Contemporary Kitchens

Cutting-Edge Kitchen Design

Jul 14, 2009 Debra DeLorenzo

If you want some real impact in your home, this style of kitchen will deliver the wow factor and then some.

These kitchens are at the forefront of what can and is currently being done in the field of design. The materials, colours and style are influenced by technology as much as colour trends and fashion.

The Basics of What You See

Clean strong lines are so important. The entire kitchen should have only a few discernable horizontal lines and they need to be followed right across the room. The height of your countertop should be the first line to carry through the kitchen. Work back from there. The heights of wall ovens and above counter cabinets need to be the same. Fridges are difficult but remember you can adjust their height but either keeping them on the floor or raising them onto the toe kick.

Counter Tops

Counter tops should be thick and chunky or thin with a negative detail. Synthetic stone or pale granites are still popular but we are now seeing the emergence of glass as a countertop surface. Technological advances in the manufacture and properties of glass have made this possible.

Contemporary Colours

Brights are back. Calypso colours of pinks, bright yellows and oranges are all coming back into the kitchen. These are highlighted by using a neutral pallet of colour on the ceilings and flooring, but go for gold if you are choosing bright colours. You will need to carry it through to the adjoining rooms.

Pattern and Profiles

The emergence of pattern in the kitchen adds another dimension. In the 1970s pattern was splashed across every surface, but today it is limited to small high-impact areas. To achieve this impact the kitchen around it has to be smooth and clean. Also by only having a small area you can change the entire feel of the kitchen by changing the small patterned area.

Cabinetry and countertops should have flat profiles with square edges to remove competing shapes. Introduce your pattern on the splash back, or on the back panel of the island. Wallpaper and curtains are also another option.

The Glossy Kitchen

By far the most striking contemporary kitchens have a slick high gloss look to them. The paint should be a high gloss lacquer, bench tops should be glass or a polished finish stone. Glass fronted cabinets and drawer fronts can also be used but make sure you use high quality hardware and soft close mechanisms.

Contemporary kitchens can be practical kitchens with bit more planning but primarily they are there as showpieces of the home. Who cares if you can’t cook in one, they look great.

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