What the 10 Most-Saved Kitchens This Year Tell Us
See the most popular kitchens on Houzz this year, and find out what it was about them that fired our imaginations
Vanessa Walker
17 July 2021
Houzz Australia & New Zealand Editor-in-Chief
As we pass the six-month mark of this ever-surprising (yet groundhog day-like) year, we thought we would dive into the most-saved images so far. First up, here are the top 10 kitchens and what they reveal about our ever-evolving taste and aspirations. We looked at which photos you, our users, saved in the first six months of 2021, from images uploaded by pros from July 2020 to July 2021.
The first thing we noticed was that despite the opportunity to save images from projects the world over, the top 10 most-saved images were all Australian, proving just how strongly our taste reflects our unique country, climate and materials.
The first thing we noticed was that despite the opportunity to save images from projects the world over, the top 10 most-saved images were all Australian, proving just how strongly our taste reflects our unique country, climate and materials.
1. Mixed magic
Blending classic and contemporary, lightness and depth, elegance and family friendliness is no easy task. But this Japandi-style Sydney kitchen achieves just that. Featuring skinny Shaker profile cabinetry, rattan in the pendants and woven cane chairs, and a restrained yet sophisticated colour palette, the kitchen in this renovated Californian bungalow is the epitome of casual elegance.
Planning a kitchen renovation? Find specialised kitchen designers near you on Houzz, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
Blending classic and contemporary, lightness and depth, elegance and family friendliness is no easy task. But this Japandi-style Sydney kitchen achieves just that. Featuring skinny Shaker profile cabinetry, rattan in the pendants and woven cane chairs, and a restrained yet sophisticated colour palette, the kitchen in this renovated Californian bungalow is the epitome of casual elegance.
Planning a kitchen renovation? Find specialised kitchen designers near you on Houzz, browse images of their work and read reviews from previous clients
2. Little bit country
The skinny Shaker profile rides again! This time in an urban kitchen where the owners wanted a country twist, hence more prominent handles, open shelving and the inclusion of fluted-glass cabinet fronts.
We note that the desire for dark kitchens continues unabated in Australia, with the term ‘black kitchens’ moving into the top 100 most-popular search terms for 2021.
See more of this incredible kitchen here
The skinny Shaker profile rides again! This time in an urban kitchen where the owners wanted a country twist, hence more prominent handles, open shelving and the inclusion of fluted-glass cabinet fronts.
We note that the desire for dark kitchens continues unabated in Australia, with the term ‘black kitchens’ moving into the top 100 most-popular search terms for 2021.
See more of this incredible kitchen here
3. Coastal cool
Blending Scandi, beachy and pared-back Hamptons influences, this kitchen is a beautiful expression of modern coastal style.
The addition of the marble island bench elevates the look of the space while the contrasting cabinetry in a grainy timber breaks the white-on-white uniformity.
Blending Scandi, beachy and pared-back Hamptons influences, this kitchen is a beautiful expression of modern coastal style.
The addition of the marble island bench elevates the look of the space while the contrasting cabinetry in a grainy timber breaks the white-on-white uniformity.
4. Hotel luxe
The desire for our homes to reflect the look of five-star hotels, with warm colours and luxe finishes, has got a lot of life in it yet. Using a restricted colour palette of warm browns and greys, glossy cabinetry, a glamorous pendant and a beautiful island bench, this kitchen achieves a beautiful ‘grounded in luxury’ feel.
The desire for our homes to reflect the look of five-star hotels, with warm colours and luxe finishes, has got a lot of life in it yet. Using a restricted colour palette of warm browns and greys, glossy cabinetry, a glamorous pendant and a beautiful island bench, this kitchen achieves a beautiful ‘grounded in luxury’ feel.
5. The element of surprise
This stunning Perth kitchen demonstrates just how much a bespoke island bench ramps up a kitchen’s appeal.
The rear wall of the kitchen, with its handle-less cabinetry and pale palette, is a quiet streamlined space, yet the island bench, with its fabulous stone-like casing and rounded vertical battens, makes this stand out from the crowd.
Browse more beautiful Australian kitchens
This stunning Perth kitchen demonstrates just how much a bespoke island bench ramps up a kitchen’s appeal.
The rear wall of the kitchen, with its handle-less cabinetry and pale palette, is a quiet streamlined space, yet the island bench, with its fabulous stone-like casing and rounded vertical battens, makes this stand out from the crowd.
Browse more beautiful Australian kitchens
6. What butler?
Speaking of what our users want in a kitchen, it’s interesting to note that ‘butler’s pantry’ is one of the top 10 most-searched terms on Houzz, and is constantly moving up the ranks.
Who would have thought a highly practical space would have made it in to the top 10 kitchen images? But this beautifully simple, all-white panelled work space at the rear of a kitchen shows why – if you have the room – a well-organised, practical butler’s pantry is high on our list of desires.
Speaking of what our users want in a kitchen, it’s interesting to note that ‘butler’s pantry’ is one of the top 10 most-searched terms on Houzz, and is constantly moving up the ranks.
Who would have thought a highly practical space would have made it in to the top 10 kitchen images? But this beautifully simple, all-white panelled work space at the rear of a kitchen shows why – if you have the room – a well-organised, practical butler’s pantry is high on our list of desires.
7. A kitchen like no other
Who would have thought this incredible room is the workhorse of the home?
Maximising the trend of furniture-like elements in a kitchen, this Melbourne stunner uses textured black panelling, slabs of Portsea Grey natural stone, and brass to superb effect. The arched wine cabinet is the perfect finishing touch.
To see more of this incredible kitchen, including the ‘before’ shots, click here
Who would have thought this incredible room is the workhorse of the home?
Maximising the trend of furniture-like elements in a kitchen, this Melbourne stunner uses textured black panelling, slabs of Portsea Grey natural stone, and brass to superb effect. The arched wine cabinet is the perfect finishing touch.
To see more of this incredible kitchen, including the ‘before’ shots, click here
8. Beachy keen
We love this expansive Noosa Heads kitchen for how it captures the relaxed, beachy feel of one of our most-popular coastal areas.
The palette of white and sandy blonde is deeply relaxing and well suited to a home with fantastic indoor-outdoor floor.
We love this expansive Noosa Heads kitchen for how it captures the relaxed, beachy feel of one of our most-popular coastal areas.
The palette of white and sandy blonde is deeply relaxing and well suited to a home with fantastic indoor-outdoor floor.
9. All the right pieces
This kitchen encompasses so many ever-popular features: a window splashback for natural light and a view to the outdoors, a palette of crisp white and natural oak, and a generous island bench for all the family to gather around (wrapped in extra-large format Calacatta-look porcelain tiles (which have the appearance of marble but are scratch- and stain-resistant).
It’s a family friendly winner, topped off by a stunning feature ceiling that gives a sense of enclosure and cosiness to the entire space.
This kitchen encompasses so many ever-popular features: a window splashback for natural light and a view to the outdoors, a palette of crisp white and natural oak, and a generous island bench for all the family to gather around (wrapped in extra-large format Calacatta-look porcelain tiles (which have the appearance of marble but are scratch- and stain-resistant).
It’s a family friendly winner, topped off by a stunning feature ceiling that gives a sense of enclosure and cosiness to the entire space.
10. Concrete blonde
This Sydney kitchen, with its concrete benchtop and flooring and its mix of timber and black elements, has a lovely presence, enhanced by its view to the outdoors.
Simple and sturdy, fashionable without being a slave to trends, and with plentiful storage, it’s a study in pretty practicality.
Your turn
Which is your favourite kitchen of these 10 sensational spaces? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Wondering what tomorrow’s homes will look like? Check out new Colours, Materials and Motifs: The Top 6 Trends Coming Your Way
This Sydney kitchen, with its concrete benchtop and flooring and its mix of timber and black elements, has a lovely presence, enhanced by its view to the outdoors.
Simple and sturdy, fashionable without being a slave to trends, and with plentiful storage, it’s a study in pretty practicality.
Your turn
Which is your favourite kitchen of these 10 sensational spaces? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save these images for inspiration, like this story and join the conversation.
More
Wondering what tomorrow’s homes will look like? Check out new Colours, Materials and Motifs: The Top 6 Trends Coming Your Way
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Yeah, it's not difficult to clean but it shows finger marks incomparison to other finishes.
I like it. It's really nice.
What colour is the cabinetry in image 1 please?