Design Excellence Award Winners - A Sampling of 20 Years of Professional Honors

CHALLENGE: -Owners want easy to maintain (white) kitchen -Must also serve as a workspace & accommodate three laptops & separate personal files -Existing kitchen has odd, angled wall of cabinets due to configuration of stairs in foyer SOLUTION: -Expand space by removing wall between kitchen & dining room -Relocate dining room into (rarely used) study -Remove columns between kitchen & new dining -Enlarge walk-in pantry by squaring off angles in stair wall -Make pantry entry a camouflaged, surprising feature by creating doors out of cabinetry -Add natural illumination with 6’ picture window -Make ceiling one plane -Add calculated runways of recessed LED lights on dimmers -Lighting leads to dynamic marble back splash behind range on back wall -New double islands & ceiling-high cabinetry quadruple previous counter & storage space -9’ island with seating includes three workstations -Seating island offers under counter electronics charging ports & three shelves of storage per workstation in cabinets directly in front of stools -Behind stools, lower cabinetry provides one drawer & two pull-out shelves per workstation -7’ prep island services 48” paneled refrigerator & 48” gas range & includes 2nd sink, 2nd dishwasher & 2nd trash/recycling station -Wine/beverage chiller located opposite island sink -Both sink spigots are touch-less & are fed by whole-house water filtration system -Independent non-leaching faucet delivers purified, double-pass reverse osmosis drinking water -Exhaust fan for gas range is hidden inside bridge of upper cabinets -Flat, easy-to-clean, custom, stainless-steel plate frames exhaust fan -New built-in window seat in bay window increases seating for informal dining while reducing floor space needed for table and chairs -New configuration allows unobstructed windows & French doors to flood space with natural light & enhances views -Open the screened porch doors to circulate fresh air throughout the home

Island with seating

Kettle Co. Kitchens

A seated area in any Island is perfect for entertaining while preparing that special meal.

Custom Home

Samaan Design Group

Eclectic Sophistication

Bilotta Kitchen & Home

For this expansive kitchen renovation, Designer, Randy O’Kane of Bilotta Kitchens worked with interior designer Gina Eastman and architect Clark Neuringer. The backyard was the client’s favorite space, with a pool and beautiful landscaping; from where it’s situated it’s the sunniest part of the house. They wanted to be able to enjoy the view and natural light all year long, so the space was opened up and a wall of windows was added. Randy laid out the kitchen to complement their desired view. She selected colors and materials that were fresh, natural, and unique – a soft greenish-grey with a contrasting deep purple, Benjamin Moore’s Caponata for the Bilotta Collection Cabinetry and LG Viatera Minuet for the countertops. Gina coordinated all fabrics and finishes to complement the palette in the kitchen. The most unique feature is the table off the island. Custom-made by Brooks Custom, the top is a burled wood slice from a large tree with a natural stain and live edge; the base is hand-made from real tree limbs. They wanted it to remain completely natural, with the look and feel of the tree, so they didn’t add any sort of sealant. The client also wanted touches of antique gold which the team integrated into the Armac Martin hardware, Rangecraft hood detailing, the Ann Sacks backsplash, and in the Bendheim glass inserts in the butler’s pantry which is glass with glittery gold fabric sandwiched in between. The appliances are a mix of Subzero, Wolf and Miele. The faucet and pot filler are from Waterstone. The sinks are Franke. With the kitchen and living room essentially one large open space, Randy and Gina worked together to continue the palette throughout, from the color of the cabinets, to the banquette pillows, to the fireplace stone. The family room’s old built-in around the fireplace was removed and the floor-to-ceiling stone enclosure was added with a gas fireplace and flat screen TV, flanked by contemporary artwork. Designer: Bilotta’s Randy O’Kane with Gina Eastman of Gina Eastman Design & Clark Neuringer, Architect posthumously Photo Credit: Phillip Ennis

Modern Craftsman

Roland Builder, Inc.

Alan Wycheck Photography

Geneva Transitional Home with Farmhouse Kitchen

Havlicek Builders Inc.

Double island kitchen with 2 sinks, custom cabinetry and hood. Brass light fixtures. Transitional/farmhouse kitchen.

Farmhouse Kitchen Reveries

Geneva Cabinet Company, LLC

Geneva Cabinet Company, LLC., Lake Geneva, WI Plato Woodwork, Inc., Open kitchen concept with oversized island and casual dining area. Diamond White finish, glass door display cabinets to each side of Scathain hood. Recessed television, serving buffet area, recessed television,

Fabulous Gourmet Kitchen

Tegethoff Homes

Anne Matheis

Canterbury Road Kitchen , Windham

Granite State Cabinetry

Olmos Park remodel

Paper Moon Painting

Remodeled kitchen in San Antonio's Olmos Park, painted by Paper Moon Painting. Cabinets in Sherwin Williams' "Amazing Grey", walls and ceiling in SW "Pearly White".

Orono Artisan 2016 Tour Home

Gordon James Construction

High-end appliances and a huge walk-in pantry make this kitchen a dream for everyday cooking and entertaining Landmark Photography

Greater Seattle Area | La Belle Maison Kitchen

JayMarc Homes

Past the great room, the generously sized kitchen awaits, equipped with a number of amenities sure to tantalize the modern chef, including a wide 48-inch range and hood! HD Estates

Port Credit Lakefront Town Home

Toronto Interior Design Group

Gillian Jackson

An Exercise in Classism

Signature Kitchens

Clyde Hill Modern Farm House

Heiser Media

Traditional kitchen with coffered ceiling. A large dark stained island contrasts with white cabinets.

Divine Kitchens LLC

Divine Design Center

Expansive Traditional in Scarsdale

Bilotta Kitchen & Home

For this project, the entire kitchen was designed around the “must-have” Lacanche range in the stunning French Blue with brass trim. That was the client’s dream and everything had to be built to complement it. Bilotta senior designer, Randy O’Kane, CKD worked with Paul Benowitz and Dipti Shah of Benowitz Shah Architects to contemporize the kitchen while staying true to the original house which was designed in 1928 by regionally noted architect Franklin P. Hammond. The clients purchased the home over two years ago from the original owner. While the house has a magnificent architectural presence from the street, the basic systems, appointments, and most importantly, the layout and flow were inappropriately suited to contemporary living. The new plan removed an outdated screened porch at the rear which was replaced with the new family room and moved the kitchen from a dark corner in the front of the house to the center. The visual connection from the kitchen through the family room is dramatic and gives direct access to the rear yard and patio. It was important that the island separating the kitchen from the family room have ample space to the left and right to facilitate traffic patterns, and interaction among family members. Hence vertical kitchen elements were placed primarily on existing interior walls. The cabinetry used was Bilotta’s private label, the Bilotta Collection – they selected beautiful, dramatic, yet subdued finishes for the meticulously handcrafted cabinetry. The double islands allow for the busy family to have a space for everything – the island closer to the range has seating and makes a perfect space for doing homework or crafts, or having breakfast or snacks. The second island has ample space for storage and books and acts as a staging area from the kitchen to the dinner table. The kitchen perimeter and both islands are painted in Benjamin Moore’s Paper White. The wall cabinets flanking the sink have wire mesh fronts in a statuary bronze – the insides of these cabinets are painted blue to match the range. The breakfast room cabinetry is Benjamin Moore’s Lampblack with the interiors of the glass cabinets painted in Paper White to match the kitchen. All countertops are Vermont White Quartzite from Eastern Stone. The backsplash is Artistic Tile’s Kyoto White and Kyoto Steel. The fireclay apron-front main sink is from Rohl while the smaller prep sink is from Linkasink. All faucets are from Waterstone in their antique pewter finish. The brass hardware is from Armac Martin and the pendants above the center island are from Circa Lighting. The appliances, aside from the range, are a mix of Sub-Zero, Thermador and Bosch with panels on everything.

Modern Kitchens

Colorado Homes & Design

Expansive Kitchen with Dark Hardwood 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 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!