Download our free ebook, Creating the Ideal Kitchen. DOWNLOAD NOW The homeowner and his wife had lived in this beautiful townhome in Oak Brook overlooking a small lake for over 13 years. The home is open and airy with vaulted ceilings and full of mementos from world adventures through the years, including to Cambodia, home of their much-adored sponsored daughter. The home, full of love and memories was host to a growing extended family of children and grandchildren. This was THE place. When the homeowner’s wife passed away suddenly and unexpectedly, he became determined to create a space that would continue to welcome and host his family and the many wonderful family memories that lay ahead but with an eye towards functionality. We started out by evaluating how the space would be used. Cooking and watching sports were key factors. So, we shuffled the current dining table into a rarely used living room whereby enlarging the kitchen. The kitchen now houses two large islands – one for prep and the other for seating and buffet space. We removed the wall between kitchen and family room to encourage interaction during family gatherings and of course a clear view to the game on TV. We also removed a dropped ceiling in the kitchen, and wow, what a difference. Next, we added some drama with a large arch between kitchen and dining room creating a stunning architectural feature between those two spaces. This arch echoes the shape of the large arch at the front door of the townhome, providing drama and significance to the space. The kitchen itself is large but does not have much wall space, which is a common challenge when removing walls. We added a bit more by resizing the double French doors to a balcony at the side of the house which is now just a single door. This gave more breathing room to the range wall and large stone hood but still provides access and light. We chose a neutral pallet of black, white, and white oak, with punches of blue at the counter stools in the kitchen. The cabinetry features a white shaker door at the perimeter for a crisp outline. Countertops and custom hood are black Caesarstone, and the islands are a soft white oak adding contrast and warmth. Two large built ins between the kitchen and dining room function as pantry space as well as area to display flowers or seasonal decorations. We repeated the blue in the dining room where we added a fresh coat of paint to the existing built ins, along with painted wainscot paneling. Above the wainscot is a neutral grass cloth wallpaper which provides a lovely backdrop for a wall of important mementos and artifacts. The dining room table and chairs were refinished and re-upholstered, and a new rug and window treatments complete the space. The room now feels ready to host more formal gatherings or can function as a quiet spot to enjoy a cup of morning coffee.

Butler's pantry

Interior Design By Jo

Maximised storage and utility in this butler's pantry.

A Baker's Delight

Signature Designs Kitchen | Bath | Interiors

Baker's Delight; this magnificent chefs kitchen has everything that you could dream about for your kitchen including a cooling rack for baking. The two large island with the cage chandeliers are the centerpiece to this kitchen which lead you into the cooking zone. The kitchen features a new sink and a prep sink both are located in front of their own window. We feature Subzero - Wolf appliances including a 36" 6 burner full range with oven, speed oven and steam oven for all your cooking needs. The islands are eucalyptus green one is set up for all her baking supplies including the cooling rack and the island offers a place to sit with your family. The flooring featured in this home are a rich luxury vinyl that has the appearance of hardwood floors but the cost savings is substantial over hardwood.

Key Largo Florida

Jaeger & Ernst Custom Cabinetmakers

Kitchen Remodel - Milford, MI

User

Double Island Kitchen

Synergy Builders Inc.

KITCHEN LIGHTING | JOHN LEWIS OF HUNGERFORD

URBAN COTTAGE INDUSTRIES

Photo ©John Lewis Of Hungerford

Lebanon, TN Custom Home

Noble Johnson Architects

Photography: Garett + Carrie Buell of Studiobuell/ studiobuell.com

Broadway Condo

Grandeur Hills Group,Inc.

The kitchen is decorated in dark colors, the dominant of which is gray. Despite this fact, the kitchen does not look too dull thanks to the high quality lighting, which consists of several different types of fixtures. Beautiful miniature ceiling-mounted lamps act as background lighting, while large pendant ones are used here as accent lighting. You can also change the interior design of your kitchen for the better. Our top interior designers are always at your service.

After-Kitchen Expansion

Icon Homes

Traditional/European kitchen with farm style implements per the homeowner's request.

2109 Skyview Ridge

Five Star Interiors

Cabinets: Dove Gray- Slab Door Box shelves Shelves: Seagull Gray Countertop: Perimeter/Dropped 4” mitered edge- Pacific shore Quartz Calacatta Milos Countertop: Islands-4” mitered edge- Caesarstone Symphony Gray 5133 Backsplash: Run the countertop- Caesarstone Statuario Maximus 5031 Photographer: Steve Chenn

Moulton

Garsden and Clarke Kitchens

Indian Hill Classic Traditional Kitchen

Neal's Design Remodel

Robin Victor Goetz/RVGP

Eclectic Farmhouse Kitchen

Hardwood Interiors & Design

Tequesta Waterfront Manor

Krista + Home

Design by Krista Watterworth Design Studio in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida. Photo by Lesley Unruh. A view to the intercoastal waterway in this beautiful double island chef's kitchen. Shaker Nordic White cabinetry with Quartzite counters and white ceramic herringbone backsplash. Kravet counter stools in Sunbrella fabric with contrasting sunflower welt. Wood floors throughout.

1970's Ranch Home Renovation

Stratos Form

Photography by Aidin Mariscal

Morningside

WestPort Development LLC / Atlanta Basements

Lee Grider Photography

Memorial Moroccan

JAUREGUI Architecture Interiors Construction

Piston Design

Galley Kitchen with multiple Islands 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!