Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW The homeowners came to us looking to update the kitchen in their historic 1897 home. The home had gone through an extensive renovation several years earlier that added a master bedroom suite and updates to the front façade. The kitchen however was not part of that update and a prior 1990’s update had left much to be desired. The client is an avid cook, and it was just not very functional for the family. The original kitchen was very choppy and included a large eat in area that took up more than its fair share of the space. On the wish list was a place where the family could comfortably congregate, that was easy and to cook in, that feels lived in and in check with the rest of the home’s décor. They also wanted a space that was not cluttered and dark – a happy, light and airy room. A small powder room off the space also needed some attention so we set out to include that in the remodel as well. See that arch in the neighboring dining room? The homeowner really wanted to make the opening to the dining room an arch to match, so we incorporated that into the design. Another unfortunate eyesore was the state of the ceiling and soffits. Turns out it was just a series of shortcuts from the prior renovation, and we were surprised and delighted that we were easily able to flatten out almost the entire ceiling with a couple of little reworks. Other changes we made were to add new windows that were appropriate to the new design, which included moving the sink window over slightly to give the work zone more breathing room. We also adjusted the height of the windows in what was previously the eat-in area that were too low for a countertop to work. We tried to keep an old island in the plan since it was a well-loved vintage find, but the tradeoff for the function of the new island was not worth it in the end. We hope the old found a new home, perhaps as a potting table. Designed by: Susan Klimala, CKD, CBD Photography by: Michael Kaskel For more information on kitchen and bath design ideas go to: www.kitchenstudio-ge.com

Kitchen Pantry

Bill Fry Construction - Wm. H. Fry Const. Co.

Kitchen Storage Pantry in Bay Area European Style Cabinetry made in our artisanal cabinet shop with a wonderful Hafele Gourmet Pantry for kitchen storage.

Madison's View

Centre Sky Architecture Ltd

Photos by Whitney Kamman
This is an example of a large country galley eat-in kitchen in Other with light wood cabinets, with island, an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, stainless steel appliances, beige floor, quartzite benchtops and medium hardwood floors.

Barn+Home

Volansky Studio

Compact kitchen within an open floor plan concept.
Inspiration for a mid-sized country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Burlington with shaker cabinets, blue cabinets, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, solid surface benchtops, black benchtop and beige splashback.

Bright and Beautiful Kitchen & Mudroom Remodel

Howell Custom Building Group

The kitchen was renovated to create a brighter and more functional space for entertaining. An earth-based, neutral color palette in combination with a wall of windows overlooking the backyard creates a serene feeling. The focal point of the kitchen is an expansive center island topped with an unusually large, single slab of Victoria Falls quartzite that features a continuous wave of grain throughout the stone. Off of the kitchen, the three season room was converted to an insulated, four season breakfast room. Tall windows with transoms above and paneling below accentuate the feeling of being in a sunroom.

Pocket Door Pantry With A Little Extra

Nathan Taylor for Obelisk Home

This is an example of a mid-sized transitional u-shaped kitchen pantry in Other with open cabinets, medium wood cabinets, medium hardwood floors, brown floor and white benchtop.

Kirkland Mid Century Modern

CTA Design Builders, Inc.

Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in Seattle with flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor and white benchtop.

San Francisco-Laurel Heights Project

Sasha Lanka

Design ideas for a transitional kitchen in San Francisco with a farmhouse sink, white cabinets, white splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop and shaker cabinets.

Nathan Homes English Farmhouse

Structur Design + Interiors

Mid-sized country l-shaped open plan kitchen in Omaha with white cabinets, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, quartz benchtops, brown floor and white benchtop.

Midtown Modern

ROTHERS Design/Build

view of kitchen with dining room beyond photo by Sara Terranova
Mid-sized contemporary l-shaped open plan kitchen in Kansas City with flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, brown floor, white benchtop, a double-bowl sink and blue splashback.

Kitchen and Family Room with Double Sided Fireplace

Platt Builders

KT2DesignGroup Michael J Lee Photography
Photo of a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Boston with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, soapstone benchtops, white splashback, subway tile splashback, panelled appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island and brown floor.

Mid Century III - Kitchen Addition

Tali Hardonag Architect

Mountain View Kitchen addition with butterfly roof, bamboo cabinets. Photography: Nadine Priestly
Inspiration for a mid-sized midcentury l-shaped open plan kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium wood cabinets, quartzite benchtops, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, blue splashback, white benchtop and exposed beam.

Knotty Alder Kitchen

Savvy Interiors

Inspiration for a mid-sized transitional open plan kitchen in San Diego with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, white splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula and brown floor.

Our Work

Goodner Brothers Custom Homes

Mid-sized country u-shaped kitchen pantry in Austin with raised-panel cabinets, white cabinets, granite benchtops, medium hardwood floors, with island and beige floor.

22 TEAL

ARPIEKA design studio

Kitchen Remodel with Custom Cabintery
Design ideas for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped eat-in kitchen in San Francisco with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, green splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and no island.

Home Interiors

McIntyre Capron & Associates

McIntyre Capron & Associates
Large country l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Philadelphia with raised-panel cabinets, dark wood cabinets, granite benchtops, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, with island, an undermount sink, beige splashback, stone tile splashback and brown floor.

Swope Kitchen Renovation

The Aldrich Group, LLC

Extra-spacious pantry Jeff Herr Photography
Photo of a large country kitchen pantry in Atlanta with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and with island.

Refined Midcentury

Design Harmony

Holland Photography
Inspiration for a transitional kitchen in Seattle with shaker cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and medium hardwood floors.

Open Concept Kitchen and Living Area

ABK Today

This open kitchen and living design meets the lifestyle needs of an active household and encourages guests to hang out or join in the food prep when entertaining. The bright, open transitional style strikes the perfect balance between traditional and modern design schemes.

Kitchen

Lasley Brahaney Architecture + Construction

This cozy white traditional kitchen was redesigned to provide an open concept feel to the dining area. The dark wood ceiling beams, clear glass cabinet doors, Bianco Sardo granite countertops and white subway tile backsplash unite the quaint space.

Orange Kitchen with Medium Hardwood 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!