Modern Meets Traditional In This DIY IKEA Kitchen

When it comes to style, Danielle — who just so happens to be a designer — prefers a more modern look. “If I had to choose anything at IKEA, it would have been high gloss white and some orange. That’s what I would have done with a blank slate." The house, however, has more traditional bones. Danielle needed to strike the perfect balance of modern and traditional. While the stainless lights lean more towards modern, the cabinets serve as a graceful nod to the traditional.

Contemporary Kitchen Connections

Merle Bessner Interiors

Angela Lau Photography

An Exercise in Classism

Signature Kitchens

Substantial stone archways and arched windows lend integrity to this exercise in classicism. White cabinetry adorned with crown molding are anchored by honed black granite. Arched window and glass door cabinets flank the sink. Faucets, hardware, lighting, and leg trim in polished nickel reflect the light.A walk-in pantry and message niche are hidden charms.

Glamourous, Joyful Condo in Wayne, PA

Rudloff Custom Builders

This condominium is modern and sleek, while still retaining much of its traditional charm. We added paneling to the walls, archway, door frames, and around the fireplace for a special and unique look throughout the home. To create the entry with convenient built-in shoe storage and bench, we cut an alcove an existing to hallway. The deep-silled windows in the kitchen provided the perfect place for an eating area, which we outfitted with shelving for additional storage. Form, function, and design united in the beautiful black and white kitchen. It is a cook’s dream with ample storage and counter space. The bathrooms play with gray and white in different materials and textures to create timeless looks. The living room’s built-in shelves and reading nook in the bedroom add detail and storage to the home. The pops of color and eye-catching light fixtures make this condo joyful and fun. Rudloff Custom Builders has won Best of Houzz for Customer Service in 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, and 2021. We also were voted Best of Design in 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and 2021, which only 2% of professionals receive. Rudloff Custom Builders has been featured on Houzz in their Kitchen of the Week, What to Know About Using Reclaimed Wood in the Kitchen as well as included in their Bathroom WorkBook article. We are a full service, certified remodeling company that covers all of the Philadelphia suburban area. This business, like most others, developed from a friendship of young entrepreneurs who wanted to make a difference in their clients’ lives, one household at a time. This relationship between partners is much more than a friendship. Edward and Stephen Rudloff are brothers who have renovated and built custom homes together paying close attention to detail. They are carpenters by trade and understand concept and execution. Rudloff Custom Builders will provide services for you with the highest level of professionalism, quality, detail, punctuality and craftsmanship, every step of the way along our journey together. Specializing in residential construction allows us to connect with our clients early in the design phase to ensure that every detail is captured as you imagined. One stop shopping is essentially what you will receive with Rudloff Custom Builders from design of your project to the construction of your dreams, executed by on-site project managers and skilled craftsmen. Our concept: envision our client’s ideas and make them a reality. Our mission: CREATING LIFETIME RELATIONSHIPS BUILT ON TRUST AND INTEGRITY. Photo Credit: Linda McManus Images Design Credit: Staci Levy Designs

Whole Home - Oakton VA

Berriz Design Build Group

Williams Wood Rd.

Structural Dimensions, Inc.

Lowry Hill Kitchen

Kate Roos Design LLC

By removing a wall and combining two previously compartmentalized spaces, the new kitchen is an efficient, welcoming space centered around a large island with seating for guests.

DK_CH_flat

Архитектурная студия QUADRUM

Thermofoil high-gloss cabinets

TG Kitchen

new high gloss cabinets installed

Starmount Modern

SR Design Group, Inc.

Modern Farmhouse-Upstate

Crisp Architects

Natural lighting showcasing hardwood flooring, pendant lighting fixtures, shaker style cabinets, and concrete countertop texture. Photographer: Rob Karosis

NEUILLY SUR SEINE, RUE DE CHARTRES

User

Sandfiddler A

Photos by Mattingly

Hudson Rustic Renovation

Fluidesign Studio

Building Design, Plans, and Interior Finishes: Fluidesign Studio I Builder: J-Mar Builders I Photographer: sethbennphoto.com

1863 Historic Renovation

Sean Patrick Builders

Indianola Avenue

Studio M Interiors

Scott Amundson Photography

Central Phoenix Copper Hood

spacemekk designers p ltd

Kitchen

Westwood Dr. Interior

John Webb Construction and Design

This 2 story home was originally built in 1952 on a tree covered hillside. Our company transformed this little shack into a luxurious home with a million dollar view by adding high ceilings, wall of glass facing the south providing natural light all year round, and designing an open living concept. The home has a built-in gas fireplace with tile surround, custom IKEA kitchen with quartz countertop, bamboo hardwood flooring, two story cedar deck with cable railing, master suite with walk-through closet, two laundry rooms, 2.5 bathrooms, office space, and mechanical room.

Beige Kitchen with Black Benchtop 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!