Twin Peaks House is a vibrant extension to a grand Edwardian homestead in Kensington. Originally built in 1913 for a wealthy family of butchers, when the surrounding landscape was pasture from horizon to horizon, the homestead endured as its acreage was carved up and subdivided into smaller terrace allotments. Our clients discovered the property decades ago during long walks around their neighbourhood, promising themselves that they would buy it should the opportunity ever arise. Many years later the opportunity did arise, and our clients made the leap. Not long after, they commissioned us to update the home for their family of five. They asked us to replace the pokey rear end of the house, shabbily renovated in the 1980s, with a generous extension that matched the scale of the original home and its voluminous garden. Our design intervention extends the massing of the original gable-roofed house towards the back garden, accommodating kids’ bedrooms, living areas downstairs and main bedroom suite tucked away upstairs gabled volume to the east earns the project its name, duplicating the main roof pitch at a smaller scale and housing dining, kitchen, laundry and informal entry. This arrangement of rooms supports our clients’ busy lifestyles with zones of communal and individual living, places to be together and places to be alone. The living area pivots around the kitchen island, positioned carefully to entice our clients' energetic teenaged boys with the aroma of cooking. A sculpted deck runs the length of the garden elevation, facing swimming pool, borrowed landscape and the sun. A first-floor hideout attached to the main bedroom floats above, vertical screening providing prospect and refuge. Neither quite indoors nor out, these spaces act as threshold between both, protected from the rain and flexibly dimensioned for either entertaining or retreat. Galvanised steel continuously wraps the exterior of the extension, distilling the decorative heritage of the original’s walls, roofs and gables into two cohesive volumes. The masculinity in this form-making is balanced by a light-filled, feminine interior. Its material palette of pale timbers and pastel shades are set against a textured white backdrop, with 2400mm high datum adding a human scale to the raked ceilings. Celebrating the tension between these design moves is a dramatic, top-lit 7m high void that slices through the centre of the house. Another type of threshold, the void bridges the old and the new, the private and the public, the formal and the informal. It acts as a clear spatial marker for each of these transitions and a living relic of the home’s long history.

Fresh & Contemporary Kitchen

Basma Interiors

Transitional l-shaped kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

LUXURY WORK STATIONS

Molly J Littlejohn Design

Inspiration for a large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, black benchtop, grey cabinets, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and exposed beam.

Grayson

WEST BAY HOMES real estate development

Inspiration for a country galley open plan kitchen in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, white splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, multiple islands, brown floor, grey benchtop, exposed beam, timber and recessed.

Modern Farmhouse

McCall Design & Planning

Design ideas for a country galley open plan kitchen in Boise with a farmhouse sink, ceramic splashback, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, panelled appliances, black benchtop and exposed beam.

Downtown Penthouse Gut

Truth Design Build, LLC

Industrial galley open plan kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and timber.

Forest Lake Renovation

YAMINI DESIGNS

A family friendly kitchen renovation in a lake front home with a farmhouse vibe and easy to maintain finishes.
Photo of a mid-sized country galley eat-in kitchen in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, black benchtop and coffered.

Benton Street Interior

Infinite Home

Design ideas for a transitional u-shaped kitchen in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, multi-coloured benchtop and exposed beam.

Mac-a-vista lake home

ShoreStone Custom Builders, Inc.

Design ideas for a beach style l-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, black benchtop, exposed beam, timber, vaulted, quartzite benchtops, marble splashback and panelled appliances.

Modern Wisconsin Style Farmhouse Vacation Home Large Kitchen with Vaulted Ceilin

Vetter Architects

Design ideas for a large contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Milwaukee with flat-panel cabinets, brown cabinets, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, brown floor, an undermount sink, marble splashback, medium hardwood floors, white benchtop, exposed beam and vaulted.

Bails

Annabode Interior Design

Photo of a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Denver with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback and vaulted.

Интерьер квартиры по ул. Березовая Роща

Emi Home

Inspiration for a small transitional l-shaped kitchen in Moscow with flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, wood benchtops, white appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor, brown benchtop and wood.

The Thousand Oaks

Tradewinds General Contracting, Inc.

Inspiration for a country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Boise with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Elk Creek Manor House

Tera Janelle Design

Inspiration for a country galley kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Kitchen In Oak Hill

Oak Hill Building & Remodeling

Photo of a traditional l-shaped kitchen in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and timber.

Lakeside Cottage #2

Cannarsa Structure and Design

Inspiration for a transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Grand Rapids with shaker cabinets, green cabinets, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

緑あふれる癒しの家

ゆらり建築事務所

使うほどに味わいの増すナラ無垢材のオーダーキッチン。
Design ideas for a country u-shaped open plan kitchen in Other with an integrated sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, stainless steel benchtops, medium hardwood floors, beige floor and exposed beam.

KITCHEN / DINING | Shaker Cabinetry & Exposed Beams

Studio Mônty

The kitchen has been cleverly designed to maximise the space. The tall fridge/freezer unit has been dropped to fit the ceiling height and the corner unit houses a pull-out larder cupboard. Oak worktops and live edge solid oak shelving add warmth. The Ercol dining chairs are vintage, with new cushions upholstered in Christopher Farr cloth.

Lake Rosseau Cottage II

Dewson Architects

Large country l-shaped kitchen in Toronto with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, white benchtop and wood.

Sonoma Inspired - Kitchen www.hryanstudio.com

H. Ryan Studio

Heather Ryan, Interior Designer H.Ryan Studio - Scottsdale, AZ www.hryanstudio.com
Photo of a large transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Phoenix with stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, terra-cotta splashback, brown floor, black benchtop and wood.

All Ceiling Designs Kitchen with Medium Hardwood 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!