Located in a historic house in the centre of Moscow, this compact multifunctional flat, for a single male homeowner, measures just 33 square metres. Designer Alireza Nemati at Studio Bazi transformed the interior by implementing compact blocks to hold a mini kitchen and laundry, a reading room, a wet room, plus a pull out closet and shoe cabinet . The layout is an unusual one with plenty of off-beat inspiration on how you could make a small space work for you. Read on to view innovative zoning techniques, a design for reinforced bookshelves to combat the problem of a crumbling old interior wall, and a great way to fully utilise that awkward space under the stairs.
Photographer:Polina Poludkina
Typically, lounging is the first concept considered in the design of a living room, but this living space is definitely geared toward use as a reading room. A large bookcase has been installed along one entire wall in order to house the homeowners extensive personal library. This shelving stands between a kitchen block and a window wall. By the way, if you love living rooms with an emphasis on reading, don’t forget to check out our post: Living rooms for book lovers . The furniture chosen to populate the flat is predominantly of 1930’s design, which gives the space a trendy mid-century modern flair.
In order to keep the window unobstructed and easy to open, the end of the bookcase structure near to the glass is much shallower. This end panel is used as a place for hanging up spare folded chairs, which are on hand to quickly seat any guests.
Due to the age of the historical building in which the flat resides, the original walls have become tired and may crumble should heavy items be mounted into them. To combat this, stainless steel legs have been embedded into the structure of the bookshelf to endure both the furniture’s own weight and the heavy collection of books.
A chrome uplighter stands at the bottom of a modern staircase .
The staircase is an attractive combination of wooden treads and white risers.
Lining the length of the hallway, between the reading room and the bedroom, is what at first appears to be a run of closets. However, these volumes actually hold a kitchenette, laundry facilities and more.
Bespoke storage solutions have been fitted into the triangular space beneath the stairs, behind plain doors that quietly blend in with the white staircase structure.
Subtle handles allow the under stair volumes to be pulled out, revealing a generous amount of garment hanging space and a shoe rack.
There is even a chest of drawers incorporated into the pull-out closets, for stashing smaller items and casual pieces of clothing.
Directly opposite the under stair closets, the mini kitchen block is revealed from behind bifold wooden doors.
Inside the small kitchen block there is a decent selection of cabinets, a ventilated vegetable unit, a wall mounted dish draining rack, a hidden pull-out worktop and a refrigerator. Beside this kitchen unit, a laundry block holds a washing machine plus laundry supplies and household cleaning accessories.
Each element of this unique kitchen has been individually designed, prototyped and built for purpose in this home.
Every sliver of space is spoken for, every chopping surface assigned a special place.
A single wall sconce lights the tiny prep and cooking zone. This type of fixture is called an accordion lamp and you can get it here . A shallow shelf is just wide enough to support a limited selection of coffee mugs .
Above another of the secretive hallway units, a mysterious ceiling track extends across the width of the walkway…
… Residing within the unit standing below the ceiling track is a heavy privacy curtain that can be pulled out to separate the bedroom and shower room from the living zone.
The same wooden floor runs throughout the entire compact flat to create a seamless flow.
The modern white bedroom is minimalist in its aesthetic, and benefits from a generous amount of bright natural light. A single window curtain hangs at just one side of the set of three panes, keeping the look uncluttered.
A porthole window is cut in the side of the ensuite, allowing a view through to not only the bedroom but to the great outdoors too. The presence of this window gives the tiny ensuite a more open feel.
The door to the shower room is clear glass, but the curtain embedded in the unit opposite makes the space private when required.
All the walls of the home are painted plain gallery white.
The privacy curtain between the bedroom and living space makes the sleeping and bathing area more cosy.
A simple white side table acts as a bedside unit, decorated with only a modern table lamp . The table’s ‘C’ shaped frame allows the table to be pushed up close and wrap the side of the bed.
The narrow wash area contains a small wall mounted basin. There is no vanity unit present in order to save space, though a selection of toiletries are held on a bathroom shelf at one side.
Water drains over a water-tight wet room floor with a white marble finish.
Upstairs, a wall hung toilet is matched with a wall mounted toilet brush holder.
Immediately at the top of the stairs, a line of neat wooden coat pegs on a vertical wooden panel keep jackets tidy and off the floor.
A small stool is situated beneath the coat pegs as a handy spot on which to be seated when pulling shoes on and off.
is a great aesthetic for a home office space. It’s no frills, no fuss approach creates a strong and motivational place in which to get to work. So we decided to take a closer look at what kind of elements are needed to make up a place like this, and put together this collection of inspirational domestic workspaces that are beautiful in the industrial sense. See how to fashion an industrial style home office using raw brickwork and concrete, rustic upcycled wood furniture, ingenious desks that use repurposed industrial metal and some cool accessories that bring the whole kit and caboodle to life.
Visualizer:Denis Karandiuk
An Eames Eiffel chair looks great with an industrial style desk , with its reinforced metal framework and raw wood legs. Wood shelving climbs across an exposed brick wall, pausing for surface mounted electrical wiring that just adds to the utilitarian look. Objects of interest are displayed on the shelving to bring personality to the pared back decor, like a dreamy sailboat model and a retro vinyl record. An Eames bird perches next to a chalkboard with a cheerful written reminder to be “happy”.
Visualizer:Anjey Mospanyuk
adorn the wall behind this engineers work space, as fun inspiration to reach beyond the stars in imagination and ingenuity. Two small storage units carry safety caution stamps over the drawer fronts to embolden their upcycled appearance. The desk features stunning repurposed metalwork legs. Behind the desk, two rows of wall pegs allow drawing tools to be doubled as decor.
Source:RH Baby & Child
This double workspace with integrated shelving system and storage drawers uses pipe shelf brackets to thread the whole thing together with industrial panache. An industrial wall lamp is attached directly to one of the side struts.
Visualizer:George Dimitrov
Slick aviation style melds with rougher edges in this office space to give it a different flavour. Industrial style is surprisingly adaptable and lends itself to many amalgamations.
Visualizer:Janis
A dominant wall clock on raw concrete, central modern home office desk , and cityscape photography gives this contemporary home office an urban city slicker air. The beautiful swivel chair seen here is the Magis Chair One .
Designer:Hao Design
has been used to shape an industrial shelving system in this example. Metal bars bend from the super force of Captain America’s shield and Hulk’s fist “SMASH!”
Visualizer:Anton Siriak
Neatly rigged electrical wiring patterns a concrete wall in a home music studio. A chunky Embody chair has been set at a small wall hung desk.
Photographer:HEJM
A vibrant rug matches the look of busy book stacks that cover a concrete wall with colour.
Visualizer:ODA Design Studio
Another Magis Chair One is seated at a rustic wall mounted drawer unit, which forms a desktop beneath a higher shelving volume. Black and white photography is arranged in a mini gallery on the whitewashed wall. Colourful typographic prints in simple black picture frames cover the adjacent white brickwork.
Visualizer:Javier Winstein
A bright red industrial style chair throws an unexpected pop of colour into the room. A motivational poster hangs above the workspace, alongside a Frame clock by Nazar Sigaher.
Visualizer:Zrobym
Large industrial style lighting pendants not only look great but give generous illumination over an industrial work area.
Source:Possibilities
This light features a set of exposed bulbs for a more pared back look.
Visualizer:Denis Balabaev
add a flash of finesse. Classic works of art soften the edge.
Visualizer:Blalank Studio
A live edge desk and wall shelf introduce a soothing nature feel inside a completely concrete box room.
Source:Sobleski
The patina of antique metal and worn leather go hand in hand with industrial style decor.
Visualizer:Evgeny Zjuba
If you crave a the closeness of nature but lack desk space for lots of plants, look at every single other surface as an opportunity for planting. A garden can grow in the most unexpected of places.
Visualizer:Elshad Kerimov
Petrolheads take note: You can repurpose car tyres to hold up a desktop, or the entire tail of a car to create some cool bespoke seating.
Designer:Hogue Interior Design
Metal panels are bolted together to create new curves for this unique desk.
Designer:Jae Joo
The sloping lines of an Aviator Desk sit well beneath the rise of a staircase.
Designer:Martins Architect
A sharp shiny metal trash can sets off smooth wood tone. The Eames shell chair acts as the computer chair here.
Photographer:Susannah Thai
Rustic decor mixed with industrial style makes a warming combination.
Visualizer:Evgeny Zjuba
A floor lamp is a striking alternative to a desk lamp - and saves desk space too.
Visualizer:Art Group by Vasilkova Daria
Paint up a massive piece of wood or wall space with some chalkboard paint and use it to scribble notes or motivational quotes.
Visualizer:LOGOVO Design Group
Bring comfort to a utilitarian decor scheme with deep pile rugs and soft furnishings.
Visualizer:VAE
A black painted brick wall adds depth.
Source:Rosewood Builders
Team an Aviator Desk with matching armchairs for a high-end look.
Visualizer:Kristina Bilynets
Industrial home offices are for kids too.
Source:El Dorado Stone
Just one bold hero piece, such as a large wall clock like this industrial style one , can really cement the tone of a room. More subtle pieces can then be positioned around the space, such as industrial shelving brackets or a rustic swing arm wall lamp .
Visualizer:Thomas Deffet
Charcoal decor creates a dramatic backdrop for these double workspaces .
Visualizer:Algimantas Raubiška
Don’t cover up imperfect walls. Find perfection in imperfection.
Visualizer:Annete Manuilova
Harness the visually warming effect of woodtone in a cold industrial scheme. Even small pieces create a lift, such as picture frames, storage boxes or a lamp. You can get a similar wooden table lamp to this one here .
Visualizer:Alexandra Yanovskaya
This industrial table lamp makes a small workspace shine.
Visualizer:Anwar Al Jufrey Khalid
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
