A Modern Kitchen for a Retreat in the Woods

This is a great house. Perched high on a private, heavily wooded site, it has a rustic contemporary aesthetic. Vaulted ceilings, sky lights, large windows and natural materials punctuate the main spaces. The existing large format mosaic slate floor grabs your attention upon entering the home extending throughout the foyer, kitchen, and family room. Specific requirements included a larger island with workspace for each of the homeowners featuring a homemade pasta station which requires small appliances on lift-up mechanisms as well as a custom-designed pasta drying rack. Both chefs wanted their own prep sink on the island complete with a garbage “shoot” which we concealed below sliding cutting boards. A second and overwhelming requirement was storage for a large collection of dishes, serving platters, specialty utensils, cooking equipment and such. To meet those needs we took the opportunity to get creative with storage: sliding doors were designed for a coffee station adjacent to the main sink; hid the steam oven, microwave and toaster oven within a stainless steel niche hidden behind pantry doors; added a narrow base cabinet adjacent to the range for their large spice collection; concealed a small broom closet behind the refrigerator; and filled the only available wall with full-height storage complete with a small niche for charging phones and organizing mail. We added 48” high base cabinets behind the main sink to function as a bar/buffet counter as well as overflow for kitchen items. The client’s existing vintage commercial grade Wolf stove and hood commands attention with a tall backdrop of exposed brick from the fireplace in the adjacent living room. We loved the rustic appeal of the brick along with the existing wood beams, and complimented those elements with wired brushed white oak cabinets. The grayish stain ties in the floor color while the slab door style brings a modern element to the space. We lightened the color scheme with a mix of white marble and quartz countertops. The waterfall countertop adjacent to the dining table shows off the amazing veining of the marble while adding contrast to the floor. Special materials are used throughout, featured on the textured leather-wrapped pantry doors, patina zinc bar countertop, and hand-stitched leather cabinet hardware. We took advantage of the tall ceilings by adding two walnut linear pendants over the island that create a sculptural effect and coordinated them with the new dining pendant and three wall sconces on the beam over the main sink.

Olathe MCM

Stumpff HomeWorks, LLC

Photo of a midcentury single-wall eat-in kitchen in Kansas City with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, granite splashback, panelled appliances, slate floors, with island, black floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

St John's Wood Luxury Apartment

VORBILD Architecture

Mid-sized modern u-shaped separate kitchen in London with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, marble benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, no island, black floor and grey benchtop.

Mensinger kitchen

d KISER design.construct, inc.

Colin Conces
Design ideas for a small midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in Omaha with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, glass sheet splashback, panelled appliances, porcelain floors, a peninsula, black floor and white benchtop.

Kensington Church Street Apartment Refurbishment

Samantha Watkins McRae

We worked on the interior design of this three bedroom apartment in Kensington Church Street for a young family. Inspired by the clients taste for luxury materials, soft hues and subtle shapes, a handsome smoked oak parquet chevron floor grounds an earthy colour palette. A refined shellac finish has been used in the cabinetry, with a secret cocktail cabinet incorporated into the sliding kitchen door.

Stunning Dark Veneer and Marble kitchen

Degabriele Kitchens

Design ideas for a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Sydney with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, black cabinets, mirror splashback, panelled appliances, with island, black floor and grey benchtop.

BURLINGAME KITCHEN

Dyer Studio Inc.

This is an example of a small u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, terrazzo floors, black floor and white benchtop.

INBOLD

Nook Architects

Núria Gámiz
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Barcelona with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, black splashback, ceramic floors, a peninsula, black floor, panelled appliances and grey benchtop.

The Heather

Sapphire Luxury Homes

Photo of a transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in Detroit with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, beige splashback, panelled appliances, ceramic floors, with island and black floor.

Avon Interior Project

Adeas Interior Design LLC

Design ideas for a large transitional l-shaped separate kitchen in Cleveland with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, with island, metallic splashback, metal splashback, panelled appliances, black floor, a farmhouse sink, quartzite benchtops, vinyl floors and white benchtop.

Olathe MCM

Stumpff HomeWorks, LLC

Inspiration for a large midcentury single-wall kitchen in Kansas City with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, orange cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, granite splashback, panelled appliances, slate floors, with island, black floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Kitchen and Dining Extension

Couture Concepts Interiors

This beautiful new kitchen and dining extension boasts expansive bright vaulted ceilings, double bi-folding doors, a huge kitchen island with a waterfall edge, monochromatic colour scheme with a pop of rust in the impactful feature lights, bar stools and carver dining chairs.

Monterey Modern

Catherine Garrison Architect, Inc

Photo of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with a double-bowl sink, beaded inset cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, blue splashback, subway tile splashback, panelled appliances, ceramic floors, no island, black floor and grey benchtop.

SAINT JEAN

Terre de brume

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Le Havre with an integrated sink, flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, beige splashback, panelled appliances, porcelain floors, with island, black floor and beige benchtop.

Transitional Kitchen

This is an example of a transitional l-shaped kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, white splashback, panelled appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, black floor and white benchtop.

Chamukov

NYKB

Photo of a small modern galley kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, black floor and white benchtop.

Minnetonka Residence

ALTUS Architecture + Design

Ryan Siemers
Design ideas for a modern galley eat-in kitchen in Minneapolis with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, black splashback, panelled appliances and black floor.

Everyday Chic

Tara Shaw LTD

Photo of a large contemporary l-shaped kitchen in New Orleans with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, panelled appliances, laminate floors, with island, black floor and white benchtop.

Inset Face Frame - Vaughan

Devix Kitchens

Inset face frame kitchen cabinets
Design ideas for a large modern u-shaped open plan kitchen in Toronto with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, beige splashback, porcelain splashback, panelled appliances, ceramic floors, with island, black floor, beige benchtop and wallpaper.

Transformation totale d'un duplex parisien - Projet Pereire

Mon Concept Habitation

Nos clients, primo accédants, venaient de louper l'achat d'un loft lorsqu'ils visitaient ce 90 m² sur 3 étages. Le bien a un certain potentiel mais est vieillissant. Nos clients décident de l'acheter et de TOUT raser. ⁠ ⁠ Le loft possédait une sorte de 3e étage à la hauteur petite. Ils enlèvent cet étage hybride pour retrouver une magnifique hauteur sous plafond. ⁠ ⁠ À l'étage, on construit 2 chambres avec de multiples rangements. Une verrière d'atelier, créée par nos équipes et un artisan français, permet de les cloisonner sans pour autant les isoler. Elle permet également à la lumière de circuler tout en rajoutant un certain cachet industriel à l'ensemble. ⁠ ⁠ Nos clients souhaitaient un style scandinave, monochrome avec des tonalités beiges, rose pale, boisées et du noir pour casser le tout et lui donner du caractère. On retrouve parfaitement cette alchimie au RDC. Il y a le salon et son esprit cocooning. Une touche de chaleur supplémentaire est apportée par le claustra en bois qui vient habiller l'escalier. Le noir du mobilier de la salle à manger et de la cuisine vient trancher avec élégance cette palette aux couleurs douces

Kitchen with Panelled Appliances and Black Floor 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!