Lauren Smyth designs over 80 spec homes a year for Alturas Homes! Last year, the time came to design a home for herself. Having trusted Kentwood for many years in Alturas Homes builder communities, Lauren knew that Brushed Oak Whisker from the Plateau Collection was the floor for her! She calls the look of her home ‘Ski Mod Minimalist’. Clean lines and a modern aesthetic characterizes Lauren's design style, while channeling the wild of the mountains and the rivers surrounding her hometown of Boise.

Black & White Kitchen with Accents of Gold

Amazing Spaces

The existing U-shaped kitchen was tucked away in a small corner while the dining table was swimming in a room much too large for its size. The client’s needs and the architecture of the home made it apparent that the perfect design solution for the home was to swap the spaces. The homeowners entertain frequently and wanted the new layout to accommodate a lot of counter seating, a bar/buffet for serving hors d’oeuvres, an island with prep sink, and all new appliances. They had a strong preference that the hood be a focal point and wanted to go beyond a typical white color scheme even though they wanted white cabinets. While moving the kitchen to the dining space gave us a generous amount of real estate to work with, two of the exterior walls are occupied with full-height glass creating a challenge how best to fulfill their wish list. We used one available wall for the needed tall appliances, taking advantage of its height to create the hood as a focal point. We opted for both a peninsula and island instead of one large island in order to maximize the seating requirements and create a barrier when entertaining so guests do not flow directly into the work area of the kitchen. This also made it possible to add a second sink as requested. Lastly, the peninsula sets up a well-defined path to the new dining room without feeling like you are walking through the kitchen. We used the remaining fourth wall for the bar/buffet. Black cabinetry adds strong contrast in several areas of the new kitchen. Wire mesh wall cabinet doors at the bar and gold accents on the hardware, light fixtures, faucets and furniture add further drama to the concept. The focal point is definitely the black hood, looking both dramatic and cohesive at the same time.

Millwood Collaborative

Ella Scott Design, llc

Elegant Simplicity

Raw Urth Designs

Design: Montrose Range Hood Finish: Brushed Steel with Burnished Brass details Handcrafted Range Hood by Raw Urth Designs in collaboration with D'amore Interiors and Kirella Homes. Photography by Timothy Gormley, www.tgimage.com.

#89

Sferico Architetti

Leicht by Vogue Kitchens - Contemporary Open Plan Smart Kitchen

Vogue Kitchens

As part of a rear extension with glass panel doors leading directly to the garden, Ealing-based Vogue Kitchens was commissioned to design a kitchen that would comprise part of a large open plan ground floor area with the kitchen and dining room leading to a further open plan living space. The space benefits from a vast amount of light coming from the glass doors and also from a rectangular ceiling lantern incorporated in the space between the property and the extension. To contrast with the vibrance of the pure white walls and ceilings, the clients were keen to find a kitchen that featured a dark, dramatic and unusual finish. They also required a neat and uncluttered design as the kitchen zone was to be used for cooking and informal socialising while the formal dining area is only a few steps away. They wanted an easy to clean kitchen with plenty of storage, and smart cooking appliances that would make entertaining easier. Because the ceiling depth was different between the architecture of the original property and the extension itself and the design of the kitchen island would bisect both areas, extraction was also a main consideration. For the tall kitchen furniture and for the island, Sharan Johal creative director at Vogue suggested premium range Leicht Minera matt lacquer handleless door fronts in Kiruna colourway, which has an anti-fingerprint shimmering metallic two tone oxydised finish. These match with carbon grey laminate edging on the cabinetry and plinths for a seamless effect. The tall units were designed to fit floor to ceiling and feature dry food storage and housings for two Siemens HomeConnect Wi-Fi enabled ovens plus a warming drawer. A Siemens integrated larder fridge and tall freezer were transferred from the client’s previous kitchen, which was also designed and supplied by Vogue. To continue the back run of cabinetry and to differentiate the space to allow for freestanding and decorative kitchen items, base units were suggested with pull-out drawers underneath to store pans, plates and bowls. The three side-by-side overhead wall units all feature Servo Drive opening systems for one-touch access and easy closing and are designed to accommodate glasses, cups and crockery with under-cabinet lighting that can be activated by voice control via a home hub. The ultra-slim 12mm countertop work surface by Neolith is in Iron Grey colourway, with a satin finish to complement the cabinetry. This Neolith worksurface continues through to the three metre kitchen island, which has an 80mm raised Ash wood cantilever breakfast bar attached to it in black oil finish by Spekva that also includes an overhang at one end. This informal seating area features the client’s own timber and metal-framed bar stools. Together with handleless cupboards under the worksurface, the island features a 60cm Siemens integrated dishwasher and a food preparation space to one end with a Blanco undermount stainless steel sink and Quooker Flex Boiling Water tap. Integrated at an equal distance from the centre of the island, and situated directly in front of the ovens is an 80cm Siemens induction hob with an air venting system, which negates the need for overhead extraction.

Ballard, Seattle Kitchen

Transitional Full Home Remodel

Groysman Construction

Modern Kitchen with Island and Breakfast Bar - Southfields, London

Elan Kitchens

Hale Navy

Design Shop Interiors

Chelsea High Line Model apartment

Federica Carlet

Neptune Black ( Charcoal) shaker ( suffolk range) kitchen with brass handles and knobs . supplied by woods of london photo's by Chris Snook

Modern Hudson Kitchen

Hurst Design Build Remodeling

Darren Sinnett

North London kitchen and side return

Alex Maguire Photography

Alex Maguire

Kitchen with Black Cabinets and Beige Floor 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!