The butler pantry off of the kitchen provides additonal beverage and dish storage as well as an area for serving and clean up during larger events. Photo: Dave Adams

Azalea Lane Kitchen, Nahsua

Granite State Cabinetry

Soap Stone Counter Kitchen

B.R.Construction

Landmark Makeover- La Jolla

Design Studio West

The wide plank floor was matched to the original floor throughout the home and brought into the kitchen for continuity and flow. Designer: Margaret Dean Brady Architectural Photography

Timeless with a twist

Infinite Home

Historic soapstone home tour

The Stone Studio

This Northern Kentucky home uses soapstone countertops and white Cararra marble tile backsplash to create a warm and inviting kitchen. Traditional black soapstone is from The Stone Studio in Batesville, IN.

Downtown Shaker

Performance Kitchens & Home

Voted best of Houzz 2014, 2015, 2016 & 2017! Since 1974, Performance Kitchens & Home has been re-inventing spaces for every room in the home. Specializing in older homes for Kitchens, Bathrooms, Den, Family Rooms and any room in the home that needs creative storage solutions for cabinetry. We offer color rendering services to help you see what your space will look like, so you can be comfortable with your choices! Our Design team is ready help you see your vision and guide you through the entire process! Photography by: Juniper Wind Designs LLC

Volnay Galley Kitchen

Vujovich Design Build, Inc.

This Period kitchen renovation in a turn-of-the-century South Minneapolis home was accomplished within the existing structure’s footprint. The homeowner, a famous fictional writer with a taste for the eclectic, had purchased a red French Volnay range and wanted to create a stylish yet functional kitchen to surround it.

The Woodshop of Avon

2011 NKBA MN | 2nd Place Large Kitchen Carol Sadowsky, CKD Matt Schmitt Photography

Sparrow Park- Kitchen Cabinet

LDa Architecture & Interiors

Architect: LDa Architecture & Interiors Photographer: Greg Premru Photography

Eco-Friendly in Ball Square

Design Details

Red birch cabinetry, Soapstone countertops and recycled fir flooring contribute to the natural feel of the project.

Whitmore Gardens

Claudia Urvois Interior Design

Sunny Kitchen Remodel

Bryhn Design/Build

Here you can see the full kitchen space. The black & blue island is a nice accent to break up the natural brown hues of the flooring, cabinets, and granite counter top. High set pendant lights add function and beauty without being obstructive when working on the island.

Wolf All Gas Range GR366 36"

Kieffer's Appliances

Featured in this beautiful kitchen is a GR366, a 36 inch six burner range. One large manual clean convection oven sits below the six burner cook top. Other Burner configurations include: 4 Burners with a 12 inch griddle 4 Burners with a 12 inch grill

Shultz Photo and Design

Plymouth Meeting

Timeless Kitchen Cabinetry

Betsy Barron

Eco-Friendly in Ball Square

Design Details

Red birch cabinetry, Soapstone countertops and recycled fir flooring contribute to the natural feel of the project.

Eco-friendly kitchen

Dream Kitchens, Inc.

The goal of the project was to create a more functional kitchen, but to remodel with an eco-friendly approach. To minimize the waste going into the landfill, all the old cabinetry and appliances were donated, and the kitchen floor was kept intact because it was in great condition. The challenge was to design the kitchen around the existing floor and the natural soapstone the client fell in love with. The clients continued with the sustainable theme throughout the room with the new materials chosen: The back splash tiles are eco-friendly and hand-made in the USA.. The custom range hood was a beautiful addition to the kitchen. We maximized the counter space around the custom sink by extending the integral drain board above the dishwasher to create more prep space. In the adjacent laundry room, we continued the same color scheme to create a custom wall of cabinets to incorporate a hidden laundry shoot, and dog area. We also added storage around the washer and dryer including two different types of hanging for drying purposes.

Kitchen with a Single-bowl Sink and Soapstone Benchtops 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!