Contemporary Kitchens

Vivienne Connery

Many of the more successful kitchen design styles are made up of components that go together quite naturally. The colour you select, and the styles of fabrics, furniture, flooring, windows, cabinetry, appliances, and lighting can help to determine a kitchen design style. You will discover that various design elements of the kitchen provide each style with its own unique flavor.

The type of kitchen cabinets you have are an important consideration in regards to the overall kitchen design style. The cabinetry can have a powerful effect on the design of your kitchen. The style of kitchen cabinet you choose will give personality and a specific atmosphere to your kitchen.

Contemporary - Kitchens that are done in the contemporary kitchen design style often use plastic laminates, special wood veneers, enamels, lacquers, or metal foil laminate for the kitchen cabinet facings. Cabinet doors in this kitchen design style usually use frameless construction with overlay door and no toe kick panel.

It's as easy as that!

Kitchens with a modernistic or contemporary flair are generally minimalist in design and have linear, geometrical lines. The practice of asymmetrical equilibrium is also a trend in forward-looking kitchen décor. Cabinets and moulding's are really simple and feature small embellishments.

Contemporary kitchens often use man-made materials developed during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries such as steel, plastic, linoleum, chrome, molded plywood, laminate, acrylic, concrete, or glass. Natural materials are brought in for many modern kitchen makeover's, especially when a less industrial feel is desired. Granite, slate, stone, and wood are the most commonly used natural materials which complement a modernly decorated kitchen. These natural materials also serve to warm up the colour palette and create a more inviting kitchen.

Kitchens with a modernistic or contemporary flair are generally minimalist in design and have linear, geometrical lines. The practice of asymmetrical equilibrium is also a trend in forward-looking kitchen décor. Cabinets and moulding's are really simple and feature small embellishments.

• Cabinet which are frameless and use large, simple hardware
• Door styles which are basic slab or horizontal lift
• Frosted glass panels or door inserts
• Geometric angles and lines
• Laminate surfaces in clean white or bold colours
• Lighting that is abundant and adjustable, such as track lighting
• Metal components including stainless steel, copper or chrome
• Sweeping curves in counter tops or cabinetry
• Woods with a delicate grain like Maple, Birch or Ash