What to do with the blank side of a refrigerator housing? Add a shallow, tall cabinet instead! Look how many spices you can organize in such a space. Roger Turk, Northlight Photography

a symphony of parts - the kitchen

Bud Dietrich, AIA

The island is used to separate the kitchen into a traffic lane to get to the breakfast room and patio and a working area with the sink and cooktop. Published in Womans Day magazine, this home was also an Association of Licensed Architects national design award winner. Photography by Mike kaskel.

Purple Passion

Rhonda Knoche Design

Cabin 40 Images

Artful Makeover

Wright Street Design Group Inc.

Photos by Fred Golden

The Old School House

Kate Buckingham Photography

Everything in its Place - Grosse Pointe Woods

Woodmaster Kitchens

This kitchen design in Grosse Pointe Woods maximizes the space with customized storage and accessories. The Medallion cabinetry in a warm wood tone beautifully complements the granite countertop and green backsplash. Inside the kitchen cabinets is a treasure trove of customized accessories like a shallow base spice cabinet next to the range, a base tray divider next to the dishwasher, a Hafele Fineline cutlery divider, and a pantry cabinet. A built in table next to the refrigerator matches the countertop material and provides a handy eating area in the kitchen.

Karen Kitchen

KZ Design, LLC

This 9′ x 13′ kitchen makes the most of every inch. The space functions as a showroom in addition to frequently entertaining 15 or more as well as workspace for a active cook. The smallest unit of Longhouse Cooperative (built in 1975) had its major do-over in 2011.

Sand Dollar Beach

User

A wall oven is set slightly higher than the adjacent counter for ease of use. A special roll out countertop allows the coffee maker to be filled with water and slide back underneath the microwave. A collection of Native American baskets and old spice tins occupy the vaulted space above the upper cabinets. Micheal Stadler

Kristie Lane

Structural Dimensions, Inc.

Complete overhaul inside & out of this 80's two story home. Updated for today's family needs.

Beaverton Kitchen

Julia Williams, ASID

An end panel hides a handy place to hang keys and other items to reduce clutter...

A New Kitchen- Moving on from the Turquoise Wall Ovens (Rye Brook, NY)

DesignSmith Interiors

Blue and White kitchen with custom glass backsplash

Reclaimed Timber & Elegant Brass

Sheffield Sustainable Kitchens

We designed this cosy grey family kitchen with reclaimed timber and elegant brass finishes, to work better with our clients’ style of living. We created this new space by knocking down an internal wall, to greatly improve the flow between the two rooms. Our clients came to us with the vision of creating a better functioning kitchen with more storage for their growing family. We were challenged to design a more cost-effective space after the clients received some architectural plans which they thought were unnecessary. Storage and open space were at the forefront of this design. Previously, this space was two rooms, separated by a wall. We knocked through to open up the kitchen and create a more communal family living area. Additionally, we knocked through into the area under the stairs to make room for an integrated fridge freezer. The kitchen features reclaimed iroko timber throughout. The wood is reclaimed from old school lab benches, with the graffiti sanded away to reveal the beautiful grain underneath. It’s exciting when a kitchen has a story to tell. This unique timber unites the two zones, and is seen in the worktops, homework desk and shelving. Our clients had two growing children and wanted a space for them to sit and do their homework. As a result of the lack of space in the previous room, we designed a homework bench to fit between two bespoke units. Due to lockdown, the clients children had spent most of the year in the dining room completing their school work. They lacked space and had limited storage for the children’s belongings. By creating a homework bench, we gave the family back their dining area, and the units on either side are valuable storage space. Additionally, the clients are now able to help their children with their work whilst cooking at the same time. This is a hugely important benefit of this multi-functional space. The beautiful tiled splashback is the focal point of the kitchen. The combination of the teal and vibrant yellow into the muted colour palette brightens the room and ties together all of the brass accessories. Golden tones combined with the dark timber give the kitchen a cosy ambiance, creating a relaxing family space. The end result is a beautiful new family kitchen-diner. The transformation made by knocking through has been enormous, with the reclaimed timber and elegant brass elements the stars of the kitchen. We hope that it will provide the family with a warm and homely space for many years to come.

Eclectic Studio Apartment - Nantucket Golden, Solid, Red Oak Hardwood

Impressions Flooring Collection

Priest Lake 2

Sayler | Owens | Kerr design studio

The kitchen and great room overlooking Priest Lake. Sandpoint Photo

West Coast Fusion

The Sky is the Limit Design

Jo-Ann Richards, Works Photography

Eclectic Kitchen Backsplash and Floor

Rooms with a View

Baumgart Creative Media

Heatherwood

RMS Architecture

Robert M. Seel, AIA

Timber Frame Jawbone Cabin Interior

MoreSun Timber Frames

A spot to curl up with a good book under the stairs lets you remain part of what's going on in the rest of the open space.

Lindell

Starline Cabinets

Photography done by Kristy Klaassen

Hall Field Home

Goefft Design

Eclectic 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 Eclectic 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!