Our Clients were looking for a kitchen with a ‘wow factor’ design and one that would enable them, on occasions, to entertain large numbers of guests. Our client wished the cooking area to be divided from the social area. Our client was worried about having dark cabinetry but as the proposed extension was to have many windows we presented the idea of moody and dark with clever lighting. We achieved this by using a combination of dark and light stone counter tops, dark cabinetry complemented by the bespoke form of the island clad with copper mirror and smoked black glass along the sink run. Although this idea seemed risky at first it certainly paid off. Using Neff slide-and-hide ovens with the hob on the bespoke island, this gave our client the ability to socialise whilst cooking without anyone encroaching on the cooking zone.

BLACK & WHITE - Two tone 'Black & White' satin polyurethane cabinetry with 'shaker' profile - 100mm mitred 'Calacatta Paonazzo' marble island benchtop - 80mm mitred Caesarstone 'Snow' benchtop - Dropped island seating - Smokey mirror splashback - Recessed LED strip light - Shadowline profile - Blum hardware Sheree Bounassif, Kitchens by Emanuel

Skyview

Nathan Taylor for Obelisk Home

Modern Country Style Kitchen with Step Down Island

User

We maximised all available space by providing inner drawers to the pantry, vertical storage in the island, readily accessible tea towel and cutting board storage open for ventilation yet concealed from view by locating this on the inside of island. This also created a convenient location for island GPO with cables concealed in a void behind. Using shallow cabinets either side of the garden window allowed maximum island width while still maintaining comfortable walkways necessary when clients are entertaining. Floating shelves above the charging zone softened the line of sight from the family room past the integrated ironing centre the to the sun-drenched garden window. The step-down table off the island facilitates comfortable meals and social gatherings within the kitchen while allowing uninterrupted work flow for the hostess while still enjoy the company. To retain the symmetry of the island waterfalls a partial waterfall on the sink run side of the island allows cabinets facing the sink area to be fully utilised.

Amersham 1 Kitchen Design

MATRIX DESIGN

Altringham

ArtHouse Creative Interiors

Modern Black Kiwi Barn Home

Bosanac Builders

The Vue

April Balliette

Warfield Painted Shaker Kitchen

Higham Furniture

The glazed wall cabinets on the sink elevation add a beautiful element of symmetry to this grey and blue Shaker kitchen in Berkshire. The kitchen is in an Edwardian home and although the client wanted their new kitchen in keeping with the period of the property, they did not want it to be too fussy or look overly 'country'. The cabinets are painted in French Grey and the island in Basalt, both by Little Greene. The handles are from Armac Martin.

Luxury Beach Condo

SoCal Contractor

Interior Design by LoriDennis.com

Malvern

The Selection Center

Sometimes less is more. This Asian inspired modern kitchen clean, simple and easy on the eye. The reclaim beam adds warmth and texture.

Mirrored Kitchen Splashbacks

Wall Coverings Specialist

Our Opticolour mirrored splashbacks are the perfect installation to lighten and brighten a kitchen, whilst giving the perception of a much bigger space. Available in Grey, Silver or Bronze colour tones, you have the freedom to pick a stunning mirror to suit many different styles.

Sylvania Kitchen Makeover

Winning Appliances

Modern Designed Kitchen

John Mast Construction, Inc.

The modern kitchen is designed around a clean smooth look that blends in with the rest of the house. Designed and Constructed by John Mast Construction, Photo by Caleb Mast

Contemporary kitchen - Surrey

Kitchen Connection of Ascot (KCA)

Working with our long standing property developer client, Beaufield Homes; KCA designed and installed the kitchen for this five bedroom, 3 story detached house backing onto open fields in Cobham. Situated on the ground floor of the house features this highly specified kitchen which is open plan to the dining and family areas, with large bi-fold doors leading onto the rear garden. The design includes contemporary Systemat furniture in Putty Concrete and Pearl Grey with Miele appliances. Silestone worktops in Snowy Ibiza and a mitered Silestone breakfast bar in Cemento Spa.

Thames Ditton Painted Shaker Kitchen

Higham Furniture

This Shaker kitchen has a sleek Rangemaster Nexus 110 range cooker, with a beautiful antique mirror splashback inside the false chimney breast.

The Fancy Room - projet Paris 16e Longchamp - cuisine 1 - rendu 3D

THE FANCY ROOM

CUISINE Le mur de la salle de bain fut reculé de 60cm afin d’offrir un espace cuisine confortable pour un usage quotidien. Le plan de travail est doublé d’un bar en quartz* marbrée “calacatta” offrant ainsi près de 2m60 d’espace pour cuisiner, le bar est quant à lui posé sur les meubles de cuisine et comporte un débord arrière de 20 cm pour que les convives puissent y glisser leurs jambes ainsi qu’un jambage pour les diners en tête à tête. Cette configuration a permis de conserver un espace ouvert et fonctionnel tout en faisant office de table à manger (6 convives peuvent s’y installer en tout confort). Les façades des meubles de cuisine sont réalisées sur-mesure chez Bocklip dans une teinte Farrow and Ball « Bleu de Nimes » ainsi qu’avec un placage en chine véritable. La crédence ainsi que l’arrière des meubles présents sous le bar sont recouverts d’un miroir fumé afin de renforcer la sensation d’espace tout en créant un lien avec la table basse du salon. Afin de permettre un usage quotidien confortable la cuisine est également doté de nombreux et profonds placards sur mesures cachés dans le mur jouxtant les plans de travail.

Raised Ranch Remodel

TEKRA Builders

Feature wall with coffee bar

Design an oak framed kitchen extension

Theresa Wallis Interiors

Oak framed kitchen extension. Large central island. Aga with antiqued glass splash back.

Kitchen with Grey Splashback and Mirror 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!