A central island in the kitchen brings the chef and diners together for casual snacks or elaborate dinners. We partnered with Jennifer Allison Design on this project. Her design firm contacted us to paint the entire house - inside and out. Images are used with permission. You can contact her at (310) 488-0331 for more information.

Coronado Beach House Renovation

Kim Grant Design Inc

Kim Grant, Architect; Elizabeth Barkett, Interior Designer - Ross Thiele & Sons Ltd.; Gail Owens, Photographer

Cottage Update

Arch Studio, Inc.

Arch Studio, Inc. Best of Houzz 2013, 2014, 2015

Coronado Shores Penthouse

K2 Interiors

Coastal Kitchen

Baine Contracting, Inc.

Chermak, Lake House Remodel

Chermak Construction, Inc.

Larry Evensen, Imaging Northwest

236 Nautilus St La Jolla, CA 92037

Exotic Interiors & Ei Staging Group

New Construction Kitchen

Open Low Country Kitchen

Saltwater Kitchen & Bath Studio

Interior view of Pool House Great Room

Weintraub Designs

renee@chestnutstreetstudio.com; view to kitchen and poolside

Coastal Virginia Idea House

Progress Lighting

Jonathan Edwards Media

Beach House

Arrowood Design LLC

Matthew Millman

2013 Coastal Living Showhouse

Our Town Plans

Courtesy Coastal Living, a division of the Time Inc. Lifestyle Group, photography by Tria Giovan. Coastal Living is a registered trademark of Time Inc. and is used with permission.

Cape Cod Dining Room

Maraya Interior Design

Luxurious modern take on a traditional white Italian villa. An entry with a silver domed ceiling, painted moldings in patterns on the walls and mosaic marble flooring create a luxe foyer. Into the formal living room, cool polished Crema Marfil marble tiles contrast with honed carved limestone fireplaces throughout the home, including the outdoor loggia. Ceilings are coffered with white painted crown moldings and beams, or planked, and the dining room has a mirrored ceiling. Bathrooms are white marble tiles and counters, with dark rich wood stains or white painted. The hallway leading into the master bedroom is designed with barrel vaulted ceilings and arched paneled wood stained doors. The master bath and vestibule floor is covered with a carpet of patterned mosaic marbles, and the interior doors to the large walk in master closets are made with leaded glass to let in the light. The master bedroom has dark walnut planked flooring, and a white painted fireplace surround with a white marble hearth. The kitchen features white marbles and white ceramic tile backsplash, white painted cabinetry and a dark stained island with carved molding legs. Next to the kitchen, the bar in the family room has terra cotta colored marble on the backsplash and counter over dark walnut cabinets. Wrought iron staircase leading to the more modern media/family room upstairs. Project Location: North Ranch, Westlake, California. Remodel designed by Maraya Interior Design. From their beautiful resort town of Ojai, they serve clients in Montecito, Hope Ranch, Malibu, Westlake and Calabasas, across the tri-county areas of Santa Barbara, Ventura and Los Angeles, south to Hidden Hills- north through Solvang and more. New custom designed Cape Cod home overlooking the water. The alder table was custom made for the space in two pieces, with hinges and support to make the table large enough for large family gatherings. White painted recessed paneled cabinets, wide plank pine floors. We matched the fabric colors to the owner's collection of colorful pottery. Kurt Magness: architect Stan Tenpenny, contractor Dina Pielaet, photographer

Organic Contemporary with Whimsial Pops

Lisa Benbow of LCB Interior Design

The Great Room

Isle of Palms Lowcountry Modern

Phillip Smith General Contractor, LLC

Lori Hamilton

Joseph Rodrigues Interiors

Kitchen Remodel

Niguel Hills Kitchen

Joseph Rodrigues Interiors

Kitchen Remodel

Hoppers Crossing House Renovation

Peppercorn Interior Designs

The classic blue and white colour scheme with window splash back made this kitchen feel as though it belonged in a beach side suburb. This kitchen features a large walk in pantry , pocket doors to the conceal the coffee station when not in use , a chefs oven and integrated rangehood to create a sleek and modern look.

Beach Style Open Plan Kitchen 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 Beach Style 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!