Three small rooms were demolished to enable a new kitchen and open plan living space to be designed. The kitchen has a drop-down ceiling to delineate the space. A window became french doors to the garden. The former kitchen was re-designed as a mudroom. The laundry had new cabinetry. New flooring throughout. A linen cupboard was opened to become a study nook with dramatic wallpaper. Custom ottoman were designed and upholstered for the drop-down dining and study nook. A family of five now has a fantastically functional open plan kitchen/living space, family study area, and a mudroom for wet weather gear and lots of storage.

Kangaroo Point Apartment

Designtank

Avenues Family House: Kitchen

Noz Design

Colin Price Photography

Seashore

Legacy Custom Homes

Ryan Garvin

Mid-Century Renovation

Wendy Wilson & Associates

This mid-century ranch-style home in Pasadena, CA underwent a complete interior remodel and renovation. The kitchen walls separating it from the dining and living rooms were removed creating a sophisticated open-plan entertainment space.

Clean & Crisp Contemporary Kitchen

enzy design

Cabinetry by Paramount Cabinets. Photography by Lucy Call.

Osterville Bright New Kitchen

Fresh Start Interiors

This kitchen got new white Shaker cabinets that we designed to take advantage of the full ceiling height, with smaller lit display cabinets on top. A pale aqua island and quiet white quartz counters set the backdrop for a stunning aqua zig zag glass tile backsplash that is the showstopper of the space. Nice updates like a wine fridge and appliance garage round out the special touches of this beach house kitchen.

Mid-Century Modern Rehabilitation

Herron Horton Architects, Inc.

Kitchen with walnut cabinets and screen constructed by Woodunique.

Blue & White Kitchen- Historic Homeland

Bearded Builders, Baltimore

Pretty Blue & White Kitchen

Design Moe Kitchen & Bath / Heather Moe designer

New range area has extended counter space at both sides

Prospect Lefferts Garden House

JMorris Design

Kitchen Pantry can be a workhorse but should look amazing too. Have fun feature in this family kitchen is a magnetic wall for photos, calendars and notes! Coral door to the outside is a fun pop.

Sherman Oaks

Rande Leaman Interior Design

A vibrant blue island is the centerpiece of this white kitchen. The backsplash picks up on the color with a blue subway tile and dramatic quartz countertops. Beautiful matte brass lanterns from Serena & Lily accent the island. The appliances are all Thermador.

Premiere White Shaker

Belsito Kitchens

Premiere White Shaker Cabinets, Kitchen Islands, Double Oven,

Oak Hills Mid Century Modern

Mosaik Design & Remodeling

This outdated kitchen came with flowered wallpaper, narrow connections to Entry and Dining Room, outdated cabinetry and poor workflow. By opening up the ceiling to expose existing beams, widening both entrys and adding taller, angled windows, light now steams into this bright and cheery Mid Century Modern kitchen. The custom Pratt & Larson turquoise tiles add so much interest and tie into the new custom painted blue door. The walnut wood base cabinets add a warm, natural element. A cozy seating area for TV watching, reading and coffee looks out to the new clear cedar fence and landscape.

Rustic-Modern Finnish Kitchen

CairnsCraft Design & Remodel

Rustic-Modern Finnish Kitchen Our client was inclined to transform this kitchen into a functional, Finnish inspired space. Finnish interior design can simply be described in 3 words: simplicity, innovation, and functionalism. Finnish design addresses the tough climate, unique nature, and limited sunlight, which inspired designers to create solutions, that would meet the everyday life challenges. The combination of the knotty, blue-gray alder base cabinets combined with the clean white wall cabinets reveal mixing these rustic Finnish touches with the modern. The leaded glass on the upper cabinetry was selected so our client can display their personal collection from Finland. Mixing black modern hardware and fixtures with the handmade, light, and bright backsplash tile make this kitchen a timeless show stopper. This project was done in collaboration with Susan O'Brian from EcoLux Interiors.

Modern English Country Style

Nathan Taylor for Obelisk Home

Traditional Coastal Kitchen

Two Hands Interiors

A traditional costal kitchen with white shaker cabinets, marble-look quartz countertops and a soft blue subway tile backsplash from Sonoma Tilemakers. Visual Comfort/Circa Lighting Merchant Lantern over the island and a custom hood add charm.

Egypt Valley Traditional Residence

Jennifer Butler Design

Double islands serve double duty for the busy residents and their large (27 grandchildren, and counting!) family. The 2” quartz tops are from Dwyer Marble & Stone, with chandeliers by Hubbardton Forge.

Retro Vibe

Janet Kauffman Interiors & Design LLC

Kitchen with Quartz Benchtops and Blue 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!