Most-Saved Photos of 2019: Around the World in 13 Kitchens
Which kitchen photos were the most-saved by Houzz users around the world? Find out here with 13 top picks
Houzz AU
17 December 2019
The goal of good kitchen design is the same no matter where you go. People want a space that functions well for cooking and entertaining, stores everything that needs to be stored, consists of durable materials, and looks good.
But while great kitchen design is universal, not all kitchens are created equal. What works in a small Parisian apartment in France, for example, may not work for a suburban home in Australia. To show how different – and similar – kitchen design can be, we looked at kitchens across 13 countries that were most-saved by Houzz users both at home and around the world. What you’ll find is plenty of variation but also lots of commonality in how function, storage and style are handled. Which country has your kitchen soul mate?
But while great kitchen design is universal, not all kitchens are created equal. What works in a small Parisian apartment in France, for example, may not work for a suburban home in Australia. To show how different – and similar – kitchen design can be, we looked at kitchens across 13 countries that were most-saved by Houzz users both at home and around the world. What you’ll find is plenty of variation but also lots of commonality in how function, storage and style are handled. Which country has your kitchen soul mate?
Denmark
Dominated by black, white and grey and featuring clean lines, this kitchen lives up to classic Danish style. So it’s no wonder that it’s admired worldwide. The matt fronts create a calm feel, while the bright ceilings, walls and window frames, along with the magnificent natural illumination, provide a light and vivid contrast. Moreover, the well-thought-out design makes the kitchen practical and easy to clean.
“A large cupboard wall in the kitchen provides plenty of storage space,” writes JKE Design in a statement about the project. “For example, there are pull-out drawers with sockets behind the black doors, so there is room for a mixer, coffee maker and other electric kitchen appliances.”
Characteristic of Danish homes, the interior is a mix of newer and older Danish design: the About a Stool bar stools – designed by Hee Welling for Hay – are from this century, while the Flowerpot lights over the benchtop were designed by Verner Panton in 1968.
Is it time to revitalise your kitchen? Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz for a fresh new look
Dominated by black, white and grey and featuring clean lines, this kitchen lives up to classic Danish style. So it’s no wonder that it’s admired worldwide. The matt fronts create a calm feel, while the bright ceilings, walls and window frames, along with the magnificent natural illumination, provide a light and vivid contrast. Moreover, the well-thought-out design makes the kitchen practical and easy to clean.
“A large cupboard wall in the kitchen provides plenty of storage space,” writes JKE Design in a statement about the project. “For example, there are pull-out drawers with sockets behind the black doors, so there is room for a mixer, coffee maker and other electric kitchen appliances.”
Characteristic of Danish homes, the interior is a mix of newer and older Danish design: the About a Stool bar stools – designed by Hee Welling for Hay – are from this century, while the Flowerpot lights over the benchtop were designed by Verner Panton in 1968.
Is it time to revitalise your kitchen? Find a kitchen designer near you on Houzz for a fresh new look
France
An open-plan kitchen doesn’t work for everyone, and the pros and cons of open layouts formed one of our most-debated topics this year. This French kitchen went for the best of both worlds.
Designed by Archipelles, the kitchen was very popular in France after featuring in a Houzz story. It consists of Ikea units customised with high-quality finishes, including the custom-made Carrara marble benchtop and the handles, switches and taps in brushed brass. The Farrow & Ball wall paint and the geometric floor tiles were also popular, according to comments by French readers.
In addition to this, it is a semi-open kitchen with a glass partition facing the living area. Our users like this design as it maintains an opening towards the living area while protecting it from noise and odours. Interior designer Hélène Paoli says, “My clients did not want an open kitchen because they wanted to keep cooking smells and noise out of the living area. Nevertheless, they wanted the two areas to be in close dialogue. We nibbled away at part of the large 32-square-metre (344.5-square-foot) living area to create this 12.6-square-metre (135.5-square-foot) kitchen and make it the centre of the flat.”
An open-plan kitchen doesn’t work for everyone, and the pros and cons of open layouts formed one of our most-debated topics this year. This French kitchen went for the best of both worlds.
Designed by Archipelles, the kitchen was very popular in France after featuring in a Houzz story. It consists of Ikea units customised with high-quality finishes, including the custom-made Carrara marble benchtop and the handles, switches and taps in brushed brass. The Farrow & Ball wall paint and the geometric floor tiles were also popular, according to comments by French readers.
In addition to this, it is a semi-open kitchen with a glass partition facing the living area. Our users like this design as it maintains an opening towards the living area while protecting it from noise and odours. Interior designer Hélène Paoli says, “My clients did not want an open kitchen because they wanted to keep cooking smells and noise out of the living area. Nevertheless, they wanted the two areas to be in close dialogue. We nibbled away at part of the large 32-square-metre (344.5-square-foot) living area to create this 12.6-square-metre (135.5-square-foot) kitchen and make it the centre of the flat.”
Sweden
Of course, we love clever aesthetic choices as well. As Swedish kitchens go, this is not one locals would recognise as typical. Sure, Swedes love white cabinets, but bold wallpapers in the kitchen are not a common sight, though Swedish homeowners are increasingly embracing colour and pattern in other parts of the home. Nevertheless, the floral wallpaper on the island was enough to make this the most-saved kitchen photo in Sweden.
8 Things We Get Wrong About Scandi Style
Of course, we love clever aesthetic choices as well. As Swedish kitchens go, this is not one locals would recognise as typical. Sure, Swedes love white cabinets, but bold wallpapers in the kitchen are not a common sight, though Swedish homeowners are increasingly embracing colour and pattern in other parts of the home. Nevertheless, the floral wallpaper on the island was enough to make this the most-saved kitchen photo in Sweden.
8 Things We Get Wrong About Scandi Style
Germany
Houzz Germany editor Thomas Helbing was surprised that this compact and reduced-to-the-bare-essentials kitchen was the most-popular kitchen in Germany, as opposed to a large open-plan kitchen with a big island for socialising. But clever storage features captivated users.
Even though space in this studio apartment is limited, interior designer Ute Günther was able to install a fully equipped small kitchen. And sacrificing a dining table wasn’t an option: here, one simply pulls one out from the kitchen cabinetry.
“This kitchenette and bench was made by our carpenter. There is storage space under the bench, and the corner cupboard can be reached from the door under the extensible table. You can never have enough storage space,” says Günther.
Another trick is that the sink and range hood disappear under a cover when not in use. This mini-kitchen shows that a well-designed kitchen is not a question of size, but of good planning and clever solutions.
Houzz Germany editor Thomas Helbing was surprised that this compact and reduced-to-the-bare-essentials kitchen was the most-popular kitchen in Germany, as opposed to a large open-plan kitchen with a big island for socialising. But clever storage features captivated users.
Even though space in this studio apartment is limited, interior designer Ute Günther was able to install a fully equipped small kitchen. And sacrificing a dining table wasn’t an option: here, one simply pulls one out from the kitchen cabinetry.
“This kitchenette and bench was made by our carpenter. There is storage space under the bench, and the corner cupboard can be reached from the door under the extensible table. You can never have enough storage space,” says Günther.
Another trick is that the sink and range hood disappear under a cover when not in use. This mini-kitchen shows that a well-designed kitchen is not a question of size, but of good planning and clever solutions.
Australia
This Australian kitchen by Plot Project Management builds on the simplicity of the Scandinavian aesthetic by mixing quality materials – timber, dolomite, polished concrete – in an unfussy way. The result is a clean-lined space with a focus on materiality.
The elements in this kitchen, from the island bench to the open shelves and feature joinery, combine for a furniture-like appeal that works well in an open-plan environment where the kitchen is often connected to the living area. Durable, low-maintenance surfaces are the order of the day because if there’s one thing Australians love, it’s a combination of pretty and practical.
This Australian kitchen by Plot Project Management builds on the simplicity of the Scandinavian aesthetic by mixing quality materials – timber, dolomite, polished concrete – in an unfussy way. The result is a clean-lined space with a focus on materiality.
The elements in this kitchen, from the island bench to the open shelves and feature joinery, combine for a furniture-like appeal that works well in an open-plan environment where the kitchen is often connected to the living area. Durable, low-maintenance surfaces are the order of the day because if there’s one thing Australians love, it’s a combination of pretty and practical.
Russia
Houzz Russia featured this kitchen, designed by Tatyana Arkhipova, twice. The first story was about unusual Russian kitchens, where designers were asked to explain unusual features we couldn’t figure out ourselves. Here, all attention was on the surprising door on the side of the kitchen island. It turns out it’s a Dunavox wine fridge for six bottles.
The second feature was about the 30 most-popular Russian kitchens in the first half of 2019. This article pointed out that the upper cabinets here are designed in two rows, with the lower one above the sink thinner than the rest. This clever design trick ensures the homeowners don’t accidentally bump their heads when washing dishes.
Pro Panel: The 8 Biggest Kitchen Blunders
Houzz Russia featured this kitchen, designed by Tatyana Arkhipova, twice. The first story was about unusual Russian kitchens, where designers were asked to explain unusual features we couldn’t figure out ourselves. Here, all attention was on the surprising door on the side of the kitchen island. It turns out it’s a Dunavox wine fridge for six bottles.
The second feature was about the 30 most-popular Russian kitchens in the first half of 2019. This article pointed out that the upper cabinets here are designed in two rows, with the lower one above the sink thinner than the rest. This clever design trick ensures the homeowners don’t accidentally bump their heads when washing dishes.
Pro Panel: The 8 Biggest Kitchen Blunders
Italy
This kitchen features clean design with a natural twist, with finishes including wood repurposed from old Venetian briccola, or timber structures used for mooring gondolas, and tiles by Gio Ponti that recall the colour of the sea. One of Italy’s most-famous television series, Un posto al sole (‘A Place in the Sun’), was even filmed here.
The project’s starting point was the challenge of hiding a storage area in the left-hand corner of the room. “We created a door (on the left in the photo) flush with the rest of the kitchen cabinetry. We also included a 70-centimetre built-in fridge with freezer,” says Maurizio Giancarli, chief architect and managing partner at Toffini Srl.
The owners also wanted to be able to accommodate friends and prepare dinners for several people, “so we opted for a central island that would feature various cooking systems: gas, induction and teppanyaki (a very versatile cooking plate that reaches 300°C and dissolves fat). We added a second sink, to give the island more autonomy, and a downdraft hood so that we wouldn’t need extractors on the ceiling, which would have disrupted the overall look of the kitchen, given the height of the room,” says Giancarli.
“Furthermore, a wine cabinet was placed into the lateral side of the island to make opening a bottle of wine or preparing an aperitif more practical, so as not to get in the way of the people doing the cooking.”
The frame and inserts of repurposed briccola wood make this project unique and connect it to the sea. “Natural materials, such as wood, which we used a lot – at times lacquered – and stones, are an element of uniqueness that characterise a kitchen and make it non-replicable,” says Giancarli.
This kitchen features clean design with a natural twist, with finishes including wood repurposed from old Venetian briccola, or timber structures used for mooring gondolas, and tiles by Gio Ponti that recall the colour of the sea. One of Italy’s most-famous television series, Un posto al sole (‘A Place in the Sun’), was even filmed here.
The project’s starting point was the challenge of hiding a storage area in the left-hand corner of the room. “We created a door (on the left in the photo) flush with the rest of the kitchen cabinetry. We also included a 70-centimetre built-in fridge with freezer,” says Maurizio Giancarli, chief architect and managing partner at Toffini Srl.
The owners also wanted to be able to accommodate friends and prepare dinners for several people, “so we opted for a central island that would feature various cooking systems: gas, induction and teppanyaki (a very versatile cooking plate that reaches 300°C and dissolves fat). We added a second sink, to give the island more autonomy, and a downdraft hood so that we wouldn’t need extractors on the ceiling, which would have disrupted the overall look of the kitchen, given the height of the room,” says Giancarli.
“Furthermore, a wine cabinet was placed into the lateral side of the island to make opening a bottle of wine or preparing an aperitif more practical, so as not to get in the way of the people doing the cooking.”
The frame and inserts of repurposed briccola wood make this project unique and connect it to the sea. “Natural materials, such as wood, which we used a lot – at times lacquered – and stones, are an element of uniqueness that characterise a kitchen and make it non-replicable,” says Giancarli.
Singapore
The open-plan layout was interpreted differently in this Singapore kitchen to suit the owners’ entertainment and lifestyle needs.
The apartment’s existing open-plan kitchen had an island that divided the cooking space from the living and dining area. There was a cavity for the fridge, and the stove top and oven were built into the same benchtop as the sink, galley-style.
Priscilla Tan from Styledbypt designed a storage column next to the island, filling the open gap between it and the balcony wall, and relocated the oven within that. A flat induction stove was built into the island (now a peninsula), creating a triangle workflow. She used Silestone Et Calacatta Gold from Cosentino for the waterfall and kitchen benchtops as well as the splashback.
The owners wanted an eat-in kitchen as their main dining space, says Tan. “There’s only the two of them (although now they also eat in the living area while watching TV). When they have friends or family over, they’ll eat in the balcony, where we have an alfresco dining area.”
The Escher-esque graphic flooring is vinyl and, as Tan says, it “helped to shape and ground the kitchen area and ties the palette together beautifully”.
What made this kitchen so popular? It’s a cleverly designed small kitchen that doesn’t sacrifice its big, statement-making style (courtesy of its bold floor pattern) just because of its compact size.
The open-plan layout was interpreted differently in this Singapore kitchen to suit the owners’ entertainment and lifestyle needs.
The apartment’s existing open-plan kitchen had an island that divided the cooking space from the living and dining area. There was a cavity for the fridge, and the stove top and oven were built into the same benchtop as the sink, galley-style.
Priscilla Tan from Styledbypt designed a storage column next to the island, filling the open gap between it and the balcony wall, and relocated the oven within that. A flat induction stove was built into the island (now a peninsula), creating a triangle workflow. She used Silestone Et Calacatta Gold from Cosentino for the waterfall and kitchen benchtops as well as the splashback.
The owners wanted an eat-in kitchen as their main dining space, says Tan. “There’s only the two of them (although now they also eat in the living area while watching TV). When they have friends or family over, they’ll eat in the balcony, where we have an alfresco dining area.”
The Escher-esque graphic flooring is vinyl and, as Tan says, it “helped to shape and ground the kitchen area and ties the palette together beautifully”.
What made this kitchen so popular? It’s a cleverly designed small kitchen that doesn’t sacrifice its big, statement-making style (courtesy of its bold floor pattern) just because of its compact size.
India
“We managed to pack plenty of functional elements into the compact space, while still making it aesthetically pleasing,” says Sunita Yogesh, founder and principal designer of Sunita Yogesh Studio. Most Indian city apartments have compact kitchens and effort is always expended on maximising the space and bringing in as much storage and functionality as possible. This kitchen brings both, and with style.
The homeowner of this house moved back to India after living in the United States for more than 10 years. She wanted the design of her 105-square-metre apartment to make the most of available space yet reflect a contemporary, calm and soothing ambience through clean lines and subtle neutrals. This can be seen in the kitchen space as well.
This kitchen was originally outfitted with basic materials but was completely torn down and redesigned from scratch.
The homeowner’s dream was to have an all-white kitchen, so the designers opted for a herringbone splashback, quartz benchtop and Shaker-style cabinets in an all-white palette. They incorporated open timber shelves to give the space some warmth. The kitchen also hosts a small zone at the far end for laundry and storage.
How to Plan a White Kitchen That’s Anything but Boring
“We managed to pack plenty of functional elements into the compact space, while still making it aesthetically pleasing,” says Sunita Yogesh, founder and principal designer of Sunita Yogesh Studio. Most Indian city apartments have compact kitchens and effort is always expended on maximising the space and bringing in as much storage and functionality as possible. This kitchen brings both, and with style.
The homeowner of this house moved back to India after living in the United States for more than 10 years. She wanted the design of her 105-square-metre apartment to make the most of available space yet reflect a contemporary, calm and soothing ambience through clean lines and subtle neutrals. This can be seen in the kitchen space as well.
This kitchen was originally outfitted with basic materials but was completely torn down and redesigned from scratch.
The homeowner’s dream was to have an all-white kitchen, so the designers opted for a herringbone splashback, quartz benchtop and Shaker-style cabinets in an all-white palette. They incorporated open timber shelves to give the space some warmth. The kitchen also hosts a small zone at the far end for laundry and storage.
How to Plan a White Kitchen That’s Anything but Boring
United States
This kitchen by MSA Architecture + Interiors for a home built and owned by Keith Wing Custom Builders in New Braunfels, Texas, was the most-popular new photo uploaded to Houzz in the USA this year, and exemplifies many of the reigning trends in American kitchens today: white Shaker-style cabinets (in Pure White paint, Sherwin-Williams), a coloured island base (in Gravel Grey paint, Benjamin Moore), warmly coloured hardware and pendants over the kitchen island.
Houzz users also loved the unique island bench which is Florida quartzite, a natural stone, and the floors, which are engineered, wire-brushed European oak. Glossy grey splashback tiles in a herringbone pattern dress up the walls, and black granite in a leather finish adds contrast on the perimeter benches.
This kitchen by MSA Architecture + Interiors for a home built and owned by Keith Wing Custom Builders in New Braunfels, Texas, was the most-popular new photo uploaded to Houzz in the USA this year, and exemplifies many of the reigning trends in American kitchens today: white Shaker-style cabinets (in Pure White paint, Sherwin-Williams), a coloured island base (in Gravel Grey paint, Benjamin Moore), warmly coloured hardware and pendants over the kitchen island.
Houzz users also loved the unique island bench which is Florida quartzite, a natural stone, and the floors, which are engineered, wire-brushed European oak. Glossy grey splashback tiles in a herringbone pattern dress up the walls, and black granite in a leather finish adds contrast on the perimeter benches.
United Kingdom
This cupboard is a beautiful piece of design that maximises space and provides custom storage in this London kitchen designed by Barry Sawyer at Brayer Design.
The Shaker cabinets were designed with minimal ornamentation in order to blend traditional and contemporary styles. “The units go right to the ceiling, but without any decorative mouldings at the top,” says Sawyer.
Next to a bank of integrated ovens, Barry designed the breakfast cabinet with a marble surface and power points for a coffee machine and juicer. “The doors are retractable and slot into the sides,” says Sawyer. “The cabinet is located near to the breakfast bar for easy access, and concealed lighting comes on when you open the doors.”
Perhaps it’s the mix of practicality and style that makes this design so appealing.
This cupboard is a beautiful piece of design that maximises space and provides custom storage in this London kitchen designed by Barry Sawyer at Brayer Design.
The Shaker cabinets were designed with minimal ornamentation in order to blend traditional and contemporary styles. “The units go right to the ceiling, but without any decorative mouldings at the top,” says Sawyer.
Next to a bank of integrated ovens, Barry designed the breakfast cabinet with a marble surface and power points for a coffee machine and juicer. “The doors are retractable and slot into the sides,” says Sawyer. “The cabinet is located near to the breakfast bar for easy access, and concealed lighting comes on when you open the doors.”
Perhaps it’s the mix of practicality and style that makes this design so appealing.
Spain
Clever design tricks and custom personalisation are always popular with Houzz users, as is the case with this Spanish kitchen.
This kitchen island stands out, above all, for its warm colour palette and details that personalise the space, such as the pot-filler tap in the splashback behind the stove, and the carefully planned lighting.
“The white Corian countertop with a built-in sink is a fundamental feature that brings elegance to the space, as does the glass cupboard which stands on top of it,” says Lluisa Deulonder, founder of Deulonder Arquitectura Doméstica. “This solution works only for custom-made kitchens and is very practical because you can store small appliances and always have them within arm’s reach. The American lamps in the hob area bring a unique touch to kitchens of this style.”
Pendant Placement: 11 Bright Ideas for Kitchen Lighting
Clever design tricks and custom personalisation are always popular with Houzz users, as is the case with this Spanish kitchen.
This kitchen island stands out, above all, for its warm colour palette and details that personalise the space, such as the pot-filler tap in the splashback behind the stove, and the carefully planned lighting.
“The white Corian countertop with a built-in sink is a fundamental feature that brings elegance to the space, as does the glass cupboard which stands on top of it,” says Lluisa Deulonder, founder of Deulonder Arquitectura Doméstica. “This solution works only for custom-made kitchens and is very practical because you can store small appliances and always have them within arm’s reach. The American lamps in the hob area bring a unique touch to kitchens of this style.”
Pendant Placement: 11 Bright Ideas for Kitchen Lighting
Japan
Photos of kitchens that feel more like furniture than functional spaces – especially through the use of timber – are currently trending on Houzz Japan too.
This is a great example. Its interior naturally connects with the dining area and the other parts of the house.
The owners, a family of three who love nature, requested a stylish open-plan kitchen that utilised natural materials. The architect at Dwarf construction company finished the peninsula kitchen bench with Japanese cedar in a herringbone pattern. The same cedar is also used in the ceiling and the floor. The benchtop is stainless steel.
Your turn
Which of these kitchens from around the world is your favourite? Tell us in the Comments and share what you love about it. And while you’re at it, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Keen to personalise your kitchen? Get some tips here with How to Add Character to Your Contemporary Kitchen
Photos of kitchens that feel more like furniture than functional spaces – especially through the use of timber – are currently trending on Houzz Japan too.
This is a great example. Its interior naturally connects with the dining area and the other parts of the house.
The owners, a family of three who love nature, requested a stylish open-plan kitchen that utilised natural materials. The architect at Dwarf construction company finished the peninsula kitchen bench with Japanese cedar in a herringbone pattern. The same cedar is also used in the ceiling and the floor. The benchtop is stainless steel.
Your turn
Which of these kitchens from around the world is your favourite? Tell us in the Comments and share what you love about it. And while you’re at it, like this story, save the images and join the conversation.
More
Keen to personalise your kitchen? Get some tips here with How to Add Character to Your Contemporary Kitchen
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Fascinating to see what each country favoured
I don’t see any ovens... I really like the Italy and France kitchens but I would need an oven.
Wall ovens are visible in the photos for Denmark, France and UK. A couple others I can't be sure if what i see is a microwave or a convection oven.