New construction all white kitchen with ship lap walls, white subway tile, dark hardwood floors and craftsman cabinets make this kitchen a place you want to be. Open beam shelving next to layered finishes such as a stainless oven hood, brass hardware and sconces give this kitchen a diverse look. Lisa Konz Photography

Malibu Chic

Monogram Decor

Mike Kelley for Pure Photo

The Traditional Cook

User

Traditional from head to toe, this expansive kitchen boasts off white cabinetry with accents of polished nickel. White calacatta counter tops add a touch of luxurious while the stainless steel range speaks on behalf of the serious cook. Function in mind, a main sink and prep sink cater to the chef while integrated spice racks flank the 60" range, and refrigerator/freezer are concealed behind custom doors. An area to enjoy cooking and a good glass of wine display personal touches with a bookshelf, glass uppers for heirlooms, and two beautiful chandeliers.

Bright and modern Sauganash family, dining and kitchen space

Renovision Road

We turned this historic Sauganash dark interior kitchen, family room, and dining room into a modern, bright, open, and family-friendly space. We took down walls, removed closets, added an island with a new hood and an induction cooktop, added a built-in oven and microwave, re-purposed various wood cabinets along with painting them all, added a ton of recessed lights, opened the back wall with a larger sliding door to the deck, installed an updated environmentally-friendly window, built a coordinated entertainment center that also functions as a storage space for jackets and shoes, re-finished the floors on both the first and second floors and the staircase, added a wet bar with a floating shelf, and re-roofed a leaking roof. The blue base cabinets for both the island and the wet bar complement the bright and modern white cabinets along with a the new blue glass backsplash. The island acts as a center point for family and friends to gather. The new larger sliding back door creates a smooth transition from the open interior to the exterior.

Private Residence - Portsmouth, NH

A T Franco & Associates

South Spruce Court Small Kitchen

Living Spaces by Pamela, LLC

The clients, a retired couple who wanted an updated kitchen for their 1980's home. Soffit's were removed and the wall cabinets were extended to the ceiling to add for additional storage. An appliance garage was added to the dead corner to allow storage for small appliances. The glass door wall cabinets were added to showcase the clients prized cobalt collection of glass. Added by the clients request was a peninsula table to allow for a workstation and for family dining. The Refrigerator and the Range was relocated for better function of the space. Solar shades were added to filter the afternoon light and add a little softness to the space.

Sunset Valley

J Wiley Designs

NKBA J May Photo

Contemporary Custom Home

Parkinson Building Group

Custom home by Parkinson Building Group in Little Rock, AR.

Painted gray kitchen

Jean Stoffer Design, Ltd

Stoffer Photography

Townhouse Kitchen Remodel

The Modern Hive

Paula Moser Photography

Kohler Sink and Polished Nickel Faucet

DG Kitchen & Bath

photo credit: Megan Chaffin

All-green Intown Modern Home

Pinnacle Custom Builders, Inc.

Easton New Construction

Blueprint Dreams LLC

Upper West Side Wonderful

JMorris Design

Floral Glass Mosaic tile makes cooking a pleasure.

Fazio

SCM Design Group

A wonderful combination of natural tones with the White and gray cabinets, The kitchen depicted a large space to work and serving area, 2 Dishwasher, and a great cooking area. One of the Best Transition styles.

Contemporary White Kitchen with a Traditional Twist

Bilotta Kitchen & Home

This kitchen was a collaboration between senior designer, Jeff Eakley, and Kenny Alpert of KA Designs. Although it features contemporary-styled high-gloss cabinetry and flat panel doors, the decorative lighting, tray ceiling, pocket door, furniture and other finishes give it a traditional twist. The cabinetry is Bilotta’s contemporary line, Artcraft – the perimeter features the Portofino door with its integrated handle in a high gloss white. The island by contrast is a warmer walnut veneer also in a high gloss finish. The appliances are Miele’s all white collection so they fit beautifully into the surrounding white cabinets. The limited hardware that was used on the appliances is in a polished chrome finish to match the plumbing fixtures, lighting above the island, and the base of the table for the banquette seating near the pocket door. The countertops are quartzite and the backsplash are a mosaic of marble and quartz tile. The island has seating for two, while the banquette in the corner seats four. The flooring is a dark hardwood. Photo Credit: Peter Krupenye

Lake Tahoe

Refresh Your Space

Photos by Eric Zepeda Studio, Collaborated with Workroom C.

Lake Oswego Contemporary Kitchen

Fabian Genovesi - Neil Kelly Co.

darius@kudaphotography.com

Condo Renovation 2 in Provincetown, MA

Cape Associates, Inc.

The overarching design intent for this 1,455-square-foot West Vine Street condominium was to make the spaces contemporary and functional. The renovation began with an unexpected structural deficiency in the form of a post located in the middle of the living room that was causing a three-inch dip in the floor. It was removed and replaced with steel columns running down through the walls and into a footing pad with a three-foot depth. The main living spaces underwent significant changes; the kitchen was reconfigured to open up a formerly cramped space, and the removal of a wall made room for a cascading island with Cesarstone countertops—a crowning feature. Additionally, an electrical panel was relocated to be able to wrap the refrigerator with a wood veneer frame. Notable materials include eight-inch-wide ‘Esplanade’ French oak plank floors chosen to complement the reclaimed wood-wrapped ceiling beams, which feature a combination of LED downlighting and uplighting. A sleek gas fireplace with horizontal slate surround and paneled wall backing replaced an old wood-burning stove—furthering the design program. Pacheco-Robb Architects dismantled an existing spiral stair and replaced it with a cable-rail system—a nautical nod—which is noteworthy for the way it meets code; by running a contiguous oak banister for the entire length of the stair, they were able to avoid having to add a second railing, which would shrink the already narrow stairwell. Upstairs, a tight bedroom with gabled ceilings was addressed by adding a solar-operated skylight with built-in shade, plus minimalistic furnishings. Structural changes in the master bedroom included eliminating a closest to widen the room, and reconfiguring a bathroom to fit a small walk-in closet in lieu of a long, thin hallway. The formerly unfinished rooftop deck is now accessed via a six-foot door that opens more than 90 degrees. Azek decking was laid over the rubber roof, and two-inch stanchions were located around the rail’s outer edge. By opening the floor plan and streamlining the aesthetic, the place now breathes.

Kitchen with Glass Tile Splashback 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!