In 2019, Interior designer Alexandra Brown approached Matter to design and make cabinetry for this penthouse apartment. The brief was to create a rich and opulent space, featuring a favoured smoked oak veneer. We looked to the Art Deco inspired features of the building and referenced its curved corners and newly installed aged brass detailing in our design. We combined the smoked oak veneer with cambia ash cladding in the kitchen and bar areas to complement the green and brown quartzite stone surfaces chosen by Alex perfectly. We then designed custom brass handles, shelving and a large-framed mirror as a centrepiece for the bar, all crafted impeccably by our friends at JN Custom Metal. Functionality and sustainability were the focus of our design, with hard-wearing charcoal Abet Laminati drawers and door fronts in the kitchen with custom J pull handles, Grass Nova ProScala drawers and Osmo oiled veneer that can be easily reconditioned over time. Photography by Pablo Veiga

White Jade Onyx Backsplash and Chateaux Blanc Quartzite Countertop

Aria Stone Gallery

Mint green and retro appliances marry beautifully in this charming and colorful 1950's inspired kitchen. Featuring a White Jade Onyx backsplash, Chateaux Blanc Quartzite countertop, and an Onyx Emitis custom table, this retro kitchen is sure to take you down memory lane.

Wellington

Clearcut Construction, Inc.

Large traditional galley open plan kitchen in Raleigh with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, green cabinets, quartzite benchtops, green splashback, cement tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Northcote House

Into interior design

Large midcentury galley eat-in kitchen in London with an integrated sink, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, green splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and grey benchtop.

Buffalo Grove Transitional Kitchen and Bar Remodel

Patrick A. Finn, Ltd

This is an example of a large transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Chicago with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, green splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Open concept kitchen

Vicki Simon Interior Design

Open concept kitchen created, eliminating upper cabinets, honoring rounded front entry to house. Rounded forms on shelf ends and vintage 70s Pierre Cardin brass stools. Butcher block island top is heavily used for prep surface.

Mid-Century Modern Deck House

The Design Gallery

This is an example of a mid-sized midcentury u-shaped kitchen in Other 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, beige floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

North Tustin - Addition and Remodel

Pacific Coast Builders, Inc.

Modern Farmhouse kitchen with shaker style cabinet doors and black drawer pull hardware. White Oak floating shelves with LED underlighting over beautiful, Cambria Quartz countertops. The subway tiles were custom made and have what appears to be a texture from a distance, but is actually a herringbone pattern in-lay in the glaze. Wolf brand gas range and oven, and a Wolf steam oven on the left. Rustic black wall scones and large pendant lights over the kitchen island. Brizo satin brass faucet with Kohler undermount rinse sink. Photo by Molly Rose Photography

Cooktop & Hood with Glossy Sage Green Backsplash Tile

Cynthia J. Hoffman Interior Design, Inc.

Island with sage green subway tile full height backsplash, offers a dramatic backdrop for the stainless steel cooktop and hood. Large, deep drawers provide storage for pots and pans.

Kitchen Remodel

Erik Hagen, Architect

Stove wall with handmade Water Lily tile by Seneca Studio. Pot filler by Delta. Cabinets.com; Silestone Quartzite
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Boise with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, green splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors, with island, white floor, white benchtop and vaulted.

Fitler Square Trinity

Kaminski + Pew

Compact galley kitchen. All appliances are under-counter. Slate tile flooring, hand-glazed ceramic tile backsplash, custom walnut cabinetry, and quartzite countertop.

Beach Haven Coastal Cottage

Michael Pagnotta Architects pc

A quaint breakfast nook for the kids makes the perfect addition to any family beach home! This custom coastal kitchen embraces its light tones with glass tile back splash and no shortage of natural light! Bright quartz counter tops contrast the warm deep tones of the wood floor and natural wood chairs! Photography by John Martinelli

Lawton Street

Bethesda Builders Ltd.

Photo by Allen Russ, Hoachlander Davis Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped open plan kitchen in DC Metro with an undermount sink, beaded inset cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, green splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Texas Treasure

BRADSHAW DESIGNS LLC

This Texas Treasure began as a simple kitchen remodel, then expanded to include the entire home! What was a tired, dark, cramped space has now become an open, light, bright space fit for a serious cook! She yearned for natural and organic elements that harken to the outdoors. Stone, antique, rough, hand-hewn beams fit the bill perfectly!

Butcher Residence-Woodland Hills

Green Works Construction & Design Inc.

Inspiration for a large contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, grey cabinets, green splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, flat-panel cabinets, quartzite benchtops and brown floor.

Whole Home Renovation - Oakland

The Home Co.

Inspiration for a mid-sized scandinavian l-shaped separate kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, green splashback, porcelain splashback, stainless steel appliances, vinyl floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Dining room and kitchen

SF Modern

This doorway leads out to a side yard, with the dining room off to the left. In the kitchen to the right, the floor-to-ceiling bookshelf system is integrated into the kitchen cabinetry, with a sliding ladder to access the upper shelves and cabinets, which has doors which slide away

C A M I N O A L T O

Evensen Design

Photo of a large transitional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Austin with an undermount sink, quartzite benchtops, green splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, multi-coloured benchtop, beaded inset cabinets and white cabinets.

Lancaster Modern Cottage

Barefoot Dwelling

Phase 2 of our Modern Cottage project was the complete renovation of a small, impractical kitchen and dining nook. The client asked for a fresh, bright kitchen with natural light, a pop of color, and clean modern lines. The resulting kitchen features all of the above and incorporates fun details such as a scallop tile backsplash behind the range and artisan touches such as a custom walnut island and floating shelves; a custom metal range hood and hand-made lighting. This kitchen is all that the client asked for and more!

Cheery Condo

b. blanton design

U-shaped kitchen remodel with light grey shaker cabinets and a teal herringbone backsplash.
Design ideas for a small transitional u-shaped kitchen in Nashville with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, green splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and white benchtop.

Kitchen with Quartzite Benchtops and Green Splashback 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!