Kitchen is Center In our design to combine the apartments, we centered the kitchen - making it a dividing line between private and public space; vastly expanding the storage and work surface area. We discovered an existing unused roof penetration to run a duct to vent out a powerful kitchen hood. The original bathroom skylight now illuminates the central kitchen space. Without changing the standard skylight size, we gave it architectural scale by carving out the ceiling to maximize daylight. Light now dances off the vaulted, sculptural angles of the ceiling to bathe the entire space in natural light.

Farmhouse kitchen

TKS Design Group

Kitchen design by The Kitchen Studio of Glen Ellyn (Glen Ellyn, IL)

Kitchen and Family Room with Double Sided Fireplace

Platt Builders

KT2DesignGroup Michael J Lee Photography

Croton On Hudson Kitchen

Joan Bigg Design LLC

Working within a set of constraints, whether of space or budget, challenges my creativity and leads to a beautiful end result. The old kitchen used the space very poorly. The intent was just to replace the countertop. But once we investigated, the inferior cabinets needed replacing, too, so a rethink of space usage created a small and stylish kitchen of lasting quality.

Farmhouse Kitchen

Millbrook Cabinetry and Design

Buckhead Kitchen

Moses Construction, Inc.

Lone Oak Addition

Anchor Builders

Built with care by Anchor Builders. Photos by Seth Benn Photography.

San Anselmo Kitchen

Barbra Bright Design

Andrew McKinney By choosing Viking appliances in graphite grey vs. stainless steel, the focus stays on the cabinets and back splash.

Soapstone Werks Custom sinks

Soapstone Werks

Soapstone Werks makes custom soapstone sinks that look beautiful in every home.

Rolling Hills - Kitchen

Luxe Remodel

Materials Countertop: Soapstone Range Hood: Marble Cabinets: Vertical Grain White Oak Appliances Range: Wolf Dishwasher: Miele Fridge: Subzero Water dispenser: Zip Water

Rolling Hills - Kitchen

Luxe Remodel

Materials Countertop: Soapstone Range Hood: Marble Cabinets: Vertical Grain White Oak Appliances Range: Wolf Dishwasher: Miele Fridge: Subzero Water dispenser: Zip Water

Mountain Eclectic

Colossus Mfg.

Rustic industrial kitchen with textured dark wood cabinetry, black countertops and backsplash, an iron wrapped hood, and milk globe sconces lead into the dining room that boasts a table for 8, wrapped beams, oversized wall tapestry, and an Anders pendant.

Casey Key Coastal

Perrone Construction Custom Homes

Designer’s Own Kitchen – Lower Manhattan

Bilotta Kitchen & Home

This kitchen was designed by Bilotta senior designer, Randy O’Kane, CKD with (and for) interior designer Blair Harris. The apartment is located in a turn-of-the-20th-century Manhattan brownstone and the kitchen (which was originally at the back of the apartment) was relocated to the front in order to gain more light in the heart of the home. Blair really wanted the cabinets to be a dark blue color and opted for Farrow & Ball’s “Railings”. In order to make sure the space wasn’t too dark, Randy suggested open shelves in natural walnut vs. traditional wall cabinets along the back wall. She complemented this with white crackled ceramic tiles and strips of LED lights hidden under the shelves, illuminating the space even more. The cabinets are Bilotta’s private label line, the Bilotta Collection, in a 1” thick, Shaker-style door with walnut interiors. The flooring is oak in a herringbone pattern and the countertops are Vermont soapstone. The apron-style sink is also made of soapstone and is integrated with the countertop. Blair opted for the trending unlacquered brass hardware from Rejuvenation’s “Massey” collection which beautifully accents the blue cabinetry and is then repeated on both the “Chagny” Lacanche range and the bridge-style Waterworks faucet. The space was designed in such a way as to use the island to separate the primary cooking space from the living and dining areas. The island could be used for enjoying a less formal meal or as a plating area to pass food into the dining area.

Spring Mill Renovation

Jarrett Design

This beautiful, cozy farmette, set in idyllic surroundings, has served its family quite well, with one exception – the kitchen. The homeowners came to us looking to improve the functionality of the small, but very charming kitchen space that serves as the gathering area for their friends and family. While modernizing was important, they wanted the updates to reflect the style of the home. Incorporating reproduction antique-style tiger maple with warm white cabinetry, soapstone tops and sink, the result speaks for itself. The period sconces, lighting, faucet and hardware, are the finishing touches in this hard-working kitchen. Matt Villano Photography

Fishtown Row

Wyant Architecture

A rich palette of color and natural materials adds warmth and visual drama to the new kitchen.

Beautiful + Functional Family Kitchen

User

Built in walnut coffee station sits behind a pocket door. Pull out walnut tray makes it easy to access the coffee maker and a drawer below holds all the supplies. Photography by Eric Roth

Eclectic Modern Wash Park Home

Meg Miller Art/Design

modern eclectic kitchen with built-in banquet and bistro tables flanked by pantry and storage cabinets

Scandinavian Black and White Kitchen

Woodhaven Renovations

For this black and white Scandinavian style kitchen we wanted to make a bold statement by using matte black for majority of the kitchen cabinets. The large 42" wide range hood was custom designed and crafted by us and lacquered the same colour as the upper cabinets. The 6x8 subway tile and pure white quartz create the horizon. We decided on black soapstone countertop for the island for a more subtle but amazing feature. The natural oak floor brings in the warmth and to finish it off we used these large dome pendants for the wow factor and bronze hardware to give it some bling.

Architechtural Slide Show

Francois & Co

Capri

Black Kitchen with Soapstone Benchtops 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!