Plus, they prove once and for all that streamlined style can be warm and inviting.

Picture smooth stone countertops devoid of small appliances and whatever else accumulates in the kitchen atop cabinets without any fussy, dated detailing and appliances so sleek they almost disappear. These days, nothing sounds dreamier than a modern kitchen with streamlined design and absolutely no clutter.

But for some, the term "modern kitchen" conjures visions of a personality-less space that can come across as cold or sterile, even austere. Happily, we're here to poke holes in that perception with these designer modern kitchens that prove minimalist design can be warm and inviting, especially depending on surface material and finish selections for kitchen countertops, backsplashes, and flooring. Minimalist lighting can also go along way towards streamlining the look and feel of a kitchen. In fact, thoughtful design of modern kitchens can allow more homeowner personality to shine—even in small kitchens—as kitchen elements take a backseat to personal ones like art and other collections.

Whether you prefer a white kitchen or a kitchen with color, you'll find kitchen decor ideas here for every aspect of designing the ideal cookspace for you, from kitchen lighting ideas and cabinet ideas to barstools and kitchen island ideas.

1

Elegant Fluting

Exquisite porcelain-front cabinetry with brass and steel strapping elevate the kitchen in this glamourous Naples, Florida retreat. Architect Bobby McAlpine repeated fluted detailing throughout the cook space to connect it to the rest of the home.

2

Cottage Kitchen

For this quaint cottage in Napa Valley, designer Dan Fink created custom furnishings that emphasize modern comfort. He paired the kitchen’s cerused-oak cabinetry with slate-hued soapstone countertops and a backsplash of earthy brown tiles for a modern, masculine look.

3

Minimalist Island

In this Charlotte, North Carolina, mid-century modern kitchen restored by architect Ken Pursley, a thin, plated-steel prep counter extends off the sink to face the den. Behind the doors to the left is a butler's pantry that serves as a second, hideaway kitchen to keep prep and cleanup largely out of site.

4

Charcoal Counters

Modern doesn't have to mean color or austere, as proven by this Lake Toxaway, NC, kitchen, designed by Platt Architecture and designer Cliff Fong. Although its lines are more streamlined in style, the cookspace evokes a warm and inviting vibe thanks to a rustic-inspired palette that reflects the mountain lake landscape, with a custom-green center island fitted with Juno limestone counters, which also form the backsplash, and natural wood-hued cabinetry.

5

Marble Walls

Designer James Michael Howard anchored this modern, all-white kitchen in Westchester, New York, by extending the Breccia Imperiale marble countertop and backsplash up to the ceiling on the wall behind the range. The stone's organic pattern provides a focal point within the open-plan space. The refrigerator is Sub-Zero, the range is Wolf, the globe pendants are The Urban Electric Co., and the barstools are Suzanne Kasler for Hickory Chair.