Ernesto Santalla PLLC is located in historic Georgetown, Washington, DC. Ernesto Santalla was born in Cuba and received a degree in Architecture from Cornell University in 1984, following which he moved to Washington, DC, and became a registered architect. Since then, he has contributed to the changing skyline of DC and worked on projects in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Europe. His work has been widely published and received numerous awards. Ernesto Santalla PLLC offers professional services in Architecture, Interior Design, and Graphic Design. This website creates a window to Ernesto's projects, ideas and process–just enough to whet the appetite. We invite you to visit our office to learn more about us and our work. Photography by Geoffrey Hodgdon

Private Residence

Equilibrium Interior Design Inc

While this client is not on the road, he loves to cook for his family and closest friends. This is why this kitchen has the top of the line modern appliances, gas cooktop, and a whole back up pantry storage around the corner with full size refrigerator, freezer, and a wine fridge. Client asked us for a sleek and functional kitchen that has a dual purpose: it acts as an every day kitchen for the family, and it can be closed off from the areas of the house with hidden doors to become a catering kitchen for the parties. In lieu of traditional hood and pendants, we designed an incredible stainless steel hood that supports cantilevered structure with LED panel providing functional lighting over the island. This design was inspired by a fashion runway show catwalk and this kitchen certainly is a show stage for culinary excellence. The sleek design allows you to move around the kitchen without protruding catching handles. The doors and drawers incorporate state of the art technology allowing for simple tap or push on the surface for the cabinetry to open. This is especially useful when your hands have food on them when you’re cooking as you are able to use your knee or thigh to activate doors to open. Even refrigerator and freezer have a fully integrated hidden custom pull handle that looks like a vertical reveal – this allows for good grip to pull the heavy doors with suction, and the white acrylic panels are very easy to keep clean. Positions of two sinks on the island were specifically placed in the locations to facilitate the steps in food preparation - having them both on a single working surface makes it easier to work between them without dropping food or dripping water on the floors while preparing for cooking. Island incorporates a tall counter to sit at for a quick bite or just to stand around with you friends as you are preparing a meal. . This island truly is the heart of the kitchen and the heart of this home. Photography: Craig Denis

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.

St Johns Wood Family Home, London

DDWH Architects

Open plan kitchen family room
Design ideas for a large contemporary kitchen in London with with island, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink and limestone floors.

house L

Amitzi Architects

אמיצי אדריכלים
Small modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Tel Aviv with open cabinets, white cabinets, blue splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, a drop-in sink, quartz benchtops, limestone floors and with island.

Strikt Grepp

Jonas Sjölander

Stort kök med vår Striktlucka och grepplister som sitter i stommen. Bänkskiva i kvartskomposit från Silestone och vitvaror från ATAG och Fjäråskupan. FotoKenne Reklamfoto AB

residence F

Amitzi Architects

Design ideas for a small modern galley eat-in kitchen in Tel Aviv with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, red splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, a drop-in sink, limestone floors and with island.

House O

Amitzi Architects

photography: Amit Geron
Photo of an expansive modern single-wall separate kitchen in Tel Aviv with stainless steel appliances, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, glass sheet splashback, limestone floors and no island.

Kitchen with 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!