Kitchen showing the new clerestory windows

For our client, who had previous experience working with architects, we enlarged, completely gutted and remodeled this Twin Peaks diamond in the rough. The top floor had a rear-sloping ceiling that cut off the amazing view, so our first task was to raise the roof so the great room had a uniformly high ceiling. Clerestory windows bring in light from all directions. In addition, we removed walls, combined rooms, and installed floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall sliding doors in sleek black aluminum at each floor to create generous rooms with expansive views. At the basement, we created a full-floor art studio flooded with light and with an en-suite bathroom for the artist-owner. New exterior decks, stairs and glass railings create outdoor living opportunities at three of the four levels. We designed modern open-riser stairs with glass railings to replace the existing cramped interior stairs. The kitchen features a 16 foot long island which also functions as a dining table. We designed a custom wall-to-wall bookcase in the family room as well as three sleek tiled fireplaces with integrated bookcases. The bathrooms are entirely new and feature floating vanities and a modern freestanding tub in the master. Clean detailing and luxurious, contemporary finishes complete the look.

Littleton Kitchen Remodel

MOTIF Design Solutions, LLC

Photo of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped kitchen in Denver with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, white appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, grey floor and grey benchtop.

Hampstead Cottage

Kia Designs

Inspiration for a small transitional l-shaped separate kitchen in London with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, coloured appliances, light hardwood floors, no island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Lovely in Lynn Valley

Beyond Beige Interior Design Inc.

Mid-sized country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Vancouver with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and black appliances.

Beautiful Blues in Yardley, PA

Lang's Kitchen & Bath

This amazing traditional kitchen design in Yardley, PA incorporates medium wood finish raised panel cabinetry by Koch and Company with island cabinets painted charcoal blue The striking blue island is beautifully accented by a Grothouse butcherblock countertop, with a Silestone Copper Mist countertop around the perimeter. A Blanco Siligranit black farmhouse sink pairs perfectly with the Riobel faucet and soap dispenser. The Gazzini gold cashmere tile backsplash complements the kitchen cabinets and includes a niche behind the range, below a custom matching hood. The adjacent beverage bar includes a round Nantucket brushed satin sink and upper glass front display cabinets. Black appliances feature throughout the kitchen design including a GE French door refrigerator, KitchenAid cooktop, GE built-in double convection wall oven, and Sharp microwave drawer. The Lang's team also installed Andersen windows and a patio door with satin nickel hardware. The kitchen cabinets are packed with customized storage accessories including a corner cabinet swing out shelf, tray dividers, narrow spice and oil pull outs, pantry pull out shelves, appliance garage, and cutlery drawers. This kitchen design is packed with style and storage, and sure to be the center of attention in this home.

Bold Modern Kitchen

SieMatic Seattle/ Summers Studio

SieMatic Cabinetry in Smoked Oak Wood Veneer at Uppers and Island fronts and Graphite Grey Similaque Matt at Tall cabinets and Base cabinets.
Design ideas for a large modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Seattle with panelled appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige floor, black cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback and white benchtop.

474 Palm Court

T. Jerulle Construction, LLC

Matt Steeves Photography
This is an example of a large modern galley open plan kitchen in Miami with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, concrete benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Modern Clinker Brick Kitchen - Coronado Stone Products Thin Brick Series

Coronado Stone Products

Mixing old world and modern styles can create a uniquely different look. This beautiful kitchen features Coronado Stone Products rustic Clinker Thin Brick / Brown Blend which creates a stunning contrast to the more modern, linear design of the cabinetry and appliances. This produces a project with a new look, but the Clinker Thin Brick adds some old world charm. Image by Meritage Homes - See more Coronado Stone Products Clinker Thin Brick colors at - http://www.coronado.com/ClinkerBrick

Hamilton Custom Craftsman Kitchen

User

Inspiration for an arts and crafts eat-in kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, green splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Open Kitchen Havertown PA 2016

Main Line Kitchen Design

Main Line Kitchen Design is a brand new business model! We are a group of skilled Kitchen Designers each with many years of experience planning kitchens around the Delaware Valley. And we are cabinet dealers for 6 nationally distributed cabinet lines like traditional showrooms. At Main Line Kitchen Design instead of a full showroom we use a small office and selection center, and 100’s of sample doorstyles, finish and sample kitchen cabinets, as well as photo design books and CAD on laptops to display your kitchen. This way we eliminate the need and the cost associated with a showroom business model. This makes the design process more convenient for our customers, and we pass the significant savings on to them as well. We believe that since a web site like Houzz.com has over half a million kitchen photos any advantage to going to a full kitchen showroom with full kitchen displays has been lost. Almost no customer today will ever get to see a display kitchen in their door style and finish there are just too many possibilities. And of course the design of each kitchen is unique anyway.

Pasadena Glen Residence

AAA Architecture

Erich Ansel Koyama
This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury galley open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, red splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and no island.

Camp

John Bynum Custom Homes, Inc.

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Atlanta with an undermount sink, white cabinets, beige splashback, with island, beaded inset cabinets, granite benchtops, porcelain splashback, panelled appliances and light hardwood floors.

Ranch House Renovation

Koch Architects

Design ideas for a contemporary kitchen in San Francisco with flat-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, an undermount sink, white splashback, porcelain splashback and light hardwood floors.

Glencoe Transitional Kitchen Remodel

Kitchens & Baths Unlimited

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, granite benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, porcelain splashback, panelled appliances and light hardwood floors.

Nature-inspired Kitchen

Fresh Kitchen and Bath Design

Functional island with GE Cafe dishwasher is the centerpiece of this nature-inspired kitchen.
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Raleigh with a single-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, green splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

Scandinavian Mid Modern Family Kitchen

Bobeche Interiors

Small appliance storage idea.
Photo of a large scandinavian l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Toronto with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island and white benchtop.

A Kitchen Color Story

Stalburg Design

This modern and fresh kitchen was created with our client's growing family in mind. By removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room, we were able to create a large gathering island to be used for entertaining and daily family use. Its custom green cabinetry provides a casual yet sophisticated vibe to the room, while the large wall of gray cabinetry provides ample space for refrigeration, wine storage and pantry use. We love the play of closed space against open shelving display! Lastly, the kitchen sink is set into a large bay window that overlooks the family yard and outdoor pool.

Modern Living in Florida

Pineapple House Interior Design

Do you see it? Hidden behind doors that look like cabinetry (when closed) is a generous walk-in pantry.
Inspiration for an expansive transitional l-shaped kitchen pantry in Miami with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, solid surface benchtops, white splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, multiple islands, brown floor, white benchtop and recessed.

Robinhood Residence

Clark Richardson Architects

Modern and sleek, the kitchen is both functional and attractive. Flat panel cabinets, luxurious finishes and integrated high-end appliances provide the perfect space for both daily use and entertaining.

DARIEN CT - Gold Standard

DEANE Inc | Distinctive Design & Cabinetry

Located in the highly sought-after Allwood neighborhood of Darien, this spec house is the fourth collaboration with a client who first began with a renovation of her own home. While architecturally it is a traditional home from the exterior, the interiors are more transitional in style. In order to compete in the speculative market, our client’s directive was clear – ‘differentiation the kitchen design from every other spec house’. So we incorporated painted cabinetry but highlighted with rift-cut white oak base cabinets. This contrast between these finishes influenced our decision to select a subtle white quartzite countertop to deliberately highlight the striking porcelain backsplash. The steel and glass partition frames the space – drawing the eye to the focal point of the kitchen, the custom stainless steel hood. Gold hardware adds a pop of flair to the space and warms the room. Walnut drawer inserts, stainless steel appliance garage, pull out trash drawers with compost bins and a stylish desk make this the Gold Standard of spec houses.

Kitchen with Porcelain Splashback and Light 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!