Photos by Project Focus Photography

In our world of kitchen design, it’s lovely to see all the varieties of styles come to life. From traditional to modern, and everything in between, we love to design a broad spectrum. Here, we present a two-tone modern kitchen that has used materials in a fresh and eye-catching way. With a mix of finishes, it blends perfectly together to create a space that flows and is the pulsating heart of the home. With the main cooking island and gorgeous prep wall, the cook has plenty of space to work. The second island is perfect for seating – the three materials interacting seamlessly, we have the main white material covering the cabinets, a short grey table for the kids, and a taller walnut top for adults to sit and stand while sipping some wine! I mean, who wouldn’t want to spend time in this kitchen?! Cabinetry With a tuxedo trend look, we used Cabico Elmwood New Haven door style, walnut vertical grain in a natural matte finish. The white cabinets over the sink are the Ventura MDF door in a White Diamond Gloss finish. Countertops The white counters on the perimeter and on both islands are from Caesarstone in a Frosty Carrina finish, and the added bar on the second countertop is a custom walnut top (made by the homeowner!) with a shorter seated table made from Caesarstone’s Raw Concrete. Backsplash The stone is from Marble Systems from the Mod Glam Collection, Blocks – Glacier honed, in Snow White polished finish, and added Brass. Fixtures A Blanco Precis Silgranit Cascade Super Single Bowl Kitchen Sink in White works perfect with the counters. A Waterstone transitional pulldown faucet in New Bronze is complemented by matching water dispenser, soap dispenser, and air switch. The cabinet hardware is from Emtek – their Trinity pulls in brass. Appliances The cooktop, oven, steam oven and dishwasher are all from Miele. The dishwashers are paneled with cabinetry material (left/right of the sink) and integrate seamlessly Refrigerator and Freezer columns are from SubZero and we kept the stainless look to break up the walnut some. The microwave is a counter sitting Panasonic with a custom wood trim (made by Cabico) and the vent hood is from Zephyr.

Traditional Estate Home

David Charlez Designs

An expansive prep kitchen does the heavy lifting and storage for the main kitchen. It features ample storage with cabinetry and counter space on three walls plus a prep sink. A cabinet front refrigerator is neatly hidden. Photo by Spacecrafting

G.A. White Homes - Warnock

Mauk Cabinets by Design

We are excited to share with you the finished photos of a lakehouse we were able to work alongside G.A. White Homes. This home primarily uses a subtle and neutral pallete with a lot of texture to keep the space visually interesting. This kitchen uses pops of navy on the perimeter cabinets, brass hardware, and floating shelves to give it a modern eclectic feel.

Luxury New Construction

AFFORDABLE KITCHENS & BATHS

Gorgeous, simple, clean coffee bar with white shaker cabinets, beige subway tile, beautiful granite, and tall cabinets with glass front accents.

Modern English Farmhouse | Hillsboro, Oregon

Westlake Development Group, LLC

Justin Krug Photography

West End 2018 Parade Home

Homes of Distinction, Inc.

When Three Become One

Square Footage Inc.

Photos by Valerie Wilcox

Herringbone Brick Ceiling

Fratantoni Design / Residential Architects

Incorporating architectural design elements such as this herringbone ceiling, custom hood and range, wood floor, and custom backsplash create the perfect kitchen.

Kitchen Island

Fratantoni Interior Designers

French Villa kitchen features a custom-built island with intricate designs on the ledge and excellent craftsmanship. Two steel pendants suspend from the arched ceiling for added lighting. The kitchen is in a U-shape featuring white cabinets and marble countertops with a stainless steel gas-burning stove and steel range hood.

New Country

Signature Interior Designs

Monterosa

Two Hawks Design and Development

Luxury Penthouse

User

The hand-made Clive Christian kitchen with a 200 year old British Antique glaze is not only a functional workplace boasting the best in modern appliances, but also a perfect accompaniment to the ultimate luxury lifestyle.

French Colonial Kitchen & Bath

Britany Hanthorn with MBS Interiors

This homeowner inspired of a French Colonial kitchen & master bath in his expansive new addition. We were able to incorporate his favorite design elements while staying within budget for a truly breathtaking finished product! The kitchen was designed using Starmark Cabinetry's Huntingford Maple door style finished in a tinted varnish color called Macadamia. The hardware used is from Berenson's Opus Collection in Rubbed Bronze.

Expansive Traditional Kitchen

Bilotta Kitchen & Home

Designed by Bilotta’s Fabrice Garson, this expansive traditional kitchen features our private Bilotta Collection Cabinetry in white paint with double stacked wall cabinets leading up to the coffered ceiling. The massive island houses multiple appliances, including a warming drawer, microwave and dishwasher next to the main sink, as well as large drawers for ample storage. Island seating allows for less formal dining or a place for the children to do their homework while mom prepares dinner. Two wall ovens flanking the 48” Wolf range top create a perfect cooking “nook” and the side-by-side fully integrated 36” Sub-Zero refrigerator and freezer allow for plenty of food storage. On either side of the refrigeration are two tall pull-out pantries concealing snacks, spices, baking supplies and more. Every drawer in the space has its individual purpose, whether it be to house cutlery or fine china. The coffered ceiling, a trademark of many of Fabrice’s designs, really open up the space and intertwine it with the adjacent rooms for an overall open feeling – very bright and inviting. The wall on the other side of the island from the cooking wall features a secondary prep sink with a second dishwasher and a under counter beverage center, again, with plenty of storage in both the base and wall cabinets. The backsplash is mostly wood paneling except for the wall behind the range top where there is a custom designed marble mosaic pattern. The countertops are Vermont Super White quartzite with a double ogee edge. Photographer – Peter Krupenye

Nagawicka Lake Home

Hickory Hill Homes

Windows in kitchen overlooking pool and lake.

Bohns Point Residence

Alexander Design Group, Inc.

Spacious Transitional Kitchen with Dark Cabinetry

Lustig Custom Cabinets

Gorgeous decorative hood soars to the tall ceiling allowing a recessed area for display. Portraits by Mandi

Traditional dark cherry kitchen remodel features a huge custom cherry hood

Bay Area Kitchens

Custom cabinetry and Custom Hood Designed by Scott Haig, CKD of Bay Area Kitchens. Custom cabinets are Wood-Mode "Barcelona" door style with our "Esquire" finish on cherry, and feature heavy styling and intricate moldings. Hood was custom built by Wood-Mode, and has a Vent-A-Hood stainless steel liner. Countertops are Crema Bordeaux 3cm Backsplash tile from Architectural Design Resources (ADR) in Houston.

Kitchen

Joseph Farrell Architecture

Interior Design by Hurley Hafen

Expansive U-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!