Atherton, California Estate by Markay Johnson Construction

Builder: Markay Johnson Construction visit: www.mjconstruction.com Project Details: Located on a beautiful corner lot of just over one acre, this sumptuous home presents Country French styling – with leaded glass windows, half-timber accents, and a steeply pitched roof finished in varying shades of slate. Completed in 2006, the home is magnificently appointed with traditional appeal and classic elegance surrounding a vast center terrace that accommodates indoor/outdoor living so easily. Distressed walnut floors span the main living areas, numerous rooms are accented with a bowed wall of windows, and ceilings are architecturally interesting and unique. There are 4 additional upstairs bedroom suites with the convenience of a second family room, plus a fully equipped guest house with two bedrooms and two bathrooms. Equally impressive are the resort-inspired grounds, which include a beautiful pool and spa just beyond the center terrace and all finished in Connecticut bluestone. A sport court, vast stretches of level lawn, and English gardens manicured to perfection complete the setting. Photographer: Bernard Andre Photography

Kohler

White kitchen with blue accents.
Expansive traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Milwaukee with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances and medium hardwood floors.

Classic Kitchen Style - Cabinets and Entertaining Island

In Detail Interiors

This kitchen was 100% designed with entertaining in mind! From the expansive countertops to the fabulous wooden butcher block addition to the island surface - we love the versatility of the space and imagine holidays here must be supreme! There is a huge amount of storage in this kitchen with all the cabinets and drawers, too. Classic colors, warm and cozy, just pure kitchen perfection!

Rose Bay House

D'Cruz Design Group

Inspiration for an expansive contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Sydney with flat-panel cabinets, with island, a double-bowl sink, dark wood cabinets, marble benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, multi-coloured benchtop and vaulted.

Architectural Photography - Port Douglas

COCO + PALM PRODUCTIONS

This is an example of an expansive contemporary galley kitchen in Cairns with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Custom Kitchen

Terra Designs Interiors

Expansive transitional single-wall eat-in kitchen in Charleston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and glass tile splashback.

Prince Edward Island Estate

Simply Home Decorating

Our clients hired us to completely renovate and furnish their PEI home — and the results were transformative. Inspired by their natural views and love of entertaining, each space in this PEI home is distinctly original yet part of the collective whole. We used color, patterns, and texture to invite personality into every room: the fish scale tile backsplash mosaic in the kitchen, the custom lighting installation in the dining room, the unique wallpapers in the pantry, powder room and mudroom, and the gorgeous natural stone surfaces in the primary bathroom and family room. We also hand-designed several features in every room, from custom furnishings to storage benches and shelving to unique honeycomb-shaped bar shelves in the basement lounge. The result is a home designed for relaxing, gathering, and enjoying the simple life as a couple.

Fan House

Ann Lowengart Interiors

Initially designed as a bachelor's Sonoma weekend getaway, The Fan House features glass and steel garage-style doors that take advantage of the verdant 40-acre hilltop property. With the addition of a wife and children, the secondary residence's interiors needed to change. Ann Lowengart Interiors created a family-friendly environment while adhering to the homeowner's preference for streamlined silhouettes. In the open living-dining room, a neutral color palette and contemporary furnishings showcase the modern architecture and stunning views. A separate guest house provides a respite for visiting urban dwellers.

Newport Home - Kitchen

AR Homes | Nashville

Kitchen of Newport Home.
Expansive contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Nashville with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and recessed.

03 - Contemporary Craftsman (with a twist) Front Side

Aspire Fine Homes

Photo of an expansive contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Houston with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and an undermount sink.

Kitchen Remodels

USI Design & Remodeling

Photo of an expansive transitional kitchen in Dallas with stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets and granite benchtops.

Hanover Rustic Kitchen

Kathleen Doyle Interior Designs LLC

Bill Secord
Inspiration for an expansive arts and crafts eat-in kitchen in Seattle with an integrated sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, solid surface benchtops, green splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors and with island.

Tottenville

Annmarie Ruta Interiors LLC

Inspiration for an expansive transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Miami with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island and shaker cabinets.

Chocolatier Kitchen Remodel

Paula Ables Interiors

"After" photo The rectangle of white marble in the island was re-purposed from the former island. It was much needed item for the clients occupation and we loved the green aspect of using something the client already owned. Remodel by Paula Ables Interiors Builder: Roger Lawrence Photographer: Coles Hairston

Winden Estate - Ourimbah

Penman Brown Interior Design

This is an example of an expansive country open plan kitchen in Sydney with shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances, with island, an undermount sink, blue cabinets, marble benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, marble splashback, painted wood floors, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Project 131 (before & after)

Cutting Edge Design

This is an example of an expansive transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Japandi Kitchen – Chino Hills

Go Home Builders Inc

Japandi Kitchen – Chino Hills A kitchen extension is the ultimate renovation to enhance your living space and add value to your home. This new addition not only provides extra square footage but also allows for endless design possibilities, bringing your kitchen dreams to life. This kitchen was inspired by the Japanese-Scandinavian design movement, “Japandi”, this space is a harmonious blend of sleek lines, natural materials, and warm accents. With a focus on functionality and clean aesthetics, every detail has been carefully crafted to create a space that is both stylish, practical, and welcoming. When it comes to Japandi design, ALWAYS keep some room for wood elements. It gives the perfect amount of earth tone wanted in a kitchen. These new lights and open spaces highlight the beautiful finishes and appliances. This new layout allows for effortless entertaining, with a seamless flow to move around and entertain guests. Custom cabinetry, high-end appliances, and a large custom island with a sink with ample seating; come together to create a chef’s dream kitchen. The added space that has been included especially under this new Thermador stove from ‘Build with Ferguson’, has added space for ultimate organization. We also included a new microwave drawer by Sharp. It blends beautifully underneath the countertop to add more space and makes it incredibly easy to clean. These Quartz countertops that are incredibly durable and resistant to scratches, chips, and cracks, making them very long-lasting. The backsplash is made with maple ribbon tiles to give this kitchen a very earthy tone. With wide shaker cabinets, that are both prefabricated and custom, that compliments every aspect of this kitchen. Whether cooking up a storm or entertaining guests, this Japandi-style kitchen extension is the perfect balance of form and function. With its thoughtfully designed layout and attention to detail, it’s a space that’s guaranteed to leave a lasting impression where memories will be made, and future meals will be shared.

Deer Hollow Drive Napa CA

Jane Ellison

“With the open-concept floor plan, this kitchen needed to have a galley layout,” Ellison says. A large island helps delineate the kitchen from the other rooms around it. These include a dining area directly behind the kitchen and a living room to the right of the dining room. This main floor also includes a small TV lounge, a powder room and a mudroom. The house sits on a slope, so this main level enjoys treehouse-like canopy views out the back. The bedrooms are on the walk-out lower level.“These homeowners liked grays and neutrals, and their style leaned contemporary,” Ellison says. “They also had a very nice art collection.” The artwork is bright and colorful, and a neutral scheme provided the perfect backdrop for it. They also liked the idea of using durable laminate finishes on the cabinetry. The laminates have the look of white oak with vertical graining. The galley cabinets are lighter and warmer, while the island has the look of white oak with a gray wash for contrast. The countertops and backsplash are polished quartzite. The quartzite adds beautiful natural veining patterns and warm tones to the room.

Stonebrook

Jessica Koltun Home

Interior design by Jessica Koltun Home. This stunning transitional home with an open floor plan features a formal dining, dedicated study, Chef's kitchen and hidden pantry. Designer amenities include white oak millwork, marble tile, and a high end lighting, plumbing, & hardware.

NEW CANAAN CT - Panda

DEANE Inc | Distinctive Design & Cabinetry

A DEANE client returned in 2022 for an update to their kitchen remodel project from 2006. This incredible transformation was driven by the desire to create a glamorous space for both cooking and entertaining. The frameless cabinetry with a mitered door and satin brass hardware is deliberately understated to highlight the marble. Dramatic and bold, the continuous, book-matched Panda White marble was used throughout the open footprint, including the fireplace surround, to give the space a cohesive feel. The custom, tapered hood, also covered in Panda White is a commanding centerpiece. The expansive space allowed for two waterfall-edge islands with mitered countertops - one for cooking with black-stained oak cabinets for storage and a prep sink, and the second to seat 6 for dining, which replaced the original informal eating area. A tray ceiling with wallpaper detailing elegantly frames both together. No detail was overlooked in the design process. A coffee station with retractable doors and beverage drawers was situated to graciously welcome guests. A Wolf 60” range, walnut interiors, customized drawer inserts, unlacquered brass finishes and a Galley Workstation elevate this kitchen into a truly sophisticated space.

Expansive Kitchen Design Ideas

There’s a lot to consider when it comes to planning your kitchen design. Where do you even start? Gathering some inspiration in a photo gallery is always a good starting point, as looking at different kitchen designs often brings up ideas you haven’t even thought of yet.

Browse Photos of Kitchen Designs for Inspiration and Collect Your Ideas

You can browse through photos of all kinds of kitchen styles, layouts and sizes on Houzz to get started before jumping into any design software or contacting a local professional for help. Here’s a few considerations to keep in mind when planning your kitchen.

1. What Makes a Good Kitchen Design, and Why is it Important?

For starters, you want to find a balance between aesthetics and function. You may have heard of the ‘kitchen work triangle’, which refers to the space between your fridge, sink and stove. You want everything within easy reach when you’re working in the kitchen and look beautiful at the same time. It’s a good idea to take note of both when browsing our photo gallery.

2. Consider Your Space to Determine Your Kitchen Layout

Firstly, consider the space you have, and the limitations that come with it. Do you have a small kitchen and need to maximise your workspace and storage? Can you allow yourself some more space and a big island with seating? Are you designing your kitchen from scratch or renovating an existing design? Which appliances do you already own and what are their measurements? Are there windows you need to take into consideration when planning cabinets? How do kitchen, living and dining areas connect? Depending on your space and needs, you want to use a shape that suits you. U, G, or L-shaped kitchen, with or without island or peninsula? Know your dimensions, plan cabinetry carefully and consider the placement of your appliances. You don’t want to end up with a finished design, only for your significant other to question where the fridge is supposed to go. Consider from the start where your fridge, oven, microwave and sink goes to save yourself from starting again from scratch - remember the kitchen work triangle! You also want to plan the layout of your cabinets. Maybe you’re planning for a pantry and can do with less storage space in your kitchen, so that your design can be one without upper or lower cabinets for a different look. A corner cabinet can be a smart storage solution if you want to keep the look clean and simple.

3. Decide on a Kitchen Style, But Don’t Forget Practicality

You want the style of your kitchen to reflect your personality and taste. We have curated a large array of kitchen styles here at Houzz, from traditional to contemporary to transitional and everything in between. Consider what your cooking style is for a start - Italy is known for its cuisine, so italian kitchen designs are generally popular. Also consider ergonomics - depending on how much time you spend in your kitchen, the height of your counters can make a big difference to your overall health. You also want to consider colour and finishes of cabinets, countertops and splashbacks. Which colour do you want your cupboards to be? Simple, timeless white or rather making a statement in black? Maybe rather a rustic wood? Also consider the colour of your floor - if you have dark floors, you may want to keep cabinets lighter. You could also go for an all-white look and choose black appliances for contrast. Once you know which style you fancy, don’t forget how you will be using the space. You want to keep cooking in mind, as well as how easy to clean and maintain the space will be. How many cooks do you need to accommodate? Do you have kids around? How much storage do you need? Maybe you want to go for open shelves rather than cabinets and allow for easy reach of key items you use when cooking. Again - remember the triangle! Lastly, choose lighting that both enhances the look of your kitchen as well as your cooking performance, providing light in all the right places.

4. Be Conscious of Your Budget

No matter what you plan for your kitchen design, cost is always a big factor. Be sure to plan with your budget in mind. It may make more sense to go for a modular kitchen design rather than custom build. You can save a lot of money if you get at least 3 estimates from professionals before locking in the job. And don’t forget to allow a 20% buffer for emergencies. Once you are ready to hire a pro, our directory will help you find one, no matter where you are. So whether you're looking for an Interior Designer in Melbourne or an Architect in Sydney, you can be sure to find a qualified expert for the job!