We all want that cool, modern kitchen design in our homes. No matter whether it’s just family or you’re having friends around, everyone seems to gather in the kitchen. So, give it a revamp with some quick and easy contemporary design tips, including the latest worktop styles, lighting techniques and appliance types to create a modern space for cooking and enjoying company.
New kitchen work surfaces
Worktops are often the first thing we notice and the one thing we use the most in the kitchen. So, to create a truly modern space, these need to be just right. Luckily, there’s a wide variety of modern kitchen composite worktops in various colours and patterns available when we design our modern kitchens. The real benefit of these surfaces is that they are much easier to look after than natural stones, particularly very porous ones such as marble. For a real modern-luxury look, faux marble is also fantastic for providing a protective splashback with less of the expense than real marble, you can also get durable plastic splashbacks from Simply Plastics website. There is also corian worktop that has been around for quite some time but it is growing in popularity among interior designers and their customers. Its affordability, flexibility, strength, versatility and aesthetic appeal are some of the most important qualities that set it apart from competing materials.
Clear-cut lines
Modern home décor revolves around sharp lines with few protruding attachments that can break the boundary. The in-frame construction methods of kitchen cabinet doors that have no handles are contemporary and very resilient — giving this design feature bonus points over others. If you’re uneasy about all handle-free doors, you can install a run of classic cabinets and spruce them up with a few petite and sleek bar handles. In smaller modern kitchens, the absence of handles conveniently makes the room look larger. But it also prevents an overload of attachments that stick out and get in the way in a kitchen with lots of cabinets and units. Add cool built-in appliances and top with colourful worktops to enhance the contemporary effect.
Storing your kitchenware effectively
Minimising mess is a must in a modern kitchen. Hiding clutter in open-plan areas is important, so bear in mind storage and implement deep pan drawers and tambour units to keep appliances and crockery out of sight. Even though we all like to show off our cool KitchenAid mixers and other appliances, the first step to a contemporary space is keeping as many items as possible out of view and in drawers or units. Floor-to-ceiling cupboards with no handles can hide untidy sections and are a good option — granted that you have space.
Of course, you don’t want to fumble around for what you need, so consider where you’re storing your often-used items. Put pan drawers by ovens, larders close to preparation areas, and dishes close to the dishwasher.
What kitchen appliances to get and where to put them
Selecting the best appliances for you is a major part of restyling your modern kitchen. If you like those big range cookers, go for one of the modern steel models from Smeg or Mercury. Try and keep sightlines clear by installing below-cabinet, in-ceiling or pop-up extractors, then invest in built-in cooking appliances and finish off the job with extras such as a boiling water tap, pop-up power points and cool lighting fixtures. To get the contemporary kitchen look, it helps to put items such as washing machines, tumble dryers, fridge and freezers stored behind closed doors.
Modern kitchen quick tips and tricks:
Contemporary lighting
LED strips in your cabinets are a quick way to get the modern look in your kitchen. Or, why not install plinth lights on your units?
Worktop styles
If you’re choosing a type of worktop, glass or composite make fantastic materials. Durable and high in quality with a huge range of styles to choose from, you can complement your choice with large floor tiles surrounded by a matching grout for the modern effect.
Different tiers and layers
Playing with different heights is a subtle but effective way to create a modern kitchen design. Assemble multiple levels on a peninsula, or place a high breakfast bar and dining stools next to a low-lying island for the same effect.
Customising kitchen surfaces
For a modern kitchen, you want to give the effect that your cabinets and units are items of furniture rather than just places to use for cooking. A way to do this is by installing very thin worktops, which have a more elegant appearance. You can even wrap a composite work surface in a contrasting colour, or place material around the cabinets on your kitchen islands, too.
If you are ready to take the plunge and redesign your kitchen, check out these tips on how to survive without a kitchen
