Our client approached Matter in late 2019 for a new kitchen. While the existing kitchen had a reasonable layout and some great features, the cupboards weren’t optimising the space to its full potential, particularly for storage. Noting that the old kitchen aged very quickly, our client wanted the new kitchen to be constructed entirely from plywood—liking the appearance and strength of the material. They also loved vibrant use of colour and suggested we look at the kitchens featured in films by the Spanish director Pedro Almodóvar for inspiration. The result was a playful mix of hand painted navy, light blue and retro orange in combination with a ‘raw’ effect from the birch plywood. To save on cost and waste, we decided to keep certain components of the kitchen that have remained in very good condition. Some of these included the stainless steel bench tops and oven/range hood stack, as well as a polished concrete island bench top. We replaced most of the cupboards with drawer units specifically tailored to fit our client's extensive collection of cookware and appliances with adjustable partitions. An integrated Hideaway rubbish bin free’s up circulation space and a Kesseböhmer pull-out pantry will ensure no bottle of spice is ever lost to the back of a cupboard again.

North Balgowlah Kitchen & Bathroom

Northern Beaches Kitchens and Bathrooms

Large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Sydney with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, quartzite benchtops, stone slab splashback, with island, brown floor, vaulted, white cabinets, beige splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and beige benchtop.

Customer Focus: Cameron Project

Kitchen Craftsmen

CAMERON PROJECT: Warm natural walnut tones offset by crisp white gives this project a welcoming and homely feel. Including products from Polytec and Caesarstone.

Contemporary Shaker Kitchen

Tom Howley

This bright and light shaker style kitchen is painted in bespoke Tom Howley paint colour; Chicory, the light Ivory Spice granite worktops and Mazzano Tumbled marble flooring create a heightened sense of space.

Quimby Mid-Century

James Frank Construction Inc

Mid-Century update to a home located in NW Portland. The project included a new kitchen with skylights, multi-slide wall doors on both sides of the home, kitchen gathering desk, children's playroom, and opening up living room and dining room ceiling to dramatic vaulted ceilings. The project team included Risa Boyer Architecture. Photos: Josh Partee

Rockville

Jennifer Radakovic Design

Large country kitchen pantry in Richmond with white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, brown benchtop, a farmhouse sink, stainless steel appliances, with island and shaker cabinets.

Eco Extension Shaker Kitchen

Sustainable Kitchens

Design ideas for a country kitchen in Oxfordshire with an integrated sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and beige floor.

Franklin Street Loft - Kitchen

Jane Kim Architect

Photography by Eduard Hueber / archphoto North and south exposures in this 3000 square foot loft in Tribeca allowed us to line the south facing wall with two guest bedrooms and a 900 sf master suite. The trapezoid shaped plan creates an exaggerated perspective as one looks through the main living space space to the kitchen. The ceilings and columns are stripped to bring the industrial space back to its most elemental state. The blackened steel canopy and blackened steel doors were designed to complement the raw wood and wrought iron columns of the stripped space. Salvaged materials such as reclaimed barn wood for the counters and reclaimed marble slabs in the master bathroom were used to enhance the industrial feel of the space.

Ladera Norte

Sarah Stacey Interior Design

Inspiration for a modern kitchen in Austin with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

My house -

Design Shop Interiors

Photo of a country l-shaped kitchen in Sacramento with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances and with island.

Family kitchen

Roundhouse

Roundhouse Urbo handless bespoke matt lacquer kitchen in Farrow & Ball Downpipe. Worksurface and splashback in Corian, Glacier White and on the island in stainless steel. Siemens appliances and Barazza flush / built-in gas hob. Westins ceiling extractor, Franke tap pull out nozzle in stainless steel and Quooker Boiling Water Tap. Evoline Power port pop up socket.

Jackson Square

Deniece Duscheone Design

Nestled in the former antiques & design district, this loft unites a charismatic history with lively modern vibes. If these walls could talk. We gave this industrial time capsule an urban facelift by enhancing the 19-century architecture with a mix of metals, textures and sleek surfaces to appeal to a sassy & youthful lifestyle. Transcending time and place, we designed this loft to be clearly confident, uniquely refined while maintaining its authentic bones.

Lawrenceville Remodel by Katy Popple Design

Erin Kelly Photography

Inspiration for a mid-sized eclectic l-shaped kitchen in Other with with island, an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Midcentury Modern Custom Home Build in Eagle

Solitude Homes

Inspiration for a large transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Boise with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, black splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and quartz benchtops.

The Lakes

Field Day Studio

Lobster and Swan
Country l-shaped kitchen in London with a farmhouse sink, open cabinets, green cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, with island and grey floor.

Black Pendant Kitchen Lighting

Fratantoni Interior Designers

This French Country kitchen features a large island with bar stool seating. Black cabinets with gold hardware surround the kitchen. Open shelving is on both sides of the gas-burning stove. These French Country wood doors are custom designed.

Open Plan Contemporary Kitchen Remodel

CJ Paone AIA | Archipelago Workshop

Oversized pendant lights match the large scale of the custom kitchen island. The island features a built-in cooktop and built-in-place walnut butcher block top; open shelves made from the same walnut float above black basalt countertops and frame a farmhouse sink. Appliance nook is backed with penny tile that echoes the color and shape of the island lighting. Kurt Jordan Photography

Kitchen Remodel

GJK Building & Remodeling

Photo of a transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Charlotte with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, green splashback, white appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Contemporary Ranch-Style Home

Brad Dassler-Bethel . Architect

This award winning, luxurious home reinvents the ranch-style house to suit the lifestyle and taste of today’s modern family. Featuring vaulted ceilings, large windows and a screened porch, this home embraces the open floor plan concept and is handicap friendly. Expansive glass doors extend the interior space out, and the garden pavilion is a great place for the family to enjoy the outdoors in comfort. This home is the Gold Winner of the 2019 Obie Awards. Photography by Nelson Salivia

Addition to Historic Chevy Chase Maryland House

Landis Architects | Builders

A large island and built-in bench provide seating for casual dining at the island and breakfast nook. French doors in the family room and full light door in the breakfast nook connect the open living space to the patio. The perimeter cabinets are white with Caesarstone Raven countertops. The island is blue with Caesarstone Calacatta Nuvo countertop. There is a prep sink on the island.

All Islands 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!