The contrasting colors and textures make this contemporary style kitchen quite stunning. Figured maple veneers, black granite, white marble, stainless steel, ebonized oak, and stained concrete are just some of the high-end finishes that really make this kitchen pop! We actually built this kitchen twice, once before Hurricane Ike, and once after. - photos by Jim Farris

Modern Home | Kimberly Demmy Design

Kimberly Demmy Design

This rustic modern home was purchased by an art collector that needed plenty of white wall space to hang his collection. The furnishings were kept neutral to allow the art to pop and warm wood tones were selected to keep the house from becoming cold and sterile. Published in Modern In Denver | The Art of Living. Daniel O'Connor Photography

Contemporary Kitchen

Dyna - Portage Bay

Dyna Builders

Clean and simple define this 1200 square foot Portage Bay floating home. After living on the water for 10 years, the owner was familiar with the area’s history and concerned with environmental issues. With that in mind, she worked with Architect Ryan Mankoski of Ninebark Studios and Dyna to create a functional dwelling that honored its surroundings. The original 19th century log float was maintained as the foundation for the new home and some of the historic logs were salvaged and custom milled to create the distinctive interior wood paneling. The atrium space celebrates light and water with open and connected kitchen, living and dining areas. The bedroom, office and bathroom have a more intimate feel, like a waterside retreat. The rooftop and water-level decks extend and maximize the main living space. The materials for the home’s exterior include a mixture of structural steel and glass, and salvaged cedar blended with Cor ten steel panels. Locally milled reclaimed untreated cedar creates an environmentally sound rain and privacy screen.

Kitchen remodelling in South Bristol

DHV Architects

Funky remodel of existing kitchen to create a light and airy dining area

2010 Colorado Homes & Lifestyles "Home of the Year"

Andrea Schumacher Interiors

Photography by Emily Minton Redfield http://www.emrphotography.com

South Salem Kitchen Remodel

C&R Remodeling

Homeowner needed more light, more room, more style. We knocked out the wall between kitchen and dining room and replaced old window with a larger one. New stained cabinets, Soapstone countertops, and full-height tile backsplash turned this once inconvenient,d ark kitchen into an inviting and beautiful space. We relocated the refrigerator and applied cabinet panels. The new duel-fuel range provides the utmost in cooking options. A farm sink brings another appealing design element into the clean-up area. New lighting plan includes undercabinet lighting, recessed lighting in the dining room, and pendant light fixtures over the island. New wood flooring was woven in with existing to create a seamless expanse of beautiful hardwood. New wood beams were stained to match the floor bringing even more warmth and charm to this kitchen.

20963 Chatham Ridge Blvd. | Chatham HIlls

Hawkins Agency

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen Black & White

EL & EL Wood Products Corp.

This Modern Farmhouse Kitchen in Black & White is a gorgeous representation of the style. You too can achieve this look with the same crown and case moulding. Crown: 440MUL; Case: 126MUL-SC.

Canyon Meadows Residence

LD&A

Condo Kitchens

Four Brothers Design + Build

Architecture 753 Development, Cabinetry Four Brothers LLC

Kitchen and Dining Area

WSB Homes, LLC

Bounce Off The Walls

Deslaurier Custom Cabinets

This charming kitchen is the centerpiece of this home with the large island as a key gathering space for family and friends. The navy-blue painted cabinets and white countertop bring a simple elegance to the space while the over-sized brass pendants and brass fixtures add warmth. Balancing the cool blue and white palette are warm nutmeg coloured base cabinets with black hardware which are the perfect compliment to the rest of the space. The white countertops are balanced by a simple integrated hood fan and floating shelves, backed by classic off-white subway tiles. A cove crown molding finishes the cabinets to the ceiling while the shaker profile doors is repeated on the back of the island adding a sophisticated quality to this traditional kitchen. Flanked on either side by the stainless-steel fridge and wall oven, there is plenty of room to cook in this kitchen. The island features a deep sink with brass faucet, dishwasher and integrated pull-out garbage bins for easy organization. The induction cooktop is surrounded by deep drawers and ample counterspace; every cook’s dream! The layering of warm and cool tones gives this kitchen an old-world charm with all the comforts of modern-day living.

Artist Haven

Rowland+Broughton Architecture & Urban Design

Modern, Clean & Open

Handy Home Guys

West Marin Organic Remodel

Craig O'Connell Architecture

The clients—a chef and a baker—desired a light-filled space with stylish function allowing them to cook, bake and entertain. Craig expanded the kitchen by removing a wall, vaulted the ceiling and enlarged the windows. Photo: Helynn Ospina

Travis Heights Vacation Rental

Christen Ales Interior Design

Fairfax

Duet Design Group

Since the family who lives in this home is fairly casual in how they eat, they wanted an island that would fit all of them and maybe a friend or two for casual meals. Photo by Emily Minton Redfield

San Juan Capistrano

McRae Lambert Dunn

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!