Extension&Remodel: New Kitchen at Heart of this South Downs National Park Home

An inviting colour palette and carefully zoned layout are key to this kitchen’s success. First, we decided to move the kitchen from a tiny room at the side of the property into a central area, previously used as a dining room, to create a space better suited to a family of five. We also extended the room to provide more space and to afford panoramic views of the garden. We wanted to develop “zoning” ideas to maximise the practicality of the room for family life and to experiment with a darker, richer palette of materials than the usual light and white, to create a welcoming, warm space. The layout is focussed around a large island, which does not include a sink or hob on its surface. This is the monolithic slab in the space, its simple design serving to amplify the beauty of the material it is made from; we chose an ultra-durable concrete-effect quartz to sweep across its top and down to the floor. The island links the other ‘components’ of the room: a distinct zone for washing up, opposite a cooking area, each fitted into niches created by structural pillars. Close to the dining table is a breakfast and drinks station, with boiling water tap, out of the way of the main working areas of the room. Working with interior designer Clare Pascoe of Pascoe Interiors, we selected clean-lined cabinetry in inky blue and dark wood, creating a rich effect offset by a smoked wood floor and natural oak and blue stools. The stronger colours add character and definition, and accentuate the role of the kitchen as the heart of the home.

Contemporaneo Cucina

Trevelyan House

Bradley Van Der Straeten

East London House

Nathalie Priem Photography

Modern Hilltop Residence

OSCAR E. FLORES DESIGN STUDIO, LLC

design by oscar e flores design studio builder mike hollaway homes

Quality Joinery & Cabinet Making

Tranne A.C.Interiors

An Italianate Lakeside Villa

Andrew Skurman Architects

Detailed wooden kitchen. Photographer: David Duncan Livingston, Eastman Pynn at Image Above

BLACK TEXTURED CONCRETE FRONTS WITH DEKTON WORKTOPk

Eternal Kitchen Ltd

This elegantly designed kitchen features black matt, concrete Black fronts and Gold rails. This design is worth a closer look, the modern concrete elements exude impressive elegance, not just because of the black kitchen itself but also a bar area designed in black and coffee station in walnut finish.

Wanaka Showhome, Kirimoko

David Reid Homes

Design and innovation are taken to new levels in this new showhome fresh from David Reid Homes Wanaka and Central Otago. The range of new features and technologies in this home include: a custom designed dining table (slotted into the kitchen island); electric opening kitchen drawers & cupboard doors; hall & cupboard sensor lighting; automatic skylights with closing rain sensors and a stunning selection of interior materials (including polished concrete ﬂooring, aluminium joinery, natural wood & raw steel). The home is well insulated and thermally efﬁcient, with Low-E Max glazing, a 3-kilowatt solar system, gas reticulated hot water, separate air to air heat pump and underﬂoor heating throughout, including the garage. Complete with Japanese-inspired landscaping and stunning mountain views, this showhome is a stunning example of well executed, considered design that breaks with tradition.

Kitchens

Uniquely U Custom Carpentry

Houzz reportage - Hemma hos Andra Brodin

Kronfoto

Kronfoto © Houzz 2016

Living with Art

Just the Thing

Simple flat front cabinetry was selected for this kitchen: white for the main work area and deep blue-grey for the island. The mobile island serves both as a buffet and work area when pulled into the work area. The butcher block top adds warmth and echoes the tones of the cherry floor. The long main wall continues into the hallway and stairwell, as does the display of artwork. The white backdrop allows the brilliant colours of the art to sing, while playing off the red walls in the work area.

Yorktown Kitchen Revival

The Remodeling Company

When they said “a picture speaks a thousand words”, they must have been referring to those shown here of the Toole family’s finished kitchen remodel. By updating & upgrading all of the kitchen’s features to an elegant state, they created a space where, not only will everyone want to congregate, but will never want to leave! Although the general layout remained the same, each element of the kitchen was replaced by luxury. Where once stood white-washed cabinets with a matching island, you now find cherry wood with a darker stain on the island. The sophisticated mismatching of wood is tied together by the color pattern in the glass tile backsplash. The polished look of granite countertops is kicked up a notch with the new under-the-cabinet lighting, which is both a visual additive as well as functional for the work space. Bland looking vinyl flooring that blended into the rest of the kitchen was replaced by pre-finished hardwood flooring that provides a visual break between the floor & cabinets. All new stainless steel appliances are modern upgrades that tie nicely together with the brushed nickel cabinet hardware and plumbing fixtures. One significant alteration to the kitchen’s design is the wall of cabinets surrounding the refrigerator. The home originally held a closet style double-door pantry. By shifting the refrigerator over several inches and adding ceiling-to-floor cabinets around it, the Toole’s were able to add quite a bit more storage space and an additional countertop. Through the doorway to the right, a wet bar was added for entertaining – complete with built-in wine bottle storage, an under-the-cabinet stemware rack, storage drawers and a wine chiller.

Traditionl Hand Painted Framed Kitchen

Tulip

Wow: This Zero-Reno Kitchen Makeover Is Amazing

One Kings Lane

Bonus Solution: Follow the Light AFTER: Knowing how much I adored the light that was so key to my original vision, Megan designed and built her very own version and suggested we hang it in the dining room. I love how it carries the brass-and-glass look into the adjoining room. Check out the full how-to for this DIY chandelier here. Photos by Lesley Unruh.

New Arts and Crafts House

Stuart Cohen & Julie Hacker Architects LLC

Tony Soluri Photography

Park Street

Ken Gutmaker Architectural Photography

Sarah Willmer Architect Ken Gutmaker Photos

Beekman Place 2 Bedroom

A. Bollman & Sons.

Sean Raneri

Mixed Painted Shaker

ICE Interior Ltd

William J Pearce

Hinsdale North Adams Street

Plain & Posh

This small kitchen space needed to have every inch function well for this young family. By adding the banquette seating we were able to get the table out of the walkway and allow for easier flow between the rooms. Wall cabinets to the counter on either side of the custom plaster hood gave room for food storage as well as the microwave to get tucked away. The clean lines of the slab drawer fronts and beaded inset make the space feel visually larger.

Kitchen with a Drop-in Sink and Metallic Splashback 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!