The old cabinets and small island were replaced with curved dark wood cabinets to anchor the kitchen and frosted glass uppers to lift the mood. Bright teals and soft reds show the new life of this space.

Green Living - Los Gatos Kitchen & Bathroom Remodel

Shannon Demma

Beautiful kitchen remodel that includes bamboo cabinets, recycled glass countertops, recycled glass tile backsplash, and many wonderful amenities for organizing.

Del Ida Seven

Marc Julien Homes

Wilshire Kitchen, Portland (Photo: Matt Niebuhr)

Howells Architecture + Design

Designed for a 1930s Portland, OR home, this kitchen remodel aims for a clean, timeless sensibility without sacrificing the space to generic modernism. Cherry cabinets, Ice Stone countertops and Heath tile add texture and variation in an otherwise sleek, pared down design. A custom built-in bench works well for eat-in breakfasts. Period reproduction lighting, Deco pulls, and a custom formica table root the kitchen to the origins of the home. All photos by Matt Niebuhr. www.mattniebuhr.com

MLB Design Group

Those white countertops are laminate....very simple and affordable. This choice works very well for this owner, and freed up dollars that we invested in the Vetrazzo concrete and recycled glass countertop and the Mercury Mosaic tile materials. This photo shows a simple GE "Spacesaver" microwave fitted into the upper cabinets. This is a great "reheat and defrost" tool which is how most of us use a microwave.

Alpine White island

IceStone

IceStone island and countertops in Alpine White. This product is made in Brooklyn from three simple ingredients: recycled glass, cement, and non-toxic pigment. Photography by Shadowlight Group.

James Island Renovation

GlassEco Surfaces by Fisher Recycling

Manufacturer of custom recycled glass counter tops and landscape glass aggregate. The countertops are individually handcrafted and customized, using 100% recycled glass and diverting tons of glass from our landfills. The epoxy used is Low VOC (volatile organic compounds) and emits no off gassing. The newest product base is a high density, UV protected concrete. We now have indoor and outdoor options. As with the resin, the concrete offer the same creative aspects through glass choices. "Colleen Green" contributed her own Grolsch bottles. We added Bombay Sapphire gin bottles and oysters and other green wine bottles.

Swampscott Waterfront

APEX Carpentry LLC

A beautiful match of the glass backsplash with a Quartzite natural stone countertop, made from sandstone, for the chef in the kitchen.

2012 HGTV Green Home

J Steven Kemp Architect

Michael's House

Kerf Design

A Saarinen dining set sits below a custom TV surround. The cabinet is designed to hold liquor bottles and glassware.

Kitchen Installs

Vetrazzo

The coastal theme of this Vero Beach, FL kitchen design makes use of the recycled architectural glass, oyster shells and white marble chips in the Vetrazzo Emerald Coast countertops, skillfully fabricated and installed by Abbate Tile & Marble. A cool green glass backsplash plays off the countertops as well for a perfect beachy decor. Photo Credit: Abbate Tile & Marble

Creative colorful kitchen in Monterey

WoodMaster

A mixture of maple, alder, mahogany and metal cabinets. All clear lacquer finish.

Green Living - Los Gatos Kitchen & Bathroom Remodel

Shannon Demma

Beautiful kitchen remodel that includes bamboo cabinets, recycled glass countertops, recycled glass tile backsplash, and many wonderful amenities for organizing.

Miami Kitchen Reno

maracamama

Martha Yunis

Green Goods

Design by Heather Tissue; construction by Green Goods Kitchen remodel featuring carmelized strand woven bamboo plywood, maple plywood and paint grade cabinets, custom bamboo doors, handmade ceramic tile, custom concrete countertops

Chivalry Blue Vetrazzo Countertop

Imagine Surfaces

Chivalry Blue recycled glass countertop by Vetrazzo. A great clean look for a unique kitchen unlike any other!

Groovy '60s Ranch

Howells Architecture + Design

This midcentury-inspired kitchen, breakfast nook, dining + living room revamps a tired old '60s ranch for a family with three kids. A bright backsplash evokes Italian modernism and gives a playful vibe to a family-friendly space. Custom cherry cabinets match the living room built-ins and unify the spaces. An open, easy plan allows for free flow between rooms, and a view of the garden for the cook.

Whitewater lake #2

Ruebl Builders LLC

Rustic Elegant kitchen with Cherry Cabinets, Ice-stone counter tops and Hickory floors with a copper range hood.

Cape Home Addition - Expanding Home and Lifestyle

'g' Green Design Center

Green Home Remodel – Clean and Green on a Budget – with Flair Today many families with young children put health and safety first among their priorities for their homes. Young families are often on a budget as well, and need to save in important areas such as energy costs by creating more efficient homes. In this major kitchen remodel and addition project, environmentally sustainable solutions were on top of the wish list producing a wonderfully remodeled home that is clean and green, coming in on time and on budget. ‘g’ Green Design Center was the first and only stop when the homeowners of this mid-sized Cape-style home were looking for assistance. They had a rough idea of the layout they were hoping to create and came to ‘g’ for design and materials. Nicole Goldman, of ‘g’ did the space planning and kitchen design, and worked with Greg Delory of Greg DeLory Home Design for the exterior architectural design and structural design components. All the finishes were selected with ‘g’ and the homeowners. All are sustainable, non-toxic and in the case of the insulation, extremely energy efficient. Beginning in the kitchen, the separating wall between the old kitchen and hallway was removed, creating a large open living space for the family. The existing oak cabinetry was removed and new, plywood and solid wood cabinetry from Canyon Creek, with no-added urea formaldehyde (NAUF) in the glues or finishes was installed. Existing strand woven bamboo which had been recently installed in the adjacent living room, was extended into the new kitchen space, and the new addition that was designed to hold a new dining room, mudroom, and covered porch entry. The same wood was installed in the master bedroom upstairs, creating consistency throughout the home and bringing a serene look throughout. The kitchen cabinetry is in an Alder wood with a natural finish. The countertops are Eco By Cosentino; A Cradle to Cradle manufactured materials of recycled (75%) glass, with natural stone, quartz, resin and pigments, that is a maintenance-free durable product with inherent anti-bacterial qualities. In the first floor bathroom, all recycled-content tiling was utilized from the shower surround, to the flooring, and the same eco-friendly cabinetry and counter surfaces were installed. The similarity of materials from one room creates a cohesive look to the home, and aided in budgetary and scheduling issues throughout the project. Throughout the project UltraTouch insulation was installed following an initial energy audit that availed the homeowners of about $1,500 in rebate funds to implement energy improvements. Whenever ‘g’ Green Design Center begins a project such as a remodel or addition, the first step is to understand the energy situation in the home and integrate the recommended improvements into the project as a whole. Also used throughout were the AFM Safecoat Zero VOC paints which have no fumes, or off gassing and allowed the family to remain in the home during construction and painting without concern for exposure to fumes. Dan Cutrona Photography

Eat-in Kitchen with Recycled Glass 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!