The clients believed the peninsula footprint was required due to the unique entry points from the hallway leading to the dining room and the foyer. The new island increases storage, counters and a more pleasant flow of traffic from all directions. The biggest challenge was trying to make the structural beam that ran perpendicular to the space work in a new design; it was off center and difficult to balance the cabinetry and functional spaces to work with it. In the end it was decided to increase the budget and invest in moving the header in the ceiling to achieve the best design, esthetically and funcationlly. Specific storage designed to meet the clients requests include: - pocket doors at counter tops for everyday appliances - deep drawers for pots, pans and Tupperware - island includes designated zone for baking supplies - tall and shallow pantry/food storage for easy access near island - pull out spice near cooking - tray dividers for assorted baking pans/sheets, cutting boards and numerous other serving trays - cutlery and knife inserts and built in trash/recycle bins to keep things organized and convenient to use, out of sight - custom design hutch to hold various, yet special dishes and silverware Elements of design chosen to meet the clients wishes include: - painted cabinetry to lighten up the room that lacks windows and give relief/contrast to the expansive wood floors - monochromatic colors throughout give peaceful yet elegant atmosphere o stained island provides interest and warmth with wood, but still unique in having a different stain than the wood floors – this is repeated in the tile mosaic backsplash behind the rangetop - punch of fun color used on hutch for a unique, furniture feel - carefully chosen detailed embellishments like the tile mosaic, valance toe boards, furniture base board around island, and island pendants are traditional details to not only the architecture of the home, but also the client’s furniture and décor. - Paneled refrigerator minimizes the large appliance, help keeping an elegant feel Superior cooking equipment includes a combi-steam oven, convection wall ovens paired with a built-in refrigerator with interior air filtration to better preserve fresh foods. Photography by Gregg Willett

Vintage Kitchen Remodel

TKS Design Group

Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW The homeowners came to us looking to update the kitchen in their historic 1897 home. The home had gone through an extensive renovation several years earlier that added a master bedroom suite and updates to the front façade. The kitchen however was not part of that update and a prior 1990’s update had left much to be desired. The client is an avid cook, and it was just not very functional for the family. The original kitchen was very choppy and included a large eat in area that took up more than its fair share of the space. On the wish list was a place where the family could comfortably congregate, that was easy and to cook in, that feels lived in and in check with the rest of the home’s décor. They also wanted a space that was not cluttered and dark – a happy, light and airy room. A small powder room off the space also needed some attention so we set out to include that in the remodel as well. See that arch in the neighboring dining room? The homeowner really wanted to make the opening to the dining room an arch to match, so we incorporated that into the design. Another unfortunate eyesore was the state of the ceiling and soffits. Turns out it was just a series of shortcuts from the prior renovation, and we were surprised and delighted that we were easily able to flatten out almost the entire ceiling with a couple of little reworks. Other changes we made were to add new windows that were appropriate to the new design, which included moving the sink window over slightly to give the work zone more breathing room. We also adjusted the height of the windows in what was previously the eat-in area that were too low for a countertop to work. We tried to keep an old island in the plan since it was a well-loved vintage find, but the tradeoff for the function of the new island was not worth it in the end. We hope the old found a new home, perhaps as a potting table. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Adobe Casita

Design Studio 1127

Open concept small but updated kitchen. With drawer refrigerator and freezer on island.
Photo of a small galley kitchen in Phoenix with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, brick floors, with island, beige benchtop and wood.

Modern Spanish Revival

SDG Architects

Photo by John Merkl
Inspiration for a mid-sized mediterranean open plan kitchen in San Francisco with a single-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Winthrop Rd Traditional

Meghan Shadrick Interiors

Custom kitchen designed in early 2000's. We did a cosmetic overhaul replacing tile floor with wood, new backsplash, new lighting, new faucets, and wall color

Presidio Heights Curated Contemporary

Regan Baker Design Inc.

Well-traveled. Relaxed. Timeless. Our well-traveled clients were soon-to-be empty nesters when they approached us for help reimagining their Presidio Heights home. The expansive Spanish-Revival residence originally constructed in 1908 had been substantially renovated 8 year prior, but needed some adaptations to better suit the needs of a family with three college-bound teens. We evolved the space to be a bright, relaxed reflection of the family’s time together, revising the function and layout of the ground-floor rooms and filling them with casual, comfortable furnishings and artifacts collected abroad. One of the key changes we made to the space plan was to eliminate the formal dining room and transform an area off the kitchen into a casual gathering spot for our clients and their children. The expandable table and coffee/wine bar means the room can handle large dinner parties and small study sessions with similar ease. The family room was relocated from a lower level to be more central part of the main floor, encouraging more quality family time, and freeing up space for a spacious home gym. In the living room, lounge-worthy upholstery grounds the space, encouraging a relaxed and effortless West Coast vibe. Exposed wood beams recall the original Spanish-influence, but feel updated and fresh in a light wood stain. Throughout the entry and main floor, found artifacts punctate the softer textures — ceramics from New Mexico, religious sculpture from Asia and a quirky wall-mounted phone that belonged to our client’s grandmother.

North Oaks - Mid-Century Modern Remodel

Michels Homes

Photography: Erik Mickelsen
Photo of a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped separate kitchen in Minneapolis with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, with island, multi-coloured floor and beige benchtop.

Kitchen

Chambers Interiors & Associates, Inc.

Photography by Nathan Schroder.
Mid-sized mediterranean open plan kitchen in Dallas with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, terra-cotta splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and beige benchtop.

The Moorelands

Broadway Design

Inspiration for a traditional open plan kitchen in Seattle with glass-front cabinets, beige cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Hope Ranch, Santa Barbara, Major Remodel, Spanish Colonial

Dennis Thompson Architect

Allen Construction - Contractor, Shannon Scott Design-Interior Designer, Jason Rick Photography - Photographer
Mid-sized mediterranean eat-in kitchen in Santa Barbara with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, terra-cotta splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Penthouse Marxvorstadt

BESPOKE Interior Design & Production

Design ideas for a large scandinavian l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Munich with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, wood benchtops, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor, beige benchtop, multi-coloured splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Dream Kitchen

Designs for Living by Wendy, LLC

Photo of a large traditional galley kitchen in Jacksonville with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, limestone benchtops, porcelain splashback, an undermount sink and beige benchtop.

Rodgers Kitchen

Turan Designs, Inc.

Traditional White Kitchen with Copper Apron Front Sink
Inspiration for a large traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Atlanta with raised-panel cabinets, a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, travertine splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Edgemore Remodel

Rayna Vogel Interior Design, LLC

Complete gut for this kitchen. Repositioned and enlarged the island. Furniture like cabinetry with three color tones, white, maple, and espresso. Chevron backsplash with it's own unique layout.

Gentleman's Ranch For Sale in Dripping Springs - Austin TX

The Pope Team at Stanberry Realtors®

BUTLER'S PANTRY Custom cabinetry, 4" Spanish mosaic tile backsplash, leathered Quartzite countertops, Farmhouse sink, second dishwasher, microwave drawer, second refrigerator, custom cabinetry, matched antique doors

Certified Luxury Builders-Veritas Fine Homes-Telluride, CO-Custom Home-B 1

Costa Homebuilders

Contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, glass-front cabinets, medium wood cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, matchstick tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and beige benchtop.

Для любимой мамы

Студия интерьера "Дизайн Гала"

Small transitional l-shaped separate kitchen in Moscow with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, white appliances, porcelain floors, no island, beige benchtop and beige floor.

Avalon/Berkeley

ALTMANN & ASSOCIATES

Update to traditional home in Berkeley's Claremont district. Work included new kitchen, bath and master suite. This project represented particular challenges fitting the close tolerances of the modern design to the older home. Included in the project were numerous innovations that required custom millwork and creative use of materials and techniques

Hacienda Ranch House

C-Reese Architectural Design

This is an example of a mediterranean u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Austin with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, terra-cotta floors, with island, orange floor and beige benchtop.

Dorre Don Remodel

Cornerstone Home Renovators

The main floor of this house received a complete overhaul with the kitchen being relocated and opened up to the dining and living room while being able to enjoy the views of the Cedar River out back. White Shaker style cabinets are used with white quartz counters on perimeter and granite slab on island. A beautiful backsplash tile highlights the space counters. Appliances are white stainless by GE Cafe.

Kitchen with Multi-Coloured Splashback and Beige Benchtop 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!