Photography by Laura Hull.

Traditional white pantry. Ten feet tall with walnut butcher block counter top, Shaker drawer fronts, polished chrome hardware, baskets with canvas liners, pullouts for canned goods and cooking sheet slots.

North Andover Renovation

Apple Wood Construction, Inc.

Kath & Keith Photography

Newton Makeover

Metropolitan Cabinets & Countertops

Cabinets: Custom ShowHouse 1" inset in Frosty White Perimeter Countertops: Caesarstone Pebble Island Countertop & Range Backsplash: Calcite Iceberg Emily O'brien Photography

The Clerkenwell Shaker Kitchen by deVOL

deVOL Kitchens

Traditional Westwood Kitchen

Alison Kandler Interior Design

Mark Lohman for Taunton Books

The Hideaway

Veritas Fine Homes Inc

Photos credited to Imagesmith- Scott Smith Entertain with an open and functional kitchen/ dining room. The structural Douglas Fir post and ceiling beams set the tone along with the stain matched 2x6 pine tongue and groove ceiling –this also serves as the finished floor surface at the loft above. Dreaming a cozy feel at the kitchen/dining area a darker stain was used to visual provide a shorter ceiling height to a 9’ plate line. The knotty Alder floating shelves and wall cabinetry share their own natural finish with a chocolate glazing. The island cabinet was of painted maple with a chocolate glaze as well, this unit wanted to look like a piece of furniture that was brought into the ‘cabin’ rather than built-in, again with a value minded approach. The flooring is a pre-finished engineered ½” Oak flooring, and again with the darker shade we wanted to emotionally deliver the cozier feel for the space. Additionally, lighting is essential to a cook’s –and kitchen’s- performance. We needed there to be ample lighting but only wanted to draw attention to the pendants above the island and the dining chandelier. We opted to wash the back splash and the counter tops with hidden LED strips. We then elected to use track lighting over the cooking area with as small of heads as possible and in black to make them ‘go away’ or get lost in the sauce.

New Orleans Inspired on Yarrow Point

Kristi Spouse Interiors

Inspiration for a traditional kitchen pantry in Seattle with recessed-panel cabinets, white cabinets, stainless steel appliances and dark hardwood floors. Microwave and warming drawer tucked away. Jessie Young - www.realestatephotographerseattle.com

New England Kitchen, London

Artichoke

Artichoke worked with the renowned interior designer Michael Smith to develop the style of this bespoke kitchen. The detailing of the furniture either side of the Wolf range is influenced by the American East Coast New England style, with chromed door catches and simple glazed wall cabinets. The extraction canopy is clad in zinc and antiqued with acid and wax. The green painted larder cabinet contains food storage and refrigeration; the mouldings on this cabinet were inspired from a piece of Dutch antique furniture. The pot hanging rack enabled us to provide lighting over the island and saved littering the timbered ceiling with unsightly lighting. There is a pot filler tap and stainless steel splashback. Primary materials: Hand painted cabinetry, steel and antiqued zinc.

Traditional Kitchen Remodel Washington DC by Reico Kitchen & Bath

Reico Kitchen & Bath

This traditional inspired kitchen design features Merillat Masterpiece cabinets in the Verona raised panel door style in the Pebble Grey Paint finish. Kitchen countertops are Cambria Brittanica. Photos courtesy of Felicia Evans Photography.

LEED Gold Home Renovation

R Michael Cross Design Group

5th Street Beach Inspired

Alexandra Rae Design

This blue and white kitchen is the hub of the home for a busy young family. The white cabinets are broken up by glass fronts at the top. The dark granite and a fresh blue painted island add contrast, while the transitional pendant adds interest to the otherwise traditional space.

Mission Hills Farmhouse 2

Bill Bocken Architecture & Interior Design

Shelley Metcalf & Glenn Cormier Photographers

Bright, fresh and open

Weidmann Remodeling

FotoGrafik Arts

Contemporary Classic Asbury Park, NJ

Town & Country Kitchen and Bath

Vermilion 3

Geoff Chick & Associates

Derek Makekau

Girard Avenue Kitchen

O’Hara Interiors

Martha O'Hara Interiors, Interior Design & Photo Styling | John Kraemer & Sons, Remodel | Troy Thies, Photography Please Note: All “related,” “similar,” and “sponsored” products tagged or listed by Houzz are not actual products pictured. They have not been approved by Martha O’Hara Interiors nor any of the professionals credited. For information about our work, please contact design@oharainteriors.com.

Garman Homes - Briar Chapel Model - The Overachiever

Garman Homes

Tour Factory

Mountain Ski Lodge

Faure Halvorsen Architects

Custom Home

J.M. Froehler Construction

Kitchen with 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!