Design a Warm Contemporary Kitchen

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Design a Warm Contemporary Kitchen
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Many people are drawn to the cool colors, clean
lines and minimalist shapes that characterize a
modern decor style. And some of these same people
want their kitchen to feel like a cozy and
inviting gathering space. So what do you do when
you desire the cool vibes of modern style but
also crave warmth? You plan a warm contemporary
kitchen. Heres our guide. The first thing you
think of in contemporary kitchens is clean lines
and not a lot of adornment or overly decorative
features, says Ginger Curtis of Urbanology
Designs, in Fort Worth, Texas. Color schemes can
vary, but classic choices include white, cream,
tan, beige, gray and black, and sometimes a mix
of these colors. Palettes tend toward slightly
more monochromatic designs, Curtis adds, while
patterns tend to be more minimal or uniform. For
more insight, read our guide to contemporary
style. Choose Contemporary Shapes The secret to
getting a warm contemporary kitchen is building a
foundation of shapes that embodies contemporary
style. From there, you can add features in the
form of color or material that bring warmth to
a kitchen. Achieving a contemporary look that is
also warm requires attention to balance,
proportion and combinations of finishes, colors,
textures that bring the space to life, says
Megan Padilla, senior designer at Aidan Design,
in Silver Springs, Maryland. To get started,
lets look at the basic shapes and elements that
set the stage.
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Cabinets The easiest way to make a kitchen
contemporary is to have a contemporary cabinet.
If you have a slab door, that is a contemporary
kitchen, says Liza Riguerra of Riguerra Design
in Redwood Shores, California. A slab door or
drawer is flat, in one piece, without trims or
frills. Often it lays over the cabinet, as in
this photo, but sometimes it is set into the
cabinet frame (see next photo) in a construction
method known as inset. In terms of colors and
finishes, these cabinets may be white and glossy,
as shown here, or matte and flat, and made from
wood or a variety of laminates. Many finishes can
work. Note Some people also characterize
Shaker-style doors as an option for contemporary
kitchens, but all the designers I spoke with for
this story said that style was a better fit for
transitional or traditional kitchens. Cabinet
pulls Contemporary kitchens often lack cabinet
knobs or pulls, as in the first photo in this
story. Designers can use press-touch technology
or channel pulls to maintain a clean look without
adding hardware. Or simple streamlined bar pulls
can work in harmony with the other crisp elements
of the kitchen. If you want a decorative look,
you can get stainless steel or matte black, says
Hellen Hsieh of Design Loft Co., in Palo Alto,
California. Not too fussy. You also might see
white or chrome pulls. Horizontal orientation
makes for a contemporary look and allows for
uniformity, whether the cabinet opens to the left
or the right, says Michael Rasky of Los
Angeles-based Modern Nest. Oversizing also
creates a contemporary look. Eight to 12 inches
feels a little more modern than 4 to 5 inches,
Rasky says.