Gone are the days when the kitchen was purely practical. Today’s contemporary kitchens blend clean lines and clever design with comforting textures, layered materials, and subtle nods to tradition.
From heritage-inspired lighting to marble-look vinyl that combines visual elegance with everyday practicality, the modern kitchen is as much about experience as it is about efficiency.
We examine how flooring and accessories contribute to providing contrast, practicality, and focal points in today’s contemporary kitchens.
New Angles
While skylights can help add natural light during the day, cleverly positioned and angled lights can help highlight areas of interest within a twilight contemporary kitchen.
Working with a contrast between pared-back modernist cupboards, the introduction of heritage-inspired lighting can help strike a balance between modern and traditional styles. Brass elements, in particular, can add a reflective dimension to contemporary kitchens while hinting at a layer of luxury.
Hospitable Homes
Drawing inspiration from high-end hospitality environments has enabled homeowners to incorporate a luxurious and curated feel into their kitchen spaces.
Focal point kitchen islands that mimic the architectural nuances of a boutique bar help create a welcoming spot to eat, dine, and catch up.
Traditional woods may be out of the budget for many homeowners, but incorporating the look of timber grain detail through laminate has become a viable, practical, and accessible option, thanks to its waterproof and stain-resistant properties.
Marvel in Marble
Marble floors work seamlessly in contemporary schemes, where wood and metal are balanced with nature-inspired details.
While a light marble floor may seem an impossible element to incorporate in the average contemporary kitchen, the advancement of cushion vinyl floors has enabled homeowners to incorporate the intricate patterns of this popular material while offering the comfort and practical benefits of a waterproof and stain-resistant vinyl floor.
A Fresh Approach
Adding traditional touches to contemporary kitchens by incorporating familiar patterns and refreshing colour palettes helps keep rigid lines from becoming too clinical.
Adding layers of textural interest with tablecloths and napkins offers homeowners the opportunity to update to match the seasons, such as this summery, citrus-inspired Indian block print set from Huddle Collection.
A Tale of Two Contrasts
The contemporary kitchen is often described as uncluttered, practical, and characterised by a clean-lined approach to surfaces and cabinets.
Adding contrast through light and dark wood-effect combinations can help draw the eye while preventing an overwhelmingly dark aesthetic, which is especially important in smaller kitchen spaces. The addition of a herringbone-effect floor provides a patterned layer that gives the illusion of space.
Contemporary Comfort
While contemporary kitchens are known for exploring a minimalistic approach, with crisp lines and functionality, accessories can be incorporated to add a layer of comfort and luxury.
This modernist concrete-inspired kitchen is balanced with the warming earth-tones of a focal rug that draws inspiration from the bark and trunk details of the Senegalese Baobab tree.