Westchester HOME Magazine’s Winter 2020 Cover Kitchen!

Written by Mary Kate Hogan for Westchester Home Magazine. "The Goal: The family that cooks together has the most fun — especially when their kitchen is equipped with four ovens and tons of workspace. After a first-floor renovation of a home for a couple with four grown children, the new kitchen features high-tech appliances purchased through Royal Green and a custom island with a connected table to seat family, friends, and cooking spectators. An old dining room was eliminated, and the whole area was transformed into one open, L-shaped space with a bar and family room. “They wanted to expand the kitchen and have more of an entertaining room for their family gatherings,” says designer Danielle Florie. She designed the kitchen so that two or three people can work at the same time, with a full sink in the island that’s big enough for cleaning vegetables or washing pots and pans. Key Features: Well-Stocked Bar: The bar area adjacent to the kitchen doubles as a coffee center. Topped with a leathered brown marble, the bar houses the coffee maker as well as a wine refrigerator, beverage fridge, and built-in ice maker. Upholstered swivel chairs encourage people to gather and stay awhile. Finishing Touches: Counters around the kitchen and the island are covered with a Cambria quartz that has the light, airy look the homeowners wanted and resists stains and scratches. A geometric marble tile backsplash is an eye-catching decorative element. Into the Wood: The larger table in the kitchen was handmade for the family and matches the island base. On the floor, wood planks with a warm gray tone run diagonally for added interest." Bilotta Designer: Danielle Florie Photographer: Phillip Ennis

Gathering Place

Julie Graf, One of a Kind Design

Close up on kitchen floating shelves.

Nellysford

Arterra Design & Construction

Euro style

Serrano Luxury

Nar Design Group

In this luxurious Serrano home, a mixture of matte glass and glossy laminate cabinetry plays off the industrial metal frames suspended from the dramatically tall ceilings. Custom frameless glass encloses a wine room, complete with flooring made from wine barrels. Continuing the theme, the back kitchen expands the function of the kitchen including a wine station by Dacor. In the powder bathroom, the lipstick red cabinet floats within this rustic Hollywood glam inspired space. Wood floor material was designed to go up the wall for an emphasis on height. The upstairs bar/lounge is the perfect spot to hang out and watch the game. Or take a look out on the Serrano golf course. A custom steel raised bar is finished with Dekton trillium countertops for durability and industrial flair. The same lipstick red from the bathroom is brought into the bar space adding a dynamic spice to the space, and tying the two spaces together.

Elegant Contemporary Kitchen

The Kitchen Company

This custom contemporary kitchen designed by Gail Bolling pairs cool gray cabinetry with a crisp white waterfall countertop while the backsplash adds just a touch of shine. It is a national award-winning design.

Apartment Kitchen, The Waves - Dubai

Innerspace ME - Hacker Kitchens, Hulsta, Rolf Benz

South Colorado Blvd - Rustic Transitional

BKC Kitchen and Bath

Photography: RockinMedia. This gorgeous new-build in Cherry Hills Village has a spacious floor plan with a warm mix of rustic and transitional style, a perfect complement to its Colorado backdrop. Kitchen cabinets: Crystal Cabinets, Tahoe door style, Sunwashed Grey stain with VanDyke Brown highlight on quarter-sawn oak. Cabinet design by Caitrin McIlvain, BKC Kitchen and Bath, in partnership with ReConstruct. Inc.

Military Rd New House

emcee design

home visit

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".

Rustic Alder Kitchen

Mid Continent Cabinetry

Rustic Alder Gilbert door Style by Mid Continent Cabinetry finished with a Natural stain with Chocolate Glaze.

Taj Mahal Quartzite in a Contemporary Kitchen

Granite Grannies

Taj Mahal Quartzite with a clean eased edge in a luxurious modern Annapolis, Maryland home. Quartzite is a 100% natural, quarried stone that looks like marble, but is durable and scratch resistant like granite. Taj Mahal Quartzite is one of the hardest natural countertop stones on the market.

Gothic Kitchen Remodel in Hyde Park

Neal's Design Remodel

White on maple beaded inset cabinets with Pewter Antique finish hardware. Neals Design Remodel Robin Victor Goetz

2015 Parade of Homes - Peoples Choice Award Winning Home

Designs by Craig Veenker

Poured Concrete Countertop

Showcase Kitchens

Tim Cree/Creepwalk Media Extra chunky island posts add drama to this black painted sand-through distressed-finished center island. Countertop is not wood - - it’s poured concrete by JM Lifestyles!! A Sub Zero wine cooler for the grownups is adjacent to a Sub Zero beverage center for the young’uns. Floor is wood-look 8” Italian porcelain, which includes radiant heat.

Burraneer Project

Dan Kitchens Australia

Elegant, modern kitchen in an breathtakingly imaginative modern home. As with the building, there are many forms, materials, textures and colours at play in this kitchen. Photos: Paul Worsley @ Live By The Sea

Brookview Place

Webber Development & Construction

McGinnis Leathers

Mediterranean Kitchen

The Canyons, Home 401

Kevin B Howard Architects, AIA

William Lesch Photography

Expansive L-shaped 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 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!