Kowalske Kitchen & Bath was the remodeling contractor for this beautiful Waukesha first floor remodel. The homeowners recently purchased the home and wanted to immediately update the space. The old kitchen was outdated and closed off from the great room. The goal was to design an open-concept space for hosting family and friends. LAYOUT The first step was to remove the awkward dining room walls. This made the room feel large and open. We tucked the refrigerator into a wall of cabinets so it didn’t impose. Seating at the island and peninsula makes the kitchen very versatile. DESIGN We created an elegant entertaining space to take advantage of the lake view. The Waukesha homeowners wanted a contemporary design with neutral colors and finishes. They chose soft gray lower cabinets and white upper cabinets. We added texture with wood accents and a herringbone marble backsplash tile. The desk area features a walnut butcher block countertop. We also used walnut for the open shelving, detail on the hood and the legs on the island. CUSTOM CABINETRY Frameless custom cabinets maximize storage in this Waukesha kitchen. The upper cabinets have hidden light rail molding. Angled plug molding eliminates outlets on the backsplash. Drawers in the lower cabinets allow for excellent storage. The cooktop has a functioning top drawer with a hidden apron to hide the guts of the cooktop. The clients also asked for a home office desk area and pantry cabinet.

Toronto Beaches Condo remodel

Reno Gurus

Design ideas for a small contemporary single-wall kitchen pantry in Toronto with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Coastal Mediterranean Remodel

Lola Interiors

Photo: Jessie Preza Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean galley open plan kitchen in Jacksonville with a double-bowl sink, beaded inset cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, brown benchtop and vaulted.

Lillian Dr.

Schweitzer Design & Build, Inc.

Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, multi-coloured floor and white benchtop.

Highlights of the kitchen

Ellsworth Design Build

Inspiration for a large modern single-wall open plan kitchen in Other with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, green splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Luxury Transitional

Design Theory Interiors, LLC

Large transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Atlanta with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Goodhue House Apartment

Emergent Form Architecture

The expanded counter space made way for a beautiful double-basin enameled cast iron sink. Photo By Alex Staniloff
Design ideas for a small transitional galley kitchen in New York with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, terra-cotta floors, white benchtop, a peninsula and multi-coloured floor.

Modern Farmhouse

Michael McKinley and Associates, LLC

The light filled living space is the center of the home. The kitchen features light grey cabinets and blue/grey subway tile. The wood burning stove can be rotated to face each of the three seating areas.

The Thorndale at Home Towne Square

Landmark Homes

This 2-story Arts & Crafts style home first-floor owner’s suite includes a welcoming front porch and a 2-car rear entry garage. Lofty 10’ ceilings grace the first floor where hardwood flooring flows from the foyer to the great room, hearth room, and kitchen. The great room and hearth room share a see-through gas fireplace with floor-to-ceiling stone surround and built-in bookshelf in the hearth room and in the great room, stone surround to the mantel with stylish shiplap above. The open kitchen features attractive cabinetry with crown molding, Hanstone countertops with tile backsplash, and stainless steel appliances. An elegant tray ceiling adorns the spacious owner’s bedroom. The owner’s bathroom features a tray ceiling, double bowl vanity, tile shower, an expansive closet, and two linen closets. The 2nd floor boasts 2 additional bedrooms, a full bathroom, and a loft.

Rift White Oak Kitchen Cabinetry

MADE, Inc.

KuDa Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Stylish Blue Accented Kitchen with Walk In Larder

Sustainable Kitchens

Inside of a walk in larder with spice rack on the door. There are dried good, cookware and cookbooks stored in the larder. The wall is painted in Farrow & Ball Stone Blue. The shelving is made out of solid birch and oak. Charlie O'Beirne

White and Grey Kitchen

CherryDale Kitchen & Bath by Top Builders LLC

This is an example of a small transitional single-wall separate kitchen in DC Metro with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Calabay Cove Vacation Home Transformation

Gail Barley Interiors, LLC

Kitchen cabinetry by IAS Kitchen & Bath Design. Bright hand-glazed tiles provide sparkle. Gold hardware contrasts with the white cabinets, and provides a sophisticated touch. Photographer: Trevor Ward Photography

Creating Open Concept Living

Amsted Design-Build

Clever interior design and impeccable craftsmanship were integral to this project, as we added a 10x10 addition to square up the back of the home, and turned a series of divided spaces into an open-concept plan. The homeowners wanted a big kitchen with an island large enough for their entire family, and an adjacent informal space to encourage time spent together. Custom built-ins help keep their TV, desk, and large book and game collections tidy. Upstairs, we reorganized the second and third stories to add privacy for the parents and independence for their growing kids. The new third floor master bedroom includes an ensuite and reading corner. The three kids now have their bedrooms together on the second floor, with an updated bathroom and a “secret” passageway between their closets! Gordon King Photography

Industrial Bachelor Pad

Nina Williams Interiors

John Lennon
Small industrial kitchen in Miami with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, terra-cotta splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors and with island.

Modern Kitchen

Jake Spurgeon, AKBD

Toby Weiss
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in St Louis with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, bamboo floors and with island.

Caesarstone Piatra Grey Quartz Countertop with Carrara Marble Subway Tile

By Design Kitchen and Bath Solutions

Here is a beautiful home on the side of a hill in Graham, TX. The customer kept her original cabinetry but added Caesarstone Piatra Grey Quartz Countertops and Carrara Marble 2X4 Subway tile. What a transformation from her original formica countertop and 4" backsplash. Thank you to our customer for the wonderful photos!

Black Quartz Countertop with Black Subway Tile Backsplash ~ Cuyahoga Falls, OH

Cabinet-S-Top

We updated the existing cabinets with new Cambria 3cm Blackwood Quartz countertops with T edge and a new Blanco top mount double bowl Diamond Anthtracite sink. The backsplash tile installed is 4 1/4 x 8 1/2 Black gloss subway tiles with 5/8 x 5/8 Bliss Linear accent (3 rows).

Organic Sophistication

Fusion Designed

Page Photography
This is an example of a mid-sized modern u-shaped separate kitchen in Minneapolis with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors and with island.

Mount Olympus Residence

Dunn Architecture Studio

Mark Angeles
Inspiration for a mid-sized modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with with island, a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and beige floor.

Kitchen with a Double-bowl Sink and Quartz Benchtops 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!