Exploring dark kitchen designs

While the notion of ‘light and bright’ has long been prized within interiors, many designers are embracing the enigmatic moodiness offered by deeper tones and spaces in dark kitchen designs. In fact, the KBDi Designer Awards lineup suggests there’s been a definite move to dark kitchen designs this year, and it’s a shift that offers endless inspiration.

1. A blackened matt base of deep, dark woodgrain joinery forms the foundation of this striking kitchen by NSW designer Sarah Nolen, of Birdblack Design. It provides a stark contrast to the wine-inspired tone of the concrete benchtops, with the entire look brought together by brass handle highlights and the timber framing of the island and display shelf.

GALLERY  

2. Perth designer Alysia Pekel, of Western Cabinets, offers a moody take on traditional monochrome with this carbon-coloured creation. Careful attention to the balance of light, and the considered inclusion of matt textures and curved detailing, have resulted in a sophisticated, calming space and a surprisingly warm interpretation of the black and white kitchen.

3. Light and dark collide in this stunning space by South Australian designer Stefan Vignogna, of Stefan Vignogna Joinery & Interiors, with abundant natural light and marbled surfaces contrasting elegantly with the almost-black, smoky-grey and dark-brown tones of walnut woodgrain joinery.

4. A layering of dark, textural tones defines this luxurious entertaining space by Perth designer Richard Bell, of Flexi Renovation Group. Timber-look cabinetry blends with dark-fronted appliances, matt-black pendants, a smoky mirrored splashback and polished stone benchtop, adding depth and dimension to the intense colour palette.

5. Adelaide designer Nathan Wundersitz, of SpaceCraft Joinery, introduces a wall of matt-black cabinetry to frame the lighter textural elements of this beautifully crafted kitchen. The result is a seamless blend of cool concrete, warm timber, textural tiling and a mesh-like pendant that infuses this stylish space with individuality and character.

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