After the second fallout of the Delta Variant amidst the COVID-19 Pandemic in mid 2021, our team working from home, and our client in quarantine, SDA Architects conceived Japandi Home. The initial brief for the renovation of this pool house was for its interior to have an "immediate sense of serenity" that roused the feeling of being peaceful. Influenced by loneliness and angst during quarantine, SDA Architects explored themes of escapism and empathy which led to a “Japandi” style concept design – the nexus between “Scandinavian functionality” and “Japanese rustic minimalism” to invoke feelings of “art, nature and simplicity.” This merging of styles forms the perfect amalgamation of both function and form, centred on clean lines, bright spaces and light colours. Grounded by its emotional weight, poetic lyricism, and relaxed atmosphere; Japandi Home aesthetics focus on simplicity, natural elements, and comfort; minimalism that is both aesthetically pleasing yet highly functional. Japandi Home places special emphasis on sustainability through use of raw furnishings and a rejection of the one-time-use culture we have embraced for numerous decades. A plethora of natural materials, muted colours, clean lines and minimal, yet-well-curated furnishings have been employed to showcase beautiful craftsmanship – quality handmade pieces over quantitative throwaway items. A neutral colour palette compliments the soft and hard furnishings within, allowing the timeless pieces to breath and speak for themselves. These calming, tranquil and peaceful colours have been chosen so when accent colours are incorporated, they are done so in a meaningful yet subtle way. Japandi home isn’t sparse – it’s intentional. The integrated storage throughout – from the kitchen, to dining buffet, linen cupboard, window seat, entertainment unit, bed ensemble and walk-in wardrobe are key to reducing clutter and maintaining the zen-like sense of calm created by these clean lines and open spaces. The Scandinavian concept of “hygge” refers to the idea that ones home is your cosy sanctuary. Similarly, this ideology has been fused with the Japanese notion of “wabi-sabi”; the idea that there is beauty in imperfection. Hence, the marriage of these design styles is both founded on minimalism and comfort; easy-going yet sophisticated. Conversely, whilst Japanese styles can be considered “sleek” and Scandinavian, “rustic”, the richness of the Japanese neutral colour palette aids in preventing the stark, crisp palette of Scandinavian styles from feeling cold and clinical. Japandi Home’s introspective essence can ultimately be considered quite timely for the pandemic and was the quintessential lockdown project our team needed.

2017 BONDI VALAISki

Leicht Westchester-Greenwich

Loretta Residence

John Donkin Architect Inc.

Doublespace Photography

Small Apartment

Seryjny Projektant

paulina kochanowicz

Bespoke Black Kitchen with Island

Abbeywood Furniture Ltd

The ceiling box that houses the extractor is a slightly smaller mirror of the Island unit. This air tight house with heat recovery system required an extractor with a filtering filtering kit placed in another room.

Gallatin Valley Ranch

Penny Lane Home Builders, LLC

Close up of metal cabinet with palletwood inserts Photography by Lynn Donaldson

Marvelously Modern Tile

Arley Wholesale - Montgomery

Arley Wholesale

Orange House

NR Design Co

Kitchen area / Great Room

ING Construction

The Kitchen and storage area in this ADU is complete and complimented by using flat black storage space stainless steel fixtures. And with light colored counter tops, it provides a positive, uplifting feel.

Casa de la piscina JENS.

VelezCarrascoArquitecto

Lake View residence

PHL & SERVICES

Raw birch ply and laminate kitchen

Wood Works Brighton

Beautiful open plan design. With bright vibrant colours. The floors is polished concrete.

HH 3

Haas Habitats LLC

F2FOTO

A Light-Filled Social bulthaup B3 Kitchen

Hobsons Choice

Given that the social aspect of the kitchen was so important, an ‘L’ shaped bar seating area in natural walnut veneer was incorporated at the garden end of the island to a) maximise natural light and views of the garden and b) to be used as a staging area for the summer months when eating/socialising outside. The walnut bar both references the tall cabinet material, and provides a warm, tactile surface for sitting at as well as differentiating kitchen workspace with social space. Darren Chung

Gallatin Valley Ranch

Penny Lane Home Builders, LLC

Custom metal cabinets, concrete/recycled glass counters and pallet wood Photography by Lynn Donaldson

Eclectic Kitchen

Misty Hill

Skookom Pty Ltd

Light-filled family home

Kitchen Architecture Ltd

Kitchen Architecture - bulthaup b3 and b1 furniture in alpine white and structured oak.

700 haus Trentham

Glow Design Group

Peter Clarke

A Lofty Take in Victoria Park

The Kitchenworks

Located in the heart of Victoria Park neighborhood in Fort Lauderdale, FL, this kitchen is a play between clean, transitional shaker style with the edginess of a city loft. There is a crispness brought by the White Painted cabinets and warmth brought through the addition of Natural Walnut highlights. The grey concrete floors and subway-tile clad hood and back-splash ease more industrial elements into the design. The beautiful walnut trim woodwork, striking navy blue island and sleek waterfall counter-top live in harmony with the commanding presence of professional cooking appliances. The warm and storied character of this kitchen is further reinforced by the use of unique floating shelves, which serve as display areas for treasured objects to bring a layer of history and personality to the Kitchen. It is not just a place for cooking, but a place for living, entertaining and loving. Photo by: Matthew Horton

Kitchen with a Double-bowl Sink and Concrete Floors 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!