Photo: Doug Edmonds

There are a lot of different kitchen configurations out there these days. Sometimes going back to the basic "L" shape is still the best layout option. It makes for one very functional kitchen. Photo Credit: Mike Irby

Rathgar

Ambient Architecture

Barbara Eagan

Clean Contemporary Kitchen with Over-the-Top Function

Allen's Fine Woodworking, Inc.

This kitchen is a prime example of beautifully designed functionality. From the spacious maple butcher block island & eating bar to the roll-up pass through window for outdoor entertaining, the space can handle whatever situation the owners throw at it. The Espresso stain on these Medallion cabinets of Cherry wood really anchors the whimsy of the yellow bar stools and the ginger-tone checkerboard Marmoleum floor. Cabinets designed and installed by Allen's Fine Woodworking Cabinetry and Design, Hood River, OR. Photos by Zach Luellen Photography LLC

KÜCHE BERLIN PRENZLAUER BERG

THE INNER HOUSE

Eine kleine Küche, die nach der kompletten Überarbeitung optimal genutzt wird: Hier wurde nicht nur der Hobbykoch durch eine größere Arbeitsfläche glücklich gemacht. Es entstand zudem deutlich mehr Stauraum. Darüber hinaus wurde am Ende des Raums ein gemütlicher Sitzplatz mit Blick in eine alte Kastanie eingerichtet. INTERIOR DESIGN & STYLING: THE INNER HOUSE TISCHLERARBEITEN: Jenny Orgis, https://salon.io/jenny-orgis FOTOS: © THE INNER HOUSE, Fotograf: Manuel Strunz, www.manuu.eu

Refreshingly Refined

O'Hanlon Kitchens, Inc.

Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Reed in York, PA needed to find a way to add functional space in their kitchen. They had a limited amount of space in their previous kitchen with no room to expand. They also need to stay within their budget. Owner/designer Brandon O'Hanlon designed a way to maximize storage and countertop space and give the Reed's extra space for an eat in option with the addition of a peninsula across their existing pass through. Now, family and friends can join the chef and they have plenty of prep and storage space! Cabinetry is Armstrong/Echelon Berkshire door style in Maple with Toffee stain. Countertop is Uba Tuba granite. A glass tile mosiac backsplash finishes off the space.

shenton park

ecocabinets

a kitchen made from Osmo sealed paperock, featuring highest quality Blum hardware and clever storage solutions. Two Ovens, commercial tap, induction cooking with Smeg exhaust. Note how the tap and much of the bench top can be "tidied" away behind rollershutter doors. Natural Linoleum (not vinyl) flooring which is coved up the walls (not clear from pictures) to allow for easy cleaning, inspired by hospital style approach. stellar vision and rob dose photography

Kitchen-diner Blues

Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens

This lovely kitchen-diner and utility started life as a collection of much smaller rooms. Our clients wanted to create a large and airy kitchen-dining room across the rear of the house. They were keen for it to make better use of the space and take advantage of the aspect to the garden. We knocked the various rooms through to create one much larger kitchen space with a flow through utility area adjoining it. The Kitchen Ingredients Bespoke designed, the kitchen-diner combines a number of sustainable elements. Not only solid and built to last, the design is highly functional as well. The kitchen cabinet bases are made from high-recycled content MFC, these cabinets are super sustainable. They are glued and dowelled, and then set rigidly square in a press. Starting off square, in a pres, they stay square – the perfect foundation for a solid kitchen. Guaranteed for 15 years, but we expect the cabinets to last much longer. Exactly what you want when you’re investing in a new kitchen. The longer a kitchen lasts, the more sustainable it is. Painted in a soft light grey, the timber doors are easy on the eye. The solid oak open shelves above the sink match those at the end of the peninsula. They also tie in with the smaller unit's worktop and upstand in the dining area. The timber shelves conceal flush under-mounted energy-saving LED lights to light the sink area below. All hinges and drawer runners are solid and come with a lifetime guarantee from Blum. Mixing heirlooms with the contemporary The new kitchen design works much better as a social space, allowing cooking, food prep and dining in one characterful room. Our client was keen to mix a modern and contemporary style with their more traditional family heirlooms, such as the dining table and chairs. Also key was incorporating high-end technology and gadgets, including a pop-up socket in the Quartz IQ worktop peninsula. Now, the room boasts underfloor heating, two fantastic single ovens, induction hob and under counter wine fridge. The original kitchen was much, much smaller. The footprint of the new space covers the space of the old kitchen, a living room, WC and utility room. The images below show the development in progress. By relocating the WC to just outside the kitchen and using RSJs to open up the space, the entire room benefits from the flow of natural light through the patio doors.

West End Avenue Apartment

Emily Kandel Design

Susan Fisher Photography This compact Kitchen was opened up to the Living Area to lighten and brighten the apartment. The IKEA cabinets allow for an enormous amount of storage and the porcelain counter tops are low maintenance.

Blue color Marmoleum flooring

Chris Haltom Floors Inc.

Juan Jose for Chris Haltom Floors

Dramatic, Modern Pendants over this Soapstone Island

Kitchen & Bath Design + Construction

“Green” features such as water-saving faucets and LED lighting are heavy hitters as new regulations to the kitchen and bath industry continue to influence product lines and features. This “Greening” of the home also dominates how consumers cook, with induction cooktops, gas cooktops and convection ovens being used more and more, while electric cooktops or ranges are losing ground. Microwave drawers are replacing free-standing microwaves, and energy saving appliances are being requested for today’s kitchens. Photo by Chrissy Racho

Small Kitchen make over

RJ Austin Interior Design

Meredith Gilardoni Photography

PALMER AVE

Cheka Pedescleaux

Contemporary Custom Home

nead architecture + design

Fruit Box

nimtim Architects

Open Plan Kitchen Living Room Design

Ivywell Interiors | Bristol

The house was built c. 1860s and had been renovated approx. 20yrs ago and was now in need of a total update. The style is contemporary with neutral but inviting colours throughout to provide a welcoming feel. We chose a muted colour palette throughout to create a calm and welcoming feel with the addition of chrome and glass for a contemporary touch.

Cuisine contemporaine

Olivia de Revel // 02R architecte d'intérieur

Bamboo Kitchen

Jim Farris Cabinets

Bamboo is a rapidly renewal material and is a popular choice for flooring and cabinetry. Bamboo is not a hardwood or softwood but a grass and one of the fastest growing plants in the world. It can grow to a height of near 100 feet.

Contemporary Kitchen with Linoleum 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 Contemporary 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!