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.

Allentown, Pa New Build Pennsylvania Custom Farmhouse and Barn

lisa furey interiors

This is an example of a large country open plan kitchen in Philadelphia with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, quartz benchtops, red splashback, brick splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, green cabinets, beige floor and white benchtop.

NEAT Kitchens

NEAT Method Santa Barbara

Mid-sized transitional kitchen pantry in Santa Barbara with open cabinets, white cabinets and white floor.

Lido House Hotel Harbor Cottage

Matt White Custom Home

Photo of a beach style u-shaped kitchen in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula, beige floor and white benchtop.

Parkview

Warmington & North

Custom cabinetry by Warmington & North Architect: Hoedemaker Pfeiffer Photography: Haris Kenjar
This is an example of a traditional u-shaped kitchen pantry in Seattle with open cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops and white splashback.

Navy is a Neutral Ranch Remodel & Addition

KBG Design

Photo of a large beach style l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with shaker cabinets, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, brown floor and white benchtop.

Rollingwood Slide House

Oliver Custom Homes

Architect: Tim Brown Architecture. Photographer: Casey Fry
This is an example of a large country u-shaped kitchen pantry in Austin with open cabinets, white splashback, concrete floors, marble benchtops, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey floor, white benchtop and green cabinets.

Oakley Home Builders

This kitchen features Venetian Gold Granite Counter tops, White Linen glazed custom cabinetry on the parameter and Gunstock stain on the island, the vent hood and around the stove. The Flooring is American Walnut in varying sizes. There is a natural stacked stone on as the backsplash under the hood with a travertine subway tile acting as the backsplash under the cabinetry. Two tones of wall paint were used in the kitchen. Oyster bar is found as well as Morning Fog.

Two-Toned Warm Kitchen Remodel

Karr Bick Kitchen and Bath

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in St Louis with an undermount sink, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop, shaker cabinets and dark hardwood floors.

Saratoga Mediterranean Residence

Ryan Rosene Photography

Mediterranean home nestled into the native landscape in Northern California.
Large mediterranean l-shaped separate kitchen in Orange County with ceramic floors, beige floor, a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, beige cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, terra-cotta splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and grey benchtop.

Kitchen

Blackstone Renovations and Remodeling

Inspiration for a small scandinavian single-wall kitchen in Other with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, black appliances, a drop-in sink, white splashback, subway tile splashback and beige benchtop.

Orono Lakehouse

K2 Interior Designs

This project was featured in Midwest Home magazine as the winner of ASID Life in Color. The addition of a kitchen with custom shaker-style cabinetry and a large shiplap island is perfect for entertaining and hosting events for family and friends. Quartz counters that mimic the look of marble were chosen for their durability and ease of maintenance. Open shelving with brass sconces above the sink create a focal point for the large open space. Putting a modern spin on the traditional nautical/coastal theme was a goal. We took the quintessential palette of navy and white and added pops of green, stylish patterns, and unexpected artwork to create a fresh bright space. Grasscloth on the back of the built in bookshelves and console table along with rattan and the bentwood side table add warm texture. Finishes and furnishings were selected with a practicality to fit their lifestyle and the connection to the outdoors. A large sectional along with the custom cocktail table in the living room area provide ample room for game night or a quiet evening watching movies with the kids. To learn more visit https://k2interiordesigns.com To view article in Midwest Home visit https://midwesthome.com/interior-spaces/life-in-color-2019/ Photography - Spacecrafting

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.

Pantry... well stocked

KuDa Photography

Photo by KuDa Photography
This is an example of a country u-shaped kitchen pantry in Portland with recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, light hardwood floors, grey floor and brown benchtop.

Axboe

Klima Architecture

Kerri Fukkai
Inspiration for a modern l-shaped kitchen in Salt Lake City with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, stainless steel benchtops, metallic splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and beige floor.

Avant/après un appartement familial

QUALIRENOVATION

Photo of a scandinavian kitchen in Paris with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, a peninsula and grey floor.

Kitchens

Supan Builders

Inspiration for a country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Santa Barbara with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Modern English Farmhouse | Hillsboro, Oregon

Westlake Development Group, LLC

Justin Krug Photography
Inspiration for an expansive country u-shaped kitchen in Portland with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, brown floor, white benchtop, quartz benchtops and medium hardwood floors.

All Cabinet Finishes 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!