It’s easy to fall in love with sleek bathrooms and clean bedroom retreats, but a modern minimalist kitchen offers a special sort of Zen. Defined by clean lines, uncluttered and organized surfaces, and a focus on functionality, these spaces embody the essence of simplicity. The minimalist solutions these kitchen designers champion prioritize an emphasis on tranquility and efficiency. Let these minimalist kitchens inspire an uncluttered culinary space that’s both aesthetically pleasing and highly functional.
Get inspiration from these minimalist kitchens
A SWOON-WORTHY MODERN KITCHEN DESIGN
Keeping in mind the homeowners’ taste for Scandinavian-modern style, architect Karen Smuland designed a two-story home with river views and outdoor access from nearly every room. On the main floor, a large, folding glass door connects the open-plan kitchen, dining and great room to a multilevel patio. An awning window imported from Australia floods the kitchen with sun, drawing attention to the subtle textures of the Heath Ceramics backsplash tiles and the concrete countertops by Cement Elegance. A trio of Gubi’s Ronde pendants shines on the island’s waterfall top and Williamsen counter stools by McGee & Co.
PHOTOGRAPHY: CHRISTOPHER DIBBLE
MINIMALIST STYLE SHINES IN THIS COTTAGE
To preserve the nearly-century-old allure while elevating this Nashville home’s functionality and style, the client called on his friend and designer, Jason Arnold, who had also designed his previous home in nearby Green Hills. Arnold accented the kitchen’s white-oak cabinetry—crafted by Keystone Millworks in Cumming, Georgia—with Richelieu knobs in antique brass. Custom iron counter stools with cushions of Joseph Noble leather align beneath the kitchen’s unlacquered brass island, which was also custom crafted by Keystone Millworks in collaboration with Larry W. Stone Custom Metals. A single Visual Comfort & Co. pendant makes a simple statement against the fluid veining of Danby marble from Stone World. The oil portrait is vintage.
PHOTOGRAPHY: ZEKE RUELAS
SIMPLE YET STUNNING DECOR
Architect and designer Alex Robinette reimagined this Austin home as a contemporary haven among the site’s abundant wildlife. Here in the kitchen, Robinette’s collection of Broste Copenhagen dishes line the open shelves. She chose quartzite from Architectural Tile & Stone for the island countertop and backsplash, adding a Wolf range from Harway Appliances and a Blanco sink with Waterworks fittings found at Alexander Marchant.
PHOTOGRAPHY: CASEY DUNN
EARTH TONES SET THE STAGE
With a request to develop a soft oasis for a family leaving the hustle and bustle of city life, designer Emily Millman leaned on softness, both physically and visually, for this abode outside Chicago. Through an archway of this earthy home is the streamlined kitchen, featuring custom cabinetry by Design Concepts by PRH Inc. Peca counter stools pull up to the central island, which is encompassed in Calia Stone honed white-crystal quartzite fabricated by Granite Design of Midwest.
PHOTOGRAPHY: RYAN MCDONALD
NEUTRALS ABOUND IN THIS MINIMALIST GALLEY KITCHEN
A self-described minimalist, interior designer Jason Kalman got right to work reimagining this Los Angeles property (“We bought it and I was drawing the very next day,” he recalls)—but he was determined not to overbuild. As such, Brutalism meets Minimalism throughout the home. Caesarstone countertops complement the galley kitchen’s stained, rift-sawn oak cabinetry, Pietra Gray marble backsplash and white oak flooring. One of the couple’s miniature schnauzers, Toby, sits near the door to the deck.
PHOTOGRAPHY: MANOLO LANGIS
THE LASTING POWER OF MARBLE
From the outset, Erin Cantu and her clients envisioned a house that was refined yet conducive for an active lifestyle with three children. The refinement is evident in the kitchen, where Calacatta Gold marble countertops and backsplash headline the minimalist space. The white oak cabinetry, coated in Benjamin Moore’s Carter Gray on the islands, is accented with classic brass pulls, while the Urban Electric Co. lights complement Anderssen & Voll for &Tradition stools.
PHOTOGRAPHY: VENJHAMIN REYES
THE PERFECT BACKDROP FOR SPRAWLING CITY VIEWS
For this Miami Design District getaway, the aesthetic Lisa Hynes and Heather Weisz’s clients had in mind was something easy, fun and relaxing. Case in point-this clean minimalist kitchen, where Thomas Hayes Studio’s The Iron and Rolled stools gather around an Italkraft island, complemented by a Wolf hood. The nearby shelving is from Palm Beach Custom Woodworks in maple. Guests can also enjoy incredible city views.
PHOTOGRAPHY: JESSICA GLYNN
SUNNY MINIMALIST VISION
This Mercer Island, Washington house, originally designed by architect Reid A. Morgan Jr. in the early 1970s, has been lovingly renovated by a couple who embraced its spectacular setting and all the magic that comes with it. Lake Washington views are the star of their contemporary minimalist kitchen, where white oak cabinets are enhanced with sleek pulls from Sun Valley Bronze. The quartzite countertops are sourced from Architectural Surfaces.
PHOTOGRAPHY: ANDREW GIAMMARCO
SCALING IT BACK TO LET NATURE SHINE
A contemporary loft-style structure was the vision for a pair of empty nesters ready to downsize. Austere oak veneer cabinetry is the focus of the home’s dark minimalist kitchen, while E&B Classic Floors fabricated the countertops, backsplash and waterfall island using Calacatta Gold marble from Opustone Stone and Tile Concepts. The sleek Franke faucet and Blanco sink are from Next Plumbing Supply.
PHOTOGRAPHY: LIBERTAD RODRIGUEZ
A CUSTOM COZY MINIMALIST KITCHEN
The design brief for this island refuge focused on seamlessly melding minimalist style with the landscape’s natural wonder. So, the Juggernaut Woodworking team created this minimalist kitchen island, topped by PentalQuartz. Teak Bali Bungalow stools and Serena & Lily woven pendants introduce softer rattan textures, while the fireplace features a faux-concrete finish created by artist Lauren Sloan.
PHOTOGRAPHY: MIRANDA ESTES
A KITCHEN WITH MODERN MEXICAN FLAIR
Interior architect Lorena Gaxiola collaborated with residential designer Carlos Wellman on this La Jolla home’s design and specified the finishes, opting for a minimalist palette including Arabescato marble for the perimeter countertop, backsplash and hood, as well as Van Gogh quartzite for the island top in this modern kitchen.
PHOTOGRAPHY: AMY BARTLAM
THIS KITCHEN EXUDES CONTEMPORARY RANCH LIFE
As the center point of this Arizona home, this minimalist kitchen needed to feel cozy, hence the lower ceilings and warm wood tones. LEM Piston barstools from Design Within Reach line the Paonazzo porcelain counter, and overhead, Gotham lighting fixtures by Modern Forms add a hint of glamour.
PHOTOGRAPHY: ROEHNER + RYAN
STREAMLINED IN NEUTRAL FOR A MODERN FINISH
In this modern minimalist kitchen, Calacatta marble countertops crown rift-sawn white oak cabinetry by Keystone Millworks and floors in a similarly pale finish. Strokes of black also appear in Arteriors’ Ansel counter stools, hinged steel windows by R.G. Ironworks and Kallista faucets from Ferguson Bath, Kitchen & Lighting Gallery.
PHOTOGRAPHY: ROBERT PETERSON
BEHOLD THIS BRIGHT WOODEN WONDER
Caesarstone counters and Calacatta Delicate Gold marble sound a modern note in this warm minimalist kitchen design. The Agnes pendants over the island and the Graphic Grande chandelier in the adjoining dining area are both by Aerin for Visual Comfort & Co, while Carl Hansen & Søn wishbone chairs sourced from Design Within Reach surround the clients’ own dining table.
PHOTOGRAPHY: CHRIS EDWARDS
CRAFTING A TAILORED MINIMALIST STYLE
Starting from scratch, the team created a monochromatic kitchen that felt more suitable in scale to the large space, featuring custom cabinets fabricated by Vesta, Caesarstone countertops and a Thermador range. They also composed a gathering space by the minimalist kitchen island with Blu Dot counter stools and a Sonneman fixture.
PHOTOGRAPHY: RYAN MCDONALD
MONOCHROME KITCHEN DESIGN
In a nod to the home’s modern architecture, the owners made it clear the interiors should feel clean, with no clutter and very little visible hardware. The white minimalist kitchen takes this to heart, where Caesarstone countertops and backsplash engage soothingly with the gloss-white cupboards Goodall Custom Millwork & Cabinetry, while light-gray leather and stainless-steel counter stools from Star International Furniture line up along the island.
PHOTOGRAPHY: LAURA MOSS
A DINING AREA WITH A DASH OF FLORAL TRANQUILITY
A Tribeca aerie is elevated to new heights for a family desiring a sunny and sleek spot to call home. In its’ clean minimalist kitchen, Gubi Beetle counter chairs are selected to match the breakfast nook and to add a dash of flair to the existing cabinets and countertops. Dishes from DeVine line the shelves and the glass globe pendants are from RH.
PHOTOGRAPHY: BRITTANY AMBRIDGE
A BEACH HOUSE WITH MINIMALIST STYLE
For a 1970s home in need of an update, designers combined subtle nods to the home’s origins with modern sentiments. In this spartan kitchen, black accents—such as the Carronade pendants by Le Klint and Blink counter stools by Stellar Works—stand out against a white backdrop. Ann Sacks tiles deliver subtle pattern in the minimalist kitchen backsplash, and chairs from Haskell Antiques surround a Stellar Works table.
PHOTOGRAPHY: SUZANNA SCOTT
STRIKING OAK CONTRASTS
Mater’s oak and leather High Stools complement the warm tones of this cozy minimalist kitchen in the Hamptons, while Brendan Ravenhill’s industrial Double Church Chandelier in white and brass provides a striking contrast. “The oak does the talking for the entire design,” designer Alexis Litman says of the kitchen’s floors, custom cabinetry and island.
PHOTOGRAPHY: JOSHUA MCHUGH
INDOOR OUTDOOR KITCHEN DESIGN WITH FLAIR
This getaway offers the best of both worlds. Floor-to-ceiling doors from Westhampton Glass pocket to open the main living spaces to the deck. Architect Paul Masi designed the minimalist kitchen cabinets and topped the perimeter counters with Corian and the waterfall island with quartzite. The barstools are from Design Within Reach; the outdoor furnishings are RH.
