When we drove out to Mukilteo for our initial consultation, we immediately fell in love with this house. With its tall ceilings, eclectic mix of wood, glass and steel, and gorgeous view of the Puget Sound, we quickly nicknamed this project "The Mukilteo Gem". Our client, a cook and baker, did not like her existing kitchen. The main points of issue were short runs of available counter tops, lack of storage and shortage of light. So, we were called in to implement some big, bold ideas into a small footprint kitchen with big potential. We completely changed the layout of the room by creating a tall, built-in storage wall and a continuous u-shape counter top. Early in the project, we took inventory of every item our clients wanted to store in the kitchen and ensured that every spoon, gadget, or bowl would have a dedicated "home" in their new kitchen. The finishes were meticulously selected to ensure continuity throughout the house. We also played with the color scheme to achieve a bold yet natural feel.This kitchen is a prime example of how color can be used to both make a statement and project peace and balance simultaneously. While busy at work on our client's kitchen improvement, we also updated the entry and gave the homeowner a modern laundry room with triple the storage space they originally had. End result: ecstatic clients and a very happy design team. That's what we call a big success! John Granen.

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.

Tinny Cornish cottage kitchen

Kettle Co. Kitchens

This Cornish county home required a bespoke designed kitchen to maximise storage yet create a warm, fresh and open feel to the room.
Small contemporary u-shaped separate kitchen in Cornwall with a drop-in sink, flat-panel cabinets, beige cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, engineered quartz splashback, black appliances, slate floors, no island, grey floor, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Lowland Farm Kitchen

Kristina Crestin Design

Jared Kuzia Photography
Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional l-shaped separate kitchen in Boston with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island, grey floor and white benchtop.

Encinitas Kitchen Remodel

M Prevost Design

Photo of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Diego with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, quartzite benchtops, stainless steel appliances, with island, grey benchtop, white cabinets, white splashback, slate floors and grey floor.

Contemporary Residence in Arlington, VA

Marblex Design International, Inc.

Marblex installed 12"X24" Brazillian Black slate in Natural Cleft in herringbone pattern on the floor as well as 4"X12" Aria Aqua Opera Glass on the backsplash. Countertops are: Sea Pearl with mitered edge on the island and Silestone White Storm on the perimeter countertops.

Santa Monica Bungalow

GLYNNdesignbuild

Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary open plan kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, medium wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, grey floor, flat-panel cabinets, no island and quartzite benchtops.

Mid Century Modernism

Design First Interiors

Photography Credit: Doublespace Photography
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Ottawa with flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, black floor, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors and with island.

Mid-Century Modern, Orlando, FLkki

Britannia Flooring

Natalie Martinez
Large modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Orlando with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, metallic splashback, metal splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors and with island.

Industrial Chic

Cabri inc

Photo of a mid-sized transitional l-shaped kitchen in New York with white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, slate floors, with island, an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, panelled appliances and grey floor.

Forest Green - Harvey Reno

MMI Design

These clients retained MMI to assist with a full renovation of the 1st floor following the Harvey Flood. With 4 feet of water in their home, we worked tirelessly to put the home back in working order. While Harvey served our city lemons, we took the opportunity to make lemonade. The kitchen was expanded to accommodate seating at the island and a butler's pantry. A lovely free-standing tub replaced the former Jacuzzi drop-in and the shower was enlarged to take advantage of the expansive master bathroom. Finally, the fireplace was extended to the two-story ceiling to accommodate the TV over the mantel. While we were able to salvage much of the existing slate flooring, the overall color scheme was updated to reflect current trends and a desire for a fresh look and feel. As with our other Harvey projects, our proudest moments were seeing the family move back in to their beautifully renovated home.

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!

Boulevard Park House

Katie Denham Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized traditional l-shaped kitchen in Sacramento with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island and grey floor.

Kitchens

Muskoka Custom Cabinets LTD

This is an example of a mid-sized arts and crafts l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Toronto with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island and brown floor.

Country Cottage Kitchen

Hill Farm Furniture Ltd

The beauty of hand-painted, handmade kitchens is that they can be easily added to. This client already had a Hill Farm Furniture kitchen and when they decided to make the area bigger, they asked us back. We redesigned the layout of the kitchen, taking into account their growing family's needs. Bespoke cabinets in a fresh new colour with new Broughton of Leicester door and drawer handles, new appliances and taps created a brand new cosy and homely kitchen. And we didn't stop there, designing, manufacturing and installing bespoke vanity units in the cottage's new ensuite and bathroom.

Fisher & Paykel Timber Open-Plan Kitchen with Panoramic View

Fisher & Paykel Appliances UK & Ireland

This is an example of a large contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Buckinghamshire with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, marble splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors and with island.

Connie

Tango Design Studio

Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional galley kitchen pantry in Toronto with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, quartzite benchtops, a peninsula, an undermount sink, grey splashback, ceramic splashback and slate floors.

Georgian Apartment Kitchen

Figura Kitchens & Interiors

This is an example of a mid-sized country galley kitchen in Surrey with a drop-in sink, shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, quartzite benchtops, stainless steel appliances, slate floors and with island.

Weston Kitchen

Britton Homes

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary single-wall open plan kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, no island, grey floor and multi-coloured benchtop.

Harris Kitchen

JOHN EADON

The Harris Kitchen uses our slatted cabinet design which draws on contemporary shaker and vernacular country but with a modern rustic feel. This design lends itself beautifully to both freestanding or fitted furniture and can be used to make a wide range of freestanding pieces such as larders, dressers and islands. This Kitchen is made from English Character Oak and custom finished with a translucent sage coloured Hard Wax Oil which we mixed in house, and has the effect of a subtle wash of colour without detracting from the character, tonal variations and warmth of the wood. This is a brilliant hardwearing, natural and breathable finish which is water and stain resistant, food safe and easy to maintain. The slatted cabinet design was originally inspired by old vernacular freestanding kitchen furniture such as larders and meat safes with their simple construction and good airflow which helped store food and provisions in a healthy and safe way, vitally important before refrigeration. These attributes are still valuable today although rarely used in modern cabinetry, and the Slat Cabinet series does this with very narrow gaps between the slats in the doors and cabinet sides. Emily & Greg commissioned this kitchen for their beautiful old thatched cottage in Warwickshire. The kitchen it was replacing was out dated, didn't use the space well and was not fitted sympathetically to the space with its old uneven walls and low beamed ceilings. A carefully considered cupboard and drawer layout ensured we maximised their storage space, increasing it from before, whilst opening out the space and making it feel less cramped. The cabinets are made from Oak veneered birch and poplar core ply with solid oak frames, panels and doors. The main cabinet drawers are dovetailed and feature Pippy/Burr Oak fronts with Sycamore drawer boxes, whilst the two Larders have slatted Oak crate drawers for storage of vegetables and dry goods, along with spice racks shelving and automatic concealed led lights. The wall cabinets and shelves also have a continuous strip of dotless led lighting concealed under the front edge, providing soft light on the worktops.

Kitchen with Quartzite Benchtops and Slate 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!