A pause in the craziness of life led our homeowner to consider a change in her kitchen. She wanted a place to display collections and heirlooms, provide ample storage for pantry items and gadgets, and give her a view to her breathtaking backyard. We expanded the footprint, pushing the house line back six feet, installed a picture window with a spectacular copper range and hood centered beneath, and planned her collections display areas for maximum effect.

Lost Creek Cabin

Ellis Nunn Architects

Tuck Fauntlerey

NJ Country Estate

Wolstenholme Associates, LLC

photo by Katrina Mojzesz http://www.topkatphoto.com

Reclaimed Antique Wormy Chestnut Hardwood Flooring

Olde Wood Ltd.

For centuries, the American chestnut was prized for its strong, straight-grained wood that was easy to saw and split. Highly resistant to decay, chestnuts were used in a variety of applications, from furniture and split-rail fences to chestnut hardwood flooring and telephone poles. Sadly, during the early to mid-1900s, this once vital hardwood timber tree was virtually destroyed in the eastern United States by an Asian bark fungus. One of the rarest of the reclaimed hardwoods, our wormy chestnut hardwood flooring – prominently marked with insect-bored wormholes – derives from roof rafters, floor joists and granary boards in old barns, houses and factories. Choosing this commercially extinct chestnut wide plank flooring for your home will add a touch of elegance and a priceless piece of the American past. Distinctives of Reclaimed American Wormy Chestnut Along with the distinguishing wormholes in this commercially extinct wood, American wormy chestnut features some original saw marks, nail holes, sound cracks and checking. These delicately dappled planks range in color from lustrous tan to dark chocolate with an open, tight grain texture.

Mid Century Modern Remodel

Kelly Martin Interiors

This remodel was located in the Hollywood Hills of Los Angeles.

Shady Canyon

Richard Krantz Architecture Inc

50's Classic West Coast Modern

Kenorah Design + Build Ltd.

Victoria Achtymichuk Photography

Kitchen

Fedewa Custom Works

Rustic kitchen cabinets with green Viking appliances. Cabinets were built by Fedewa Custom Works. Warm, sunset colors make this kitchen very inviting. Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The cabinets are knotty alder wood, with a stain and glaze we developed here in our shop.

Contemporary Kitchen

Tiny Dated Kitchen Gets Gigantic Renovation

Corinthian Fine Homes

This homeowner loved her home and location, but it needed updating and a more efficient use of the condensed space she had for her kitchen. We were creative in opening the kitchen and a small eat-in area to create a more open kitchen for multiple cooks to work together. We created a coffee station/serving area with floating shelves, and in order to preserve the existing windows, we stepped a base cabinet down to maintain adequate counter prep space. With custom cabinetry reminiscent of the era of this home and a glass tile back splash she loved, we were able to give her the kitchen of her dreams in a home she already loved. We attended a holiday cookie party at her home upon completion, and were able to experience firsthand, multiple cooks in the kitchen and hear the oohs and ahhs from family and friends about the amazing transformation of her spaces.

Redhill Kitchen

Naked Kitchens

Bold, bright and beautiful. Just three of the many words we could use to describe the insanely cool Redhill Kitchen. The bespoke J-Groove cabinetry keeps this kitchen sleek and smooth, with light reflecting off the slab doors to keep the room open and spacious. Oak accents throughout the room softens the bold blue cabinetry, and grey tiles create a beautiful contrast between the two blues in the the room. Integrated appliances ensure that the burgundy Rangemaster is always the focus of the eye, and the reclaimed gym flooring makes the room so unique. It was a joy to work with NK Living on this project. Photography by Chris Snook

East Bay Modern Rustic

Patti Ogden Design

Pisgah Forest Luxury Log Home

A beautiful and practical kitchen was designed for a new extension sun room with a central ceiling lantern. A spacious and contemporary wooden kitchen with a comfortable feel it also sits well with the owner’s period house. A large central island placed exactly below the lantern, accommodates many appliances and the Belfast sink. The lightness of the kitchen was further enhanced with a travertine floor. A flush fitting induction hob sits opposite the AGA in the island top, the flush fit allowing the working surface to be uninterrupted and usable. Around the cream, four-oven AGA is a substantial bold pippy oak corbelled over-mantle that incorporates bespoke storage cupboards. A preparatory sink to the right side of the AGA, and a wine rack finish the run. The positioning of the handmade bespoke mantle and island give the kitchen a focal point, balance and symmetry.

Kitchens

CG Allan Interior Architecture + Design LLC

Warm Eclectic Kitchen

Wendy Glaister Interiors

This view demonstrates the unusual design of the island. The working section is 7 1/2 feet long to accommodate the curve at the end.

Elm Linear Kitchen

Hout Design Ltd

Nina Claridge photography

East Troy Escape

Roughing It In Style

Restaurant Chefs Put Function First in Their Home Kitchen

SEN Creative

Kitchen with Medium Wood Cabinets and Coloured Appliances 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!