Above from top left: Affinity AF-545 "Solitude", Quarter Sawn Black Walnut cabinet door, White Gloss cabinet door, Retro Eyewear print, Metal Landscape Mirror, Silestone Blue Enjoy

Under-Mount Double-Equal Bowl Kitchen Sink

Evoke Kitchen Faucet

Capri Bottle Pendant

Bertoia Stool

Eames Storage Unit

Modern spaces are sleek, sexy, and dramatic. But they can also be sterile and devoid of personality. In this inspiration pinboard, I introduce playful colors and lots of bright surfaces to keep the kitchen feeling friendly and happy.

Cabinetry:

Custom Cupboards Quarter Sawn Black Walnut - Fusion - 14
Custom Cupboards White Gloss - Italia - 14

These door profiles feature the luxurious, modern style of Italian designer furniture without sacrificing the practicality and durability for which Custom Cupboards is known. With the Revola line of full-access frameless cabinets, gaps between cabinet doors are virtually nonexistent, lending a slick seamlessness to the space. The Black Walnut doors are used for the base and upper wall cabinets, while the White Gloss doors are used on the oversized island.

Countertops:

Silestone White Zeus Extreme, Blue Enjoy

Gleaming white Silestone countertops bounce light around the room and balance the darker tones of the Black Walnut cabinets. The oversized island boasts a bold and unforgettable blue counter. Made from quartz, these countertops are durable and stain-resistant.

Cabinet hardware:

Elements 26SN Naples Knob, Satin Nickel, $3
Schaub & Company Italian Design Pull, satin nickel, $10

Simplicity is the goal here. Conical knobs add a modern touch without attracting too much attention, and the linear pulls offer the utmost in sleek minimalism while still delivering day-to-day functionality.

Backsplash tile:

Mod Walls 2x8-inch Subway Tile in "Milk"

The look of timeless subway tile in a less-familiar 2x8-inch configuration brings sleek modernity to a classic favorite. In white, it will extend the countertops upwards, bouncing even more light.

Sink and faucet:

Kohler Poise Stainless Under-Mount Double-Equal Bowl Kitchen Sink, $2162
Kohler Evoke Single-Hole Kitchen Sink Faucet with 9" Spout in polished chrome, $696

The sink will be located in the large island, set into the attention-grabbing blue countertop. A sleek, tailored under-mount, the Poise stainless sink features a distinctive beveled edge and crisp, 90-degree corners. The Evoke faucet provides utilitarian modernism with rounded angularity and minimalist style.

Paint:

Benjamin Moore Affinity AF-545 "Solitude"

This muted blue-gray will nicely complement the walnut cabinetry without fighting the stronger blue hues elsewhere in the room.

Lighting:

Jonathan Adler Capri Bottle Pendant in blue, $195.00

The pale blue glass of this graceful pendant echos the color of the island below it without resorting to cobalt-colored glass. A row of three pendants arranged over the island would provide a generous amount of task lighting and balance out the large island.

Accent furniture:

Herman Miller Eames Storage Unit, 2x2 in multi-color, $1,249

Without a dose of variety, modern kitchens can feel like cold commercial buildings. An Eames Storage Unit provides helpful additional storage for larger display items while introducing bright color and iconic American mid-century design.

Counter stools:

Bertoia Counter Stool with Seat Pad in white, $1,096

These beloved Bertoia stools are a joy to look at and, with seat pads, a joy to sit in. An ageless mid-century design, they help keep our modern kitchen from feeling simplistically contemporary.

Art and accessories:

West Elm Metal Landscape Mirror, $199
Plan 59 24 x 24-inch Retro Eyewear Print, $65

A large mirror in landscape orientation reflects light from the windows back into the kitchen and serves to open up the space, while a reprint from a vintage ad for sunglasses introduces more color and a lighthearted vibe.

Dinnerware:

West Elm Seedling Dinnerware Set, $20

Muted, repeating geometric patterns add subtle interest to this dinnerware set. A great design that won't upstage the food.

Area rug:

CB2 Pegboard Reversible Rug, $99

This reversible acrylic area rug is anti-microbial, anti-bacterial, and anti-static - all helpful traits for kitchen use. Moppable with soap and water, cleanup is easy too. The die-cut holes add interest and contemporary flair.