The renovation of a mid century cottage on the lake, now serves as a guest house. The renovation preserved the original architectural elements such as the ceiling and original stone fireplace to preserve the character, personality and history and provide the inspiration and canvas to which everything else would be added. To prevent the space from feeling dark & too rustic, the lines were kept clean, the furnishings modern and the use of saturated color was strategically placed throughout.

Twin Peaks House

Mihaly Slocombe

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.

CLASSIC GALLEY

Molly J Littlejohn Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional galley eat-in kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, no island, white benchtop, medium hardwood floors and brown floor.

Los Altos

Seacliff Construction & Design

Mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Kitchen - Fishers, IN - 2020

The HomeWright, LLC

Design ideas for a large transitional galley eat-in kitchen in Indianapolis with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Clear Cove Lane

Jessica Koltun Home

Designed by Jessica Koltun in Dallas, TX. Blue island paired with white cabinets and a marble backsplash. Shiplap and wood custom hood. Glass globe pendant lighting by restoration hardware. Black faucet, Dal Tile countertops. Gold and clear lucite counter stools. Light wood flooring, shaker inset cabinetry, custom island in Sherwin Williams paint color. Gold handle hardware, wine beverage fridge, window lets in natural light. Modern, contemporary, coastal, California, neutral kitchen design.

A Queen's Sanctuary

Coyle Carpet One Floor & Home

8" wide White Oak Hardwood from Anderson Tuftex: Kensington - Queen's Gate
L-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop, exposed beam and white cabinets.

Kitchens III

Webber Coleman Woodworks

Transitional kitchen pantry with white inset-construction cabinets. Built-in appliances. Rollout shelves in tall pantry cabinets. Lazy Susan in base cabinet. Icemaker.

Randwick Project

Braeside Building & Joinery

Classic, clean, contemporary kitchen with a timber veneer detail bookshelf.
Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Sydney with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

The Ramble Gray Cabico Unique Cabinetry

Kitchens of the South

Cabico Unique Cabinetry Gray Full Overlay Cabinetry
Inspiration for a large traditional u-shaped kitchen in Charlotte with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, no island, brown floor and black benchtop.

7460 Tangle Glen Circle

3rd Street Custom Homes

This is an example of a transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Dallas with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, turquoise cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, laminate floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

1940s House Renovation

You-Neek Designs

Small eclectic l-shaped kitchen pantry in Other with a farmhouse sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, terra-cotta splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and grey benchtop.

From Seasoned to Sophisticated Home Renovation

Corinthian Fine Homes

Our busy young homeowners were looking to move back to Indianapolis and considered building new, but they fell in love with the great bones of this Coppergate home. The home reflected different times and different lifestyles and had become poorly suited to contemporary living. We worked with Stacy Thompson of Compass Design for the design and finishing touches on this renovation. The makeover included improving the awkwardness of the front entrance into the dining room, lightening up the staircase with new spindles, treads and a brighter color scheme in the hall. New carpet and hardwoods throughout brought an enhanced consistency through the first floor. We were able to take two separate rooms and create one large sunroom with walls of windows and beautiful natural light to abound, with a custom designed fireplace. The downstairs powder received a much-needed makeover incorporating elegant transitional plumbing and lighting fixtures. In addition, we did a complete top-to-bottom makeover of the kitchen, including custom cabinetry, new appliances and plumbing and lighting fixtures. Soft gray tile and modern quartz countertops bring a clean, bright space for this family to enjoy. This delightful home, with its clean spaces and durable surfaces is a textbook example of how to take a solid but dull abode and turn it into a dream home for a young family.

LEXINGTON KITCHEN

Kate Roos Design LLC

Open shelves on each side of the range top preserve the airiness and put items within easy reach. Using a 36" cooktop with a 30" wall oven below saves space and creates continuous countertop.

Kitchen

Nathan Potratz Custom Carpentry

This kitchen has simple white perimeter cabinets with a dark stained island, accented with black hardware and black stainless appliances! The large cabinet doors to the right of the refigerator open as a doorway into a walk-in pantry.

White Oak Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

Meyer Design

Beautiful Kitchen to relax and create your favorite comfort foods. Lots of storage and ample work space!
This is an example of a large country u-shaped kitchen in Chicago with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and coffered.

Cliffbrook Contemporary Whole House Conversion

Alair Homes Plano

Our clients were living in a Northwood Hills home in Dallas that was built in 1968. Some updates had been done but none really to the main living areas in the front of the house. They love to entertain and do so frequently but the layout of their house wasn’t very functional. There was a galley kitchen, which was mostly shut off to the rest of the home. They were not using the formal living and dining room in front of your house, so they wanted to see how this space could be better utilized. They wanted to create a more open and updated kitchen space that fits their lifestyle. One idea was to turn part of this space into an office, utilizing the bay window with the view out of the front of the house. Storage was also a necessity, as they entertain often and need space for storing those items they use for entertaining. They would also like to incorporate a wet bar somewhere! We demoed the brick and paneling from all of the existing walls and put up drywall. The openings on either side of the fireplace and through the entryway were widened and the kitchen was completely opened up. The fireplace surround is changed to a modern Emser Esplanade Trail tile, versus the chunky rock it was previously. The ceiling was raised and leveled out and the beams were removed throughout the entire area. Beautiful Olympus quartzite countertops were installed throughout the kitchen and butler’s pantry with white Chandler cabinets and Grace 4”x12” Bianco tile backsplash. A large two level island with bar seating for guests was built to create a little separation between the kitchen and dining room. Contrasting black Chandler cabinets were used for the island, as well as for the bar area, all with the same 6” Emtek Alexander pulls. A Blanco low divide metallic gray kitchen sink was placed in the center of the island with a Kohler Bellera kitchen faucet in vibrant stainless. To finish off the look three Iconic Classic Globe Small Pendants in Antiqued Nickel pendant lights were hung above the island. Black Supreme granite countertops with a cool leathered finish were installed in the wet bar, The backsplash is Choice Fawn gloss 4x12” tile, which created a little different look than in the kitchen. A hammered copper Hayden square sink was installed in the bar, giving it that cool bar feel with the black Chandler cabinets. Off the kitchen was a laundry room and powder bath that were also updated. They wanted to have a little fun with these spaces, so the clients chose a geometric black and white Bella Mori 9x9” porcelain tile. Coordinating black and white polka dot wallpaper was installed in the laundry room and a fun floral black and white wallpaper in the powder bath. A dark bronze Metal Mirror with a shelf was installed above the porcelain pedestal sink with simple floating black shelves for storage. Their butlers pantry, the added storage space, and the overall functionality has made entertaining so much easier and keeps unwanted things out of sight, whether the guests are sitting at the island or at the wet bar! The clients absolutely love their new space and the way in which has transformed their lives and really love entertaining even more now!

Denver Modern Farmhouse

Woodharbor Custom Cabinetry

Madison door, Prairie profile, Slab drawer front, Cashmere on Quarter Sawn White Oak & Graphite enamel.
This is an example of a mid-sized country l-shaped kitchen in Denver with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Indigo Kitchen

Karr Bick Kitchen and Bath

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in St Louis with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, blue cabinets, quartz benchtops, grey splashback, ceramic splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

The Big House

Carl Mattison Design

full view of kitchen
Inspiration for a large transitional l-shaped kitchen in Atlanta with a farmhouse sink, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, brown floor, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, with island and white benchtop.

Kitchen with Quartz Benchtops and Brown 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!