Kitchen Design Tips for a Contemporary Look

The kitchen is where most of a home's shared living happens. It's the heart of the home: where we break bread, share drinks and talk with our families. Many families are so busy that breakfast or dinner may be the only time they all sit down and enjoy each other's company.

That makes the kitchen a significant stage for home life. The aesthetics, function and care invested in its design shape your whole environment and experience. Here are a few kitchen design tips to help you achieve a contemporary look.

Tip 1: Cool Color Tones

Cool tones dominate the vast majority of contemporary kitchens. They have a clean, modern look and can help you feel calm and tranquil.

Kitchen island with dark slate textured cabinet fronts, open cubby shelving, and white countertop in front of an ocean view window

Tip 2: Clean, Seamless Cabinets

Clean cabinet lines can do wonders. Cabinets can be designed to integrate completely with the wall, like the ones below. These have no handles, which adds to the seamless look.

Floor-to-ceiling vertical grain wood kitchen cabinets with three built-in ovens in a row and a long white island with sink and cooktop

Tip 3: Quartz Countertops

Quartz countertops are ideal for their durability and good looks. We're particularly fond of a waterfall edge on an island, where the countertop continues down the side of the cabinet.

Modern kitchen with dark oak veneer floor-to-ceiling cabinets, built-in wall ovens, and a white waterfall island with seating

Removing the line between the counter and the base makes a significant difference. A waterfall does it on the ends; letting the stone overhang a few inches along the front hides the seam between the countertop and the cabinets.

Tip 4: An Open Layout

An open layout is of the utmost importance. It creates a social environment that lets whoever is cooking interact with everyone else, and it lets more natural light into the room. Closed-off kitchens do have some redeeming qualities, but the current trend leans firmly toward open plans.

Design for How You Live

It isn't possible to apply every one of these rules to every kitchen. But if you step back and consider what your kitchen is used for most, and design with that in mind, you can create an environment where your family flourishes together. Understanding that the kitchen is the heart of the home is the first step.

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