Blue and Grey base with 3 color glaze and distressed finish. Photo: Luiza Racovita
Mid-sized transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in Orlando with distressed cabinets, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback and with island.

Kelly Remodel - Kitchen

International Tile & Stone / Epic Kitchens & Baths

Inspiration for a contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Orlando with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances and medium hardwood floors.

Debbi's Kitchen

Chesapeake Kitchen Wholesalers, Inc.

Bertch Cabinets Verona Door Style. Birch Eggshell with brown glaze finish.Designed by Dashielle
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Baltimore with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, granite benchtops, brown splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, no island and brown floor.

Custom reclaimed wood fronts for IKEA cabinets,

Inde-Art Design House

We can design and build custom hardwood fronts for IKEA cabinets, allowing you the convenience and affordability as well as the luxurious look and feel of a completely personalized kitchen. In this kitchen Barbara was able to combines modern with rustic by using our rich warm reclaimed wood custom fronts with modern functionality of an IKEA cabinets & stainless steel appliances.

Eclectic Traditional

Kitchen & Bath Concepts of Pittsburgh

Craig Thompson Photography Premier Custom Built Cabinetry
Small eclectic u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, distressed cabinets, quartzite benchtops, beige splashback, glass tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Complete Cottage Rebuild

Beyond Redesign

Mid-sized country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, quartzite benchtops, green splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, green benchtop and exposed beam.

Beachfront Mediterranean

Renaissance Design Studio

Butler's Pantry: muslin painted distressed finish photography: Rick Ambrose of iSeeHomes.com
Small traditional single-wall eat-in kitchen in St Louis with raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, granite benchtops, glass tile splashback, dark hardwood floors and brown floor.

Shabby Chic Kitchen

Du Bois Design Ltd

Kitchen designed by Natalie Du Bois of Du Bois Design Kitchen photographed by Jamie Cobel
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional galley eat-in kitchen in Auckland with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, glass tile splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Staged Model & Listing NEW CONTRUCTION by Staged Home Decor

Your Home With Deb

HomeVisit
Large transitional kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors and with island.

Coastal Rustic Wild Woods Kitchen & Bathroom Remodel

Adryin Glynn Designs

Large country u-shaped open plan kitchen in Raleigh with a double-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, glass tile splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

French Country Kitchen

Designs by BSB

The 2” thick walnut island top with a beautiful ogee edge, ties the weight of the heavy rustic beams that line the ceiling of the adjacent keeping room. It easily handles all prep work and landing zone for tasks near the refrigerator & ovens. To create charm and comfort end panels and doors on the island were accented with bead board.

Houston Kitchen Redesign - Transitional Style With Antiques

InnovationLand

This Houston kitchen remodel and whole-house redesign was nothing less than a time machine – zooming a 40-year-old living space into 2017! “The kitchen had formica countertops, old wood cabinets, a strange layout and low ceilings,” says Lisha Maxey, lead designer for Outdoor Homescapes of Houston and owner of LGH Design Services. “We basically took it down to the studs to create the new space. It even had original terrazzo tile in the foyer! Almost never see that anymore.” The new look is all 2017, starting with a pure white maple wood for the new kitchen cabinetry and a 13-foot butcher block island. The china hutch, beam and columns are walnut. The small kitchen countertop (on fridge side) is Corian. The flooring is solid hickory with a natural stain. The backsplash is Moroccan blue glass. In the island, Outdoor Homescapes added a small, stainless steel prep sink and a large porcelain sink. All finishes are brushed stainless steel except for the pot filler, which is copper. “The look is very transitional, with a hearty mix of antiques the client wanted incorporated and the contemporary open concept look of today,” says Lisha. “The bar stools are actually reclaimed science class stools that my client picked up at a local fair. It was an awesome find!” In addition to the kitchen, the home’s first-floor half bath, living room and den also got an update. Outdoor Homescapes also built storage into the space under the stairs and warmed up the entry with custom blue and beige wallpaper. “In the half bath, we used the client’s favorite color, orange,” says Lisha. “We added a vessel bowl that was also found at a fair and an antique chandelier to top it off.” The paint in that room was textured by running a dry brush vertically while the paint was still wet. “It appears to be wallpaper, but not!” explains Lisha. Outdoor Homescapes also used black/white custom tiles in the bath and laundry room to tie it all in. Lisha used antique pieces in the laundry room with a custom black/white porcelain floor. To open up the wall between the old kitchen and living room, we had to install a 26’ steel I-beam to support the second floor. It was an engineering feat! Took six men to get it into place! “The client – an empty nester couple – had already done their upstairs remodel and they knew the first floor would be a gut-out,” continues Lisha. “The home was in very poor condition prior to the remodel, and everything needed to go. Basically, wife told husband, we either do this remodel or we sell the house. And Mr. inherited it from his Mom, so it has sentimental value to him.” Lisha loves how original it turned out, noting the refreshing department from the usual all-white kitchen with black/white flooring, Carrera marble or granite countertops and subway tile. “The clients were open to mixing up styles and working with me to make it come together,” she says. “I think there’s a new excitement in mixing the decades and finding a way to allow clients to hold on to treasured antiques or special pieces while incorporating them in a more modern space. Her favorite area is the large island. “I love that they will spend holidays and regular days around that space,” she says. “It’s just so welcoming!”

Chattaroy Residence

Fusion Architecture

This is an example of a large contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, distressed cabinets, granite benchtops, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, raised-panel cabinets, beige splashback and brown floor.

Gorgeous Wood Kitchen Cabinets set off this Beeler Way Kitchen

JM Kitchen & Bath Design

Paul
Inspiration for a large country u-shaped open plan kitchen in Denver with beaded inset cabinets, distressed cabinets, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, glass tile splashback and with island.

Chesapeake Bay "Antique" kitchen

Virginia Maid Kitchens

Photo of a traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Richmond with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, glass tile splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Forest Hill Estate

U31 Inc.

Jac Jacobson Photography
Inspiration for a large traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Toronto with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, grey splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, marble floors and with island.

Kitchen "After"

Sue

AFTER: Taken from the living room and looking through where the counter-to-ceiling wall used to separate the kitchen and living room. A large granite counter with a 48" round "table" at the end now replaces the tiny eating area, comfortably seating 4. The table part of the counter is supported by a re-purposed, intricately carved wood table base originally topped by a glass table top. The desk area at the left side of the back wall was demolished and the back counter and cabinets now extend all the way to the window wall, allowing for more kitchen storage. The laminate cabinets were replaced with glazed wood cabinets. The floors (previously tile and carpet) throughout this level of the home were replaced with hand-scraped Acacia wood.

French Country Kitchen Project

Coastal Cabinet Works

Photo of a large midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, panelled appliances, with island, granite benchtops, glass tile splashback and porcelain floors.

Pine Drive

Creative Cabinetry Corp

KraftMaid Vantage, Rustic Alder, Putnam Door/Drawer, Distressed Husk
Design ideas for a mid-sized country single-wall eat-in kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, distressed cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island and grey benchtop.

Palarchio Kitchen Renovation

Jennifer McGahan Interiors

Tiffany Sanford
This is an example of a small country u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Ottawa with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, marble benchtops, beige splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and no island.

Kitchen with Distressed Cabinets and Glass Tile 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!