Sleek, contemporary, and undeniably chic, a well-executed modern kitchen design can truly awaken your inner chef. From minimalist monochromes to statement details, take inspiration from these AD-kitchens for your next renovation project.
Brought to life by Shruti Vyas Design, this weekend penthouse in Rajkot is a modern, minimal oasis spanning 5,000 square feet. She chose a monochrome palette for the backdrop, bringing the much-needed vibrancy through colourful art that the couple painted or purchased. As you move from one section to the other, the artworks keep you company, breaking the monotony of black and white. The dining room too is enclosed by a sliding glass partition, offering a sense of privacy while maintaining a connection to the living area and kitchen. “We added a mirror wall to enhance the illusion of space, and designed it with functionality and elegance in mind,” says Khambhayta. The kitchen carries forward the sharp monochrome palette with its black flooring, platform, wall, and overhead storage, interspersed with white under-counter cabinets and a window to bring in daylight.
“I’ve known Aditi Bhatia since she was about five years old, so I can’t think of anyone better to design a home that would truly reflect her personality and need,” muses California-based Osaya Architects founder Shreya Porey, when she looks back at the apartment she’s built for the Indian actress in Mumbai. While Bhatia envisioned “a Pinterest-worthy space,” that looked visually intriguing in every frame for her content, she also needed the home to provide the functionality required for her family and two dogs. “She wanted a modern home that matched her eclectic style, but also had enough character to feel warm and inviting.”
Bhatia’s mornings often begin in her quirky, contemporary kitchen, where she finds joy in cooking. Sage cabinets with matte black fixtures against a chequered floor and a white stone ribbed backsplash bring in visual play in the kitchen, and the sink echoes the floor with a miniature version of the black-and-white check play.
In a city like Mumbai, you’d be hard-pressed to find spaces that allow you to watch the sky, let alone have it seep into your room. In a city that never sleeps, crafting a home for mindful pauses is nothing short of a miracle, and designer Mahek Lalan of SML Architects accomplishes that unassumingly. In the neighbourhood of Matunga stands a three-level home in a 25-year-old building, spread across an area of 2,250 square feet for a family of three. The home in Mumbai is surrounded by patches of green—another rarity for the city—which it revels in by widening and elongating the windows, ushering in as much of the outdoors as one possibly can.
In the kitchen, a striking contrast of warm wood and cool black stone adds an element of visual and tactile nuance. The designer makes clever use of fluted glass-an effortless way to add an element of elegant modernity to any space while imbuing it with character-by lining the overhead cabinet shutters with the material.
Gilded walls, brass ornaments and metallic chandeliers take the spotlight in this apartment in Mumbai by Dusq Studio. The brief was great—“a total gut reno, please”—but the timeline, not so much. The clients needed the project completed in 3.5 months, flat. While they were particular about some things, they felt comfortable giving the designers Nidhi Shetty and Nidhi Chawla—friends of their son from architecture school—free rein over the design. Without a specific brief, the architects took cues from the family’s lifestyle, tastes, and values. “They’ve got a knack for spotting quality and love spaces that feel cosy and inviting, not too flashy or overdone. They wanted a home that strikes the right balance between comfort and style. So, we aimed to create a place that really matches their vibe—charming, welcoming, and just a little bit lively,” shares Shetty.
The aesthetic was guided by the sun: its light when present, and its shadowy textures when not. “Every element, from the colour palette to the materials, was chosen to evoke a sense of quiet sophistication, prioritising harmony and balance,” adds Chawla. The kitchen is the picture of minimalism, with satin-finish cabinetry concealing high-end appliances. The textured backsplash in this modern kitchen design serves as a rustic counterpoint to the subdued palette.
For AD100 Akshat Bhatt of Architecture Discipline, designing this villa in Goa for the young techpreneur Sahil Barua (co-founder of India’s largest e-commerce logistics company) enabled him to experiment with materiality, for the brief only outlined a few functional requirements and nothing more. “New projects, especially residences, can play host to a range of small-scale experiments, with new materials and building technologies that optimise construction and carbon emissions,” he says. Barua’s childhood, spent in Louis Kahn’s renowned IIM campus of Ahmedabad, inculcated an intrinsic appreciation for an authentic expression of materiality. This planted the seed for Bhatt to explore unconventional and sustainable materials, a far cry from mainstream concrete construction that proliferated due to its strength, durability and cost-effectiveness but which has a negative carbon impact that cannot be ignored.
In the stunning open kitchen, deep hues of slate and black dominate, in both matte and glossy finishes, creating a compelling contrast that overlooks the greens beyond. One feels almost suspended in nature in this zone, flanked by the pool on one end and the kitchen garden on the other.