This home in the Portland hills was stuck in the 70's with cedar paneling and almond laminate cabinets with oak details. (See Before photos) The space had wonderful potential with a high vaulted ceiling that was covered by a low ceiling in the kitchen and dining room. Walls closed in the kitchen. The remodel began with removal of the ceiling and the wall between the kitchen and the dining room. Hardwood flooring was extended into the kitchen. Shaker cabinets with contemporary hardware, modern pendants and clean-lined backsplash tile make this kitchen fit the transitional style the owners wanted. Now, the light and backdrop of beautiful trees are enjoyed from every room.

Moody Beach, Wells MAine

Statires Development

Photo of a beach style kitchen in Portland Maine with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, grey benchtop and granite benchtops.

2017 ARDA - Custom Homes - Royal Oaks Design

AIBD - American Institute of Building Design

The client’s coastal New England roots inspired this Shingle style design for a lakefront lot. With a background in interior design, her ideas strongly influenced the process, presenting both challenge and reward in executing her exact vision. Vintage coastal style grounds a thoroughly modern open floor plan, designed to house a busy family with three active children. A primary focus was the kitchen, and more importantly, the butler’s pantry tucked behind it. Flowing logically from the garage entry and mudroom, and with two access points from the main kitchen, it fulfills the utilitarian functions of storage and prep, leaving the main kitchen free to shine as an integral part of the open living area. An ARDA for Custom Home Design goes to Royal Oaks Design Designer: Kieran Liebl From: Oakdale, Minnesota

Traditional Kitchen with a Chic Farmhouse Twist

Carrie Johnson

Homeowners aimed to bring the lovely outdoors into better view when they removed the two 90's dated columns that divided the kitchen from the family room and eat-in area. They also transformed the range wall when they added two wood encasement windows which frame the custom zinc hood and allow a soft light to penetrate the kitchen. Custom beaded inset cabinetry was designed with a busy family of 5 in mind. A coffee station hides behind the appliance garage, the paper towel holder is partially concealed in a rolling drawer and three custom pullout drawers with soft close hinges hold many items that would otherwise be located on the countertop or under the sink. A 48" Viking gas range took the place of a 30" electric cooktop and a Bosch microwave drawer is now located in the island to make space for the newly added beverage cooler. Due to size and budget constaints, we kept the basic footprint so every space was carefully planned for function and design. The family stayed true to their casual lifestyle with the black honed countertops but added a little bling with the rustic crystal chandelier, crystal prism arched sconces and calcutta gold herringbone backsplash. But the owner's favorite add was the custom island designed as an antique furniture piece with the essenza blue quartzite countertop cut with a demi-bull stepout. The kids can now sit at the ample sized counter and enjoy breakfast or finish homework in the comfortable cherry red swivel chairs which add a pop to the otherwise understated tones. This newly remodeled kitchen checked all the homeowner's desires.

Kitchen

Laurie S Woods, ASID

Mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, white cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, glass tile splashback, medium hardwood floors, brown floor, black benchtop and stainless steel appliances.

Galena

Carol Faccinetti Interior Design

Expansive modern u-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Organic Beauty

Freestyle Interiors

Photo of a large transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Miami with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and a farmhouse sink.

MBD Kitchen

Marble Builder Direct

Inspiration for a large traditional l-shaped kitchen in Cleveland with a double-bowl sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Traditional Kitchen with a Touch of Glamour

Normandy Remodeling

One of the crowning jewels of this kitchen is a mirrored refrigerator armoire. Overall, the mirrors reflect light and add extra sparkle into the space and custom lead caming gives an antique aesthetic.

The Party's At Our House

Studio Dearborn

Designer Sarah Robertson of Studio Dearborn helped a neighbor and friend to update a “builder grade” kitchen into a personal, family space that feels luxurious and inviting. The homeowner wanted to solve a number of storage and flow problems in the kitchen, including a wasted area dedicated to a desk, too-little pantry storage, and her wish for a kitchen bar. The all white builder kitchen lacked character, and the client wanted to inject color, texture and personality into the kitchen while keeping it classic.

Shaker Cherry Kitchen

Pam Petritis Design

Warm Cherry wood stained a rich auburn brown.
Photo of a mid-sized transitional galley eat-in kitchen in Boston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Kitchen Pull Out Pantry

Bill Fry Construction - Wm. H. Fry Const. Co.

Double kitchen pull out pantry
Photo of a large transitional l-shaped kitchen pantry in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Delaplane

Warren Cabinets/Tolson Appliance Center

Photography courtesy of Andrea Jones
Design ideas for a mid-sized traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, grey cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, stone tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Garage to Kitchen Conversion

Crisp Architects

Rob Karosis: Photographer
Design ideas for a mid-sized country u-shaped open plan kitchen in Bridgeport with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, porcelain splashback and a farmhouse sink.

1210 Macdonald Ranch

Luxe-Design

Kitchen with Morning Room
Design ideas for a large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Las Vegas with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, limestone floors, with island, beige floor and beige benchtop.

Ranch Kitchen Remodel

Sheila Mayden Interiors

Photography: Christian J Anderson. Contractor & Finish Carpenter: Poli Dmitruks of PDP Perfection LLC.
Design ideas for a mid-sized country galley kitchen in Seattle with a farmhouse sink, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, grey splashback, slate splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, with island, grey floor and recessed-panel cabinets.

Complete Kitchen Remodel in Maitland

KBF Design Gallery

New homeowners wanted to update the kitchen before moving in. KBF replaced all the flooring with a mid-tone plank engineered wood, and designed a gorgeous new kitchen that is truly the centerpiece of the home. The crystal chandelier over the center island is the first thing you notice when you enter the space, but there is so much more to see! The architectural details include corbels on the range hood, cabinet panels and matching hardware on the integrated fridge, crown molding on cabinets of varying heights, creamy granite countertops with hints of gray, black, brown and sparkle, and a glass arabasque tile backsplash to reflect the sparkle from that stunning chandelier.

Berscheid Builders - Golf Haven Estates

Westwind Woodworkers Inc.

Michael's Photography
This is an example of a large modern u-shaped open plan kitchen in Minneapolis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Rustic Flooring

Duncan Flooring Specialist

Inspiration for a large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Chicago with white cabinets, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, brick splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, an undermount sink, shaker cabinets and brown floor.

An Industrial Shaker Kitchen

Sustainable Kitchens

Oak shaker style kitchen painted with Farrow & Ball Down Pipe. The worktop is premium black honed granite. White metro tiles with stainless steel Smeg oven and hood add a perfect industrial touch. The high ceilings have made it possible to have narrower and taller units for extra storage in this small apartment kitchen.

Kitchen with Granite Benchtops 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!