We are in New York City, in a wonderful vintage apartment in the luxury Upper East Side district, overlooking Central Park. New York designer Julie Hillman, in collaboration with Peter Pennoyer Architects, designed a kitchen with professional performance that was perfectly integrated with the home’s eclectic furnishing full of precious vintage details. In this elegant project, Officine Gullo created the kitchen and its furnishings by applying custom solutions that allowed the designers to meet the needs and wishes of the client. In fact, the kitchen was designed to be experienced in everyday life, as Julie Hillman tells us: “We wanted a space that could act as a kitchen but could visually appear as a room. The challenge was to separate the professional kitchen from the family space, but at the same time make it practical and in tune with the rest of the environment.” In the environment thus designed, the cooking area plays a prominent role, and Officine Gullo’s OG Professional stove is the protagonist. It is a professional high-tech cooking unit extremely functional and extremely versatile, offering multiple cooking methods thanks to its large dimensions that allow the preparation of dishes even for several guests. The two ovens available, one static and one ventilated, allow simultaneous cooking, while the hob is equipped with maxi burners and a ribbed frytop. A custom-made hood, with metal frame, glass panels and LED lights, was manufactured by Officine Gullo and installed above the cooking area. Custom wall cabinets and under-top drawers complete the furnishings with matching design. The large window illuminates the sink with marble top, hosting also the dishwasher. The central island is dedicated to washing as well. Made of wood and marble, in addition to the integrated sink, it features drawers, some of which are refrigerated. Julie commented on the choice of materials and finishes, saying: “I love unusual combinations of different materials, so we chose Jet Black (RAL 9005) for the kitchen and the special finish in dark burnished brass for the frames for their industrial look, and a natural polished oak colour, matching the same hue of the parquet, for the wooden sections.” ABOUT JULIE HILLMAN Julie Hillman’s approach to designing residential spaces focuses on a thoughtful curation of collectible items that speak to both the client’s unique interests and her eclectic aesthetic. She cultivates a creative dialogue between the architects, artisans, and craftsmen to ensure that each home tells its own story. She believes there should be harmony in every room in a home, and the best way to achieve this is to create a subtle yet unexpected mix of decorative and functional arts. She feels that every item in a room should be in conversation with one another while maintaining its own significance. Julie’s goal is to help each home possess a distinctive, timeless, and unique style that is not based on any specific criteria, but on the collaborative vision of designer and client.

Kitchen Refresh

Lisa & Leroy

The layout and bones of this kitchen worked great for the family. But the dark wood tones and boring black backsplash were in dire need of a refresh. We replaced the cabinet doors and painted white along with a fresh new backsplash, counters and fixtures.

Saint-Martin

COSTAUD RÉNOVATION

Kitchen by Karen Korn Interiors

User

A vibrant, fun, and family-friendly kitchen designed by Karen Korn Interiors. Photography by Karen Palmer.

Dallas | Lakewood | Kitchen (Revive)

Kitchen Design Concepts

Yes, you read the title right. Small updates DO make a BIG difference. Whether it’s updating a color, finish, or even the smallest: changing out the hardware, these minor updates together can all make a big difference in the space. For our Flashback Friday Feature, we have a perfect example of how you can make some small updates to revamp the entire space! The best of all, we replaced the door and drawer fronts, and added a small cabinet (removing the soffit, making the cabinets go to the ceiling) making this space seem like it’s been outfitted with a brand new kitchen! If you ask us, that’s a great way of value engineering and getting the best value out of your dollars! To learn more about this project, continue reading below! Cabinets As mentioned above, we removed the existing cabinet door and drawer fronts and replaced them with a more updated shaker style door/drawer fronts supplied by Woodmont. We removed the soffits and added an extra cabinet on the cooktop wall, taking the cabinets to the ceiling. This small update provides additional storage, and gives the space a new look! Countertops Bye-bye laminate, and hello quartz! As our clients were starting to notice the wear-and-tear of their original laminate tops, they knew they wanted something durable and that could last. Well, what better to install than quartz? Providing our clients with something that’s not only easy to maintain, but also modern was exactly what they wanted in their updated kitchen! Backsplash The original backsplash was a plain white 4×4″ tile and left much to be desired. Having lived with this backsplash for years, our clients wanted something more exciting and eye-catching. I can safely say that this small update delivered! We installed an eye-popping glass tile in blues, browns, and whites from Hirsch Glass tile in the Gemstone Collection. Hardware You’d think hardware doesn’t make a huge difference in a space, but it does! It adds not only the feel of good quality but also adds some character to the space. Here we have installed Amerock Blackrock knobs and pulls in Satin Nickel. Other Fixtures To top off the functionality and usability of the space, we installed a new sink and faucet. The sink and faucet is something used every day, so having something of great quality is much appreciated especially when so frequently used. From Kohler, we have an under-mount castiron sink in Palermo Blue. From Blanco, we have a single-hole, and pull-out spray faucet. Flooring Last but not least, we installed cork flooring. The cork provides and soft and cushiony feel and is great on your feet!

Eclectic Starmount Kitchen

User

Manhattan Valley Apartment

Delson or Sherman Architects pc

Catherine Tighe

West Village Townhouse

MK Workshop

Townhouse Kitchen Photo: Courtesy of Selldorf Architects

Sage Circle Photos

Dream Kitchens

Transformation d'un 70m2 acheté sur plan

Alix Bresson Architecture d'intérieur & Design

Rénovation complète d'un appartement

OriginAL intérieurs

Didier HOUGET

Locust Valley

Lindsey Herod Interiors, LLC.

Photo by: Ball & Albanese

California Dreaming - Kitchen

Curate by Tara

Mekenzie France Photography Renovation completed by Carolina Classic Builders, Charlotte NC

My Houzz: Relaxed, Classic and Collected in New Jersey

Rikki Snyder

5 Storey Period House Renovation - East London

Lomax & Chi

Large airy open plan kitchen, flooded with natural light opening onto the garden. Hand made timber units, with feature copper lights, antique timber floor and window seat.

Interni ed esterni Casa.-studio in Chianti

Gérard Gazia photography

My Houzz: Eclectic, Kid-Friendly Home for a Creative Couple

Caroline Sharpnack

Living Small

Rick & Cindy Black Architects

shiplap walls Benjamin Moore 'Bavarian Cream' Dunn Edwards 'Hay Day' reclaimed pine shelves on steel brackets John Boos maple butcher block Access lighting custom cabinetry

Alpine, Utah Residence

Magleby Remodel

Meagan Larsen Photography

Mediterranean Chateau - Hand carved cabinet base

Tuck-Bernstein Design, LLC

Eclectic White 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!