While traditional kitchen styles tend to emphasize material and color palettes, modernist designers are exploring the world of unconventional geometric design and creative framing. The kitchens in this post range from futurist styles based on sharp asymmetric polygons, all the way to otherwise classic compositions that break the mold by emphasizing innovative uses of proportion and shape – bold and subtle in turn. Many of these spaces sit on the high end of the luxury spectrum but others employ simple tricks that any handy DIY enthusiast can use. Which modern kitchen is your favorite? Let us know in the comment section!
Visualizer:Visual Method
Let’s start with something totally out of the ordinary. This kitchen builds off uniquely angled architecture with a trapezoidal island. The result is a surreal environment that turns spatial perception on its head.
Visualizer:Anton Li
While the rest of this kitchen enjoys the clean lines of an ordinary modernist style, the chaotic folded angles of the island pack a strong futurist punch. The unique kitchen bar stools are a perfect complement.
Visualizer:Cristian Gentile
Gorgeous! L-shaped cabinet faces bring this kitchen design to the next level. Variations in texture and depth bring life to the otherwise simple surfaces.
Visualizer:U6 Studio
Here’s another kitchen that carves character into ordinary features. The color palette is classic, but the distinctive shapes give the cabinetry a perfectly contemporary attitude.
Source:Poliform
Unconventional geometric designs are a fantastic way to create a focal point within minimalist compositions. This angled kitchen island and breakfast bar combination offers striking contrast to the clean lines that dominate the rest of the interior.
Designer:BIG Design| Source:Vancouver House
This smoothly tapered kitchen island plays with light and shadow for a fluid and seamless effect. It’s a functional sculpture sure to leave a lasting impression on guests.
Visualizer:Anastasia Andryushchenko
Designs that employ carefully considered geometry can be subtle as well. This one uses wood and contrast to strike a sense of balance between the cabinetry and the staggered island in the foreground.
Visualizer:3D World Renderings
Symmetry and contrast play an important role in this kitchen. Even the refrigerator uses matching wood cladding for a seamless design.
Architect:i29 Architects
How cool is this? Cabinetry yields to small windows that allow a look at the contents, an interesting alternative to the more typical open shelving approach employed with the spice racks in the back. But having an open approach like this means that every one of your accessories on display - including knives , wine glasses , mugs , cutting boards , teapots , cookie jars , etc. - need to be on point.
Designer:Charlotte Raynaud Studio
A curvaceous staircase and sharp iceberg shaped kitchen island are a match made in heaven. The contrast between modern white surfaces and traditional wood cabinetry adds even more depth to this unique kitchen design.
Visualizer:Cristian Gentile
Retro and contemporary accents come together in perfect harmony. The unconventional geometry is fairly easy to overlook, consisting of creatively arranged upper cabinets and the careful use of repetition. The indoor herb planter rack lends a nice green touch.
Visualizer:Tung Le
Balance is such an underutilized aspect of kitchen design. This one uses wood elements straddled on either side of the tall cabinets, with horizontal and vertical lines reaching a beautiful equilibrium.
Source:Snaidero
Faint patterns on the grey cabinet faces, nested rectangles, and a sharply trapezoidal range hood are just a few of the features that speak to a low-key appreciation of creative geometric composition.
Visualizer:Gabriel Vel
Heavy emphasis on linear forms defines this kitchen, but the occasional chaotic accent keeps things lively. The distinctive lights above the island are from the AIM series by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec.
Visualizer:Ngurah Arya
Next up is a series of kitchens that use rather conventional geometric techniques. This one relies on linear forms but shakes things up with curved Eames dining chairs.
Visualizer:Iqosa
This kitchen uses the same curvaceous chair technique as the previous kitchen. This time, rounded kitchen pendant lights further the contrast between the organic and the linear.
Visualizer:Jan Wadim
Backsplash and cabinetry use vertical lines, while the kitchen island and breakfast table combination embrace the same horizontal grain as the low media table. The rounded chair and light combination shows up again.
Visualizer:Vic Nguyen
Even though this kitchen and dining arrangement may seem universal, other shapes like cones and cylinders define the upper half of the visual plane. The Tolix-inspired stools seem to match the flair of the Aplomb pendants.
Designer:Arent & Pyke
Fluid marble veining offers an impressive counterpoint to the rigid lines of the cabinetry and kitchen alcove. Material contrast is always an interesting way to break up an arrangement that feels too structured.
Visualizer:Anastasia Andryushchenko
You can’t go wrong with clean lines. This minimalist kitchen plays the balance game very carefully. Following the floor tiles and the alignment of top and bottom cabinet, it’s easy to see this kitchen didn’t abuse symmetry but instead used alignment to create a sense of visual tension that works very well here.
Designer:Helen Baranova| Visualizer:Vitaliy Bozhenov
And here’s another kitchen that seems very simple at first glance but makes good use of proportion and division to generate visual interest. Dark hues of the round kitchen table provide great contrast to the light kitchen scheme.
Architect:3XA
Straight lines, curved chairs, and rounded pendant lights will remain a winning combination. Contrasting accents always work wonders to break down boundaries in a kitchen theme.
Designer:Piotr Matuszek & Gosia Czarny
While this kitchen is extra minimalistic, it takes advantage of the open plan to draw attention to the geometric wallpaper print to the right and the organic wood grain to the left. It’s a beautifully pristine buffer zone between the two defining styles within.
Visualizer:Victor Serdobintsev
Like the skeletons of 3D models, wire form dining chairs embody a geometric attitude by their very nature. These offer a futurist counter to the contemporary and rustic materials behind them.
Architect:Zoom Architecture
Vertical and horizontal rectangles make up the geometric fabric of the kitchen itself, but the pendant lights punctuate the theme with their dramatic curves. They’re from the Here Comes The Sun collection by Bertrand Balas.
Visualizer:Insight Studio
The beautiful Aplomb pendant light makes another appearance in this clean-edged kitchen. The flair of the breakfast stool legs seem to trace the conic forms with ease.
Visualizer:ZROBYM Architects
Rectangles, lines, and the subtle curve of the stool seats make up the basic shapes of this minimalist kitchen.
Visualizer:Iqosa
Diagonal stripes are such a rare sight in interior design! These wireframe dining pendant lights are a beautiful sight against their stark charcoal background.
Visualizer:Who Cares Design
Subtle folded forms let the black dining stools and pendant lights stand out from their background. When confronted with matching shades, the effect of directional light can be a designer’s best friend. Do check out our feature on similar black and white kitchens if this theme excites you.
Visualizer:Polyviz Studio
While the sense of contrast brought in by the wooden bar stools and the light colored countertop is undoubtedly the most striking feature of this kitchen arrangement, the layered effect of the rectangular range hood is worth admiring on its own merits.
Visualizer:Lê Hoàng Nhật Nam
Amazing patterns everywhere! From the floors to the backsplash, and even showing up in the chair styles and pendant lights, this kitchen makes its mark with dazzling tessellations and more. This is an extra fun way to approach an interior style that pays homage to the art of geometry.
Visualizer:Plasterlina
The rectilinear dandelion gold kitchen island light doesn’t have to fight to stand out from this chocolate brown kitchen. Off to the side, a round pendant light and rug shine a spotlight on the dining cove to the left.
Visualizer:JW Renders
Super simple! This kitchen uses dramatic layering and contrasting orientation to draw attention to the marble backsplash.
Visualizer:BURO 82
It might take up more space, but an angled kitchen island can completely transform an open plan kitchen. The offset block construction is especially interesting, and the bold woodgrain is incredible!
Visualizer:Plasterlina
There are so many things going on with this kitchen. The exposed beams cut across diagonally, with pendant lights cutting through the opposite way – it’s a cool and innovative approach to interior architecture.
Source:Dwell
This kitchen island looks futuristic because it really does push boundaries. It includes high fidelity speakers and a panel with buttons to control everything from lighting to ventilation and even the curtains.
Architect:Project A01 Architects
With elegant folds and twists, this island follows the path of the distinctive angled windows to the right. The kitchen itself is sleek and minimalistic, allowing this centerpiece to stand out as a functional sculpture.
Visualizer:Penint Design Studio
Super sleek and well-balanced cabinetry offers a nice contrast to the smooth wooden backsplash. Curvaceous chairs shake things up in the foreground.
Visualizer:darstellungsart
Tiles are one of the more affordable ways to add a touch of creative geometry to the kitchen. This herringbone arrangement is easy to accomplish with any long and thin tiles you can find.
Visualizer:Anna Fedyukina
Another combination of rounded pendant lights and curvaceous chairs against a backdrop of straight clean lines – it’s important to mention that, like the tiles, this approach is affordable and easy to change later.
Visualizer:Olga Podgornaja
And here it is again! This one also has a bright and sunny color theme for palette inspiration.
Source:SCIC
Oversized handles bring playfully retro character to the otherwise minimalistic cabinets. Check out the large kitchen clock as well! What a fun look!
Visualizer:Delta Tracing
Offset squares and rectangles take their cue from the De Stijl art movement, a style that relies on color and contrast and tends to stick with vertical and horizontal lines.
Source:SCIC
This space proves that a kitchen doesn’t need bright colors or dazzling materials to look luxurious. The offset dining table and workspace extension really sets it apart. This setup is made in Italy, available from Scic.
Source:Snaidero
While the brick and wood indulge a love for traditional styles, the white sink and range extension highlight great modern design and sharp geometry.
Visualizer:Mitos
The oversized angled range hood brings art to the upper half of this futuristic kitchen. The central island seems minimalistic in comparison, but its sharp lines are impossible to ignore.
Visualizer:Azovskiy & Pahomova Architects
Offset cylindrical pendant lights and a creative polygonal breakfast stool serve as strong focal points in this strong linear composition.
Visualizer:Konstantin Entalecev
Straight lines and a cylindrical range hood serve as an unforgettable combination. And just check out the pairing between sky blue and seafoam green! The warm wood tones complete the carefree aesthetic.
Source:HiMacs
Angled ceilings and the curved kitchen island prove a formidable duo. This combination is sure to delight guests, especially with the combination of ample greenery for its organic touch.
Source:Culimaat
Smooth, distinctive, and creative – kitchen islands continue to serve as an excellent vector for nontraditional forms.
Have you ever wondered what your home would look like had you chosen a different decor theme ? After all the colors are picked out and all the decorations are in place, it can be difficult to imagine it any other way (at least until you decide to do it all over again). But this interior designer used visualization software to explore this concept even further – this post tours two homes with the exact same compact floor plan but two completely different themes and arrangements. The first home is bright and casual with an eternally spring-like atmosphere, but the second home is darker and moodier with a more refined aesthetic.
Simple natural influences make this apartment feel as bright as a fresh spring day. Pastel greens, sunny yellows, and lots of light wood bring the outdoors in – and sometimes the theme goes even further, like adding fake grass to the top of the ottomans you see snugly tucked beneath the table here in the living room.
Elsewhere, the earthy and organic theme pops with modern geometric accents like these lovely sculptures. It’s all a matter of balance and thematic contrast.
Because this apartment has an open layout, the spot-on color coordination is a huge asset to the visual continuity of the space. While color blocking is the easier and more flexible route, this carefully curated apartment is a perfectionist’s dream.
While color flourishes at every turn, it’s important to note that the accents will be easy to change later. The insides of the cabinets, for example, are easy to make with DIY paper inserts.
One of the bolder details is this mossy vertical garden wedged into this central wall. It’s actually a housing to contain the refrigerator but becomes a stunning large form sculpture with this aesthetic addition.
The moss-covered wall also helps provide some division between the kitchen and living room. Here, the dining table finds a sensible home.
And we cannot ignore this backsplash. Its photographic quality matches the “sunny spring day” theme, transporting the viewer to the lens of a camera covered with morning dew.
The private areas of the home are accessible by the mirror-covered hallway. Extra storage space hides behind each reflective door.
This entryway niche is just too perfect. It has plenty of space to sit, with convenient coat hooks and stylish shoe storage concealed beneath.
Now onto the bedrooms! This master suite tones down the theme present throughout the rest of the house, using a palette of greys and teals to create a relaxing environment for the parents after a long day of work.
Rather than the sunny springtime theme of the main living space, this bedroom adopts a more rainy day vibe. It’s easy to imagine picking these colors from a photograph of a foggy morning on the lake.
The bedroom for the children brings back the bright colors in a big way. Bold blue accents – that double as chalkboards – are just bursting with energy.
The other side of the room has so many admirable features. The modular wall panels are modern design goals, and the smart storage in the staircase and beneath the bed are just too perfect. We love how the lofted bed makes space for a small playroom.
And the desk is super-functional too. Open shelves, lots of drawers, and the fun office supply organizers help the kids stay neat and tidy while working on assignments for school.
Wow – the efficiency of this bathroom is breathtaking, but the way it continues the natural theme from the rest of the home is impressive as well.
And the other bathroom also adopts a nature-inspired palette, this time with a red clay tone. It’s warm and comforting and includes just a touch of wood to bring it back in line with the overall home aesthetic.
All of the sources of hidden lighting banish shadows and make the room feel larger. The strip of inset lighting above the bathtub almost looks like sunlight!
The second home starts with a much more subdued color theme, this time in all in the blue spectrum, almost like a lake or a foggy evening. It combines linear and rounded forms, playing with geometric contrast at every turn. Like the previous home, this one revolves around an F-shaped floor plan but uses an entirely different arrangement.
The open living room and dining room are more connected in this home visualization than the last. Rather than a dining table, this space makes use of a handsome breakfast bar attached to a longer kitchen island.
Geometric tiles and open cabinets make the kitchen feel connected to the rest of the interior. Patterned pillows and a cylindrical table bring the geometric theme to the living room.
The wall sconces are so cute! Triangles of yellow paint bring them in line with the rest of the open layout theme.
Just look at that incredible transition between wood floors and hexagonal tiles! Expert woodworking isn’t cheap or easy, but the result is unforgettable.
The master bedroom includes gorgeous triangular wall panels, sure to play with the pendant lights after dark.
Even the media wall continues the geometric theme.
And here’s the kid’s bedroom, complete with two pegboard walls: one for climbing and one for hanging artwork.
Adorable hot-air balloons and infinitely creative pegboards ensure this bedroom caters to the imagination before anything else.
So cute!
The pegboard wall and tall chalkboard leave so much room for imaginative play. The child can practice their ABCs or arrange artwork on the pegs, while keeping track of homework right beyond the desk.
Of course, the bathroom is innovative and efficient too.
Sandy patterns and river rocks foster a desert-like atmosphere, with a lush green rug serving as a sort of oasis and irresistible focal point.
Dark isn’t the first theme that comes to mind when designing a kitchen. Stereotypical assumptions are of white and bright kitchens matched by light wood—something like the color of breakfast pancakes. Have you ever thought otherwise? Perhaps something like a modern dark kitchen?
We’ve got a collection of stunning spaces sure to switch up your vision. This black kitchen design inspiration is the sexiest interior design can muster. All divulging in shades of black, navy, or dark brown, they add what white kitchens cannot—a seductive allure that says sleekness and sophistication at the same time. Take a peek at some brilliant interiors on the darker side to see if a modern luxury black kitchen could be for you.
Modern Dark Kitchen Design Ideas to Inspire Your Next Renovation
1. Make it an All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:Design At Sketch
Almost completely covered in black, a few minor elements shine in chrome and wood in this kitchen interior. We love how the textures do the talking, especially through the matte table under black wood-panelled walls. But having an open approach like this means that every one of your accessories on display—including knives, wine glasses, mugs, cutting boards, teapots, cookie jars, etc.—need to be on point.
2. Add Wooden Elements
Visualizer:Bogdan Tovstyy
This black beauty edges towards wooden elements. We see a speckled floor, a white wall, and a central bench. Rounded black lamps hover over the island, providing functionality and style. If you’re wondering how visual intrigue is added to this modern black kitchen… a huge credit goes to the abstract art!
3. Complement the Black Kitchen with Orange
Source:Vancouver House
A bit of curve rounds out the hard edges—adding some much-needed warmth. This wave-design bench leads up to an orange-hued enclave in this black-and-silver interior. The burnt orange sure makes a design statement (apart from the unique central island).
4. Keep Your Dark Modern Kitchen Simple
Visualizer:Panda Fox Studios
A simplistic look makes this black kitchen a winner. We see the basics: a light floor, a black minimalist island, and sleek cabinetry. But the contrast between light and dark keeps the ambiance interesting, while the large window welcomes plenty of natural light.
5. Make it Dark… Or Not?
Visualizer:Who Cares Design
If you’re eyeing a dark kitchen aesthetic but are hesitant to make the change, this is it. Introducing more light, this black kitchen is hardly dark at all. Black benches, cabinetry, fixtures and stools are intersected by large-panel windows, a white shelving stand and light flooring.
6. Make Use of Asymmetry in the Black Modern Kitchen
Visualizer:Visual Method
This modern black kitchen takes another angle on this kaleidoscopic space, breaking all spatial boundaries. Black and glass alternate in this chic kitchen as the interesting ceiling design keeps the space unconventional. We’ve also got to appreciate the cherry blossoms, doubling as decor even within the interior.
7. Factor in Some Warmth
Source:Modulnova
This warmer-looking kitchen makes a move to brown. It strategically achieves the purpose with the use of wood. This not only introduces natural textures but also makes the ambiance inviting. Talk about a modern style that’s equal parts welcoming!
8. Place a White Island in a Black Modern Kitchen
Visualizer:Jean Regauer
An instant way to brighten up a dark kitchen (we mean, get the best of both worlds)? This kitchen space shows us how by using a white island on a black floor. The backsplash further enhances this dark-and-light effect, while the cowhide rug adds just the right amount of coziness.
9. Make Marble Your Best Friend
Architect:Chamberlain Javens Architects
If you’re looking to create a modern luxury black kitchen, you know what you’ve got to do: Go big on marble! This natural stone adds the luxe factor to any space, especially as a large, central island, as seen in the kitchen above. You can also add it through the backsplash.
10. Make it Mysterious
Visualizer:Tomek Michalski
You can double the visual intrigue in your all black kitchen by adding some mystery. In this kitchen, mood-lighting sets the scene in black and grey, while a marbled bench acts as the hero. The back inlet and flooring create contrast and depth. Taken together, these elements make the space an interesting one.
11. Layer Gray and Gold
Visualizer:Mitaka Dimov
Black kitchens are cool, but what if we layer in gray and add accents of gold? This stunning kitchen space uses gray flooring to add diversity to the otherwise black palette. The thick gold panel is one way that makes the space look incredibly high-end.
12. Add French Style to Black Kitchen Design
Visualizer:Aeroslon
Make your kitchen both modern and French with traditional black cabinetry. In this space, standing armoires act as sinks, and all other displayed items remain black. The stark white clock can surely act as the focal point of the space!
13. Consider Soft Elements
Visualizer:Julia Sultanova
Rough, light wood and low-hanging white lights set this kitchen interior a world apart. You can also notice a layer of light gray cabinetry, adding variation to the otherwise dark color palette. These elements factor in softness to the black kitchen design.
14. Let the Accessories Do the Talking
Photographer:Mikko Ryhänen
In this black-and-wood creation, the accessories take center stage in adorning the interior. We love the houseplant, but the crockery deserves a special mention for doubling as decor. The light oakwood backdrop further warms the space up.
15. Consider a Matte All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:HDR Designer
Neat square panels perfectly line up to emphasize the stark black minimalism that is at play here. We love how the cabinetry is matte black with no hardware, adding a sense of simplicity. The herb planters are a healthy green addition to bring the otherwise simple space.
16. Add Some Stencilling to Black Kitchens
Visualizer:Julia Sultanova
Fine lines and stencilling set this monochromatic space apart. Lined by black magnetic lights, black stencils and glossy white facades, it makes its mark on a light wooden floor.
17. Build a Shape Out of Black
Visualizer:Huso
18. Create a Modern Dark Kitchen with Gradients
Visualizer:Mario Nogueira
If you’re wondering how the intrigue in this space is working… It’s the gradients from black, to charcoal, to light grey. White surrounds in the walls and a monochromatic hanging light. This clever design technique makes sure the space is anything but boring, even if it’s using mere neutrals (minus the stunning orange dining chairs, of course).
19. Leverage Black Textures
Visualizer:Nefeli Kallianou
One instant way to add interest to a black kitchen is with textures, as seen in this metallic matte kitchen. This accounts for decorative presence in the light and bright space, providing character to an otherwise simple room.
20. Work on the Functionality of the Modern Dark Kitchen
Visualizer:İbrahim Ethem KISACIK
This dark modern kitchen makes sure it’s as functional as is stylish. The central island is paired with a black dining table, while all necessary appliances are fixed into the cabinetry. We also see pendant lights and lighting under the hood providing just the right illumination.
21. Create a Modern Classic All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:A&L Interior Design
Folks seeking an inviting all black kitchen can look towards this modern classic space. It merges contemporary elements (through sleek black cabinetry) with traditional ones (as seen in the wooden backsplash) to bring together the best of both worlds.
22. Put Essentials on Display in Your Modern Black Kitchen Interior
Visualizer:Polygon
Yet another kitchen that uses black and wooden elements to create a dark-themed interior. What sets this one apart is the hanging pans. They do offer easy access as the residents cook, but they also double as decor! (Note how the pans also use black and wooden elements to stay coherent with the theme).
23. Add the Industrial Style to the All Black Kitchen
Via:Emotion School
Industrial style lovers, rejoice! This is THE inspiration to set up your favorite interior design style, the dark way. This kitchen uses rustic wood and exposed elements for the ceiling to create an industrial black kitchen interior.
24. Make a Statement with Black Chunky Lamps
Via:HomePicture.in
All eyes on the two chunky lamps hanging in this monochromatic setting. They do add focus but also allow the contrasting white inset to shine. Not to forget the central island, providing plenty of storage space.
25. Make Room for Keepsakes
Visualizer:Maxim Goryachev
There’s nothing like personalizing your space to who YOU are. This kitchen serves the purpose by adding keepsakes and heirlooms. Also, black leaves room for details, so it’s one of the best colors to use if you’re hoping to display knick-knacks.
26. Use Black to Add Intimacy
Visualizer:Helen Bank
Who says dark colors make small spaces feel smaller? We only see black adding luxury to this compact space (with some credit to the white flooring adding brightness). This kitchen—with black marble backsplash—speaks opulence, and for all the right reasons!
27. Enhance Black Kitchen Design with Patterns
Visualizer:Ksenia Lenski
This black kitchen interior makes a design statement with the patterned marble island. Its sleek metallic legs lift it off the floor, creating an illusion of space. Simultaneously, the textured inset makes sure visual interest is added.
28. Don’t Forget a Black and White Rug
Visualizer:Nada Aboelrous
If you’re not in for a complete kitchen renovation, simply painting your cabinets black and adding a black-and-white patterned rug will achieve the purpose! We love how this kitchen keeps sets the base with white and tops it with black.
29. Let the Lighting Make a Statement in the All Black Kitchen
Architect:Artpartner Architects
When everything else is understated, letting the lighting create a statement is a good idea. This matte black kitchen interior uses rod lighting to do the talking. It sticks to the all black kitchen color scheme, though!
30. Tone it Down
Visualizer:Valeria Mosolova
This open floor plan uses dark gray throughout, showing us that black can work in more spaces than the kitchen 😉 It sure makes a design statement for those cooking and dining—or lounging!
31. Consider a Black and Wooden Bar
Visualizer:Amir Emami
This is the ultimate modern luxury black kitchen! After all, what’s better than displaying your favorite collection of beer right behind the black kitchen island? The low-hanging pendant lights also add to the black kitchen design.
32. Add the Gothic Vibe
Visualizer:Sebastian Lorio
This dark-gray kitchen is super simple with its sleek, hardware-less cabinetry. Well, except the far left end. Here, we see a statement piece of art and intriguing layered lighting created a focal point.
33. Stick to the Minimalist Style for Black Kitchens
Visualizer:Miguel A. Ramos
This compact kitchen space follows the simple rule: white walls paired with black cabinetry and an island. Even in this nook, the space is able to make a style statement while providing optimal functionality. The window here gives a contrasting element of light to the otherwise dark modern kitchen.
34. Layer Lighting in the All Black Kitchen
Visualizer:Tatiana Durnescu
We see shades of gray and black coming together to bring this modern dark kitchen to life. What we especially love is the multiple types of lighting, all layered together to bring visual interest to the space.
35. Set the Backdrop For Your Living Space
Visualizer:Sasha Zolotukhin
