It should be kept in mind that regardless of the dimensions of your kitchen, you need to consider it a central hub where people meet up and rest in peace from their daily endeavours. So, whether you’re planning a complete remodel or simply looking for design inspiration for a refresh, we’ve curated a list of the best kitchen designs to inspire you.
A bold blue island is a great focal point and neutral tones such as white or grey play well with darker cabinetry.
Minimalism
Kitchens designed in a minimalist style are geared towards easy access to storage with as few moving parts as possible, combined with clean, straight lines and possibly – though not necessarily – sticking with natural materials that add depth and texture without cluttering the smooth lines of modern kitchen design.
Integrated appliances (that is, machines large and small that are set behind paneled doors) are one of the best minimalist kitchen ideas – they hide your kitchen’s harshest reality behind closed doors. Tuck your refrigerator into lower cabinetry or your microwave into the wall – and, suddenly, your kitchen looks sleeker.
Warm earthy hues (think cream and light grey, as shown here by Tamsin Johnson) are a favourite for minimalist kitchen colour schemes. Coordinating wood grain patterns and marble textures add interest without veering towards maximalism.
Add a modern-day kitchen design, and make sure the painted backsplash is the focal point, and voilà; instant design greatly improved but, for good measure, limit other paint colours (or help wirdig will look at you).
Mixing & Matching
While kitchen cabinets and countertops were historically finished in the same material for a cohesive look, this uniformity is no longer the order of the day, as mixing and matching materials is an emerging trend that provides limitless design options.
Then, pair your white shaker cabinets with darker countertops – quartzite or marble, my personal favourites – and you have depth and texture that can be rich and luxurious in any room, like the untamed glow of the Milky Way at its fullest.
A dash of drama can be introduced with upper cabinets in navy or black, which come alive against both classic granite and natural wood butcher-block countertops.
Your backsplash can even be a canvas for original designs. Courtesy Dazey Den For ultimate go-big impact, this sweet kitchen’s gradient sunrise, in hues of yellow to orange by Danielle Nagel of Dazey Den, helps banish dreary grey days with vivid and uplifting colour to contrast against those dark cabinets.
Painted Ceilings
Afterall, from dramatic chandeliers hanging above an island to exquisite bespoke light hanging in dining tables, bold lighting is a timeless trend that will add drama and glamor to this multifunctional space. A custom light fixture designed by Havenly adds grandeur and drama in this kitchen-diner space.
Whether plain and single-coloured or patterned, a painted ceiling is a welcome accent when it comes to styling a kitchen. The trick is to find a colour that suits your style. Pastels can work for minimalist households, whereas bolder shades are better for creating more moody interiors. Here, the interior designer Shelby Girard used a statement green colour to combine this space together using other aesthetic elements, such as the accessories and the wall drywall joints, and tying it part and parcel.
If painting your ceiling doesn’t appeal, wallpaper can be an alternative, especially as a trend for wallpapered rooms has been growing. It lets you bring way more texture and pattern to a room than you can do with just paint, as shown here where this kitchen’s recessed ceiling has been covered in Divine Savages Deco Martini Arsenic wallpaper from Divine Savages, decorative, 1920s-inspired pattern that provides some glamorous contrast against the more neutral grey wall paneling.
Thermofoil Cabinetry
Thermofoil cabinetry is an economical option for consumers wishing to renovate on a budget and is capable of creating stylish modernity or traditional warmth – your choice!
with thermofoil cabinets, a heat fuser seals vinyl surfaces under high pressure to the core made of medium-density fibreboard (MDF) or particle board. The result is an easy-to-clean surface that resists most stains. The surface of the vinyl can even have an imprint that simulates sprayed solid-colour wood grains or real natural materials such as maple.
while thermofoil is more durable than painted wood cabinetry – it can’t blister or be damaged by moisture, the repeated opening and closing of cabinets doesn’t cause it to yellow or break down, and regular resurfacing could be necessary to maintain its appearance – the price of cabinets can rise.
