Contemporary kitchen in Atlanta with panelled appliances, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets and granite benchtops.

The decision to remodel your kitchen isn't one to take lightly. But, if you really don't enjoy spending time there, it may be time for a change. That was the situation facing the owners of this remodeled kitchen, says interior designer Vernon Applegate. "The old kitchen was dismal," he says. "It was small, cramped and outdated, with low ceilings and a style that reminded me of the early ‘80s." It was also some way from what the owners – a young couple – wanted. They were looking for a contemporary open-plan kitchen and family room where they could entertain guests and, in the future, keep an eye on their children. Two sinks, dishwashers and refrigerators were on their wish list, along with storage space for appliances and other equipment. Applegate's first task was to open up and increase the space by demolishing some walls and raising the height of the ceiling. "The house sits on a steep ravine. The original architect's plans for the house were missing, so we needed to be sure which walls were structural and which were decorative," he says. With the walls removed and the ceiling height increased by 18 inches, the new kitchen is now three times the size of the original galley kitchen. The main work area runs along the back of the kitchen, with an island providing additional workspace and a place for guests to linger. A color palette of dark blues and reds was chosen for the walls and backsplashes. Black was used for the kitchen island top and back. "Blue provides a sense of intimacy, and creates a contrast with the bright living and dining areas, which have lots of natural light coming through their large windows," he says. "Blue also works as a restful backdrop for anyone watching the large screen television in the kitchen." A mottled red backsplash adds to the intimate tone and makes the walls seem to pop out, especially around the range hood, says Applegate. From the family room, the black of the kitchen island provides a visual break between the two spaces. "I wanted to avoid people's eyes going straight to the cabinetry, so I extended the black countertop down to the back of the island to form a negative space and divide the two areas," he says. "The kitchen is now the axis of the whole public space in the house. From there you can see the dining room, living room and family room, as well as views of the hills and the water beyond." Cabinets : Custom rift sawn white oak, cerused dyed glaze Countertops : Absolute black granite, polished Flooring : Oak/driftwood grey from Gammapar Bar stools : Techno with arms, walnut color Lighting : Policelli Backsplash : Red dragon marble Sink : Stainless undermountby Blanco Faucets : Grohe Hot water system : InSinkErator Oven : Jade Cooktop : Independent Hoods, custom Microwave : GE Monogram Refrigerator : Jade Dishwasher : Miele, Touchtronic anniversary Limited Edition

Kitchen- Rancho Sante Fe Custom Home

Alpha Design Group

Inspiration for a mid-sized u-shaped separate kitchen in San Diego with stainless steel appliances, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, beige splashback, granite benchtops, limestone splashback, limestone floors and multiple islands.

Kitchen

User

Design ideas for a contemporary kitchen in Amsterdam with stainless steel appliances, granite benchtops, open cabinets and white cabinets.

Asian Inspired Modern Kitchen Renovation

Koch Architects

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary galley separate kitchen in San Francisco with brown splashback, granite benchtops, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and medium hardwood floors.

Red Pepper Kitchen + Bath

Red Pepper Design & Cabinetry

Mid-sized contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Orange, Black and White Kitchen

Du Bois Design Ltd

Design ideas for a modern open plan kitchen in Auckland with granite benchtops, an undermount sink, orange splashback and glass sheet splashback.

Kitchen

Camber Construction

Contemporary kitchen in San Francisco with glass-front cabinets, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, red splashback and glass sheet splashback.

kitchen

Elad Gonen

project for paz kitchens
This is an example of a modern l-shaped kitchen in Other with flat-panel cabinets, black appliances and granite benchtops.

Hackspettsgatan 12, Örgryte, Göteborg.

Lundin Fastighetsbyrå

Inspiration for a scandinavian l-shaped kitchen in Gothenburg with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, no island and granite benchtops.

ModArt Kitchens

Imagine Living

ModArt kitchens are work of art. Made by hand in Italy using the best materials and craftsmanship. Prices around €25k for large kitchen including marble / granite worktops. Each kitchen is totally unique and beautiful. Perfectly made to measure. ModArt kitchens are known by reputation and all marketing is by word of mouth; Imagine Living is an exclusive distributor of these stunning kitchens. ilive@imagine-living.com

Inredning av privat villa i Malmö

Dysign AB

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary galley separate kitchen in Malmo with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, ceramic floors and no island.

Contemporary Kitchen

Design ideas for a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Other with panelled appliances, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, metallic splashback and metal splashback.

Orange, Black and White Kitchen

Du Bois Design Ltd

This is an example of an industrial eat-in kitchen in Auckland with stainless steel appliances and granite benchtops.

Orange, Black and White Kitchen

Du Bois Design Ltd

Modern eat-in kitchen in Auckland with granite benchtops, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, orange splashback and glass sheet splashback.

Caramel and Chocolate Kitchen by Du Bois Design

Du Bois Design Ltd

Designer: Natalie Du Bois
Photo of a contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Auckland with stainless steel appliances, flat-panel cabinets, a double-bowl sink, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, light hardwood floors, with island and black splashback.

Caramel and Chocolate Kitchen by Du Bois Design

Du Bois Design Ltd

Designer: Natalie Du Bois
This is an example of a contemporary l-shaped kitchen pantry in Auckland with stainless steel appliances, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, a double-bowl sink, granite benchtops, yellow splashback, porcelain splashback, light hardwood floors and with island.

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!