Guide to Contemporary Kitchens & Cabinets

The term modern design refers to a design movement which became popular in the 1950’s. Most commonly, it’s used to refer to the famous “Mid-Century Modern” style that was hugely popular with new homes in the 1950’s and 60’s and was based on the German Bauhaus school of design. But it can also encompass other Modern styles, such as Art Deco, which reigned supreme in the ‘20’s and ‘30’s.

Modern design is very minimalist, emphasizing clean lines, a lack of decoration or embellishment such as molding, and utilitarianism over function. So, true to its early roots it favors simplicity and function over form.  Man-made materials, such as laminate, chrome and stainless steel, often take precedence over more traditional and natural materials, like stone or wood. The result is a sleek, minimal, often shiny kitchen with few distractions.

Contemporary kitchen design, on the other hand, can refer simply to any kitchen designed today (literally the meaning of the word contemporary, as previously mentioned). However, what was contemporary ten years ago is no longer contemporary. Today’s contemporary designs tend to follow an evolving formula of sorts.

Contemporary kitchens are essentially an evolution of the modern kitchens, and thus follow many of the same cues:

But, they can also include different styles and design cues, such from Craftsman or Scandinavian styles, or even farmhouse. It’s not uncommon to see a “Contemporary Farmhouse” or something similar, which will take the overall look of a classic Farmhouse kitchen and update it with cleaner, simpler lines.

Contemporary cabinetry, like their modern predecessors, are as open and spacious. They have plenty of room to move around for things like entertaining and cooking. They harness natural light to accentuate the already sharp, clean corners. And speaking of corners:

As previously mentioned, they make heavy use of clean, sharp lines (just like modern kitchens did). But, they can also make use of curves and other softer angles, especially on some of the hardware and details like faucets and door handles. These curves can complement the straighter lines without taking away from the clean, sleek aesthetic.

If you’re one for colorful palettes, a contemporary kitchen may not be your first choice. While you can always work in some colorful details for your own creative touch, contemporary kitchens tend to make heavier use of neutral colors, such as white, grey and off-white. Neutral colors accentuate the sleek angles make the room appear even more open and spacious.

You can also opt for slightly more natural tones, such as tan (wood) or stone grays. Black is becoming very popular, too, working its way into more contemporary designs.

Nothing says contemporary more than pure white countertops. They could be white, glossy marble or granite, acrylic or engineered quartz, or could even be crystallized glass, which lends a sleek, almost futuristic look.

Full overlay cabinetry are another essential. Inset cabinets look good in more traditional design, but contemporary style calls for the ultra-smooth look of full-overlay, which conceal the entire door frame when closed.

You’ll see kitchens with both slab style, which are as minimal as cabinets get, as well as Shaker style, which adds a bit of character and decoration to an otherwise minimalist design. Click here to see examples of full overlay and other contemporary style cabinet doors.

Opt for simplicity when picking out hardware, such as cabinet handles and faucets, and leave the fancy details at the store.

Again, you can work in some soft angles and elegant angles here, instead of just straight or plain hardware, to give the room some subtle sophistication. It doesn’t have to be boring. Brushed nickel, chrome and stainless steel are excellent options for a modern look, while brass adds some standout character that also doesn’t detract from the room.

Last but certainly not least, don’t forget the flooring. There’s a variety of flooring options you can consider, from bright white marble or tile to a modern laminate or even a light, neutral, subtle wood.  In some homes, you could even opt for concrete which gives the room an undeniably modern look while staying super durable.

In most cases, a laminate or large tile will give you the look you’re going for. They’re available in seemingly endless options and provide you with a solid bang for your buck.

We already mentioned how slab-style cabinets are the most popular style found in contemporary kitchens. They’re simple and feature the sleek clean lined aesthetic. Slab style cabinetry allows the rest of the kitchen (like as the island, stainless steel range, or even flooring) take center stage.

Choose them in a neutral light wood finish, or in a white or grey glossy veneer for a modern look.

If you want just a bit more decoration than slab style doors, opt for Shaker-style. But seriously, only a bit more decoration. Shakers weren’t exactly known for their flair or for choosing form over function. These perennial favorite cabinet doors go with almost any kitchen, with their simple recessed front panel and straight, clear lines lending a utilitarian aesthetic. They’re also innately timeless and will likely remain contemporary and stylish for decades to come.

While not as common as shaker-style or slab cabinet doors, frosted glass doors are a unique touch. They give a clean and modern look by hiding the clutter of dishes (and any other mess) behind the door and keeping the façade of the kitchen smooth. You’ll still see the stuff but frosted glass helps blend into the background.

Like frosted glass doors, clear glass doors are not common in contemporary kitchens but they can still check the “clean and liner” box. Unlike frosted glass, they don’t hide your dishes and kitchen accouterments which can detract from the minimalist appeal.

A cool thing you can do with glass front cabinets is added some accent lights inside the cabinets. This not only looks unique and cool at night but does double-duty of illuminating the cabinets to help you find items more easily.

Contemporary kitchens emphasize natural light, but you can use artificial lighting to create a custom, better-lit design. Add some recessed lighting underneath the cabinets to illuminate the countertops, or above to throw some light in the air and brighten the room up. Industrial inspired pendant lights can brighten up the island and eating areas, while track lighting adds a unique, modern look they can even be moved, swiveled and rotated to spotlight exactly where you’re working. And, as mentioned earlier, accent lights inside frosted glass cabinets make for a subtly, softly-lit room.

Islands are usually rectangular and straight as an arrow, but yours doesn’t have to be. Try incorporating a curved island into your kitchen, maximizing available space and adding a little shape to the room, which will otherwise be quite straight. Curved islands look especially good when your kitchen isn’t built in a perfect 90-degree corner.

The island could also be raised into two levels, with the back becoming a bar for hanging out and visiting while cooking.

Backsplash looks great in any kitchen, and it’s no different in a contemporary one. Tile works well under the counters and behind the stove in a white or neutral kitchen, but just about anything works in a contemporary kitchen. Choose brick, laminate or tile for something more traditional, or opt for stainless steel for an industrial look.

While wood isn’t the first choice for most modern styles, it’s certainly not forbidden. Wood cabinets, chairs or flooring in muted stains and finishes is classy and chic and doesn’t remind you of more rustic styles. The trick is to use the wood to add contrast to the room, without taking away the modern, minimalist aesthetic.