Randall, Cliddesden, Basingstoke, Hampshire Kitchen Project

Rhona and David Randall’s 1986 home near Basingstoke, North Hampshire originally had a kitchen with a separate utility room attached, which meant that their kitchen space was somewhat limited to being a functional kitchen and not the kitchen, dining, living space that they could use to entertain friends and family in. It was important to then create a new utility space for the family within the newly enlarged kitchen dining room, and Rhona commented: “Mark then designed in a Utility/Laundry Cupboard that is now hidden away behind bi-fold doors and is a much better use of space and now has our washing machine, tumble dryer and water softener. It was also his idea to take off the kitchen door leading into the hallway, which now gives a better flow to the room. Mark then designed in another bi-fold door to hide away the big fridge freezer and to use part of that area for coats.”

Belfast Blue

Evie Willow Kitchens

Small traditional u-shaped separate kitchen in Oxfordshire with a single-bowl sink, blue cabinets, granite benchtops, black splashback, black appliances, limestone floors and no island.

Wiltshire House

Jones Associates Architects

Gareth Gardner
Traditional kitchen in London with with island, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, granite benchtops, stainless steel appliances, a farmhouse sink and limestone floors.

The Leicestershire Kitchen in the Forest || Worn Grey Limestone

Floors of Stone

The hand distressed edges and weather surface of the Worn Grey Limestone makes the tiles look as though they have been laid for years.
Design ideas for a large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with open cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, limestone floors and no island.

Medlars

Ginger & Mylo

Inspiration for a traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in London with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, panelled appliances, limestone floors, with island, beige floor and black benchtop.

Cape Cod in San Marino

Charmean Neithart Interiors

Inspiration for an expansive l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, limestone floors, multiple islands, grey floor and white benchtop.

Randall, Cliddesden, Basingstoke, Hampshire Kitchen Project

BP Kitchens & Interiors

Kitchen Before & After: Handmade Shaker Transformation - AFTER

Used Kitchen Exchange

Inspiration for a large traditional eat-in kitchen in Cheshire with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, panelled appliances, limestone floors, with island, beige floor and black benchtop.

The Leicestershire Kitchen in the Forest || Worn Grey Limestone

Floors of Stone

The honed areas of the Worn Grey Limestone catch the light and the subtle glint from the copper pans in this stunning kitchen.
This is an example of a large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with open cabinets, blue cabinets, wood benchtops, limestone floors and no island.

Holiday home, North Sea Coast

User

Quartz Photo
Photo of a mid-sized beach style galley eat-in kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, granite benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances and limestone floors.

Solihul Full Renovation

Create Perfect

Inspiration for a large modern l-shaped open plan kitchen in West Midlands with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, brown splashback, timber splashback, panelled appliances, limestone floors, with island and white benchtop.

Manor Farm Barn

Sustainable Kitchens

Photo of a large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Gloucestershire with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, limestone floors, with island and grey benchtop.

Elegant modern home

Carton Interiors

Transitional galley kitchen in Dublin with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, metallic splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, limestone floors, with island and white floor.

Casual Elegance

JWH Design and Cabinetry LLC

Photo of a large traditional u-shaped separate kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, limestone floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Traditional Kitchen

Design ideas for a large traditional galley kitchen pantry in Other with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, granite benchtops, black appliances, limestone floors and with island.

Luxury Blue Classic Shaker Kitchen

Handmade Kitchen Co

Inspiration for an expansive traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Hertfordshire with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, limestone floors, with island, beige floor and black benchtop.

Blue Bookcase Kitchen

LNDesigns

I designed this kitchen during my time at Harvey Jones. The client knew she wanted to feature colour but was concerned due to the narrowness of the room. By opting for natural limestone flooring and bright white walls to contrast, we were able to bring in beautiful blues and still maintain an airy, open feeling. I later designed (and Handley Bespoke built), the centre blue bookcase to complement the chosen kitchen cabinetry, featuring a hidden door leading into a cosy drinks snug. This is a great example of how bespoke builds can be made to fit in with your existing cabinetry.

Open Plan Kitchen

Churchwood Design

A bespoke hand-painted kitchen with Silestone Lagoon worktops and lighting from Curiousa & Curiousa. The island unit is painted in 'Livid' from The Little Green Paint Company.

Kitchen Extension Cottage

Interior Motifs

A large extension on a rural cottage. The style is in keeping with the building. A 320 cm island. A pantry in right back. Behind the hob area is the utility and cloak room located. The kitchen is bespoke and all hand made.

Cape Cod in San Marino

Charmean Neithart Interiors

Traditional Cape Cod with open concept floorplan and two islands. Features include skylight, nickel sinks. custom drying drawers, painted cabinets and massive 7 light bay window.

Kitchen with Blue Cabinets and Limestone 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!