Periscope House draws light into a young family’s home, adding thoughtful solutions and flexible spaces to 1950s Art Deco foundations. Our clients engaged us to undertake a considered extension to their character-rich home in Malvern East. They wanted to celebrate their home’s history while adapting it to the needs of their family, and future-proofing it for decades to come. The extension’s form meets with and continues the existing roofline, politely emerging at the rear of the house. The tones of the original white render and red brick are reflected in the extension, informing its white Colorbond exterior and selective pops of red throughout. Inside, the original home’s layout has been reimagined to better suit a growing family. Once closed-in formal dining and lounge rooms were converted into children’s bedrooms, supplementing the main bedroom and a versatile fourth room. Grouping these rooms together has created a subtle definition of zones: private spaces are nestled to the front, while the rear extension opens up to shared living areas. A tailored response to the site, the extension’s ground floor addresses the western back garden, and first floor (AKA the periscope) faces the northern sun. Sitting above the open plan living areas, the periscope is a mezzanine that nimbly sidesteps the harsh afternoon light synonymous with a western facing back yard. It features a solid wall to the west and a glass wall to the north, emulating the rotation of a periscope to draw gentle light into the extension. Beneath the mezzanine, the kitchen, dining, living and outdoor spaces effortlessly overlap. Also accessible via an informal back door for friends and family, this generous communal area provides our clients with the functionality, spatial cohesion and connection to the outdoors they were missing. Melding modern and heritage elements, Periscope House honours the history of our clients’ home while creating light-filled shared spaces – all through a periscopic lens that opens the home to the garden.

Dartmouth House

Shane Marsh Architects

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary galley open plan kitchen in Brisbane with a double-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, black cabinets, wood benchtops, white splashback, window splashback, stainless steel appliances, slate floors, with island, grey floor, brown benchtop and exposed beam.

Unique, Personalised Kitchen Design

Kitchen and Bedroom Studios

Emma and her architect-husband Mick had designed and extended their home, adding more space and light to their kitchen. Being a keen chef, Emma wanted a totally unique kitchen that was going to reflect her gastronomic and colourful personality. “I didn’t want my kitchen to be the same as anyone else’s. Now when my friends visit our new kitchen they say, ‘this room is so you!’ – I’m delighted with it! “I explained to our designer Sue that I wanted a totally unique kitchen and she suggested lots of ways in which we could achieve that personal touch. Sue showed us beautiful wallpaper patterns that could be replicated in tiling and that’s where the idea for the bohemian tiles came from. “We were working to a tight budget and Sue was so accommodating for this, by suggesting ways in which we could cut our costs without compromising our personalised design. It was refreshing to have that honesty in a supplier. “We are so pleased with the outcome and the service provided, K&B Studios went out of their way to support us throughout the whole process and make sure we got the stylish, individual kitchen that we wanted.”

Surbiton, KT6

User

Photo of a mid-sized transitional single-wall kitchen in London with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, blue splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Hillsboro Kitchen Remodel

Adapt Interior Design

Engage Photo & Video
Photo of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in Portland with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, granite benchtops, beige splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Modern Montecito, Danville, CA

Lauren Evans Interiors, LLC

This is an example of a transitional l-shaped kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, grey cabinets, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors, with island, beige floor and white benchtop.

Cherokee Triangle Kitchen

Centered Interiors

Inspiration for a small transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Louisville with a single-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, green cabinets, quartzite benchtops, grey splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula and grey benchtop.

Medoc Lane

Clearcut Construction, Inc.

A traditional kitchen with touches of the farmhouse and Mediterranean styles. We used cool, light tones adding pops of color and warmth with natural wood.

Gold cabinet hardware and faucets

Marvista Design + Build

The gold hardware and faucet stand out against the white and black backgrounds.
This is an example of a large transitional kitchen in Other with an undermount sink, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, stone slab splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and recessed-panel cabinets.

New Orleans Inspired on Yarrow Point

Kristi Spouse Interiors

Inspiration for a traditional kitchen pantry in Seattle with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and dark hardwood floors. Microwave and warming drawer tucked away. Jessie Young - www.realestatephotographerseattle.com

Coastal Kitchen and Breakfast Room

Frank Pitman Designs

Martin King Photography
Design ideas for a large beach style kitchen in Orange County with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, marble benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, light hardwood floors and with island.

San Juan Spanish Revival

Concept Design, Inc.

This open professional kitchen is for a chef who enjoys sharing the duties.
Design ideas for a large mediterranean kitchen pantry in Orange County with an integrated sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, limestone floors, with island, grey floor, green benchtop and exposed beam.

Lake of the Isles Kitchen

M. Victoria Johnson Interiors

Design ideas for a beach style u-shaped open plan kitchen in Minneapolis with a single-bowl sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, multi-coloured benchtop and vaulted.

JENNINGS BAY KITCHEN

Kate Roos Design LLC

To create a welcoming gathering space and a stronger connection the outdoors, the kitchen was reconfigured and opened up to the front entry of the home. To improve traffic flow, an additional doorway to the adjacent family room was added.

Transitional White Oak Home

Cabinet Concepts by Design

Photo of a transitional l-shaped kitchen pantry in Other with an undermount sink, recessed-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, stainless steel appliances and with island.

Sierra Madre Blvd

Feng Xiao Architect

This is an example of a transitional u-shaped kitchen in Los Angeles with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

Tour of Homes / HBA Home

Wind River Homes

Inspiration for a transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Portland with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, multi-coloured splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, black benchtop, exposed beam and vaulted.

Westport Country

Christine Donner Kitchen Design Inc.

An oversize island in walnut/sap wood holds its own in this large space. Imperial Danby marble is the countertop and backsplash. The stainless Sub Zero Pro fridge brings an exciting industrial note.

The Aurora : 2019 Clark County Parade of Homes : Gourmet Designer Kitchen

Cascade West Development

Inspired by the majesty of the Northern Lights and this family's everlasting love for Disney, this home plays host to enlighteningly open vistas and playful activity. Like its namesake, the beloved Sleeping Beauty, this home embodies family, fantasy and adventure in their truest form. Visions are seldom what they seem, but this home did begin 'Once Upon a Dream'. Welcome, to The Aurora.

Kitchens

Traver Construction, Inc.

Design ideas for a traditional l-shaped kitchen in Dallas with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, grey splashback, stainless steel appliances, dark hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and grey benchtop.

Kitchen with Recessed-panel Cabinets and Stainless Steel Appliances 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!