Ease of entertaining was key for the owners, so maximising the home’s formal rooms, designing a kitchen for large-scale cooking and creating outdoor spaces to gather are much-loved additions.

Modern Farmhouse-Upstate

Crisp Architects

Kitchen with concrete countertop island and pendant lighting.

Tuxedo Park

Virtual Studio Innovations

Upstate Farmhouse

Chango

Architectural advisement, Interior Design, Custom Furniture Design & Art Curation by Chango & Co. Architecture by Crisp Architects Construction by Structure Works Inc. Photography by Sarah Elliott See the feature in Domino Magazine

Minimalistische und dennoch lichtstarke Beleuchtung der Küche

plan.b lichtplanung

Die wandbündigen Hochschränke werden von einer, in die Betondecke integrierten, dimmbaren LED-Linie beleuchtet, welche sowohl dezent als Hintergrundlicht, wie auch als Arbeitslicht genutzt werden kann. Bei Bedarf können die 4 Betonaufbauleuchten oberhalb des Küchenblocks hinzugeschaltet werden.

Modern Industrial Residence

Hard Topix LLC

Custom Concrete Countertops by Hard Topix. Perimeter is a light grind finish and the Island is a darker natural/textured finish.

Lakeside Cottage

Wydeven Architects LLC

Edmund Studios Photography. The lake side of the kitchen has windows on two sides to maximize the view. Four custom tilt-in windows allow the outdoor counter on the deck to be served from inside the kitchen. Concrete countertops, hickory floors, a center island, and farm sink are key elements in this kitchen.

Beaucatcher Barn Home

Altura Architects

We used the timber frame of a century old barn to build this rustic modern house. The barn was dismantled, and reassembled on site. Inside, we designed the home to showcase as much of the original timber frame as possible. The kitchen opens up to a living space with great mountain views. Photography by Todd Crawford

Comfortable Rustic Modern Family Home in Woodacre

Craig O'Connell Architecture

The completely remodeled kitchen is now the focal point of the home. The modern concrete countertops, subway tiles and unique custom cabinets add clean lines and are complemented by the warm and rustic reclaimed wood open shelving. The sleek custom concrete countertop features an integral drain board. Custom made with beech and birch wood, the flush inset cabinets feature unique routed pulls and a beaded face frame.

Mid Century Remodel

G. Christianson Construction, Inc.

Smith House Remodel

Encircle Design and Build

Open Plan Living Room and Kitchen - Williamsburg Renovation

General Assembly

Open Plan kitchen and living room featuring poured concrete countertops, custom cabinetry, storage benches, and steel and oak ceiling mounted shelving.

White Kitchens

Mike's Factory Direct

Fivian/Robinsen

Red Pepper Design & Cabinetry

Victorian Townhouse

Henage / Joshen

Chris Snook

view of kitchen

Rodriguez Studio Architecture PC

Divine Kitchens LLC

Divine Design Center

Kitchen with Concrete Benchtops and Dark Hardwood Floors 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!