room | small modern kitchen ideas
What do I like in a kitchen? A modern look & / or mid-century modern look, a cheery space punctuated by bright pops of colour and fun appliances, retro-styled ovens / ranges / fridges a la Elmira's 'Northern __' line, a space that doesn't take itself too seriously. I adore the look of cable-hung cabinets, to separate kitchen from the space on the other side. Maybe the sides are ash or teak, and the fronts & backs are glass.
I really love this 3-dimensional backsplash! And it is not cookie-cutter ie you don’t see this all over the place. I also really love the tree simple shaped globe pendants. And hurray! This is not an all-white boring kitchen. I do prefer when wood grain is horizontal on the cabinets, like here, and the horizontal is given emphasis rather than the vertical.
I really love the vibe in this kitchen. The Deep Teal (Benjamin Moore) colour of the island is actually a lot darker than it appears here (seen in the next photo). I adore the warm walnut wood cabinets, framed in a white box, with the texture going horizontally.. Textured tile walls. Geometric tile backsplash behind range. Teal and warm walnut wood just go together beautifully.
“Unfortunately, a 1980s kitchen renovation was unsuccessful. It had a low dropped ceiling, can lights, white laminate cabinets, white appliances and a terra-cotta tile floor,” Troyer says. “It didn’t go with anything else in the house and it felt cramped.” This room required the biggest intervention: Troyer not only got rid of the dropped ceiling and the wall that separated the kitchen from the dining area, but he had to adjust the roofline to keep the vault in line with the rest of the house. The ceiling is new. He also patched in new parquet flooring to match the original floors. Opening up the room created space for a large island. Troyer added operable skylights that have solar-powered shades. The small directional lights were a good choice as they have built-in transformers and don’t require unsightly boxes that would have mucked up the ceiling. "
I really like this custom-made bar piece, and the asymmetrical display shelving above. "Troyer designed all of the kitchen cabinetry, including this new bar, which creates a pleasing transition between the now-open kitchen and dining area. He used a teak veneer because teak was often used in original midcentury modern design. “I wanted the bar to look like a piece of freestanding midcentury modern furniture,” he says. Elements of the piece such as the tall feet, sliding doors and interesting array of drawers and hardware capture the style, as does the shelf unit overhead that Troyer designed. He chose a Caesarstone counter for the piece that resembles the solid materials used in the period. It also features a bar sink and a wine refrigerator."
I LOVE everything about this! This is definitely NOT your cookie-cutter kitchen that you see in every interior design mag. I especially adore the rounded edge upper cabinets on each side of the dish rack. I like how the rack displays the dishes, as well as lets them drip dry. I love the unique backsplash. "This London kitchen features handmade bespoke tiles in what the designer describes as a spider pattern. The silver pieces interspersing the white are platinum-glazed."
I love the contrast between the very matte countertop and backsplash to the high gloss of the cabinets. The way the same material is used for countertop, waterfall and backsplash makes it look like a lovely solid block, and streamlines the space. I also like the extra-wide thickness of the sides of the countertop and waterfall. It makes it look very modern.
Because these are flat-faced and there is no hardware, the upper cabinets read as a single horizontal block. The island’s countertop, with waterfall on both sides, reads as a frame, while the wood back is another horizontal block. "The Melbourne, Australia, kitchen shown here essentially just uses white and wood (in one matching stain carrying from floor to cabinets), with small accents in a single metal tone. The seamlessness between different finishes tricks the eye into seeing the kitchen as being a bit bigger than it really is, which goes a long way in a compact layout."
"A walnut laminate for the cabinets complements the Pebble Tec floors, and orange Formica countertops add color and a touch of period authenticity.” Bold laminate colours, especially the chunky profile shown here, look so great paired with matte-finished wood grained cabinets like these. I could see doing one counter wall in a gorgeous teal.
I love this! And although I love orange, my kitchen would be bold teal where the orange is, punctuated with lime green. Also, the open shelving where they have the colourful cocktail glasses would be perfect for my mid-century bubble-stemmed cocktail glasses! This is a fun kitchen, which would be near perfect for me!
nicely done renovation. Kept the old cabinets, which were painted — stripped them to original finish, used tung oil to get the soft glow. Love the wall tiles.
I really love everything about this kitchen remodel. I love the colour and grain of the wood cabinets, and the splashes of colour. "Cabinets: For a sleek look on a budget, the designer added cabinet doors from Semi Handmade to low-cost Ikea cabinets.”
"Oregon myrtle wood cabinets with black grain. Black-and-white cement tile backsplash. Vertical-grain fir windows.” I really like the grain of these myrtle wood cabinets, and their natural finish (i.e. not satin or gloss). The slat wood ceiling is lovely, as is the black beams and interplay of different woods. Personally, I much prefer when upper cabinets do NOT go all the way up to the ceiling: I just like the scale of it better, such as done here. However, for myself, I would pick out a much more playful colour of backsplash.
I like this idea, too… but you don’t have to poke around in the under-sink shelf. I also like that the plumbing is against the back of the cabinet, so there is not plumbing pipes breaking up the storage. "Undersink drawer keeps cleaning supplies visible. DIY by purchasing and installing your own chrome or bamboo sliding organizer."
This would be a good idea for Renee. (I like my kitchen utensils to be displayed near the oven, in nice containers). "This clever utensil built-in keeps serveware and silverware conveniently in check. If you want the look but can’t afford custom, take the DIY route by placing stainless steel pots in a deep, empty drawer.” These stainless steel tall-but-not-wide pots are pretty cheap, @ $7.
I really love the backsplash tile, which looks handmade… but is actually a relatively cheap tile from Home Depot. I love the colour, too.. It goes well in this room. Kudos to the owners for creating this kitchen from scratch (in a former bedroom, so all plumbing lines etc. were new) for only $15,000 Total!
walnut cabinets with horizontal grain
really clean & bright, yet warm because of the gorgeous walnut slab-style cabinets.
Perimeter countertop: Caesarstone in Pure White; island countertop: Silestone in Fun; backsplash tile: Orange Burst C13, Glazzio; cabinet boxes: full overlay with slab doors, Ikea; cabinet drawers and doors: ¾-inch walnut slab; display shelving on island, cabinet pulls and cabinet hinges: Ikea; sink: Hahn Chef extra-large double bowl, Costco; faucet: 33870760, single-lever mixer with pullout spray, chrome, Dornbracht; wall, trim and ceiling paint: Pure White, Benjamin Moore
I really love these walnut cabinets. So great not to use stain, but just have the lovely grain show through. I also really love the lime green countertop on the island. Nice contrasts with the orange glass tile on one part of the wall.
"The homeowners chose walnut cabinetry — no stain, just two coats of clear postcatalyzed lacquer — because “they wanted each element in the design to clearly and simply emphasize its material qualities, a hallmark of midcentury design,” designer Paul Knutson says... The cabinets establish a warm, organic backdrop for other natural materials, like the travertine feature wall and cork floors, while playing up the manufactured materials, like the orange glass tile, glass-front cabinets and green and white solid-surface countertops."
I love the suspended, slanted wood and glass cabinets above the islands. Beauty!
I really adore the angles on the island and the cabinets above. That's the same idea I have wanted, as separation between spaces: to have a suspended cabinet with glass act as a separation of spaces between kitchen and room beyond. I love the beautiful wood -- I believe it's teak?. I like having some colour on cabinets, and some rich wood like this.
contrast of materials & textures: stone backsplash wall, warm honey-toned cabinets, open shelving, modern fan going right through shelving, dark flooring
Horizontal lines give the kitchen a contemporary look and feel. I really like the different finish of the cabinets: rift-cut oak for the cabinetry that was stained a bark color.
I like the small island with its textured Italian laminates in a faux-wood design, offset with stainless steel accents.
Real Cork Floors $10.00 Sold By: Paul Anater I really love the look and colour of this cork flooring. This is a flooring that is very easy on the feet, and has many excellent features. It looks nice and modern.
[Microcemento Gris floor tiles by PORCELANOSA] Sold By: CheaperFloors I like the sleekness and simplicity of this tile. It would definitely enlarge a space, and would go with everything.
[Black Slate laminate floor @ $3.00 by DuPont] Laminate can also be made to look like slate and other natural stones. This one has a nice look.
Cork flooring, 'Black Ripple' by Cancork Floor Inc Black Ripple is not a “true black”. It is very dark, it runs in the charcoal greys with some minor colouring that shows some runs of green and blue. This “cool” colouring makes Black Ripple the closest to a natural black that we can reproduce. Cork flooring is very easy on the feet. I know a number of people who have installed cork in their kitchens (Esther, Linda & Jeremy; Barb & Kelly installed cork in upstairs bathrooms & hallways) and they all seem really happy with it. Plus, it looks great.
[My Mood Floor Tile by Tileshop] My Mood is a contemporary, rectified, through-body porcelain with a directional brushed look. It is suitable for both residential and commercial use. A Modular Mosaic 13 x 18 sheet is available in all colors. The mosaic can be used for areas, but is also designed to be cut into three strips creating a cost effective and interesting design option. I love this option1 I love the brushed look of the tiles, the large size of the tiles, and this dark colour. Would go great in Renee's kitchen. Sizes: 18 x 18 and 12 X 24
[Stone Ardesia 12" x 24" $5.50 by Italian Tile NYC] Stone Ardesia is wonderful replica of Natural Bluestone, Ardesia works great for modern bathrooms and kitchen floors. It's rectified cut allows for smaller grout joints, and less grout. Very Simple, Very Effective! This 12" x 24" makes for a nice, large tile size... and would make Renee's kitchen look larger. This would be a nice tone to pick up the greys in Renee's kitchen, and would also go well with the muted blue wall colour. The smooth, unfussy look of the tile would also expand the visual feel of the space.
It's not wood; it's tile! Provenza Lignes- Wood Look Porcelain TIle @ $5.95 / sq foot
[Burma Negro Tile $6.49 / sq foot by The Tile Shop] A dark gray porcelain floor tile would ground the mudroom and withstand all that a busy family would throw its way. Go for large tiles with medium to dark grout and small grout lines to make cleaning a cinch.
[Dal-Tile Continental Slate in Brazilian Green 18"x18", 12"x18", and 12"x12" used in floor pattern] Worth checking how $$$ this would be. It's a great look.
[Daltile Concrete Connection in Steel Structure 6.5"x20" straight joint on the floor] This would nicely bring out the grey tones in Renee's kitchen.
great retro styling to this appliance. I also like its compact size: great for small kitchens. It comes in wonderful retro colours. It is streamlined & simple... and I adore its rounded edges!
The matte lime green wall of this kitchen pops, and contrasts nicely with the glossy white cabinets and glossy deep-grey countertops. Simple smooth blocks of colour.
I love the eye-popping, oh-so-cheery tangerine orange of the island countertop! This kitchen is fairly compact in size and has minimal cabinetry (almost none above counter-height)... but feels HUGE thanks to the open-plan space. I love this modern and minimal look! No 'minimalist white' for me; it is COLOUR all the way!
This kitchen is not small, but some of the ideas can be used... Glossy yellow kitchen cabinets! They sure cheer this space up! I can also imagine these cabinets in, say, acid green, or tangerine orange... and paired with some light or medium wood cabinets.
A gorgeous fan with a very slim profile, so it would fit and not take up too much visual space. It's reasonably priced, and is centrifugal making it less noisy.
This is a very gutsy and individualistic approach. The backsplash wall has two ledge widths, to fit narrow items upon. Although ordinarily, in a small kitchen such as this, it would be wise to stay away from such dark trim on the window frames & door (I think it's black, but it might be very dark purple), here it works. That is because there are large, simple blocks of colour, and because of all the reflective colours. The stainless steel counter top is reflective, the glossiness of the backsplash tiles make them reflective, and that black paint is also high gloss. The proportions, and the repeat of shapes, make this kitchen a cut above the rest. Note the rectangle of the counter top as opposed to the stove top; below that, notice the main rectangle of the oven door, and beside it, the white rectangle of the sink area and the cut-in rectangle of the cabinet doors, while beside that is the big white rectangle of the under-the-counter fridge door.
Everything here is about muted textures -- the silvery-toned washed cabinets, the frosted glass on the upper cabinets, the low relief of the backsplash -- and this gives the kitchen an incredibly cohesive and sophisticated look. These backsplash tiles are exquisite: they look like some kind of low-relief sculpture, fresco art, embossed paper... They are enigmatic while still understated. Also understated are the cabinet pull. They bring out the silver wash of the cabinets, yet don't call too much attention to themselves.
I'm loving these translucent light fixtures! Notice how the frosted glass cabinets behind them echo their look & shape, if you can imagine them being turned around 90 degrees. Also, the beautiful deep wood shelf & its beautiful grain is set off so wonderfully behind the white countertop. The backsplash tiles pick up not only the colour of the deep wood, but also the horizontal shape. Great colour mix in those backsplash tiles!
Pure pops of colour look wonderful against white, grey or silver. These are vivid, strong hues... check out that marigold yellow on the flowers, or the fresh blue tones of the dinnerware, and that great chartruese green colour of the fabrics. This is a happy & cheerful kitchen, mod & spunky. The open shelving here really works, for displaying the eye-catching pops of colour. Also contributing to the great, modern feel is the chunky thickness of these open shelves and the island top, and the expanse of white backs on those very mod chairs.
The angles are great here. I love the glossy white of the cabinet fronts, contrasted with the dark wood sides (top cabinets) or earthy-toned stone for counters & sides (lower cabinets). Contributing to the continuity is that all the door handles are the same, whether on lower or upper cabinets. I also love how a small shelf was squeezed between the upper cabinet & windows, to make room for cookbooks, and how a narrow shelf was squeezed in the angle between the upper cabinets, which could be useful for CDs, spices, etc.
Contributing to the sleekness are the nice, chunky surfaces: the thick countertops, the thick island / counter table-edge, the fan... These thick surfaces add rhythm to the design and a feeling of substance. Also, all the horizontal surfaces are white, while almost all the vertical surfaces (vertical subway tiles, cabinets...) are a deep espresso brown. This consistency is good for a tiny kitchen.
great pops of tangerine colour! It makes this super-small kitchen cheery. I like how they just put a shelf above: cabinets may have crowded the space. And the way the fridge on the left is built in to the wall makes it almost disappear. Very original.
Beautiful grained, unadorned wood looks great with the white countertops. So much nicer, the real wood, than those ubiquitous all-white cabinets you see nowadays. I love the simplicity of this kitchen. The atomic wall clock really pops out on the white unadorned wall. And I like how they did NOT put cabinets above the counter, to break the sight lines.
I love the pop of spicy orange… which is in a small, focused open wooden shelf. A lush, leafy green paired with a saturated orange is a winning combination in a kitchen because both hues stimulate the senses and have an appealing, appetizing quality. The deep green helps ground the brighter orange, and when paired with a light neutral such as Pearl Onion by Sherwin-Williams, the effect is colorful and chic.
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