Our clients came to us wanting to update their kitchen while keeping their traditional and timeless style. They desired to open up the kitchen to the dining room and to widen doorways to make the kitchen feel less closed off from the rest of the home. They wanted to create more functional storage and working space at the island. Other goals were to replace the sliding doors to the back deck, add mudroom storage and update lighting for a brighter, cleaner look. We created a kitchen and dining space that brings our homeowners joy to cook, dine and spend time together in. We installed a longer, more functional island with barstool seating in the kitchen. We added pantry cabinets with roll out shelves. We widened the doorways and opened up the wall between the kitchen and dining room. We added cabinetry with glass display doors in the kitchen and also the dining room. We updated the lighting and replaced sliding doors to the back deck. In the mudroom, we added closed storage and a built-in bench.

Grand Haven Custom Home

Chirigos Designs / Design Bar

A butler's pantry for a cook's dream. Green custom cabinetry houses paneled appliances and storage for all the additional items. White oak floating shelves are topped with brass railings. The backsplash is a Zellige handmade tile in various tones of neutral.

Silver Spurs

Enfort Homes

Farmhouse meets coastal in this timeless kitchen with white oak cabinets, brass hardware, two dishwashers + double faucets, multiple pull out trash cans, custom white oak range hood, paneled wolf appliances, and tons of storage.

Modern Seabeck custom home

Ritzman Construction LLC

Kitchen Remodel Round Rock

Matterhorn Development Co.

Custom built kitchen. Kitchen cabinets and kitchen island with custom cuts and finishes. Barrack green on the cabinets while the infinity white leathered quartzite counter top sits on top with the same custom cut. 7FT Kitchen island with built in shelves. Storage, hidden compartments and accessible outlets were built in as well. Back splash Anthology Mystic Glass: Tradewind Mix

The beautifully warm and organic feel of Laminex "Possum Natural" cabinets teamed with the natural birch ply open shelving and birch edged benchtop, make this snug kitchen space warm and inviting. We are also totally loving the white appliances and sink that help open up and brighten the space. And check out that pantry! Practical drawers make for easy access to all your goodies!

Terrace Park Contemporary Kitchen

Create Good Sinks

Apron front workstation sinks bring the action closer to you. Our 37 inch workstation sink is pictured here with our 18 inch black cutting board and stainless steel colander. Black is a great choice for balancing elegance and utility.

Brendonshire Residence

Jones Design Group LLC

Presidio Heights Wow! Kitchen

Integrated Resources Group

Designer Tiffany Waugh incorporated IRG white marble with functional features to create a space suitable for contemporary living for her clients and their two young children. A custom bread bar (cleverly hidden behind an appliance garage near the oven) allows for an everyday one-stop breakfast area where the 5- and 7-year-olds can make their own toast in the morning.

Ada Modern Classic

42 North - Architecture + Design

Clive Street - Da Vinci Homes

Crib Creative

The Last House

David Small Designs

Kitchen Remodeling in McLean, VA

Ideal Construction & Remodeling

Villa A & L

Atelier d'Architectes Associés - AAA

Pine Crest Residence

KA DesignWorks

Contemporary Kitchen Design Ideas

Everingham Design

Bright Organic Kitchen

Mia Rao Design

A wall of green cabinets with natural wood shelves adds to this kitchens organic vibe.

Shepherds Bush Family Home Renovation

Red Box

Owners moved wanted to renovate home ready to move in. The kitchen was one of the first rooms to be completed, cabinets are from Howdens Joinery paintable range. We painted them using "Apple Smiles 2" from Paper & Paint Library- the wall is also their "Canvas 2" shade. Ceiling completed with "All White" by Farrow & Ball

Class Romantic Ranch

KBG Design

Green Kitchen with White Benchtop 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!