Our client wanted the “wow” factor!! She wanted a kitchen with clean lines and a bespoke island to be the focal point of the space but simple enough that she could add her own artistic stamp. Our client, being an interior designer, had a keen eye for style and design, and we decided to “go for it!” and give her a design that nobody else would. We like to ask our clients “how brave they are” as we find that our designs are very distinctive when we are allowed freedom to use our imagination. We proposed merging the existing kitchen, utility, w/c and dining space to create an open plan kitchen, dining and living snug. Although opening up this space, it was still quite a tight area for the requested island. We therefore designed an island to be formed with full open boxes at low level to carry the island and allow light to flow to the other side of the kitchen and prevent a claustrophobic feel. The low level open boxes were going to require some strength to hold the Dekton topped upper half of the island and we also needed to run electrics to the hob, lighting and power points. We formed these boxes from the same panelling as the rest of the kitchen and had to fabricate steel strengthening straps that would be hidden within the structure alongside the electrical supply. Overall this open plan kitchen and living space with matching cabinetry in the snug is a stylish transformation. Though not a very large space and with the dark cabinetry, the smoked glass splash back, the light countertops and open boxes give this kitchen a light and free feeling.

Mimosa Open Floor Plan

Before and After Builders, Inc.

Looking from breakfast room/kitchen into the den/front foyer/living room and dining room! Beautiful 9' wide island cabinet with Tesoro Bianco Marble countertop, stained cedar columns, Antebellum pendant lights, 6" LED recess lights in the open floor areas with new Minka Aire ceiling fan!

Classic Kitchen - Watch Hill, RI

Burrow & Nest

Black stain enriches the maple cabinets in this full kitchen renovation. Zebra marble provides a beautiful countertop, while re-purposed granite provides a user friendly work space on the island. Stylish black and white cork tiles provide comfort, warmth, and sustainability on the floor. Custom antique mirror, matched with Artistic Tile’s honeycomb pattern provide a bit of glam to the backsplash. Bistro and schoolhouse pendants stay true to the era of this 1920’s home. Black windowpanes provide a vista to the garden beyond.

ST ANDREWS COUNTRY CLUB MODERN

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sink drawers - u-shaped

Horseshoe Lane

George Asher Custom Homes LLC

Kitchen renovation with dual islands, pantry cabinets, enclosed coffee center and built in refrigerator.

Finger Project

Improva

Bold and Beautiful

Award Kitchen and Bath, LLC

Rick Dubie

Dalmata Granite Kitchen with Patterned Backsplash

Florida Design Works

Dalmata granite is ideal for kitchen countertops, bathroom vanities, and bar tops. It's beautiful and dramatic "flowing" design will wow your guests while creating the perfect place to entertain them.

Grade 2 listed extension

Archic

Mimosa Open Floor Plan

Before and After Builders, Inc.

New Tesoro Bianco Marble countertop with shades of blue!!!

White bin drawer with Black bins

Improva

Walker Kitchen

Longhouse Architects

ST ANDREWS COUNTRY CLUB MODERN

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Kitchen and Dining Remodel - by Faye Smith Interior Design

Faye Smith Interior Design

This galley kitchen was transformed with an updated white cabinet look. Charcoal gray, wood-look ceramic tile runs throughout the common space in this masculine presentation. Thomas Mosley Photography

Berkley Residence

StudioMB

Photo: Paul Burk

Kitchen Renovation and Home Interior Renovation West Chester, PA

TATCOR Building & Remodeling

Striking white against dark blue-gray tones are found throughout the kitchen. Custom lighting create some warmth utilizing lantern pendant hanging lights, recessed lighting and built-in box lighting within some of the shaker style cabinetry. A remarkable island was added to the middle of the kitchen for additional bar-stool seating with dark blue-gray cushions and black legs as well as the gorgeous marble counter top, which is continued throughout the rest of the kitchen.

Cochrane

Jami Giesbrecht Design

This Tudor style traditional kitchen features white custom cabinets with a gorgeous hand hammered copper farmhouse sink. Copenhagen granite counter tops and antique black floor tile. Photo by Mike Heywood

Bold and Beautiful

Award Kitchen and Bath, LLC

Rick Dubie

Glacier Gloss White and Dust Grey

The Rigid Kitchen Company

Range: Glacier Gloss Colours: White and Dust Grey Worktops: Quartz

Walnut & Graphite Contemporary Kitchen

Woodharbor Custom Cabinetry

Woodharbor Frameless featuring Malibu door style with Graphite enamel wrapped in Walnut panels.

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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!