The client requested a kitchen that would not only provide a great space to cook and enjoy family meals but one that would fit in with her unique design sense. An avid collector of contemporary art, she wanted something unexpected in her 100-year-old home in both color and finishes but still providing a great layout with improved lighting, storage, and superior cooking abilities. The existing kitchen was in a closed off space trapped between the family room and the living. If you were in the kitchen, you were isolated from the rest of the house. Making the kitchen an integrated part of the home was a paramount request. Step one, remove the wall separating the kitchen from the other rooms in the home which allowed the new kitchen to become an integrated space instead of an isolation room for the cook. Next, we relocated the pantry access which was in the family room to the kitchen integrating a poorly used recess which had become a catch all area which did not provide any usable space for storage or working area. To add valuable function in the kitchen we began by capturing unused "cubbies", adding a walk-in pantry from the kitchen, increasing the storage lost to un-needed drop ceilings and bring light and design to the space with a new large awning window, improved lighting, and combining interesting finishes and colors to reflect the artistic attitude of the client. A bathroom located above the kitchen had been leaking into the plaster ceiling for several years. That along with knob and tube wiring, rotted beams and a brick wall from the back of the fireplace in the adjacent living room all needed to be brought to code. The walls, ceiling and floors in this 100+ year old home were completely out of level and the room’s foot print could not be increased. The choice of a Sub-Zero wolf product is a standard in my kitchen designs. The quality of the product, its manufacturing and commitment to food preservation is the reason I specify Sub Zero Wolf. For the cook top, the integrated line of the contemporary cooktop and the signature red knobs against the navy blue of the cabinets added to the design vibe of the kitchen. The cooking performance and the large continuous grate on the cooktop makes it an obvious choice for a cook looking for a great cook top with professional results in a more streamlined profile. We selected a Sharp microwave drawer for the island, an XO wine refrigerator, Bosch dishwasher and Kitchen Aid double convection wall ovens to round out the appliance package. A recess created by the fireplace was outfitted with a cabinet which now holds small appliances within easy reach of my very petite client. Natural maple accents were used inside all the wall cabinets and repeated on the front of the hood and for the sliding door appliance cabinet and the floating shelves. This allows a brighter interior for the painted cabinets instead of the traditional same interior as exterior finish choice. The was an amazing transformation from the old to the new. The final touches are the honey bronze hardware from Top Knobs, Mitzi pendants from Hudson Valley Lighting group, a fabulous faucet from Brizo. To eliminate the old freestanding bottled water cooler, we specified a matching water filter faucet.

Preserve at Bent Pine - Kauai Model Kitchen

Masterpiece Design Group

These Sherwin Williams Iron Ore painted cabinets and Progress Lighting graphite dome pendants paired with Cambria's Skara Brae slab are the PERFECT mix in this contrasting kitchen ?

Mid-Century Renovation

Wendy Wilson & Associates

This mid-century ranch-style home in Pasadena, CA underwent a complete interior remodel and renovation. The kitchen walls separating it from the dining and living rooms were removed creating a sophisticated open-plan entertainment space.

Studio Hideaway

Delbert Adams Construction Group

Rustic great room with single-wall kitchenette, medium hardwood flooring and exposed wood beam ceiling, cow-hide rug, beige wall color, and wood railings and shelving.

Kitchen Remodel

Tamara Marie Designs

Vintage kitchen remodel. Our inspiration for the Spanish bungalow was California Coastal. We kept the beautiful terracotta floors, repurposed the cabinetry, added new countertops and backsplash. The client wanted a dishwasher so we extended the countertop to make room for the dishwasher & added additional cabinetry for more storage.

Contemporary kitchen

Soka Homes Construction

This contemporary kitchen has it all; plenty of space, pot lights throughout, a built-in speaker system, an hvac system, a stainless-steel skirt sink, an intercom system, security screen, a large island with an overhanging countertop, shaker style cabinets, pendant lights, quartz cabinets, glass backsplash and wolf appliances throughout.

New Farmhouse - Kitchen

DeBaker Design Group, Ltd.

Spacious Kitchen open to Family Room. Large Island seating for 5-6 people. Lots of light and minimal wall cabinets.
Inspiration for an expansive country u-shaped open plan kitchen in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Hope & Hayes' kitchen

April Case Underwood

Design ideas for a large contemporary eat-in kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, brown splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Howell Overhaul

Yancy Interior Design

What a difference it made to take that wall down! We had to put a large beam in the ceiling and support it in the sides walls with metal columns all the way down to the basement to make this structurally sound.

DEG apt | 70 MQ

kkarchitecture

Photo of an expansive contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Turin with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, brown splashback, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and brown benchtop.

Classic Black and White kitchen

Vision Design

A small but very functional kitchen remodel makes a small house live much larger
Design ideas for a small transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, black benchtop and exposed beam.

Alpharetta Transformation

Renew Properties

Inspiration for a country l-shaped kitchen in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, brown benchtop and exposed beam.

California Beach Home

Eve Mode Design

Although small in size, the kitchen feels open and airy, with an ocean view. The white cabinets and beveled glass wall tile reflects the water and beach feeling in a contemporary and sophisticated style.

"Лесная тропа"

id1863

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Moscow with flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, beige splashback, timber splashback, black appliances, no island, grey floor and black benchtop.

Bright Modern Kitchen in Hingham

Transitions Kitchens and Baths

This modern kitchen design in Hingham is sure to be the bright spot in the center of this home. Mouser Cabinetry sets the tone for this design with white beaded inset perimeter cabinets, which is contrasted by a dark wood finish kitchen island with a built in microwave. Both cabinets are Centra Square Inset Reno door style, complemented by Emtek satin nickel Alexander Pulls and Norwich Knobs. A white with gray veining countertop from Boston Bluestone is an ideal counterpart to the cabinetry along with a Highland Park Dove Grey 3 x 6 glass tile backsplash. The large Kohler Vault farmhouse sink sits under a bright window, paired with a Blanco Culina Chrome faucet. The island includes an Elkay single bowl sink, with the two sinks creating a perfect zone for food preparation and clean up including space for more than one person to work. Cooking will be a breeze in this kitchen with a large Wolf oven, along with a Blanco Cantata chrome pot filler faucet. A custom hutch adds storage and style with the central cabinet doors in a black frame with glass front doors to contrast the white cabinetry. In cabinet lighting spotlights these striking cabinets and adds space to display favorite items. The bright kitchen includes ample natural light plus dramatic Feiss Kenney Collection light fixtures with two above island and one above the table. This stunning kitchen design offers ample space for cooking, dining, and entertaining, and is connected to an adjacent living area with a custom bar.

Custom Kitchen Drawer Storage and Organization

Urbana Design Studio

Dividers provide an easy way to organize kitchen drawers Kate Falconer Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized beach style l-shaped open plan kitchen with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, yellow floor and white benchtop.

Studio rénové au coeur de la presqu'île lyonnaise

CHADOWS Design d'Intérieur

Design ideas for a small single-wall eat-in kitchen in Lyon with an undermount sink, black cabinets, laminate benchtops, beige splashback, timber splashback, black appliances, light hardwood floors, beige floor and beige benchtop.

Modern San Diego History

Marrokal Design & Remodeling

This is an example of a small contemporary single-wall eat-in kitchen in San Diego with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and grey benchtop.

Before / After - some of our work

Homefulness Ltd

Pantry organisation by Homefulness
Photo of a mid-sized country l-shaped kitchen pantry in Kent with open cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, timber splashback, no island and white benchtop.

Speciality Pantry Opened

Pike Properties

This is an example of a large beach style l-shaped kitchen pantry in Charlotte with a farmhouse sink, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen with Glass Tile Splashback and Timber 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!