Category: Blog

We throw around a lot of terminologies when we describe certain design styles throughout the ages. Some style trends are more comfortable to differentiate, but some are so closely related that it’s hard to tell the difference. So, we’re going to be doing a little blog series called What’s the Difference. Today, we’re going to try to shed some light on the difference between a modern and a contemporary kitchen.

Modern vs. contemporary kitchen design

If you’re confused by the difference between modern design and contemporary design, you’re not alone. No style can be placed in one specific box, all styles are slightly fluid and some blend together. In a Venn diagram, contemporary and modern design will have a lot of overlapping circles. Let’s take a look at the subtle differences between contemporary and modern kitchen design.

Modern kitchen design

You’d think that modern kitchen design is going to be the hottest latest trend, when, in fact, you need to look back a few decades. Although there are elements of modern design in every contemporary kitchen, not every modern kitchen has contemporary design elements. Confused? Let’s see if we can’t simplify it a bit.

The first modern kitchen was designed in the 1950s. That was the time when the kitchen stopped being just a kitchen and started becoming a more social room in the house. It was also during this time that the kitchen started to become an extension of the living room and dining room, instead of hidden away in the back of the house. Because of this trend, the kitchen needed to be both functional and stylish.

To modernize the style of the kitchen, designers started getting rid of frivolous and ornate elements that were found in a traditional kitchen. Designers began to work with clean lines and simple design, ensuring that space was utilized to the fullest to maximize efficiency. The color scheme was also minimized and neutralized for a cleaner and sleeker effect. And, voila, the modern kitchen was born.

Contemporary kitchen design

Contemporary kitchen design is basically, taking the philosophy of the modern kitchen and incorporating the latest trends. The modern kitchen is like the foundation of a contemporary kitchen, utilizing the clean and simple design elements and neutral color scheme, and then adding contemporary trends, like custom designed storage, a bright pop of color, and natural stone countertops.

Modern Contemporary Kitchen

The simplicity and the sleekness of a modern kitchen can sometimes feel a little impersonal. Adding contemporary elements will soften the sharp edges of modern design, adding some warm personal touches to make the kitchen feel fresh.

Visit The Kitchen Showcase to see the subtle differences between modern and contemporary kitchen design in one of our 40 complete showrooms.

Hardware can put the final touches on a brand new kitchen remodel. We often think about the big-ticket items when we visualize our dream kitchens, like cabinets and countertops, but your choice of hardware can make a kitchen come alive.

Kitchen Hardware

Kitchen hardware is like that perfect accessory that makes the entire outfit. Let’s look at some of the essential hardware for your kitchen, and how it can help enhance the style and ambiance.

The style of hardware you choose should complement the style of your kitchen. If you’re going for an ultra modern kitchen with Scandinavian simplicity, choosing chunky and heavy hardware may weigh down the sleekness of the design. On the other hand, if you want a contemporary mountain kitchen, you can play with more ornate and bold hardware choices.

Knobs, Pulls, and Handles

Just like your kitchen design, the hardware should be functional and stylish. A modern contemporary kitchen tends to find knobs, pulls, and handles that are almost invisible, and blend into the design of the cabinets and drawers. The trick is to keep the hardware as minimalistic as the rest of the design.

Comfort

Besides wanting the hardware to compliment the style of your kitchen, you also want it to feel good. Before you choose hardware, we recommend that you visit a kitchen showroom and test out the hardware that appeals to your aesthetic. If you don’t like the way it feels, then you shouldn’t have it in your kitchen. The functionality of every product in your kitchen is one of the most important aspects of excellent kitchen design.

Hinges

For a rustic country kitchen, showing the hardware can add charm. Choosing visible hinges can add a nice visual and some texture to your design. However, if you want to keep it simple, look for hinges that are hidden, keeping the lines of your kitchen sleek and smooth.

Durability

Finally, the hardware you choose is going to see the most action in your kitchen. Your knobs, pulls, and handles are going to be used more than anything else, so make sure you choose quality products. Testing out the product first hand will give you a better impression of the durability of the hardware, rather than relying on a photograph.

Visit The Kitchen Showroom to test out hardware to complete your dream kitchen.

When you remodel your home, you tend to think “big picture.” Once you have the big items that will create the base of your interior design, you have to think about little decorative details that will make the entire house come alive. Here are small decorative elements that can take your home to another level.

Decorative Details

One decorative detail in every room can make everything pop. It doesn’t have to be a big statement piece. Sometimes, the most significant impact can be a tiny, subtle detail. It’s also the little details that you can continue throughout the home for cohesive interior design.

Three-Dimensional Design

Look at the big items in your home, cabinets, furniture, wallpaper and look for subtle characteristics that you can draw out and highlight. Your floors, furniture, or kitchen cabinets may have a subtle grain pattern, texture, or hue that you can draw out and highlight using other decorative things. Pull these aesthetics into the room for a three-dimensional design effect by having small decorative items that share the same tones or textures.

Decorative Pillows

One of the simplest ways to take subtle aesthetic characteristics and make them big is a decorative pillow. No room in the house can’t be enhanced with a few decorative pillows. Pillows can add a pop of color, an interesting pattern or texture, that will breathe some life to the room. Decorative pillows are like sprinkling a little fairy dust throughout the home.

Contrasting elements

Sometimes the best way to highlight a decorative feature is to add something contrasting. Contrasting doesn’t mean that the elements are fighting each other; they are working together to highlight and enhance each other. Think about decorative hardware in the kitchen. Using heavy and dark hardware on light and natural kitchen cabinets can have a bold and dramatic effect, where both the lightness of the cabinets and the darkness of the hardware draw out the best qualities in each other. Opposites attract in interior design, as well as in life.

Talk to a design expert at The Kitchen Showcase about how to highlight your interior design with subtle decorative details.

The open floor plan has become increasingly popular. Making the home one big open and communal space requires a lot of planning and design. You need the look of the entire home to be cohesive. However, it’s wonderful for throwing parties and having guests, especially for the person who always gets stuck in the kitchen. There are a few things to consider before you start tearing down walls and opening up your home and your kitchen.

Remodeling your home

There are benefits to having fewer walls and large open plan home. Smaller homes can benefit from an open floor plan, giving you more space and making the home feel bigger. Walls can take up a lot of precious space, so if you are looking to add a few more square feet to your living space or your kitchen, then opening up the home is an option. Another great benefit to the open floor plan is that it expands the kitchen.

Expanding your kitchen

The kitchen is becoming less a place to prep and cook, and more of a place for entertainment and quality time with the family. The kitchen is the heart of the home, pumping good energy to the entire house, which makes it more natural to open up the kitchen and make it a central focal point in your home. If you make your home an extension of the kitchen, you have to think about how the kitchen design will naturally flow and translate to the entire home.

Considering your lifestyle

A big, beautiful kitchen that is welcoming and designed for entertaining and lounging, as well as cooking and cleaning, does not fit every lifestyle. One of the biggest things you need to consider before you design an open concept home is your lifestyle. In an open plan home, every room, including the kitchen, is visible at all times. That means that any mess you leave behind after cooking a large meal is going to be visible to all of your guest at all times. A messy kitchen can take away from the ambiance of the home.

Work area behind the open kitchen

Of course, with great design and a little innovation, you can have a messy kitchen and an open floor plan home without worrying about the mess distracting from the rest of your interior design. If you love to cook and entertain, but don’t want to leave a messy kitchen for all to see at every party or gathering, design a little work area where you can hide dirty dishes, pots, and pans. Your big open kitchen can remain neat and clean for your guests, and open for entertainment, while you hide the dirty stuff in the back.

Check out all the latest products to remodel your home and design your dream kitchen.

Everyone is putting efficiency and technology front and center in modern kitchen design. The more purposes that your kitchen serves, the more minimalistic the design has gotten. Simple and effective design will allow your kitchen to fulfill the growing social aspects of a modern kitchen. Once you have brilliantly customized your cabinets, you can start to make choices based on aesthetics.

Aesthetic kitchen design trends

Just because we want our kitchens to be efficient and functional, that doesn’t mean that we can’t consider style and aesthetics. Colors and textures may not serve a physical purpose or make it easier to prepare a homecooked meal, but the aesthetic choices may impact the mood and the ambiance of the kitchen. Lack of function is frustrating, but a drab color scheme or using textures and materials that you can’t stand to look at will make the kitchen unwelcome. You should feel good in your kitchen, and that means you have to think about colors, textures, and materials that you love.

Add color

White is still the dominant color in the kitchen, but we are seeing a trend towards incorporating more bold, rich colors into the modern kitchen design. Color can break up the white and create a wow-factor. Colorful kitchen cabinets or an island is a great way to breathe a bit of life and drama into all the functional design elements. Using darker and deeper colors can add a sense of luxury and sophistication.

Clean lines

To make room for the drama created by color, simplify the rest of your design with clean lines. Avoid too much adornment on cabinet doors or kitchen counters. You don’t want to overpower your kitchen with too many dramatic elements. With a modern and clean design, you will also give your kitchen the appearance of being more open and airy, creating a pleasing flow and atmosphere.

Quartz countertops

Countertops are your chance to blend functionality and fashion. Quartz countertops are naturally beautiful, come in a variety of colors and textures, and can add some layers to your kitchen design. Not only is quartz a beautiful and elegant material, but it is sturdy and easy to maintain, giving it function as well as aesthetic benefits.
Visit our kitchen showroom to see the latest style trends for modern kitchen designs.

Once you’ve taken the decision of remodeling your kitchen and bathroom, we understand that it can be a hard and confusing project to do by yourself. For over 30 years, The Kitchen Showcase has been helping homeowners, builders, and interior designers make great decisions and increase the value of their homes. Today we want to take all this experience and knowledge, and give you some tips to help you start making your dreamed kitchen and bathroom a reality.

Define Your Wishes and Needs

Having a clear idea of how you want your kitchen and bath to look, how much space you have available for remodeling and how much money you can spend, are all very important pieces of information for you and our designers, in order to choose the best materials and designs for your needs.

We offer nearly 40 room displays where you can see, touch and experience all the different options we have available, for you to have a better idea of how you want your kitchen and bathroom to look like.

Budget and Timeline

Knowing your available project budget is very important for our design team, so they can have a clear understanding of which options can be taken into consideration for your remodeling project, to create the best kitchen and bath for your needs and preferences.

Define Your Availability

Coordination is very important for us and we know your time is very valuable, therefore we will adapt to your timeline. Defining your schedule will allow us to coordinate in the most efficient way with our trucks, service department and installation crews.

At The Kitchen Showcase
It’s All About You

You are the most important part of the process for us, and having your goals met is our number one priority. We have our full-time service representatives available for you, to keep you up-to-speed and answer all of your questions and concerns.

We invite you to stop by our new and beautiful Kitchen and Bathroom Design Showroom, located in Centennial, Colorado. We are open Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. Evenings and Saturdays by appointment. Also, you can send us your questions through our website and we will answer.