Mary’s floor-through apartment was truly enchanting . . . except for the tiny kitchen she’d inherited. It lacked a dishwasher, counter space or any real storage, items that have all been addressed in the makeover. Now the kitchen is as cheerful and bright as the rest of the home.

Chelsea Loft, New York, NY

TOLA architecture

Photo Credit: Amy Barkow | Barkow Photo, Lighting Design: LOOP Lighting, Interior Design: Blankenship Design, General Contractor: Constructomics LLC

Minneapolis Extension

CHRISTIAN DEAN ARCHITECTURE, LLC

Karen Melvin
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Minneapolis with a drop-in sink, stainless steel cabinets, stainless steel benchtops, flat-panel cabinets, cork floors and with island.

Dallas | Delrose | Kitchen (Revive)

Kitchen Design Concepts

We must admit, we’ve got yet another show-stopping transformation! With keeping the cabinetry boxes (though few had to be replaced), swapping out drawer and drawer fronts with new ones, and updating all the finishes – we managed to give this space a renovation that could be confused for a full remodel! The combination of a vibrant new backsplash, a light painted cabinetry finish, and new fixtures, these cosmetic changes really made the kitchen become “brand new”. Want to learn more about this space and see how we went from “drab” to “fab” then keep reading! Cabinetry The cabinets boxes that needed to be replaced are from WW Woods Shiloh, Homestead door style, in maple wood. These cabinets were unfinished, as we finished the entire kitchen on-site with the rest of the new drawer and drawer fronts for a seamless look. The cabinet fronts that were replaced were from Woodmont cabinetry, in a paint grade maple, and a recessed panel profile door-style. As a result, the perimeter cabinets were painted in Sherwin Williams Tinsmith, the island in Sherwin Williams Sea Serpent, and a few interiors of the cabinets were painted in a Sherwin Williams Tinsmith. Countertop The countertops feature a 3 cm Caesarstone Vivid White quartz Backsplash The backsplash installed from countertops to the bottom of the furrdown are from Glazzio in the Oceania Herringbone Series, in Cobalt Sea, and are a 1×2 size. We love how vibrant it is! Fixtures and Fittings From Blanco, we have a Meridian semi-professional faucet in Satin Nickel, and a granite composite Precis 1-3/4 bowl sink in a finish of Cinder. The floating shelves are from Danver and are a stainless steel finish. Flooring The flooring is a cork material from Harris Cork in the Napa Collection, in a Fawn finish.

Hale Aina By The Sea

Archipelago Hawaii Luxury Home Designs

Photography: Augie Salbosa Kitchen remodel Sub-Zero / Wolf appliances Butcher countertop Studio Becker Cabinetry Cork flooring Ice Stone countertop Glass backsplash

Idlewild Acres

Greg DeLory Design

The kitchen opening out to the great room. Granite counters and custom bar stools, cork flooring in the work area. Photo by Dan Cutrona.
Design ideas for a mid-sized country kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, recycled glass benchtops, panelled appliances, cork floors and with island.

Kitchen with Cork Floors 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!