Poss Architecture + Planning and Interior Design

Pat Sudmeier
Large country u-shaped kitchen in Denver with slate splashback, an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, red cabinets, soapstone benchtops, grey splashback, light hardwood floors, with island and black benchtop.

Seaside River Home

Monogram Interior Design LLC

Monogram Interior Design
Inspiration for a large eclectic l-shaped open plan kitchen in Portland with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, red cabinets, soapstone benchtops, green splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Old World Elegance

Melissa Blackwood Homes & Interiors

Raspberry red accent cabinets set off the Herbeau fireclay farm sink and black soapstone countertops, while stained maple wood tops the island's painted and glazed ivory cabinets. The perimeter cabinets feature honed sandstone countertops and the hand-made and hand-painted terra-cotta backsplash tile ties everything together in this eclectic kitchen.

Elegance in Lake Wenatchee

Timberwood Construction Inc.

Design ideas for a large country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, red cabinets, soapstone benchtops, panelled appliances, bamboo floors, with island, beige floor, brown splashback and stone tile splashback.

Colonial Kitchen

Urban Kitchens

Inspiration for a mid-sized country l-shaped kitchen in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, red cabinets, soapstone benchtops, beige splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and beige floor.

Panther Pond Camp

Winkelman Architecture

Trent Bell
This is an example of a country u-shaped kitchen in Portland Maine with a farmhouse sink, red cabinets, soapstone benchtops, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and window splashback.

Pawlet Vermont Barn Home

Green Mountain Timber Frames

Ori Kaplan
Photo of a traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen in Burlington with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, red cabinets, soapstone benchtops, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Townhouse

Vrba Interior Design and Finishes

Inspiration for a large eclectic l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Boise with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, red cabinets, dark hardwood floors, a peninsula, soapstone benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback and stainless steel appliances.

Havertown PA

Philadelphia Soapstone, Marble and Granite

Home owner shot this photo to me over the holidays. The stone is PA Original from Green Mountain. Countertops and sink were manufactured by Philadelphia Soapstone

Soapstone Kitchen by Granite Grannies

Stone Action

This eclectic kitchen has Soapstone countertops! Thanks Granite Grannies for fabricating this project and providing us this photo! http://www.granitegrannies.com Look through our soapstone or other stone options: http://www.stoneaction.com Soapstone is a classic. Stone colors are available in dark gray to blueish or greenish gray with light or dramatic veining. Over a period of time as soapstone ages it achieves a beautiful patina. When treated with mineral oil the stone will darken. Soapstone is an ideal kitchen countertop choice because it never has to been sealed and has high heat resistant properties. Soapstone, although soft, is a very dense (non-porous) stone. Most people are surprised to learn it is more dense than marble, slate, limestone and even granite. Since soapstone is impenetrable and it will not stain. No liquid will permeate its surface. This is why through the years soapstone is widely used in chemistry lab countertops and acid rooms. If you love the dark beauty of granite and the light veining of marble, consider soapstone instead. It's durable, relatively low-maintenance, and has a lovely, old-world feel.

Contemporary Spaces

Fedewa Custom Works

This was a beautiful kitchen we fabricated, using quartersawn sapele wood. There is a horizontal grain match. The appliances are Wolf / Subzero. The countertops are soapstone (not currently oiled). The contractor is Zred, and architect is Michael JK Olsen.

Lynnfield Farmhouse - Cummings Architects

Cummings Architecture + Interiors

When Cummings Architects first met with the owners of this understated country farmhouse, the building’s layout and design was an incoherent jumble. The original bones of the building were almost unrecognizable. All of the original windows, doors, flooring, and trims – even the country kitchen – had been removed. Mathew and his team began a thorough design discovery process to find the design solution that would enable them to breathe life back into the old farmhouse in a way that acknowledged the building’s venerable history while also providing for a modern living by a growing family. The redesign included the addition of a new eat-in kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, wrap around porch, and stone fireplaces. To begin the transforming restoration, the team designed a generous, twenty-four square foot kitchen addition with custom, farmers-style cabinetry and timber framing. The team walked the homeowners through each detail the cabinetry layout, materials, and finishes. Salvaged materials were used and authentic craftsmanship lent a sense of place and history to the fabric of the space. The new master suite included a cathedral ceiling showcasing beautifully worn salvaged timbers. The team continued with the farm theme, using sliding barn doors to separate the custom-designed master bath and closet. The new second-floor hallway features a bold, red floor while new transoms in each bedroom let in plenty of light. A summer stair, detailed and crafted with authentic details, was added for additional access and charm. Finally, a welcoming farmer’s porch wraps around the side entry, connecting to the rear yard via a gracefully engineered grade. This large outdoor space provides seating for large groups of people to visit and dine next to the beautiful outdoor landscape and the new exterior stone fireplace. Though it had temporarily lost its identity, with the help of the team at Cummings Architects, this lovely farmhouse has regained not only its former charm but also a new life through beautifully integrated modern features designed for today’s family. Photo by Eric Roth

Williamsburg Inspired

William Draper Cabinetmaker

Furniture-style custom cabinetry by DRAPER-DBS was designed in a traditional Colonial style, some featuring a raised panel, others with period Manor House molding, and constructed from Pine and Alder.

Checkmate Farm Kitchen

Shenandoah Kitchen & Home

Farmhouse Kitchen remodel by Shenandoah Furniture Gallery. Handcrafted kitchen cabinetry made from reclaimed hardwood, beautiful soap stone countertops, wood paneling, reclaimed barn board ceiling beams, hand-crafted farmhouse table and straight back chairs.

Colorful Kitchens

Gem Cabinets LTD

Inspiration for an industrial l-shaped kitchen in Calgary with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, red cabinets, timber splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island and soapstone benchtops.

Cedar Heights

Plush Designs Kitchen & Bath

This is an example of a large contemporary l-shaped kitchen in Denver with an undermount sink, glass-front cabinets, red cabinets, soapstone benchtops, beige splashback, stone tile splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Character Saltbox

Pondside Kitchens and Hearth

Inspiration for a traditional kitchen in Bridgeport with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, red cabinets, soapstone benchtops, black splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island and black benchtop.

Mapleton Red

Red Pepper Design & Cabinetry

Confident red cabinetry is complimented by equally potent bright blue accents. The coolness of the blue creates color balance. The earthy natural woven lights are grounding. The countertop is make of Jadestone, a man-made product from Dorado Soapstone.

Old World Elegance

Melissa Blackwood Homes & Interiors

Large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with with island, beaded inset cabinets, red cabinets, soapstone benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, terra-cotta splashback, panelled appliances, a farmhouse sink and limestone floors.

Kitchen Project Farmhouse

B&G Cabinet, LLC

Cabinets are by Cabico. Greg West Photography GWP
Inspiration for a mid-sized country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Boston with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, red cabinets, soapstone benchtops, yellow splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors and no island.

Kitchen with Red Cabinets and Soapstone Benchtops 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!