitchen ideas. White kitchens can give a sleek and clean feel, but remember you may have to do a bit more cleaning of those cupboard doors if you want everything to stay shiny and fresh. Of course, grey kitchens are the neutral colour choice du jour and can be paired with pale and rich shades alike if you want your fitted kitchen cupboards to contrast with your worktop, splashback, floor, or all of the above. Exposed shelving and storage is also popular for eclectic, Scandi and industrial-inspired looks, so you could opt for glass-fronted cabinets or no wall-mounted cabinets at all. Remember that this will require more restraint in what you can store and more effort in keeping it looking presentable compared to what is stored away hastily behind cupboard doors. The kitchen cupboard handles are also another element to decide upon – do you want traditional round knobs, modern metal bars, country kitchen cup handles or maybe to go ultra sleek with a completely handleless kitchen?

What contemporary kitchen storage ideas should I consider?

If you want to keep your contemporary kitchen well-stocked and well-equipped but don’t want it spilling over with clutter, then you’ll need to rely on good kitchen storage. Apart from the usual fitted kitchen cupboards and drawer space, there are many other ways of keeping your kitchen tidy. Whilst a large kitchen pantry is the dream of most homeowners, it can’t always be a reality. However, there are now lots of pull out compartments and drawers with trays and shelving that can act as mini kitchen pantries, and you can install handy cupboard organisers that fit onto the inside of the door to make the most of your cupboard space. You can also look at corner drawers and cupboards that open up to reveal lots of extra storage. Rails or small shelves along your kitchen walls or splashback can help with hanging utensils or pans, or storing small items like herbs and spices in an usually empty space. Buy extra kitchen storage products for your home on Houzz

Are there small kitchen ideas for small contemporary spaces?

If you’re working with a galley kitchen, a one-wall kitchen in an open plan space or just a pretty small kitchen, there are some small kitchen ideas that can help you get the most out of your cooking and dining area. If you find that you don’t utilise the back of your cupboards (maybe they become the graveyard for out-of-date tin cans), you could decide to go with shallower kitchen units to free up some extra floor space in front of your cabinets. As mentioned, open shelving or glass-fronted cabinets are a popular trend and they should make the space feel more open and less boxed-in. However, if you have the capacity for it, cupboards and contemporary kitchen units that maximise the floor-to-ceiling space you have will mean you can use all of that for valuable kitchen storage. Wall or ceiling racks could be a useful solution for hanging pans and pots if you’ve run out of cupboards in which to store them. Kitchen ideas and contemporary accessories such as baskets, trolleys and storage jars are both aesthetically pleasing and practical as they give you extra storage space. Kitchen appliances like a fridge or dishwasher can be tucked away in built-in units in fitted kitchens so they blend into your layout and don’t make the space look crowded. Discover all the small kitchen ideas you could need by taking a look at photos of compact kitchens.

What sort of contemporary kitchen lighting should I go for?

In the kitchen you need to have practical lighting – no one wants to chop, cut and cook in a dingy room. Kitchen ceiling lights are probably the best way to go, but should you opt for recessed spotlights or traditional hanging ceiling lights? While spotlight LED kitchen lighting will give you excellent light, they may not fit with a design that’s not contemporary. Traditional chandelier lights could work for other kitchen styles, and of course, kitchen pendant lighting comes in all sorts of styles, colours and designs. While the popular choice is to go with one or two pendant lights over your kitchen island, you could also opt for a single pendant light over your dining space, or a few spaced out across your kitchen. Of course, if you want good lighting for your worktops, under-cabinet lighting is the way forward. Speak to your kitchen supplier about having this pre-installed, or there are a number of easy-install options you can fit yourself or with the help of a lighting expert or electrician. In the market for your contemporary kitchen lighting today? Once you’ve found some inspiring kitchen lighting ideas here, take a look at our kitchen lighting products to find the new lights for your kitchen project.

Check out these popular kitchen pages below:

Ireland

Tailor my experience with cookies

Houzz uses cookies and similar technologies to personalise my experience, serve me relevant content, and improve Houzz products and services. By clicking ‘Accept’ I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. I can reject non-essential cookies by clicking ‘Manage Preferences’.