Luxury kitchen
This is an example of a large transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and granite benchtops.

The Rectory Kitchen

Papilio

Nestled in the heart of Bath, Papilio have created a traditional handmade bespoke kitchen with contemporary elements, providing a modern yet functional space with breath-taking views across the valley. Designed in collaboration with Simon Moray Jones architects, a large glazed wall and ceiling lantern offer a fresh and airy shell for the open plan kitchen and dining space – the perfect space for this sociable family. The outstanding architectural design allowed the stunning countryside views to become the focal point of the room and maintaining this tranquil ambience became essential to the client. Matt and Stephen of Papilio carefully positioned workstations and appliances in order to continually bring the outside in, while still providing a practical space for the family to cook and entertain in. The resulting L-shaped island configuration has created maximum storage space and workflow as well as optimising the view throughout the space. A Belfast sink has been placed facing out of the island to allow the client to see across the garden area, with a large Gaggenau fridge freezer behind, keeping in mind the ‘golden triangle’ theory for ease of movement and functionality. A key appliance for the family was a 4 door Aga to celebrate their love of cooking and dining. The Pearl Ashes 4 door electric Aga chosen has been set in the far end of the traditional handmade bespoke kitchen between two feature glazed panels. Paired with the on trend metro tiles and the copper pans on the bespoke pot rack designed by Papilio, the elevation provides a striking backdrop to the traditional shaker-style cabinetry. Integrated bespoke storage solutions include a hidden charging draw for numerous smart devices and the water filtration has been positioned behind a magnetic panel to allow for easy access. The children are able to sit and get on with homework at the breakfast bar while the adults can use the same space to prepare food and socialise. Hand blown pendants by Rothschild and Bickers finish off the island area and complete the stylish set-up.

Leschi Kitchen and Powder

Brio Interior Design

Alex Hayden
Mid-sized traditional eat-in kitchen in Seattle with blue splashback, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, onyx benchtops, stone tile splashback, light hardwood floors and no island.

Miller Kitchen

Turan Designs, Inc.

Transitional White Kitchen
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Atlanta with stainless steel appliances, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, a farmhouse sink, multi-coloured splashback, glass tile splashback, porcelain floors, beige floor, with island and green benchtop.

Farmhouse Reinterpreted

Smith & Vansant Architects PC

Rob Karosis Photography www.robkarosis.com
This is an example of a country kitchen in Burlington with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets and soapstone benchtops.

3rd Street Bungalow

User

Inspiration for a traditional kitchen in Austin.

Vickery Residence

Dwell Design Studio

Photo of a traditional kitchen in Atlanta with shaker cabinets, beige cabinets and beige splashback.

Period Kitchen Remodel

Chris Donatelli Builders

Complete kitchen remodel. Open up space to other rooms while reoganizing layout of appliances and work areas. "copyright Image Center/Marco Zecchin"
Arts and crafts kitchen in San Francisco with stainless steel appliances, subway tile splashback and soapstone benchtops.

Cottage Kitchen Photography

Allan Kendall Commercial Photography

Allan Kendall Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional kitchen in Other with green cabinets, with island, beige floor and shaker cabinets.

Globus Builder

Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen in Los Angeles with stainless steel appliances.

Green 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!