Located in Taipei, Taiwan, this compact family home works with only 33 square meters of usable floor space, but it still retains a spacious aesthetic thanks to an innovative vertical approach to architecture. Folk Design implemented this creative home in response to the needs of a young family with a strong desire for simple and efficient living. It’s amazing what kind of innovation can come from such a restricted canvas! If you’re looking for inspiration in your quest for minimalism or just want to get the most functionality out of a limited floor plan, this gorgeously streamlined space is a delightful breath of fresh air.
Designer:Folk Design| Photographer:Hey! Cheese
Large panels of highly distinctive plywood give the interior walls a warm and organic appeal, whereas bright white walls and ceilings lend an atmosphere of clarity and openness.
Community spaces required smart and careful design to make closeness more comfortable - the bedroom, living room, and kitchen are within arm’s reach of another.
Because of the 33-square-meter restriction, dividers and floors could not remain as single-purpose items. Each one offers a unique secondary function.
Space-saving measures take surprising forms. Pay extra attention to the wooden path along the left, and compare to the next picture:
A dining table lifts right out of the floor, with the floor acting as the seating benches thanks to the extra recessed areas below. The low window is the perfect height for this spot.
The collapsible table also doubles as a great place to study or read.
The cute patterned dishware set offers just the right amount of decoration to brighten the space.
This rolling ladder makes it easier to reach high shelves and cabinets, and provides access to a higher vantage point from which residents can relax, read, or daydream.
Without creative architectural solutions, this incredibly compact floor plan might feel too restrictive.
These high places create a great way to visually “escape” the concepts of walls and boundaries, offering a perfectly clear view with limitless potential for imagination.
With such an innovative and well-executed layout, the interior does not look confined from ground level. It’s only while looking at these aerial views does the small scale make itself apparent.
Decorative touches remain simple and seamless at all times. This lamp is from Kimu designers, part of the New Old Life collection.
Ferns and tillandsia air plants provide a low-maintenance infusion of greenery. Combined with the light plywood these verdant spaces appear vibrant and full of life.
The plywood also has the benefit of warming the interior aesthetic at night – cozy and comfortable as can be.
Although the surrounding exterior wall allows an abundance of privacy, the adjustable blinds offer additional flexibility. They can be extended from the top or bottom to provide infinite configurations.
See how irresistibly fun these elevated spots can be?
Despite being separated from the living areas by nothing but a freestanding wall panel, the bedroom still provides a sense of quiet and privacy. Plenty of storage above and beside the bed eliminates the need for extraneous furniture.
Thankfully, one wishing to get past the pop-up hallway table can simple go around through the kitchen.
Such a versatile design!
A lowered window offers plenty of sunlight for the table without becoming too distracting.
The extra deep and wide shower tub is shielded from view by a tall exterior wall, but an ordinary pull-down shade can provide extra privacy when needed.
Storage within the mirrors and below the sink keeps this small space clean and free of clutter.
This luxurious home in Kiev is the work of designers Vitaly Yurov and Iryna Dzhemesiuk, a cozy and comfortable space decorated with rich textures in high contrast grayscale. Grayscale color themes are fun to work with because they’re easy to adapt as trends change, as there’s always a great variety of relevant accent colors that look great against a dark neutral background. Within this flat, a great deal of personality comes from the dramatic textures rather than any extraneous decoration - creative blend of modern and classic materials with just the right hint of wood thrown in for warmth.
Visualizer:Vitaly Yurov & Iryna Dzhemesiuk
Alternating matte and gloss checkerboard wall panels offer a subtle style that softens the interior. Rounded pillows, spherical lamps, and flowing curtains also take some of the edge out of the straight lines that make up the overall structure of the furniture.
Low profile sofa and table are arranged above a dark rug, its somewhat off-center placement making the space feel a little more open and less rigid.
Adorable miniaturized wing chairs still embody the idea of opulence with their diamond-tufted leather and velvet upholstery. These are from the Monster collection by Marcel Wanders.
A large and detailed portrait serves as an engaging focal point.
This angle really showcases the layers and distribution of texture throughout the living room and kitchen.
Floor to ceiling curtains make the space feel slightly taller. The polished white ceiling helps preserve some of the light from the windows, which do not reach from floor to ceiling.
The library benefits from a splash of burgundy color on the bookshelf.
This playful oversized floor lamp was designed by Ferran Estela and Nereo Delgado.
Rounded corners and gorgeous curves help to set the dining room apart from the rest of the open floor plan.
One bedroom boasts a few pale yellow accents.
The tufted upholstery on the bedframe is a nice counterbalance to the crisp tactile pinstripe wall behind it.
Oversized veneer panels occupy a corner to the left.
There is a small vanity table on the side which has a dressing stool as well.
A colorful set of books peeks out from the bookshelves in this glass-doored office.
This small office effortlessly houses two desks for back-to-back working. With architect’s lamps and metal filing boxes, this office seems to have a subtle industrial aesthetic influence.
This second bedroom features the same wall textures used in the living room. Large rounded lights smooth out the aesthetic and the dancing Shiva idol provides a point of interest.
A single brass statue adds to the wood and gray theme.
Glass closets are brilliant! Imagine choosing what you want to wear for the day without getting out of the warm bed in the morning. Drawers and storage boxes provide hidden spaces for the unmentionables.
Closets also happen to take up a lot of space, so the transparent doors help to extend the perceived size of the room.
Fine black stripes create a stunning play on the mirror backlighting and add a modernistic contrast to the classic marble tiles. The mirror is unusual in that it reaches all the way to the ceiling, but it’s quite an eye-catching addition!
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
