Contemporary kitchens are a pivotal part of many homes. The kitchen often serves as a social hub where people gather and cook meals together. A well-designed contemporary kitchen will help to enliven the home, and guests and owners alike will appreciate the beauty and functionality of it. Layout, cabinets, appliances, countertops, flooring and lighting are the key elements of a contemporary kitchen.
Different layouts can be used for contemporary kitchens based on space and needs. The placement of the primary working areas of food storage, food preparation and cooking are the most important part of the layout. The work areas should be arranged in a triangle to increase efficiency and minimize walking distances. The island kitchen layout is very popular in contemporary kitchens because the island serves as one corner of the work triangle and helps the cooks and guests socialize.
Looks and function should be considered when choosing cabinetry for a contemporary kitchen. Alder, ash and birch are all popular woods for cabinets. Whatever material is chosen should be durable enough to resist moisture, spills, scratches and heat. It is a good idea to carefully measure the space and plan the kitchen to ensure that the cabinets maximize the utilization of space. Base drawers and special corner units are popular storage methods in contemporary kitchens.
Contemporary kitchens usually utilize stainless steel appliances, providing a modern and sleek look. Placement and spacing is of the utmost importance with appliances. Appliances should be placed in a way so that storage and cooking appliances make up two corners of the work triangle. In addition to the standard appliances, some thought should also be given to the sink. The sink, and especially the faucet can add a lot to the look of the kitchen.
Granite is the most popular material for countertops in contemporary kitchens. A variety of finished looks make granite popular among homeowners. Granite is quarried all over the world and the different geographic areas produce a variety of colours and patterns of veins and speckles. Granite is also admired for its durability and few maintenance requirements. The height of countertops is usually 3 feet, which is the most ergonomic for kitchen tasks.
The material and pattern of the flooring is an important part of contemporary kitchens. The material should be beautiful and durable and installed with a high level of craft to ensure that it will be long lasting. Hardwood flooring is the most common because of its durability and variety of colours and grains. Harwood floors can be installed in strips, planks and parquet squares, and each can serve as a beautiful flooring surface. Some homeowners choose ceramic, marble, slate and bamboo in place of hardwood.
Lighting is a vital part of any contemporary kitchen design. Several types of lighting should be incorporated to maximize function and to make the space enjoyable. Ambient lighting gives the most brightness and general lighting to the space. Recessed lights or track lights are good examples to use. Accent lighting could be under cabinet lights to help focus light on task areas, or a simple hanging light focused on an area below. - 32406
Different layouts can be used for contemporary kitchens based on space and needs. The placement of the primary working areas of food storage, food preparation and cooking are the most important part of the layout. The work areas should be arranged in a triangle to increase efficiency and minimize walking distances. The island kitchen layout is very popular in contemporary kitchens because the island serves as one corner of the work triangle and helps the cooks and guests socialize.
Looks and function should be considered when choosing cabinetry for a contemporary kitchen. Alder, ash and birch are all popular woods for cabinets. Whatever material is chosen should be durable enough to resist moisture, spills, scratches and heat. It is a good idea to carefully measure the space and plan the kitchen to ensure that the cabinets maximize the utilization of space. Base drawers and special corner units are popular storage methods in contemporary kitchens.
Contemporary kitchens usually utilize stainless steel appliances, providing a modern and sleek look. Placement and spacing is of the utmost importance with appliances. Appliances should be placed in a way so that storage and cooking appliances make up two corners of the work triangle. In addition to the standard appliances, some thought should also be given to the sink. The sink, and especially the faucet can add a lot to the look of the kitchen.
Granite is the most popular material for countertops in contemporary kitchens. A variety of finished looks make granite popular among homeowners. Granite is quarried all over the world and the different geographic areas produce a variety of colours and patterns of veins and speckles. Granite is also admired for its durability and few maintenance requirements. The height of countertops is usually 3 feet, which is the most ergonomic for kitchen tasks.
The material and pattern of the flooring is an important part of contemporary kitchens. The material should be beautiful and durable and installed with a high level of craft to ensure that it will be long lasting. Hardwood flooring is the most common because of its durability and variety of colours and grains. Harwood floors can be installed in strips, planks and parquet squares, and each can serve as a beautiful flooring surface. Some homeowners choose ceramic, marble, slate and bamboo in place of hardwood.
Lighting is a vital part of any contemporary kitchen design. Several types of lighting should be incorporated to maximize function and to make the space enjoyable. Ambient lighting gives the most brightness and general lighting to the space. Recessed lights or track lights are good examples to use. Accent lighting could be under cabinet lights to help focus light on task areas, or a simple hanging light focused on an area below. - 32406
About the Author:
Matthew Kerridge is an expert in home improvement. If you want more information about contemporary kitchens and other varieties of kitchen or are looking for a reputable kitchen retailer please visit http://www.wrenkitchens.com
