The goal of the project was to create a more functional kitchen, but to remodel with an eco-friendly approach. To minimize the waste going into the landfill, all the old cabinetry and appliances were donated, and the kitchen floor was kept intact because it was in great condition. The challenge was to design the kitchen around the existing floor and the natural soapstone the client fell in love with. The clients continued with the sustainable theme throughout the room with the new materials chosen: The back splash tiles are eco-friendly and hand-made in the USA.. The custom range hood was a beautiful addition to the kitchen. We maximized the counter space around the custom sink by extending the integral drain board above the dishwasher to create more prep space. In the adjacent laundry room, we continued the same color scheme to create a custom wall of cabinets to incorporate a hidden laundry shoot, and dog area. We also added storage around the washer and dryer including two different types of hanging for drying purposes.

That '70s House

Meadowlark Design+Build

Our designers stole a few square feet from the adjoining oversized family room to create a drop zone for the family as they enter the kitchen. This provides the perfect solution to storing keys, electronics, kids doodads and school papers. This is part of a first floor renovation completed by Meadowlark Design + Build in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Transitional Farmhouse Kitchen

Talianko Design Group, LLC

This Transitional Farmhouse Kitchen was completely remodeled and the home is nestled on the border of Pasadena and South Pasadena. Our goal was to keep the original charm of our client’s home while updating the kitchen in a way that was fresh and current. Our design inspiration began with a deep green soapstone counter top paired with creamy white cabinetry. Carrera marble subway tile for the backsplash is a luxurious splurge and adds classic elegance to the space. The stainless steel appliances and sink create a more transitional feel, while the shaker style cabinetry doors and schoolhouse light fixture are in keeping with the original style of the home. Tile flooring resembling concrete is clean and simple and seeded glass in the upper cabinet doors help make the space feel open and light. This kitchen has a hidden microwave and custom range hood design, as well as a new pantry area, for added storage. The pantry area features an appliance garage and deep-set counter top for multi-purpose use. These features add value to this small space. The finishing touches are polished nickel cabinet hardware, which add a vintage look and the cafe curtains are the handiwork of the homeowner. We truly enjoyed the collaborative effort in this kitchen. Photography by Erika Beirman

Contemporary Kitchen with Soapstone Counters

emma delon

Marilyn Peryer Style House Photography
This is an example of a large contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Raleigh with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, with island, light wood cabinets, ceramic splashback, medium hardwood floors, orange floor and black benchtop.

Urban Retreat in Houston

By Design Interiors, Inc.

Erika Barczak, By Design Interiors Inc. Photo Credit: Daniel Angulo www.danielangulo.com Builder: Wamhoff Design Build www.wamhoffdesignbuild.com After knocking down walls to open up the space and adding skylights, a bright, airy kitchen with abundant natural light was created. The lighting, counter stools and soapstone countertops give the room an urban chic, semi-industrial feel but the warmth of the wooden beams and the wood flooring make sure that the space is not cold. A secondary, smaller island was put on wheels in order to have a movable and highly functional prep space.

Atlantic Ave

White Orchid Interiors

Rustic kitchen with mixed cabinetry and counter top materials
Photo of a large country galley eat-in kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, raised-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, soapstone benchtops, grey splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

The Plains, VA Kitchen

Home Sweet Home Improvements LLC

Photo: K. Priscilla Jones
This is an example of a mid-sized country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in DC Metro with a farmhouse sink, soapstone benchtops, black appliances, with island, multi-coloured splashback, medium hardwood floors and beaded inset cabinets.

Spicy Craftsman

Design Studio West

The homeowner wanted to keep the Spanish/Mexican flavor of this 1939 Craftsman bungalow in Point Loma. She was fearless in her color choices for the backsplash to reflect this esthetic. Since the kitchen is open to the dining room and living room, we decided to add the color on the backsplash with neutral white Craftsman style cabinets as the background. Designed By Margaret Dean Brady Architectural Photography

Lexington Bungalow

Small Batch Kitchens

These are portable tea boxes that can be taken to the table for serving.
This is an example of a mid-sized traditional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, subway tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, no island and white splashback.

Inset Shaker Nordic White Kitchen

Main Line Kitchen Design

The best kitchen showroom in your area is closer than you think. The four designers there are some of the most experienced award winning kitchen designers in the Delaware Valley. They design in and sell 6 national cabinet lines. And their pricing for cabinetry is slightly less than at home centers in apples to apples comparisons. Where is this kitchen showroom and how come you don’t remember seeing it when it is so close by? It’s in your own home! Main Line Kitchen Design brings all the same samples you select from when you travel to other showrooms to your home. We make design changes on our laptops in 20-20 CAD with you present usually in the very kitchen being renovated. Understanding what designs will look like and how sample kitchen cabinets, doors, and finishes will look in your home is easy when you are standing in the very room being renovated. Design changes can be emailed to you to print out and discuss with friends and family if you choose. Best of all our design time is free since it is incorporated into the very competitive pricing of your cabinetry when you purchase a kitchen from Main Line Kitchen Design. Finally there is a kitchen business model and design team that carries the highest quality cabinetry, is experienced, convenient, and reasonably priced. Call us today and find out why we get the best reviews on the internet or Google us and check. We look forward to working with you. As our company tag line says: “The world of kitchen design is changing…”

Kitchen & Family Room Remodel

Cregg Sweeney LLC

Kitchen & Family Room Remodel Photo Credit: Roe Osborn
Inspiration for a large traditional l-shaped open plan kitchen with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Saunderstown Cottage

Ellen McKenna Design

This is an example of a large traditional u-shaped open plan kitchen in Salt Lake City with a double-bowl sink, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, panelled appliances, raised-panel cabinets, white splashback, ceramic splashback, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and black benchtop.

Contemporary Spaces

Fedewa Custom Works

Awesome little house with an awesome kitchen. House is built by Sustainable Building Solutions. Cabinets were made by Fedewa Custom Works. They are a shaker style, painted "arrow root" by ML Campbell.

Shiloh Cabinetry - SW Cupola Yellow Custom Color

The Kitchen Place

Dawn M Smith Photography
Design ideas for a large country kitchen in Other with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, soapstone benchtops, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

Palm Residence in New York

Michael Rust-Architect LLC

Crown Point Cabinetry
Design ideas for a large arts and crafts u-shaped open plan kitchen in Phoenix with a drop-in sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, mosaic tile splashback, white appliances, concrete floors, multiple islands and grey floor.

Bow House

BRIBURN – Architecture for Life

Central kitchen with slate sink, and breakfast nook. Photo by John W. Hession
Design ideas for a large arts and crafts single-wall eat-in kitchen in Portland Maine with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, soapstone benchtops, black splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors and with island.

Carter Republic House

Jarrett Design

This beautiful farmhouse kitchen in soft grey tones bridge the gap between old and new. Thermador appliances work hard for the avid cooks who live here. Design by Jarrett Design, LLC. Cabinetry by Plain & Fancy Cabinetry. Counters by Bucks County Soapstone. Matt Villano Photography

Melrose Street, Newton MA

Betsy Bassett Interiors

New cabinets were added on top of existing cabinets for additional storage. A custom designed "Dog Den" base cabinet is new home for Maxie and Scout and creates a new L-Shaped kitchen floor plan. Photo Credit: Betsy Bassett

Transitional Kitchen

Photo of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped separate kitchen in Austin with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, marble splashback and brown floor.

Mid-Century Kitchen- Towson

Bearded Builders, Baltimore

This is an example of a large midcentury l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Baltimore with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, grey cabinets, soapstone benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, cement tile splashback, black appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, grey benchtop and recessed.

Kitchen with 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!