Yes, you read the title right. Small updates DO make a BIG difference. Whether it’s updating a color, finish, or even the smallest: changing out the hardware, these minor updates together can all make a big difference in the space. For our Flashback Friday Feature, we have a perfect example of how you can make some small updates to revamp the entire space! The best of all, we replaced the door and drawer fronts, and added a small cabinet (removing the soffit, making the cabinets go to the ceiling) making this space seem like it’s been outfitted with a brand new kitchen! If you ask us, that’s a great way of value engineering and getting the best value out of your dollars! To learn more about this project, continue reading below! Cabinets As mentioned above, we removed the existing cabinet door and drawer fronts and replaced them with a more updated shaker style door/drawer fronts supplied by Woodmont. We removed the soffits and added an extra cabinet on the cooktop wall, taking the cabinets to the ceiling. This small update provides additional storage, and gives the space a new look! Countertops Bye-bye laminate, and hello quartz! As our clients were starting to notice the wear-and-tear of their original laminate tops, they knew they wanted something durable and that could last. Well, what better to install than quartz? Providing our clients with something that’s not only easy to maintain, but also modern was exactly what they wanted in their updated kitchen! Backsplash The original backsplash was a plain white 4×4″ tile and left much to be desired. Having lived with this backsplash for years, our clients wanted something more exciting and eye-catching. I can safely say that this small update delivered! We installed an eye-popping glass tile in blues, browns, and whites from Hirsch Glass tile in the Gemstone Collection. Hardware You’d think hardware doesn’t make a huge difference in a space, but it does! It adds not only the feel of good quality but also adds some character to the space. Here we have installed Amerock Blackrock knobs and pulls in Satin Nickel. Other Fixtures To top off the functionality and usability of the space, we installed a new sink and faucet. The sink and faucet is something used every day, so having something of great quality is much appreciated especially when so frequently used. From Kohler, we have an under-mount castiron sink in Palermo Blue. From Blanco, we have a single-hole, and pull-out spray faucet. Flooring Last but not least, we installed cork flooring. The cork provides and soft and cushiony feel and is great on your feet!

blue glass tile

Sarah Hermans for Sheffield Furniture

Jon Frederick
Design ideas for a mid-sized transitional u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Philadelphia with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, multi-coloured splashback, matchstick tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, a peninsula and grey floor.

Brooklyn Apartment Renovation (Work in progress)

get DESIGNED by Demetra Kourri

Photo of a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in New York with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, marble benchtops, blue splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Vallecito Cove

Lecasa Homes & Renovations

Tania Bustillos
Design ideas for a large transitional l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Austin with a farmhouse sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartzite benchtops, blue splashback, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors and a peninsula.

Revival of Color in Carlsbad

Audry Cordero, NKBA at Design Studio West

My clients wanted to bring in color but tie in some Spanish revival influences they had on the exterior. This home is that, a marriage of Spanish revival influences with a bit of whimsy and a lot of color. They liked the footprint but needed storage, so we stacked the wall cabinets and adding a row of shallow cabinets behind the cooktop. A wet bar in the living room was removed and we used that space for a much-needed kitchen pantry. We also enlarged the window some to help balance the sink a bit more and bring in more natural light.

Punchards Down

Green Bird Workshop

The gorgeous shade of Craig & Rose hand painted door and drawer fronts blends tastefully with our solid oak worktops, floating shelves and scooped handle design in this Totnes kitchen.

Weston Full Home Renovation

PG Kitchen & Bath

White Shaker beautiful Kitchen
Small modern l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Miami with white cabinets, shaker cabinets, white splashback, vinyl floors, brown floor, white benchtop, an undermount sink, quartz benchtops, subway tile splashback, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula.

Burnie By The Bay

User

Dan Healey Photography
Photo of a small modern u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Hobart with a drop-in sink, white cabinets, laminate benchtops, red splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors and a peninsula.

Project 3350-1 Traditional Kitchen Remodel with Solatubes in Northrop Minneapoli

Castle Building & Remodeling

Another beautiful Bungalow kitchen remodel in the Northrop neighborhood of South Minneapolis. These homeowners contacted Castle planning for a whole kitchen renovation, which included opening the existing kitchen into the dining room so the family could enjoy a more multi-purpose space. The original (1927) built-in buffet cabinet between the kitchen and dining was re-homed to a vintage salvage room in Minneapolis for a new future life. The homeowners did not want a boring kitchen. We also focused on matching the original style/feel of the home but rejuvenated. A fresh traditional kitchen design was planned to provide better function for the family’s needs and also a beautiful style to the heart of their home. New hardwood floors carry into the kitchen to match the existing hardwoods. New custom-built flush-inset cabinetry was designed with a wonderful two-tone color scheme. The new cabinetry includes custom storage, glass uppers and accessories; silverware tray divides, trash pull-out, outlet docking drawer for phones to charge, custom shelf roll-outs and lazy susan corners. Castle selected historic paint colors by Benjamin Moore to keep within the period of the home. The base cabinets are painted in Benjamin Moore, Tarrytown green and the uppers in a soft white (BM, Ballet white). By doing two cabinetry colors, Castle was able to create some unique interest and anchor the base cabinet to the floor while still having light walls with the white cabinetry. New marble patterned Cambria Quartz countertops were selected in the luxurious and classic Torquay design. To complete the walls, traditional white subway tile was installed. Along with the beautiful finishes, we also improved light quality in the space. New windows were installed increasing from 2 windows to 3 windows with an additional window to the backyard. We also installed 2 Solatubes for additional natural lighting. The Solatubes also include a solar-powered night light and additional light kit for night time use. Overall, the new traditional kitchen is much like a spring day – light, airy and inviting! Come see the space on Castle’s Educational Home Tour, Fall 2018!

Colorful Kitchen

American Artisans Designers & Fabricators

Custom Cabinetry, Architectural Millwork & Fabrication by Michelle Rein and Ariel Snyders of American Artisans. Photo by Brandon Rein
Mid-sized traditional galley kitchen pantry in San Francisco with a double-bowl sink, flat-panel cabinets, green cabinets, granite benchtops, brown splashback, glass tile splashback, panelled appliances, light hardwood floors and a peninsula.

La Jolla Beach Condo

Springfield Design

Inspiration for a mid-sized contemporary u-shaped open plan kitchen in San Diego with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, light wood cabinets, quartz benchtops, white splashback, ceramic splashback, stainless steel appliances, porcelain floors, a peninsula, white floor and white benchtop.

Vibrant Kitchen Remodel

Kohler Signature Store by Supply New England

Photography by Erin Little
Mid-sized contemporary u-shaped kitchen in Boston with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, red cabinets, quartzite benchtops, metallic splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, medium hardwood floors, a peninsula, brown floor and white benchtop.

Copse Green Shaker Kitchen With Oak Worktops

Kitchens by Kemp

A copse green shaker kitchen with oak and copper elements throughout. This kitchen features a secret utility area with washer, dryer and boiler all covered by the furniture. The large worktop standing boiler cabinet is divided into sections to create a more functional storage space.

OPEN PLAN KITCHEN TO PENTHOUSE at Authentically Modern Classic Apartments

misch_MISCH studio

OPEN PLAN KITCHEN TO PENTHOUSE with dark blue flat panel units, marble top and kitchen island with metal worktop. Overhang with Art Deco lighting and with leather armchair stools. project: AUTHENTICALLY MODERN GRADE II. APARTMENTS in Heritage respectful Contemporary Classic Luxury style For full details see or contact us: www.mischmisch.com studio@mischmisch.com

Mosaic Tile Backsplash

Designs by KS

Photo of a small eclectic u-shaped eat-in kitchen in Vancouver with an undermount sink, shaker cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, mosaic tile splashback, stainless steel appliances and a peninsula.

Emerald & Copper Craftsman

Mom's Design Build

Let's talk about storage! This wall of custom green cabinets is not short on smart storage. Each cabinet offers a space for each specific tool, seasoning or ingredient. The inset portion is a dedicated charging station and catch all.

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Manhattan Style

Zobel & Co. Kitchens

Watch as this cabinet opens itself with a simple touch at the bottom! Chris Sanders
This is an example of a small country u-shaped eat-in kitchen in New York with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, distressed cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, glass tile splashback, stainless steel appliances, ceramic floors and a peninsula.

Fire Island Beach Kitchen

A Direct Cabinet Distributor Corp

This picture gives you an idea of how much space you are working with in a Fire Island home. This beachy galley kitchen needed more storage, seating, and function, all while keeping it's original charm- like those beams!

Bel Air Kitchen Project

Eden Builders

This is an example of a mid-sized contemporary l-shaped eat-in kitchen in Los Angeles with an undermount sink, flat-panel cabinets, white cabinets, quartz benchtops, blue splashback, glass sheet splashback, stainless steel appliances, terrazzo floors, a peninsula, grey floor and white benchtop.

Fairfax Station, VA (Kitchen Reno.)

C&D Design + Build LLC

Full package renovation including structural adjustments to the interior home, custom cabinets, custom waterfall countertop, and renovated living room.

Turquoise Kitchen with a Peninsula 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!