Cool Black Kitchen Ideas

Black in a kitchen? We think it works a treat. A black kitchen might seem like a bold choice, but there are lots of different ways to incorporate black into a kitchen – and it's not all drama drama...

Looking for black kitchen ideas? Whether you've got your mind set on a dramatic black kitchen design or something more subtle or chic, we've seen our fair share of black kitchens and have learned that they can have almost polar opposite looks. From wallpapered black kitchens to tiled kitchens, all-over black kitchens or just a pinch of black kitchens, there's no one-size-fits all when it comes to black kitchen design.

Read Also:Striking And Stylish White Kitchen Ideas

Abigail Ahern fans, we have plenty to inspire you. For shyer types, rest assured that ablack kitchen doesn't have to be a dramatic, or even masculine space. The examples below show that black kitchens really come in all sorts of different styles.

But some of the most stand-out designsarebalanced schemes that feature a mix of materials.

When paired with wood floors, a wood island or wood details, a black kitchen can be quite a calm and serene space. When set against an exposed brick or wholly concrete backdrop it adopts a more industrial look.

Read Also:Calm Wood Kitchen Ideas

For all-over drama, drench the walls, cabinets, island and even the ceiling in a deep black shade. Black metro tiles are a popular choice for splash backs in a black kitchen, as are brass kitchen cabinet knobs to add a touch of warmth and glamour to a black scheme. One designer even clad the entire extractor hob in brass plates, to stunning effect.

Read Also:Modern Kitchen Island Ideasand35 Strikingly Stylish Kitchen Breakfast Bar Ideas

For a modern look, Vipp's recognisable design and kitchen island has proved a popular choice for kitchens, and sets a dramatic scene in a concrete-clad kitchen in Taiwan, pictured below.

Read Also:Explore A Modern, Concrete Villa In The Taiwan Jungle

For a super streamlined kitchen, opt for handleless cabinetry and use storage to keep appliances out of sight – for exampleunder-counter fridge and freezer drawers and anintegrated DishDrawerintegrated seamlessly under worktops.

Read Also:Wine Room, Wine Cellar & Wine Storage Ideas

Get inspired by all our black kitchen ideas below...

Pink Contrast

Pink Contrast

The walls might be pink, but this kitchen has a definite edge to it, thanks to the black kitchen cabinets and the practical, stainless-steel table. Get the look: The prep table is by Nisbets. These are Rockett St George bar stools. The cabinetry is from B&Q. The blind is made in Beaded Stripe linen-mix by Neisha Crosland at Turnell & Gigon. The walls are painted in Paint & Paper Library’s Suchong pure flat emulsion. The vintage pendant light was bought in Holland. The portrait painting was inherited and is believed to be of South American origin.

Urban Glamour

Urban Glamour

The tin tiled island and exposed brick wall set an urban, industrial-inspired scene. The chandelier makes it glamorous.

Washed Out Wood

Washed Out Wood

The light wood kitchen island lightens the mood in this family kitchen. Rounded corners make the kitchen more child- friendly, while charcoal-coloured bricks and cabinets along the spine wall streamline the look and define this space as a work zone. Get the look: The charcoal glazed bricks are from Euroa Clay Products in Melbourne. Try grestec.co.uk for similar. The island was custom-made from bleached American oak and Calacatta marble, and the kitchen cabinets were made bespoke from charcoal-stained American oak with powder-coated handles. These are the Albert bar stools by Massproductions – Twentytwentyone stocks this design. The tap is by Dornbracht. This is a Bertazzoni oven.

Metro Tile Effect

Metro Tile Effect

The black bricks carry the cabinet shade onto the walls. Get the look: The charcoal glazed bricks are from Euroa Clay Products in Melbourne.

All Over

All Over

Walls, cabinets, the kitchen island and even the ceiling have been painted the same deep shade of black. The cow’s head on the extractor hood originally hung outside a French butcher’s shop and was one of the pieces that inspired the interior designer to make this kitchen feel a little like a boucherie. The walnut tables that slot in against the island offer a warm and chic contrast. Get the look The island and cabinetry were custom-designed by P&T Interiors. The black metro tiles are from Waterworks.

Metro Tiles

Metro Tiles

Metro tiled walls hug this kitchen space, and provide a glossy contrast to the matte black cabinetry. Get the look: The island and cabinetry were custom-designed by P&T Interiors. The black metro tiles are from Waterworks.

Brass Hood

Brass Hood

A brass extractor hood can inject instant modern glamour.

Wallpapered

Wallpapered

Looking for a black kitchen idea that doesn't take itself too seriously? This kitchen is covered in a dark floral wallpaper featuring lifelike paintings of flowers by designer Ellie Cashman, who was inspired by Dutch masters such as Rembrandt. Get the look: The cabinetry came with the apartment – try Varenna/Poliform for similar. The Cabra stool by New York design duo Material Lust is available at 1stdibs.com.

Geometry Class

Geometry Class

A black painted window frame makes a real feature of this funny shaped window. The white wall tiles are in a simple grid formation and remind us a little bit of math paper. Lower black cabinets tie in with the black dining table, while white tiles and open corner shelving has been installed on the walls. Get the look: The design was by Casey Keasler. The kitchen rug is from Kat + Maouche. The dining area’s Salt Chairs are from DWR. The Factory Light 9 Pendant is from Schoolhouse.

Breakfast Bar

Breakfast Bar

This black kitchen features a Calacatta Cremo Honed marble countertop and custom cabinets. But the real show-stopper is the sleek marble kitchen island with breakfast bar.

Breakfast Bar

Breakfast Bar

This black kitchen features a Calacatta Cremo Honed marble countertop and custom cabinets. But the real show-stopper is the sleek marble kitchen island with breakfast bar.

Industrial

Industrial

This kitchen has a cool, industrial feel to it, party owed to the Vipp design, and partly owed to the reclaimed brick walls (this kitchen sits inside a converted power station in Copenhagen) and Terrazzo flooring. The oversized planter and rug soften the look. Get the look: Three Vipp pendants hang over the Vipp kitchen island.

Streamlined

Streamlined

This black kitchen is kept low and streamlined, which was made possible by the specification of Fisher & Paykel appliances; under-counter fridge and freezer drawers are integrated seamlessly under the worktop. The kitchen’s design was all about combining aesthetics with functionality, combining details like the Henry Wilson brass handles and stained timber surfaces across the cabinetry, with an integrated DishDrawer. None of the appliances are visible, resulting in a streamlined look.

Urban Style

Urban Style

The exposed brickwork of the original house, school stools, understated cabinetry and a trio of pendant lights all lend an urban, industrial-inspired edge. The home owners of this kitchen designed, treated, fabricated and assembled the entire kitchen themselves using simple cutting lists supplied to local timber merchants and basic joinery skills learnt first-hand. Get the look: These are Indian ink-washed birch plywood kitchen cupboard doors.

Composite

Composite

The architects at MADE designed and built the kitchen cabinets and central island unit. The cabinets look like wood, but are, in fact, made from a Richlite composite. It’s really durable and has a beautiful softness. Black-painted wood just looks like black-painted wood, whereas this has a sense of mystery. Get the look: The splashback tiles are from US brand Daltile. This is the PRO304GASX Professional Series gas range from Bertazzoni. The Ray pendant is by Jordi Veciana for Metalarte. The wicker bull’s head is a sample of a product David designed for home interiors outlet West Elm, but which never went into production. The marbleised ceramics are from Atelier Sylvie Saint-André Perrin in Paris.

Concrete Pairing

Concrete Pairing

Architect Mao Shen Chiang installed this Vipp kitchen in his concrete-clad house in Taiwan. His favourite aspect of the kitchen is the steel table top which is easy to clean. Also, the storage ideas make it a unique piece of furniture. Get the look: This is a Vipp kitchen design.

Material Contrast

Material Contrast

The only thing we love more than this cool material contrast (soft woods, polished concrete, metal and glass) is the double-sized kitchen island. Get the look: This is a Vipp kitchen.

Brass Accents

Brass Accents

Brass kitchen cabinet knobs and brass detailing on the wall lights offer a warm, shiny glow to this monochrome kitchen design. We also love the subtle pink tones on the walls, the modern black tap and the marble splash back ledge. Get the look: Kitchens from Day True start from £25,000, daytrue.com

Double Height

Double Height

The architects of this property struggled to find a design solution that didn’t compromise the spaciousness or minimalism of the kitchen. This freestanding black Vipp kitchen counter includes a refrigerator, sink and stovetop built into it, and is really the piece de resistance in this kitchen.

Black Marble

Black Marble

This kitchen is thoroughly modern, featuring an all-black design. Countertops and splash backs are made from large slabs of black marble.

Grooving

Grooving

A black marble splash back adds interest to this black kitchen, while the curved extractor hood with carved grooving softens the look.

All Black

All Black

The black from the kitchen cabinets continues onto the oven and appliances, and even onto the walls and ceilings, for an all-over, cocooning effect. The only hanging lights here are suitably exotic. They were made in the 1940s from parchment, and have been fitted with amber bulbs for a beautiful glow. Get the look Table, Alfie’s Antiques Market. Chairs, Nivaldo de Lima. Walls painted in Off Black Estate Emulsion, Farrow & Ball.

'40s Glamour

'40s Glamour

This kitchen was based on a 1940s console, which is fitted to the left of the oven. It was then copied to make all the units. Get the look: Tiles, Sera of London.

Island

Island

Instead of committing to an entirely black kitchen, this family opted for just a black kitchen island instead, leaving walls white, and adding colour via artworks.

Matte & Brass

Matte & Brass

Buster & Punch door knobs compliment the kitchen island pendants and look striking against the matte black cabinetry.

Island Storage

Island Storage

Try to ignore the 150 hand-painted papier-mâché dolls (they were picked up from a toy factory that was closing down in Portugal) – the black extractor hood is super chic, and we love the built-in storage of the kitchen island too. Get the look: The kitchen cabinets is a custom design by P&T Interiors, with a black lacquered finish. The worktop is made with Black Corian. These are Subway wall tiles in Black from Waterworks. The Hob is from Bertazzoni. These are Randa K taps from MGS. The extractor hood was a custom design by P&T Interiors, using a hood insert from ProLine Range Hoods. The ceiling lights are from Delta Light. The jars on the kitchen island filled with sea shells are antique. This is polished concrete flooring with a light grey matte finish.

Black Shelves

Black Shelves

Everything is black, including the colour of the shelves. Get the look: The kitchen cabinets is a custom design by P&T Interiors, with a black lacquered finish. The worktop is made with Black Corian. These are Subway wall tiles in Black from Waterworks.

Glass Doors

Glass Doors

Glass windows in the tall cabinets offer a break from the black kitchen scheme, with white metro tiles giving a bright contrast. The rustic-looking cabinet doors are sawn oak with a white finish. They look like reclaimed timber, but it’s engineered. Reclaimed wood isn’t so hard-wearing and you can’t wipe it easily. Get the look: Jamie Blake of Blakes London made this kitchen from sketches drawn up by the home owner. The cabinet doors came from Waxed Floors. The wall lamps were bought on eBay.

White, Black & Wood

White, Black & Wood

This kitchen is full of clever design details – from the metro tiles inside the kitchen cabinets to the herb trough in the island. Get the look: Jamie Blake of Blakes London made this kitchen from sketches drawn up by the home owner. The cabinet doors came from Waxed Floors. The wall lamps were bought on eBay.

Yellow Pop

Yellow Pop

A yellow pendant injects energy into this monochrome scheme. Get the look: The kitchen surfaces are in Arabescato Paonazzo marble. The Seventies bar stools are by American designer Warren Bacon. This is the Cross Cable customised ceiling light by David Weeks Studio.

Lotte Brouwer

Lotte is the Digital Editor for Livingetc, and has been with the website since its launch. She has a background in online journalism and writing for SEO, with previous editor roles at Good Living, Good Housekeeping, Country & Townhouse, and BBC Good Food among others, as well as her own successful interiors blog. When she's not busy writing or tracking analytics, she's doing up houses, two of which have features in interior design magazines. She's just finished doing up her house in Wimbledon, and is eyeing up Bath for her next project.