With the intent to create a home that fosters interaction not only between family members but also with the surrounding environment and community, Austin Maynard Architects drafted up a creative three-volume structure and outfitted it with an ingenious interior layout to match. It’s only half the size of its neighbors - an attempt to avoid one of the causes of urban sprawl in Melbourne, where flat ground encourages builders to create larger homes than other settings can ordinarily accommodate. The result is a relatively compact open interior layout that maintains a strong communication with its gardens and courtyards.
A hallway bisects the two lower volumes and continues in a straight line through the home, its ceiling formed by the upper volume.
Interesting architectural features like this partially-enclosed patio serve to break down the boundaries between indoors and out.
While it looks like an exposed passage from a head-on angle, the hallway is actually open to the social areas on either side.
Decorated in bold primary colors, the living room features a warm and exciting atmosphere.
It gains a sense of division with a simple open shelving unit, displaying a gorgeous collection of decorative ceramics.
The wooden wall houses hidden rooms on either side, with a depression making space for the media center.
Floor-to-ceiling doors maintain a minimalistic aesthetic.
No, this isn’t a different angle. A swinging wall provides privacy when needed. It completely changes the space!
The bathroom remains minimalistic, sparing unnecessary details like a mirror frame in favor of a cleaner aesthetic. It does boast some innovative features such as the placement of the lower cabinet handles – they’re located on top of the doors so residents won’t have to stoop down to open them.
The doors would blend right into the background if it weren’t for the visible hinges and the distinction created where the horizontal panels don’t line up.
Optional privacy is especially important since this space houses the office. Shades that lift from the bottom up (used throughout the house) provide privacy from the neighbors without darkening the room.
The desk itself wraps around into a sideboard with plenty of storage, and cabinets above.
A mesh IUTA chair by Antonio Citterio pairs well with the super slim-desk, their sense of transparency preserving the view into the garden.
Back in the hallway, clever divider strategies help separate the kitchen to the left and the living room to the right.
A smaller sitting room faces toward the backyard, its privacy guarded by a tall surrounding fence.
Looking out onto the rear patio, a small dining area offers yet another place for guests and family to gather and socialize.
Here’s a second dining room right off the media area. All told, there are a total of three dining tables in this house! Not bad for a home half the size of its neighbors.
Minimalistic and attractive, the bright white kitchen uses angled surfaces as a play on the abundant light that filters through the atrium courtyard to the left.
Check out the neat storage in the side of the kitchen island! Everybody needs a place to store cookbooks and morning reading.
Mesh stairs preserve the view of the outdoors, with support beams continuing the implied boundary started by the open shelves in the living room.
On the other side of the atrium, the third and most formal dining room embraces dark woods and bright colors.
Here’s a young child enjoying the incredible view of the home and atrium from the stairs.
Public rooms occupy the first floor, with private spaces above.
It’s a completely different atmosphere on the upper level. Carpet warms the feet on mild mornings.
Let’s start the bedroom tour with a little appreciation for this super-cute room! Modular shelves, a string of paper lanterns, a playful polka dot bedspread, and a stimulating view of the neighborhood are certainly enviable features any kid would envy. Parents can shield the room from the street using the bottom-up shades.
Anyone bathing in the gorgeous enclosed tub can enjoy a view of the sky from the distinctive circular window.
Another window near the ceiling brings even more light into the room. Notice the sliding door – a nice space saver.
Like the main level, the upper hallway bisects the volume from end to end for a clear view through the middle.
The adult bedroom is far more subdued than the child’s room in terms of decor, but still features fun (yet subtle) polka dots on the blanket.
A wonderful view of the pool allows parents to keep an eye on the children as they play outdoors with friends.
Even the pool utilizes a spacious yet space-conscious design, wrapping around the home in the shape of an L.
Wide stepping stones provide a convenient walking path across the yard but also continue the trajectory of the building shape.
Circular windows on the sides of the home are one of many energy-saving measures.
Tall doors allow access to the roof patio. The tree growing up through the lower patio contributes to the incredibly unique aesthetic.
The roof actually directs rainwater into an underground storage tank used to flush the toilets and water the garden. When the architects set out to combat the downsides of urban sprawl, they implemented features like this to further reduce the home’s impact on the environment.
Another cool feature is the interior cabinetry that extends outward to serve as a storage shed for pool and garden supplies.
The architects went to great lengths to secure local trades, materials, and fittings for the construction of the home wherever possible.
Doesn’t it look beautiful all lit up at night? Some of this power comes from the solar panels that cover the upper roof.
Floorplan fans might appreciate these diagrams!
Here’s the thought process that led to such an innovative layout.
Bedrooms for kids are so much fun to decorate! There’s practically no limit to the potential and no design rules to stand in the way. For many, the most enjoyable part has to be the walls – they’re like big fresh canvases just waiting for bold colors and fun designs. This post examines nearly two dozen kids bedrooms with inspiring walls to help kick-start your next big redesign. Whether you’re looking for kid-friendly color palettes or fun ideas for artwork and wall decor, these ideas are easily adaptable to fit your child’s own interests and preferences. There’s something here for youngsters of every age, from toddlers to teens.
Via:Anastasiya Shablinskaya
These adorable butterfly stickers are easy to find online but a paper punch is all you need to make your own. The reindeer lamp is called MARNÌN, designed by Matteo Ugolini.
Visualizer:Annete Manuilova
Not only is the wall mural extremely fun, its distinctive collage-style animals are sure to foster an appreciation for art and creativity. It might even inspire kids to make their own collages out of leaves and flower petals and other things they find outdoors.
Visualizer:iam architecture studio
What do you do when those littles ones start growing up and want a more sophisticated style? This wallpaper is absolutely gorgeous – interesting enough for a young person, but stylish enough to be appreciated for years to come.
Via:Annete Manuilova
When kids share a room, it can be hard to find a middle ground that reflects the personality of each. This room uses two different wallpaper prints to make sure everybody’s happy.
Via:Annete Manuilova
Neutral colors aren’t very exciting by childhood standards, but they make it easier to change the other accent colors in the room without worrying about clashing. The row of houses above the molding and the fun alphabet panels below help tie the walls back into the colorful decor theme.
Visualizer:Annete Manuilova
Chalkboard panels are perfect for the bedroom of a creative child! If you don’t want to paint a whole wall, just paint a sturdy piece of plywood and mount it securely, as this designer did.
Visualizer:ArchiCGI
These walls have several interesting things going on: the color (a mix between coral and orange), the exposed white brick, the playfully arranged prints, the large fairy mural… It will take a long while for a youngster to grow bored of this one!
Visualizer:Alina Vagapova
Designed for a young space enthusiast, this space makes great use of a chalkboard wall for scribbling notes. The addition of the flat moon lamp completes the theme.
Visualizer:Plasterlina
What a great idea! A grid of ropes securely holds stuffed animals and turns them into a smart source of decoration for the nursery. The calm yellow and wood theme throughout the rest of the walls help maintain a peaceful environment conducive to sleep.
Visualizer:Artem Trigubchak
Little house-shaped shelves create a whimsical effect on the right and square cabinets on left keep things a little more serious for those hardcore study sessions.
Visualizer:Amir Sayed Mohamed Refaat
Inspirational phrases, Toy Story prints in lovely frames, and a big plush headboard make this delightfully pink room even more special and personalized.
Visualizer:Svoya Studio
Fun zig-zag shelves put a creative spin on wall storage (heavy-duty bookends would be a must-have though!) and creative letters decorate the otherwise minimalistic wardrobe.
Visualizer:Anya Abramova
The corner tree shelf might be too big of a project for most DIY fans, but those clouds and raindrops would be easy to make with some stiff cardboard and leftover fabric. The placement of the decorations does a wonderful job of highlighting the light blue accent wall.
Visualizer:Katie Domracheva
Here’s another tree themed bedroom - this one is incredible. Kids’ room decor should stimulate the imagination and this sculptural installation does just that. Above the sofa, lovely animal prints extend the forest theme.
Visualizer:Maria Yasko
While this is obviously a restaurant and not a bedroom, the mountain and umbrella theme would be a cool look to try at home. The mountains are a candidate for a weekend DIY project if you’re handy with a circular saw or can find large enough pieces of sturdy poster board.
Visualizer:Katie Domracheva
A full-wall map combines the best of both education and decoration. Kids and teens alike are sure to appreciate their enhanced understanding of geography later in life.
Visualizer:Katie Domracheva
It’s hard to coordinate artwork sometimes. These matching illustrations offer a nice uniform appearance and will likely remain relevant as the child grows older.
Visualizer:Ruslan Tcacenco
Light mauve walls and soft upholstered panels help this room feel comfortable and calm, surely appreciated during study time and while trying to fall asleep at night.
Visualizer:Ilya Leg4atov
Displaying memorabilia often requires creativity, and these nice wall-mounted stands help turn a sports collection into a form of gorgeous decoration. The shelves over the bed are quite nice too!
Visualizer:Michel Leyraud
Here’s another sports-themed room, this time aimed toward an older teen that wants to impress with a suave and refined style. Black is an easy go-to wall choice for older kids who want to stand out but don’t want a lot of color.
Visualizer:Roselind Wilson
What kid wouldn’t want a climbing wall in their room? This is almost too cool for words! Both rungs and rock climbing holds encourage healthy exercise. This lucky young resident could even use the wall holds to reach the collection of toys (from the movie Cars) on the upper shelves to the right.
Visualizer:Igor Sviridov
A large soccer field decal spices up this sport-themed study space, and the wrap-around shelf emphasizes the unusual wall architecture. The composition of the decal is interesting and worth mentioning too: rather than an ordinary photograph, this one is a creative design with a close-up shot of grass with a field line overlay.
Visualizer:Michel Leyraud
Storage walls are always useful! Colorful teal and orange cubbies hold photos, books, and decorations for parents and young ones to appreciate.
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
