Sleek, efficient, well-lit and clutter-free; these are just some of the characteristics of a contemporary kitchen that are so popular in homes today.
Sometimes taking on an almost futuristic, space age vibe and always boasting hidden features, integrated appliances and an entirely minimalist look, a contemporary style kitchen appeals to many for these very reasons. There is a fine balance, however, between keeping it homely and losing all character to have it looking like a canteen kitchen, but we’re here to show you how to keep it unique and sleek, while highlighting some personal touches too.
If you’re looking to overhaul this functional space to create your bespoke contemporary kitchen of dreams, then read on for our step by step guide on achieving this.
Design
The first things you need to consider are the look and the design of your kitchen. You may think that your contemporary kitchen must be all-white and bright, but a common theme here too is contrast dark cabinets with pale worktops or vice versa or incorporate a mix of dark and light cabinets. You also need to consider the layout of the room and the function of all aspects so you and your bespoke kitchen designer can decide where to arrange everything when creating your plan.
Keep in mind that the fridge, cooker and sink are often laid out in a triangle to make life easier when spending time in this room. Consider where you wish to place your fridge, freezer, oven and dishwasher – these appliances will be integrated with this look, so ensure the layout makes sense to you.
Natural light
Bi-fold doors, large windows, a skylight – however you do it, you need to find a way to let in as much natural light as possible for a contemporary style to work well and to combat the need for too much artificial light that can lose that desired homely feel. This is particularly important if you are choosing darker tones within your cabinets as you don’t want the deep hues to overwhelm the space.
Flooring
Believe it or not, concrete flooring is becoming increasingly popular within kitchens and they are about to be the on-trend flooring for your kitchen. Why? They are water and stain resistant once sealed and set, they are easy to clean and resistant to cracking and chipping and, once poured, they have a seamless finish which is a great look for a contemporary kitchen.
Worktops
Keep it sleek with the style and material you opt for when choosing your worktop. Marble is a fantastic material to choose for its low maintenance and low damage properties and it looks great against either very dark or very pale cabinets. You can also run your worktop down the sides of a kitchen island for a truly modern vision.
Cabinets
So, we’ve mentioned the colour of the cabinets, but we haven’t talked about style. Contemporary looks involve glossy, slick, smooth finish cupboards, so avoid anything with indentations and don’t go for glass fronts – the whole point of this style of kitchen is to hide pretty much everything! Remember that a popular choice with contemporary bespoke kitchens is to have cabinets that run from floor to ceiling, so you don’t want the look to be too messy. Choose cupboard fronts with hidden handles too for a streamlined effect and the best bit about glossy cupboards? They are easy to clean.
Lighting
You want to avoid the room looking cold, and one of the best ways of achieving this is through cleverly placed lighting. You can also add a bit of personality here with funky light features above the kitchen island, just make sure you keep it looking sleek. Under cupboard lighting is a good way to light up the worktop area underneath and spotlights are ideal for keeping things minimal.
Adding some colour
When considering your splashback, tiles or upstand, you will want to keep this pattern-free, where possible, but here is where you are free to inject a splash of colour, if you so wish. Alternatively, you could opt for a little colour within your smaller appliances if you have chosen an all-white kitchen or within the fabric on your bar stools, just don’t go overboard.
