In 2019, Interior designer Alexandra Brown approached Matter to design and make cabinetry for this penthouse apartment. The brief was to create a rich and opulent space, featuring a favoured smoked oak veneer. We looked to the Art Deco inspired features of the building and referenced its curved corners and newly installed aged brass detailing in our design. We combined the smoked oak veneer with cambia ash cladding in the kitchen and bar areas to complement the green and brown quartzite stone surfaces chosen by Alex perfectly. We then designed custom brass handles, shelving and a large-framed mirror as a centrepiece for the bar, all crafted impeccably by our friends at JN Custom Metal. Functionality and sustainability were the focus of our design, with hard-wearing charcoal Abet Laminati drawers and door fronts in the kitchen with custom J pull handles, Grass Nova ProScala drawers and Osmo oiled veneer that can be easily reconditioned over time. Photography by Pablo Veiga

Modern Northwoods Residence Kitchen

Amy Carman Design

A two-level island with an undermount stainless sink creates a simple, understated separation between the kitchen and dining areas in this modern lodge luxury home.

Mill Valley Sunny Scandinavian

BK Interior Design

Mill Valley Scandinavian, modern, open kitchen with skylight, simple cabinets, stone backsplash, Danish furniture, open shelves Photographer: John Merkl

Dollarton

Form Collective

Janis Nicolay

Transitional Quartzite and Marble High Rise

Aria Stone Gallery

Reinvented Farmhouse

MB architecture + design

Kitchen

SF Modern

This kitchen has a full wall backsplash of green quartzite material, which wraps around the hood. To support large extended family gatherings, there are two eat-in islands with plenty of circulation around them, two sinks and two dishwashers to make for fast clean-ups

Texas Treasure

BRADSHAW DESIGNS LLC

This Texas Treasure began as a simple kitchen remodel, then expanded to include the entire home! What was a tired, dark, cramped space has now become an open, light, bright space fit for a serious cook! She yearned for natural and organic elements that harken to the outdoors. Stone, antique, rough, hand-hewn beams fit the bill perfectly!

Oceanfront Cottage

Whitten Architects

photography by Trent Bell

SF Twin Peaks Penthouse

Matt Sanford Homes

Jeff Rumans

Woodbluff Lane Residence, Camano Island WA

Dan Nelson, Designs Northwest Architects

View to kitchen from the living room. Photography by Stephen Brousseau.

Various Projects

EKB Kitchen & Bath Remodelers

A Frank Lloyd Wright Inspired Kitchen

RJK Construction Inc

This craftsman kitchen borrows natural elements from architect and design icon, Frank Lloyd Wright. A slate backsplash, soapstone counters, and wood cabinetry is a perfect throwback to midcentury design. What ties this kitchen to present day design are elements such as stainless steel appliances and smart and hidden storage. This kitchen takes advantage of every nook and cranny to provide extra storage for pantry items and cookware.

Laundry

Pam Adams

Sunny Rousette Photography

Traditional Eat-In Kitchen

Cabinets & Such

Take a trip to the European countryside! This eat-in kitchen was opened up to the rafters and bumped out with window seating. Dedicated wine and cookbook storage areas offer added counter space. Cabinetry by Waypoint Living Spaces in "Linen" blends perfectly with the white appliances. Stunning Countertops and Backsplash are Emerald Quartzite fabricated by Carlos Bravo and team at Monterey Bay Tile & Granite. Photography by Dave Clark of Monterey Virtual Tours

Elegant White San Mateo Park Kitchen

Swanson Kitchens, Inc.

Dennis Mayer

Lovely Transition Kitchen for a Family

Twilly and Fig

Nussbaum & Green Mamba

raumwerkstätten

ES ist vollbracht, ein Unikat ist entstanden. Als erstes wurde die alte Küche abgebaut und die Elektrik für die neue Küche und die neuen Leuchten verlegt. Danach wurden die alten Fliesen entfernt, die Wände verputzt, geglättet und in einem zarten Rosaton gestrichen. Der wunderschöne Betonspachtelboden wurde von unserem Malermeister in den Raum gezaubert. Dann war es soweit, die neue Küche wurde geliefert und die Montage konnte beginnen. Wir haben uns für eine polarweiß matte Front mit graphitgrauen Korpus (Innenleben) entschieden. An den Fronten finden unsere gedrechselten, massiven Nussbaumknöpfe ihren perfekten Platz, die mit der maßangefertigten Wandverkleidung (dahinter versteckt sich der Heizkörper) und der Sitzgruppe super harmonieren. Selbst die Besteckeinsätze sind aus Nussbaum gefertigt. Die Geräte stammen alle, bis auf den Siemens-Einbauwaschtrockner, der sich links neben der Spüle hinter der Tür verbirgt, aus dem Hause Miele. Die Spüle und Armatur kommen aus der Schmiede der Dornbracht Manufaktur, deren Verarbeitung und Design einzigartig ist. Um dem ganzen die Krone aufzusetzen haben wir uns beim Granit für einen, nur für uns gelieferten Stein entschieden. Wir hatten diesen im letzten Sommer in Italien entdeckt und mussten diesen unbedingt haben. Die Haptik ist ähnlich wie Leder und fühlt sich samtweich an. Nach der erfolgreichen Montage wurden noch die weißen Panzeri Einbaustrahler eingebaut und wir konnten die Glasschiebetüre montieren. Bei dieser haben wir uns bewusst für eine weiße Oberführung entschieden damit am Boden keine Schiene zu sehen ist. Bilder (c) raumwerkstätten GmbH

Woodbluff Lane Residence, Camano Island WA

Dan Nelson, Designs Northwest Architects

View to great room from kitchen, looking out to Saratoga Passage and Whidbey Island. Photography by Stephen Brousseau.

Beach House - Kitchen refurbishment

Sybil Jane Barrido, FASID, CID - SJVD DESIGN

Kitchen refurbishment Photo by Henry Cabala

Kitchen with Green Splashback and Stone Slab 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!