Our clients had just recently closed on their new house in Stapleton and were excited to transform it into their perfect forever home. They wanted to remodel the entire first floor to create a more open floor plan and develop a smoother flow through the house that better fit the needs of their family. The original layout consisted of several small rooms that just weren’t very functional, so we decided to remove the walls that were breaking up the space and restructure the first floor to create a wonderfully open feel. After removing the existing walls, we rearranged their spaces to give them an office at the front of the house, a large living room, and a large dining room that connects seamlessly with the kitchen. We also wanted to center the foyer in the home and allow more light to travel through the first floor, so we replaced their existing doors with beautiful custom sliding doors to the back yard and a gorgeous walnut door with side lights to greet guests at the front of their home. Living Room Our clients wanted a living room that could accommodate an inviting sectional, a baby grand piano, and plenty of space for family game nights. So, we transformed what had been a small office and sitting room into a large open living room with custom wood columns. We wanted to avoid making the home feel too vast and monumental, so we designed custom beams and columns to define spaces and to make the house feel like a home. Aesthetically we wanted their home to be soft and inviting, so we utilized a neutral color palette with occasional accents of muted blues and greens. Dining Room Our clients were also looking for a large dining room that was open to the rest of the home and perfect for big family gatherings. So, we removed what had been a small family room and eat-in dining area to create a spacious dining room with a fireplace and bar. We added custom cabinetry to the bar area with open shelving for displaying and designed a custom surround for their fireplace that ties in with the wood work we designed for their living room. We brought in the tones and materiality from the kitchen to unite the spaces and added a mixed metal light fixture to bring the space together Kitchen We wanted the kitchen to be a real show stopper and carry through the calm muted tones we were utilizing throughout their home. We reoriented the kitchen to allow for a big beautiful custom island and to give us the opportunity for a focal wall with cooktop and range hood. Their custom island was perfectly complimented with a dramatic quartz counter top and oversized pendants making it the real center of their home. Since they enter the kitchen first when coming from their detached garage, we included a small mud-room area right by the back door to catch everyone’s coats and shoes as they come in. We also created a new walk-in pantry with plenty of open storage and a fun chalkboard door for writing notes, recipes, and grocery lists. Office We transformed the original dining room into a handsome office at the front of the house. We designed custom walnut built-ins to house all of their books, and added glass french doors to give them a bit of privacy without making the space too closed off. We painted the room a deep muted blue to create a glimpse of rich color through the french doors Powder Room The powder room is a wonderful play on textures. We used a neutral palette with contrasting tones to create dramatic moments in this little space with accents of brushed gold. Master Bathroom The existing master bathroom had an awkward layout and outdated finishes, so we redesigned the space to create a clean layout with a dream worthy shower. We continued to use neutral tones that tie in with the rest of the home, but had fun playing with tile textures and patterns to create an eye-catching vanity. The wood-look tile planks along the floor provide a soft backdrop for their new free-standing bathtub and contrast beautifully with the deep ash finish on the cabinetry.

Hardy Avenue Custom

M. Lahr Homes

Large traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Orlando with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and beige benchtop.

Contemporary in Chicago

Kitchen Design Partners, Inc.

Dennis Jourdan Photography
Photo of a small modern galley open plan kitchen in Chicago with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Carina MLV8 at Miromar Lakes Beach & Golf Club

London Bay Homes

Beach style open plan kitchen in Miami with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Alabaster Shaker Kitchen

Interiors 4 Living

The large drawer base and overhead mantle encapsulate this 6 ring hob to create a beautiful focal point. The units at either side create balance and symmetry. The tall oven housing and integrated fridge freezer placed along one wall creates drama and boldness, yet this is balanced by the opposing window which brings light into the soft tones of this gorgeous room!

Classic Elegant Kitchen

CIRCLE Design Studio

Kip Dawkins
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Medina | Custom Home

John Buchan Homes

Inspiration for a large contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Preston New House

Rebecca Naughtin Architect

Tatjana Plitt
Large contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Melbourne with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey benchtop, a drop-in sink, multi-coloured splashback, medium hardwood floors and beige floor.

Traditional Kitchen with White Cabinets and Beam Ceiling

Columbia Cabinets

Location of Project: Pittsfield, Massachusetts Type of Project: Kitchen Style of Project: Traditional Cabinetry: Wood-Mode Wood: Maple Finishes: Vintage Lace Door: Georgetown Raised Countertop: Taj Mahal Quartzite Other Design Elements: • Large custom hood with enkeboll corbels • Double-sided glass door bar • Hammered copper farm sink and bar sink • Integrated 30” column Thermador refrigerator and dishwashers Project Year: 2017

A concrete application to a Waltham kitchen renovation

Divine Design Center

Divine Design Center Photography by: Keitaro Yoshioka
This is an example of a small modern galley eat-in kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, multi-coloured floor and white benchtop.

This Kitchen is a Work of Art

Just the Thing Decorating, Staging, and Windows

This retired couple loves collecting art on their worldwide travels and didn't want to settle for a predictable look for their new kitchen. We began with the black and gold honed granite they fell in love with, and added the glass tile mosaic back splash and custom mixed metal hood. The result is truly a work of art! Collaboration with Sterling Renovations Matt Ross-photos

Benview

LoneStar Design Build

Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Dallas with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, with island, brown floor, quartzite benchtops, travertine splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and white benchtop.

Custom Wood Hood with Paneled Subzero Refrigerator

Denise Quade Design

A large kitchen with grey distressed cabinets and warm stained cabinets has so much texture and warmth. A custom wood hood was created on site and add to the rustic appeal. Glass pendants were used over the island. A prep sink was incorporated into the island. The windows all go down to the countertop to maximize the views out the large windows. Transom windows were incorporated on the range wall to let even more light flood in. The granite was run up behind the wolf range to continue the texture.

Lake Brantley Lake House Full Home Reno

The HomeStyles Group

Ken Winders
Design ideas for a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Orlando with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops and glass tile splashback.

Traditional Craftsman Client Home

Bob Buescher Homes

Photo of a large traditional u-shaped kitchen pantry in Other with a farmhouse sink, open cabinets, white cabinets, onyx benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and orange floor.

Past Projects

User

Urban Lens Studios, Design Theory - Huntsville
This is an example of a transitional l-shaped kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

The 1977 Contemporary

Twelve Chairs Interiors

Photo: Joyelle West
Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, raised-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, terra-cotta splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

The Girl With the Dragon Print

Square Footage Inc.

Photos by Valerie Wilcox
Photo of a large contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Toronto with a double-bowl sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Modern Home Palo Alto Retreat

suba | Suanne Bassett, Architect

Contractor: Jason Skinner of Bay Area Custom Homes. Photographer: Michele Lee Willson
This is an example of an expansive modern single-wall open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Transitional Kitchen

Photo of a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and multi-coloured splashback.

Kitchen with Multi-Coloured Splashback and 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!