The idea for Scandinavian Hardwoods came after years of countless conversations with homeowners, designers, architects, and builders. The consistent theme: they wanted more than just a beautiful floor. They wanted insight into manufacturing locations (not just the seller or importer) and what materials are used and why. They wanted to understand the product’s environmental impact and it’s effect on indoor air quality and human health. They wanted a compelling story to tell guests about the beautiful floor they’ve chosen. At Scandinavian Hardwoods, we bring all of these elements together while making luxury more accessible. Kahrs Oak Portofino, by Scandinavian Hardwoods

Fremont Kitchen Addition

John Barton Architect

The serving bar is away from the cooking area so people using it won't get in the way of other people (who may be cooking). It combines wine storage and a coffee/expresso maker. Where the kitchen cabinets are white, these are dark as an accent to the kitchen... John Barton

Raised oven

Gary Brown Homes LLC

Photo of a small arts and crafts galley eat-in kitchen in Kansas City with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island and brown floor.

Open Plan Kitchen

Daruma Design Studio

Rei Moon
Inspiration for a contemporary kitchen in London with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, black splashback, subway tile splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Waterfront House - Pelican Waters

Christopher Design

The kitchen and inbuilt dining tabl. Interior Design by Mark Gacesa from Ultraspace photo by David Kekwick
Contemporary kitchen in Sunshine Coast with flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, black splashback and stone slab splashback.

My kitchen

Andy Sermonia

Contemporary l-shaped separate kitchen in Other with dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances and shaker cabinets.

Ocean View Penthouse

Sarah Barnard Design LLC

Natural wood, rattan and stone accessories make this modern kitchen lively and fun. Photo by: Brad Nicol
Design ideas for a small contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, no island and black splashback.

Contemporary Asian kitchen

Melinamade - Residential Design + Interiors

Remodeled kitchen - designed during my employment w/TRG Architects. Builder: JP Lindstrom Builders. Architecture/Interior Design: TRG Architects. First place winner of the Northern California NKBA Design Awards, medium kitchen category. Island incorporates 3-Form 'Birch' Varia Eco-Resin panels that are back lit w/ accessible LED lighting. Rice-paper resin panels in upper cabinets. Granite countertops & backsplash, Alder wood custom cabinets, & pendants by Tech lighting. Mobile round ceasarstone bar-table can stagger on top of Island or off to the side. Photos: Bernard Andre Photography

Quonset Hut Kitchen

Frederick + Frederick Architects

Photo by Dickson dunlap
Inspiration for a mid-sized industrial l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Atlanta with an undermount sink, stainless steel cabinets, granite benchtops, black splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, concrete floors and with island.

Clipper Quay

Quin Wyatt Building Designer

timber veneer kitchen with polished concrete tops, mirror splash back reflecting views of marina
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Melbourne with light wood cabinets, concrete benchtops, black splashback, limestone floors, with island, grey floor, a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey benchtop and window splashback.

LG House - Kitchen

thirdstone inc. [^]

LG House (Edmonton Design :: thirdstone inc. [^] Photography :: Merle Prosofsky
Inspiration for a contemporary galley eat-in kitchen in Edmonton with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, black splashback, glass sheet splashback, white appliances, grey floor and white benchtop.

Finished & Ongoing projects, Scottsdale, AZ

Bayside Home Improvement LLC

In this beautifully crafted home, the living spaces blend contemporary aesthetics with comfort, creating an environment of relaxed luxury. As you step into the living room, the eye is immediately drawn to the panoramic view framed by the floor-to-ceiling glass doors, which seamlessly integrate the outdoors with the indoors. The serene backdrop of the ocean sets a tranquil scene, while the modern fireplace encased in elegant marble provides a sophisticated focal point. The kitchen is a chef's delight with its state-of-the-art appliances and an expansive island that doubles as a breakfast bar and a prepping station. White cabinetry with subtle detailing is juxtaposed against the marble backsplash, lending the space both brightness and depth. Recessed lighting ensures that the area is well-lit, enhancing the reflective surfaces and creating an inviting ambiance for both cooking and social gatherings. Transitioning to the bathroom, the space is a testament to modern luxury. The freestanding tub acts as a centerpiece, inviting relaxation amidst a spa-like atmosphere. The walk-in shower, enclosed by clear glass, is accentuated with a marble surround that matches the vanity top. Well-appointed fixtures and recessed shelving add both functionality and a sleek aesthetic to the bathroom. Each design element has been meticulously selected to provide a sanctuary of sophistication and comfort. This home represents a marriage of elegance and pragmatism, ensuring that each room is not just a sight to behold but also a space to live and create memories in.

Black and White

JCP Construction Company, LLC

This is an example of an eat-in kitchen in Orlando with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, marble benchtops, black splashback, marble splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, black benchtop and vaulted.

Mid Century Glam

Fusion Cabinets, Inc.

The lift-up cabinets making cooking so easy.
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Tampa with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, granite benchtops, black splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, black benchtop and medium wood cabinets.

Dos Gatos Flores

Beth Howley Creative LLC

Design ideas for a large modern u-shaped open plan kitchen in Grand Rapids with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, marble benchtops, black splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and black benchtop.

Lofty Ambitions

Bilotta Kitchen & Home

This project was a gut renovation of a loft on Park Ave. South in Manhattan – it’s the personal residence of Andrew Petronio, partner at KA Design Group. Bilotta Senior Designer, Jeff Eakley, has worked with KA Design for 20 years. When it was time for Andrew to do his own kitchen, working with Jeff was a natural choice to bring it to life. Andrew wanted a modern, industrial, European-inspired aesthetic throughout his NYC loft. The allotted kitchen space wasn’t very big; it had to be designed in such a way that it was compact, yet functional, to allow for both plenty of storage and dining. Having an island look out over the living room would be too heavy in the space; instead they opted for a bar height table and added a second tier of cabinets for extra storage above the walls, accessible from the black-lacquer rolling library ladder. The dark finishes were selected to separate the kitchen from the rest of the vibrant, art-filled living area – a mix of dark textured wood and a contrasting smooth metal, all custom-made in Bilotta Collection Cabinetry. The base cabinets and refrigerator section are a horizontal-grained rift cut white oak with an Ebony stain and a wire-brushed finish. The wall cabinets are the focal point – stainless steel with a dark patina that brings out black and gold hues, picked up again in the blackened, brushed gold decorative hardware from H. Theophile. The countertops by Eastern Stone are a smooth Black Absolute; the backsplash is a black textured limestone from Artistic Tile that mimics the finish of the base cabinets. The far corner is all mirrored, elongating the room. They opted for the all black Bertazzoni range and wood appliance panels for a clean, uninterrupted run of cabinets. Designer: Jeff Eakley with Andrew Petronio partner at KA Design Group. Photographer: Stefan Radtke

Birch and Black Mid Century Inspired Minimalist Kitchen Design

Village Home Stores

Koch Cabinetry kitchen design in the minimalist slab Liberty door style and Birch Briarwood stain with Black painted accent island. Black Stainless Steel Whirlpool appliances, Mid Century Modern inspired lighting, and MSI Q Quartz counters in the Carrara Marmi design also featured. Cabinetry, countertops, appliances, lighting, and hardware by Village Home Stores for a new home built by Aspen Homes of the Quad Cities.

Agoura Hills HGTV Project

SoCal Canyon Builders

Photo of a country kitchen in Los Angeles with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, black splashback, ceramic splashback, with island and brown benchtop.

Scandi Barn | The Ashton

INNOVATIVE KITCHENS

Industrial Scandi Barn Kitchen
This is an example of a large industrial open plan kitchen in Adelaide with a farmhouse sink, black cabinets, quartz benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback, black appliances, travertine floors, with island, beige floor and black benchtop.

CUCINA SUL SOGGIORNO

Francesca Lepore & Claudia Bodesmo

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Rome with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, solid surface benchtops, black splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula and black benchtop.

All Backsplash Materials Kitchen with Black Splashback 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!